Sun Vista

History

Owner
1963–1979: Lloyd Triestino
1979–1983: Italia Crociere
1983–1990: Chandris Cruises
1990–1997: Celebrity Cruises
1997–1999: Sun Cruises

Operator
1983–1977: Lloyd Triestino
1979: Italia Crociere
1984–1989: Chandris Fantasy Cruises
1990–1997: Celebrity Cruises
1997–1999: Sun Cruises

Port of registry
1963–1983: Genoa, Italy
1983–1990: Panama City, Panama
1990–1999: Nassau, Bahamas

Ordered: 1960

Builder: Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy

Yard number: 1982

Launched: 2 July 1961

Acquired: March 1963

Maiden voyage: 23 March 1963

In service: 23 March 1963

Out of service: 20 May 1999

Identification: IMO number: 5411254

Fate: Caught fire and sank in the Straits of Malacca on 21 May 1999

Notes: Sister ship to SS Guglielmo Marconi
General characteristics (as built)[2]

Tonnage
27,888 GRT
9,486 DWT

Length: 213.65 m (700 ft 11 in)

Beam: 28.71 m (94 ft 2 in)

Draught: 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in)

Installed power
Four De Laval-San Andrea steam turbines
32,824 kW (combined)

Propulsion: Twin propellers

Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (service)

Capacity
1,750 passengers
(156 first class, 1,594 tourist class)
General characteristics (following 1984 refit)

Capacity: 1,262 passengers

Notes: Otherwise the same as built
General characteristics (following 1990 refit)

Tonnage: 30,440 GRT

Capacity: 1,428 passengers

Notes: Otherwise the same as built

SS Galileo Galilei was an ocean liner built in 1963 by Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy for Lloyd Triestino's Italy–Australia service. In 1979, she was converted to a cruise ship, and subsequently sailed under the names Galileo and Meridian. She sank in the Strait of Malacca in 1999 as the Sun Vista.

History
Ordered by Lloyd Triestino in 1960, Galileo Galilei was built in Italy for the Australian immigrant route. Galileo Galilei was launched on 2 July 1961. On 23 March 1963, the ship entered service for Lloyd Triestino, doing Mediterranean cruises before departing on its official maiden voyage from Genoa, Italy to Sydney, Australia on 22 April 1963. In November of the same year, she was joined on the route by her sister ship SS Guglielmo Marconi. Originally the ships traveled to Australia via the eastern route, passing through Suez Canal in both directions, but in the later years the return trip to Europe was via the Panama Canal. They also routed to Australia via the Cape of Good Hope in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The ships were very successful until the 1973 oil crisis, which, combined with the increasing prevalence of airliners, contributed to the decline of ocean liners. Galileo Galilei returned to Genoa and repaired after she struck a reef off the coast of West Africa on 13 January 1975. Galileo Galilei continued to operate on the Italy–Australia run until April 1977, at which point she was withdrawn from service and laid up. Her lay-up was short, and in October 1977 she returned to her builders for a lengthy reconstruction into a cruise ship. On 24 March 1979 the Galileo Galilei finally started cruise service with Italia Crociere (owned by Italia Navigazione, who also owned Lloyd Triestino). However, already in September of the same year the Galileo Galilei was withdrawn from service and laid up again.
Galileo at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany during her refit into the Meridian
In 1983, the vessel was purchased by Chandris Group. The ship was again rebuilt, this time with additional cabins on her forward deck, and her name shortened to Galileo. In 1984 the Galileo began cruising on the Caribbean under Chandris Fantasy Cruises brand. After the collapse of Home Lines in 1988 Chandris's executives decided to create a new upmarket brand to take over the market segment occupied by Home Lines. With this in mind the Galileo underwent a multimillion-dollar refit at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany between October 1989 and February 1990. Most of her interiors were rebuilt, and externally her rear superstructure enlarged. On 1 March 1990 she emerged as the stylish SS Meridian, the first ship of the new Celebrity Cruises brand, cruising on the Caribbean and the Boston/New York–Bermuda service.
Meridian at the San Blas Islands
SS Meridian anchored
In 1997, following Royal Caribbean International's acquisition of Celebrity Cruises, the ship was sold to Sun Cruises, which operated her as SS Sun Vista. On 20 May 1999, the vessel suffered an engine room fire, which cut all power and caused her to sink in the Strait of Malacca on 21 May 1999 at 0121 hrs. All 1,090 passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
SS Meridian in Bermuda

Media
In 1999, Sun Vista was featured in the Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film Mann.