A Queen of the Sea
Reina del Mar translates from Spanish as “Queen of the Sea”, and many who knew the ship would agree that she lived up to her name.
Built for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company for its Liverpool to the west coast of South America service, Reina del Mar spent eight years as a passenger and cargo liner before being converted for cruising.
From 1964, Southampton became her principal cruise base and she went on to cruise in both northern and southern hemisphere waters under Union-Castle management and later ownership.
Her life was heartbreakingly short. After almost twenty years of service, Reina del Mar was withdrawn in 1975 and sent for breaking up.
This website has been created to preserve and share her history, photographs and memories, and to ensure the story of this much-loved ship is not forgotten.
Reina del Mar during her years with the Pacific Steam Navigation Company.
Reina del Mar at a Glance
Built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, Reina del Mar was designed for the Liverpool to west coast of South America service. Here is a snapshot of her principal specifications as originally built.
601 ft
Length
78 ft
Beam
30.1 ft
Draught
20,234
Gross tons
18 knots
Top speed
766
Passenger capacity
7 June 1955
Launched
Explore Her Story
From her beginnings as a passenger liner serving South America to her later years as a much-loved cruise ship, Reina del Mar’s twenty-year career can be explored in two distinct chapters.
THE EARLY YEARS
1955–1964
Built for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, Reina del Mar entered service in 1956 on the Liverpool to west coast of South America route.
Explore her construction, maiden voyage, early routes and destinations, and the changing world of passenger shipping that eventually brought her scheduled liner service to an end.
THE CRUISE YEARS
1964–1975
Following a major refit in 1964, Reina del Mar began a new life as a cruise ship, operating from Southampton and later spending the southern hemisphere summers cruising from Cape Town.
Explore the Travel Savings Association period, her years with Union-Castle and the final chapter of her career.
Twenty Years at Sea
From her launch in Belfast to her final voyage twenty years later, these are some of the key moments in Reina del Mar’s story.
Do You Remember Reina del Mar?
Were you a passenger, crew member or someone whose life was connected with Reina del Mar?
We would love to hear your memories, stories and historical information and to continue building this archive for future generations.
You are also welcome to share photographs or other material relating to the ship for consideration.