By Theodore W. Scull

The 26,747-ton M.S. Scandinavia was built in a Nantes shipyard on the West Coast of France for Scandinavia World Cruises to carry up to 1,606 passengers, a crew of 350 and up to 530 private cars on a route from New York to Freeport in the Bahamas where passengers and their vehicles transferred to the company’s short-sea cruisers for Florida ports. The connection was necessary because as a Bahamian-flag vessel, the Scandinavia could not engage in direct coastwise trade between two U.S. ports.
The ship was designed, like the Auto Train, to primarily appeal to motorists who wanted to avoid the long drive between the Northeast and Florida. While the vessel was most attractive within and had the amenities of a modern cruise ship she was not a success. The absence of a direct connection between New York and Florida made the journey nearly a day longer and the transfer at Freeport was often awkward. Passengers, who had enjoyed a cabin and cruise ship amenities, then switched to an excursion vessel without the same standards.The route around Cape Hatteras could be stormy, and the Scandinavia was not a particularly good sea boat nor did she have much reserve power beyond her 20 knots. When bad weather delayed the ship, she could not make up much time and could be hours late embarking and making the Freeport connection.
By 1984, she had been transferred by the parent company, DFDS (United Steamship Company of Denmark), to their overnight flagship route between Copenhagen and Oslo. Then in 1985, she was sold to Sundance Cruises to begin operating as the Stardancer for cruises from U.S. West Coast ports still carrying vehicles. In 1990, she became the Viking Serenadefor Royal Caribbean to cruise from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera and had additional passenger cabins replace the vehicle decks. Now she operates for an RCCL and First Choice (UK) joint venture as Island Cruises’ Island Escape for cruising in the Mediterranean and South America.

The 26,747-ton M.S. Scandinavia comes up the North River on September 25, 1982 on her maiden arrival into New York.

The Scandinavia had stern doors for vehicle handling as did similar vessels built for overnight passenger runs
between Scandinavia capitals. She is reversing into her berth at Pier 92.

The bridge wings are enclosed as was becoming more and more common in ship design, especially for Scandinavian owners.

The deck crew and an officer with a radio are handling the bow lines during docking.

The Scandinavia’s Lido Deck gave the feel of a cruise ship, seen here with the Empire State Building in the background.

A special berth with a vehicle apron and ramp was created on the north side of Pier 92 at the foot of West 52nd Street
to handle cars, campers and trucks. Notice the upper vehicle deck, which if more headroom was required, could be removed.

Holland America Line’s Veendam, berthed on the southside, shared Pier 92 with the Scandinavia.

Homes Lines’ Atlantic, a heavy smoker, was berthed at Pier 90. She also had been delivered from a French yard
in the same year as the Scandinavia and had first arrived in New York just over five months earlier to take up Bermuda service.

The three funnels on this same day mark from left to right the Veendam, Atlantic and Oceanic.

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