Princess Danae has sailed on a long winter cruise which will last for 127 days and take her around the world, through both the Panama and Suez canals, and with calls at a lot of unusual ports.

The cruise departed from Marseilles on the 5th January 2010 and is visiting various islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean.

New Zealand, Australia and ports in the Far East are also visited before the ship returns to Marseilles on the 11th May 2010.

The cruise is sold in segments by the French charterers of the ship.

This must be one of the longest round the world trips for a classic cruise ship.

Link to the cruise website below which is in French.

Croisiere - Croisières NotreTemps.com - accueil






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I know 20 words of French, only 9 of which can be used in polite society, but this is still an interesting web site.

Hi Captain Larry

I would not mind doing a world cruise like the one being made by Princess Danae if I had the time available.

I did learn French at school, but a bit rusty now !

According to her owners website, she was built at the Harland & Wolf shipyard at Belfast and fitted with their diesel engines ( 2 x 6600BHP) which give her a service speed of 17 knots.

These would have been fitted in 1955 when she entered service on the Uk to Australia and New Zealand routes as the Port Line cargo passenger ship ' Port Melbourne ', so are proving very reliable and well maintained.

Photo of her below as the Port Lines ship ' Port Melbourne ', before being converted into a cruise ship at a Greek shipyard.

Picture of Princess Danae passing through the Panama Canal Miraflores locks yesterday on her round the world cruise.

Have you ever seen her in "real life" ,she looks a real oldie but comfortable,somewhat on the lines of Marco Polo and Ocean Majesty ,with that deep bellied look.

Hi Swan, I've passed her on my travels. A little cutie, just the right size for me. I don't mind the older ships, I've sailed on quite a few oldies.

Hi Swan

Both her and her sister have large cabins when compared with the boxes on some of the newer cruise ships.

Many also have both a bath and a shower.

Pictures below of two of her cabins.

Princess Danae has had a two day stop at Tahiti.

She is due to sail at 05.00 hrs on the 1st March 2010 on the next section of her round the world cruise.

Picture of Princess Danae anchored off of Bora Bora on her round the world cruise.

Finally, after many, many years this lovely old ship returns to Auckland.
This evening the Princess Danae arrived in Auckland on her RTW cruise.
I work at the Auckland Container terminal and was ready and waiting with my camera when she came "round the corner", of North Head.
It was great to see a real ship with a shear again, after so many box boats (my life occupation), and "appartments on barges", cruise ships.

I had last seen her in the early 70's when she loaded meat and butter here as the Port Melbourne. So to see her now as a cruise ship, with what appeared to be a good load of passengers was fantastic.
It is quite amazing to thinks that after 20yrs carrying dead meat, she has survived another 35yrs carrying live meat.

Long may she continue.

I may post more photos tomoro depending on what I manage to get in the morning.
I have asked our cruise manger to try a get me some postcards, heres hoping.

I have posted 3 photos in the gallery.

Rgds/Mike (hilifta)