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, Guglielmo Marconi was transferred to the Naples-Brazil-River Plate service of Italia Line.

American Adventure in Key West Harbor.

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) Italia Line/Italia Crociere (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
Identification:	IMO number: 5137391
Fate:	Scrapped 2001
General characteristics
Type:	Ocean liner
Tonnage:	As built, 27,905 GRT. 1983, 28,137 GRT
Length:	701ft (213.7m)
Beam:	94ft 2in (28.6m)
Draught:	28ft 3in (8.6m)
Installed power:	44,000shp (32,800kW)
Propulsion:	Geared turbines, twin screw
Speed:	24 knots
Capacity:	156 1st class, 994 tourist
Crew:	443

Postcard of Costa Riviera at sea.

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.

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 until Costa Riviera was sold for scrap under the name Liberty in 2001.