Langkapuri Star Aquarius

 

The first ships acquired by Star Cruises were the AB Slite (part of the Viking Line consortium) ferries Athena and Kalypso, purchased in 1993. They had been built in 1989 and 1990 respectively for the Viking Line Sweden-Finland services, and had become available following the bankruptcy of AB Slite. They were named Langkapuri Star Aquarius and Star Pisces. Their funnel design was adopted as the Star Cruises logo. In February 2001 it was announced that Langkapuri Star Aquarius had been purchased by DFDS Seaways for service between Copenhagen and Oslo as the Pearl of Scandinavia. Unconfirmed reports also suggested that her sister Star Pisces had been bought by Color Line.

 

A complete history of Langkapuri Star Aquarius is available on this link.

 

 

This was the first card issued of Langkapuri Star Aquarius.

 

The rather ponderous name Langkapuri Star Aquarius was later simplified to Star Aquarius, and the card was reissued.

 

A photographic card of Star Aquarius.

 

A photographic card of Star Aquarius.

 

A later card of Star Aquarius.

 

A newer series of official Star Cruises cards is now appearing. These are slightly larger than previous issues, and the ships have received hull lettering in place of coloured hulls or bands. This card shows Langkapuri Star Aquarius (yes, the name is shown in long form again). This series of cards is unusual in having a faint copy of the main picture on the card back - a sample card back is shown below.

 

 

 

Langkapuri Star Aquarius returned to Northern Europe in 2001, when purchased by DFDS for their Oslo-Copenhagen service, receiving the name Pearl of Scandinavia. This is the first official DFDS postcard of Pearl of Scandinavia.

 

 

 

 

 

Star Pisces

 

The first ships acquired by Star Cruises were the AB Slite (part of the Viking Line consortium) ferries Athena and Kalypso, purchased in 1993. They had been built in 1989 and 1990 respectively for the Viking Line Sweden-Finland services, and had become available following the bankruptcy of AB Slite. Kalypso was renamed Star Pisces.

 

A complete postcard history of Star Pisces is available on this link.

 

 

Three photographic cards of Star Pisces with blue hull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The latest card of Star Pisces, with white hull.

 

 

 

 

 

Star Aquarius + Star Pisces

 

Various cards were issued showing both sisters Star Aquarius and Star Pisces, here shown in Penang.

 

 

Star Aquarius and Star Pisces in Singapore.

 

 

Star Aquarius and Star Pisces.

 

 

Star Aquarius and Star Pisces.

 

 

 

 

 

SuperStar Gemini

 

The next large vessel acquired was Crown Jewel in 1994, built in 1992 for the Effjohn group. She was renamed SuperStar Gemini.

 

 

The first card issued has a retouched copy of the Aquarius/Pisces funnel, quite unlike her real funnel.