Belgian Company Galloo Buys Legendary Cruise Ship Astoria for Scrapping
c: Arjan Elmendorp
Belgian shipbreaking yard, Galloo in Ghent, acquired the legendary cruise ship Astoria—formerly the Stockholm built in 1948—for scrapping.
The auction took place because the vessel had been laid up in Rotterdam since the insolvency of its operator, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), in mid‑2020. At its latest auction, the ship sold for the minimum bid of €200,000, with Galloo being the only bidder. Experts consider only scrapping feasible, given the extensive damage the ship has suffered. At present scrap‑metal prices (~€275 per tonne), the hull is worth approximately €2.75 million
Key Background Info:
Built in 1948 in Gothenburg as Stockholm, she undertook her maiden voyage from Gothenburg to New York.
Gained worldwide notoriety in 1956 when the Stockholm collided with the Italian liner Andrea Doria in dense fog; the Andrea Doria sank, with 46 casualties.
In 1960, the ship was sold to East Germany, renamed Völkerfreundschaft, and served for 25 years for FDGB cruises
Underwent multiple renamings—including Volker, Fridtjof Nansen, Vautur Prima, Athena, Azores—before finally being named Astoria, operating for CMV since 2016.
Served as a filming location for Germany’s Next Topmodel in 2016.
CMV ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy in July 2020 due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, resulting in the ship being laid up in Rotterdam
Pandemic, Bankruptcy – and Standstill
In December 2020, it was the end: the Astoria came to a halt in the port of Rotterdam. The British cruise line CMV, for which she had last been sailing, went bankrupt during the COVID crisis. Her Portuguese owners also filed for insolvency. Since then, the ship had been left to languish – with no clear future.
Several investors failed with their rescue plans. Rumors circulated about a possible sale for scrap. In 2024, two YouTubers filmed on board, capturing the ship’s decay and vividly documenting its dilapidated condition – a sad ending in pictures.
The Final Port: Recycling in Ghent
Now it's official: starting in July, the Astoria is to be taken to a recycling facility in Ghent. Over 12,000 tons of material will be processed there – including metals, wood, glass, and plastics. According to the company Galloo, around 97% of it will be recycled.
A dignified farewell? Perhaps not. But at least part of this special ship – in another form – will live on.