Legendary cruise ship Astoria: Auction in June in Rotterdam!

Legendary cruise ship Astoria: Auction in June in Rotterdam!

Wilhelminaplein 100-125, 3072 AP Rotterdam, Niederlande - On June 17, 2025, the legendary cruise ship Astoria in Rotterdam will be auctioned. This auction takes place at the court at the WilhelminAplein 100-125 and could be the beginning of a new chapter for the once oldest active cruise ship in the world. Astoria completed its maiden voyage from Gothenburg to New York in 1948 and, in the shipping history, was known primarily for the collision with Andrea Doria on July 25, 1956. In this tragic accident, Andrea Doria, who was occupied by 1,706 passengers and crew members, also lost 46 lives, while five crew members of Stockholm, the other ship involved, also died.

The Astoria, at that time operated as a friendship of the international, played an important role in the travel offer for loyalty to the GDR. However, the importance of the ship extends beyond the political contexts. During the Cuba crisis in 1962 it drove through the US Seeblockade and was rammed in 1968 by a federal Navy torpedo boat.

The loss of Andrea Doria

Andrea Doria, one of the most famous Italian passenger ships, was in dense fog in her collision with the Stockholm, which sailed against the recommended course requirements. The two ships met in July 1956 when Andrea Doria drove at a speed of 21.8 knots, while the Stockholm only reached 18 knots. The collision led to a significant hole in the hull of the ship of Andrea Doria, which caused sensitive damage and led to the fact that the ship began to sink hard.

The captain of Andrea Doria, Calamai, ordered the evacuation within 30 minutes after the impact. Although several rescue boats were ready, many could only be partially filled due to the strong inclination of the ship. A comprehensive rescue operation finally brought 1,663 passengers and crew members to safety. Nevertheless, 51 people, including 46 passengers from Andrea Doria and five crew members of Stockholm, were found in the turbulent waters.

The history of Astoria

After its time as a friendship, Astoria experienced numerous renams and uses. In 1983 it was sold and operated under various names before finally appearing again as Astoria. One of the memorable moments is the use of the ship as accommodation for participants of Germany’s Next Top Model in 2016. However, the Corona pandemic led to the hiring of the trips, and the ship has been in Rotterdam ever since.

The original value of the 160 meter long and 10,000 ton ship is around 2.75 million euros. In the last auction, nobody offered the minimum amount of 10 million euros that was previously requested. Shipping to the scrap dealer is imminent after it was initially intended for another purpose.

On June 17, 2025, the Astoria auction on June 17, 2025 could be the last chance to continue this fascinating story. The extraordinary connection to Andrea Doria and the historic trips of the ship will be remembered while it is waiting for a new owner.