SS Guglielmo Marconi

SS Guglielmo Marconi was an Italian ocean liner launched on 24 September 1961 for Lloyd Triestino's Genoa—Sydney service. Her sister ship was SS Galileo Galilei. Guglielmo Marconi left Genoa on her maiden voyage on November 18th 1963. In 1976, she was transferred to the Naples-Brazil-River Plate service of Italian Line.^[1]

SS Guglielmo Marconi

Gugliemo Marconi seen on a Lloyd Triestino postcard
History
Name	Guglielmo Marconi (1963–1983) Costa Riviera (1983–1993) American Adventure (1993–1994) Costa Riviera (1994–2001) Liberty (2001–2002)
Owner	Lloyd Triestino (1961–1976) Italian Line/Italia Crociere Internazionali (1976–1979), (1979–1983) Costa Lines/Costa Cruises (1983–1985), (1985–1993) American Family Cruises (1993–1994) Costa Cruises (1994–2001)
Port of registry	1963–1983 Trieste, Italy. 1983–2001 Genoa, Italy
Route	Genoa-Naples-Messina-Port Said-Aden-Fremantle-Melbourne-Sydney
Builder	Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy
Yard number	1863
Launched	24 September 1961
Completed	October 1963
Maiden voyage	18 November 1963
In service	1963
Out of service	2001
Identification	IMO number: 5137391
Fate	Scrapped 2001
General characteristics
Type	Ocean liner
Tonnage	As built, 27,905 GRT. 1983, 28,137 GRT
Length	701 ft (213.7m)
Beam	94 ft 2 in (28.6m)
Draught	28 ft 3 in (8.6m)
Installed power	44,000 shp (32,800 kW)
Propulsion	Geared turbines, twin screw
Speed	24 knots
Capacity	156 1st class, 994 tourist
Crew	443

In 1979 she was transferred to Italia Crociere as a full-time cruise ship. This was not a success and she was sold to Costa Lines in 1983. After a two-year rebuild, the ship reappeared as Costa Riviera for Costa Cruises in 1985. Costa Riviera alternated between Caribbean and Alaskan cruising during her time with Costa Cruises.^[2]

Postcard of Costa Riviera at sea

American Adventure in Key West Harbor

Costa Riviera at sea in 2001

In 1993, American Family Cruises was launched, a joint venture between Costa and Bruce Nierenburg, to operate cruises aimed at young American families with children. AFC were not successful, and the ship sailed for Genoa in September 1994 where she was converted back to the Costa Riviera, and began cruising her last years in Europe.

Costa Riviera was sold for scrap under the name Liberty in 2001.^[1]