Home Lines

Home Lines was an Italian passenger shipping company that operated both ocean liners and cruise ships. The company was founded in 1946, and it ceased operations in 1988 when merged into Holland America Line. Although based in Genoa, Home Lines was an international company with ships registered in Panama, while the original company chairman Eugen Eugenides was Greek. By the time Home Lines was merged into Holland America, they were one of the most highly regarded cruise lines in the world.

Home Lines were connected to Cosulich Lines, Swedish American Line and Hamburg-America Line. Eugen Eugenides' adopted son Nicolaos Vernicos-Eugenides cofounded the Hamburg Atlantic Line in 1958, and he later served as the CEO of both Home Lines and Hamburg Atlantic Line.

History

1946–64

Home Lines was founded in 1946 in Genoa, with Swedish American Line and Cosulich Lines as major shareholders. The connection with Swedish American Line was reflected in the funnel colours of the new company - both SAL and Home Lines had yellow funnels with a blue disc containing crown(s); Home Lines' funnels differed from those of SAL only by featuring one arched crown instead of three circlet crowns.
In the same year, the company purchased their first ship, the 10,699 gross ton ''Bergensfjord'' from Norwegian America Line, which was renamed SS ''Argentina'' and placed on transatlantic routes from Genoa to South America in 1947. Although operated by Home Lines, the ship was managed by Cosulich Lines. Already in 1946 Home Lines had purchased a second ship, the Swedish American liner ''Drottningholm'' (11,182 gross tons), but that ship was not delivered to the company until 1948, when she was renamed ''Brasil'' and placed alongside the ''Argentina'' on Genoa—South America service. In 1948 Home Lines purchased another former Swedish American ship, ''Kungsholm'', that was renamed ''Italia'', as well as the former Matson Lines ship ''Matsonia'', which entered service in 1949 after a reconstruction as the first ''Atlantic''. The ''Brasil'' and ''Italia'' were managed by South Atlantic Lines, which was owned by the same company as Swedish American Line.

In 1949 the ''Italia'' was transferred to Genoa—New York City service, marking the beginning of Home Lines' gradual change from the Genoa—South America service to North Atlantic service from Genoa and Germany to New York as well as Southampton to Canada. ''Brasil'' was rebuilt and renamed ''Homeland'' in 1951, coinciding with her move to Hamburg—Southampton— Halifax—New York service. While on this route she was managed by Hamburg-America Line. However, the ''Homeland'' was transferred to Genoa—Naples—Barcelona—New York service already in 1952, after being replaced by the ''Italia'' on the Germany—New York service. The ''Italia'' in turn came to be managed by Hamburg-America Line while on the service from Germany. The ''Argentina'' was sold to Zim Lines in 1953 and renamed ''Jerusalem'', while the ''Atlantic'' was transferred to National Hellenic American Line in 1954 and renamed ''Queen Frederica''. Home Lines had purchased the laid-up ''Mariposa'' from Matson Lines in 1953; she entered service in 1954 as the first ''Homeric''. By 1955 at the latest Home Lines began making cruises from New York to The Bahamas during the winter season. The ''Homeland'' was sold for scrap in 1955, leaving Home Lines with just two ships, ''Italia'' and ''Homeric''. In 1958 Home Lines abandoned transatlantic traffic to New York (leaving it to Hamburg Atlantic Line). In the same year the ''Italia'' was refitted and placed on Hamburg—Quebec service. In 1961 Home Lines gave up transatlantic traffic completely when the ''Italia'' was transferred to New York—Bahamas cruise service. Three years later the ship was sold to Freeport Bahama Enterprises for use as a floating hotel.

1964–88

In 1965 Home Lines took delivery of their first purpose-built ship, ''Oceanic'', which replaced the ageing Italia. Although marketed as "the largest ship ever designed for year round cruises", the ship had in fact been originally designed as a two-class liner/cruise ship before Home Lines abandoned transatlantic crossings, and adapted to full-time cruising during construction. The ''Oceanic'' entered service on 1965 as Caribbean Luxury Cruise during 1965 till about March 1965 then to the New York—Bahamas cruise route, and the ''Homeric'' was transferred to cruising on the Caribbean. The ''Homeric'' suffered a major fire in the galleys and restaurants in 1973, and had to be withdrawn from service and scrapped. As a replacement Home Lines purchased the second ''Hanseatic'' from German Atlantic Line (Hamburg Atlantic Line after a name change), renaming her ''Doric''. At the same time Home Lines had also considered purchasing the ''Bergensfjord'' from Norwegian America Line, but the deal was not realised. In 1976 the company made a bid to purchase the laid-up Italian Line ships ''Michelangelo'' and ''Raffaello'', but the offer was turned down by the Italian Line.

In preparation for the delivery of the new ''Atlantic'' in 1982, the ''Doric'' was sold to Royal Cruise Line, becoming their ''Royal Odyssey''. When delivered in April 1982, the ''Atlantic'' took over the New York—Bahama cruise service. Another new ship, the second ''Homeric'', was ordered for delivery in 1986, and in preparation for that the ''Oceanic'' was sold to Premier Cruise Line in 1985, becoming their ''Starship Oceanic''. Home Lines continued operating until 1988, when the company was purchased by Holland America Line and its operation merged into those of Holland America. The ''Atlantic'' was sold to Premier Cruise Line, becoming ''Starship Atlantic'', while the ''Homeric'' became HAL's ''Westerdam''.

Ships

The design and construction records of Oceanic have been preserved and are now in the Fondo Egone Missio Archives (Egone Missio Archives) in Monfalcone, Italy.

References

{{Authority control

Companies based in Genoa
Transatlantic shipping companies
Defunct cruise lines
Defunct shipping companies
Transport companies established in 1946
Transport companies disestablished in 1988
Defunct transport companies of Italy
Italian companies established in 1946
1988 disestablishments in Italy