Chandris lines
Chandris Lines emerged from the need to transport millions of Greek immigrants fleeing post-war Europe’s economic woes. Chandris operated by purchasing ageing liners and giving them a new lease on life, carrying countless thousands for new lives in Australia. As such the Line’s rag-tag fleet became beloved by their passengers and crew alike.
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RHMS ELLINIS - 1964
The former Matson liner ‘Lurline’ was purchased and converted to serve the immigrant run to Australia. With a white hull and blue ribbon, this is how Ellinis looked when she first went to work for Chandris.
RHMS AUSTRALIS - 1967
Launched in 1939 as ‘America’ for United States Lines, Australis was Chandris’ flagship and by far the largest ship in the fleet. When introduced she was painted a dazzling white.
RHMS BRITANIS - 1973
Britanis started life at Matson Lines’ ‘Monterey’, and Chandris added her to their fleet well after her sister Ellinis. Britanis began her career for Chandris on the immigrant run before converting to full-time cruise duties well into the 1990s.
SS AUSTRALIS - 1975
Australis as she appeared after 1968, with a grey hull and removed mainmast. She served in this configuration until her retirement with Chandris in 1978.
RHMS ELLINIs - 1978
Chandris’ beloved dual-purpose liner; Ellinis plied the immigrant trade before becoming a dedicated cruise ship towards the end of her career.
SS ITALIS
After a disastrously short career with Venture Cruise Lines, Chandris re-purchased the ageing former Australis and put her back into service as ‘Italis’ - in an attempt at ‘modernising’ the ship, her forward funnel was hastily removed. Italis was in a state of decrepitness, however, and she served as a cruise ship with Chandris for only 2 years before being sold once more.
COMING SOON
MV ROMANZA - 1980
As Chandris Lines changed its focus to cruising, a fleet of comparatively tiny ships was recruited. The former M/S Aurelia was put to work in Chandris colours in 1971 as ‘Romanza’, a configuration she would keep until 1991.
MV THE VICTORIA - 1980
Originally intending to use the former Incres Line ships ‘Victoria’ for spare parts, Chandris was impressed by the sleek cruise ship and put her into service where she became a big success and served up until the 1990s.
SS AMERIKANIS - 1990
One of Chandris’ ever-popular cruisers, Amerikanis was a regular sight in hundreds of ports from New York to Bergen. After a lengthy career she was finally laid-up in 1996 and scrapped in 2000.
SS BRITANIS - 1991
After Ellinis was scrapped in the 1980s, the ageing Britanis benefited from her sister’s salvaged parts and her career was extended into the 1990s. Ever the popular cruiser, Britanis was finally sold for scrap in 1998 but sank before she could complete the voyage to the Breakers’ Yard.
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