SS Amerikanis (1952)

Built by the Belfast-based Harland and Wolff shipyard for the Union-Castle Line and originally named Kenya Castle when launched in 1952, this ship was the second of a trio of sister ships built for the London-based Union-Castle Line between 1950 and 1953. Outfitted with single-class accommodation for 530 passengers, as well as substantial space for refrigerated and general cargo, Kenya Castle served on the line's route around Africa, returning to London via the Suez Canal.

With declining passenger loads, Kenya Castle and her sister ships were withdrawn from service between 1965 and 1967, with only Kenya Castle escaping the scrapers' torches. Purchased by the Greek-owned Chandris Cruises in 1967 and re-named Amerikanis, the ship was refitted as a cruise ship with a capacity of 920, and was the first passenger ship to feature a television in every cabin. After sailing the transatlantic route and the New York-Caribbean-Bermuda route for over 12 years, Amerikanis was leased to Costa Cruises between 1980 and 1984. Returning to Chandris Cruises in 1984, the ship plied the Caribbean until 1996 when she was laid up and, in 2001, scrapped at Alang, India.

The documents below were acquired during a Caribbean cruise aboard the Amerikanis in 1992.

SS Amerikanis depicted on a postcard purchased during a 1992 Caribbean winter cruise.

Deck plan of SS Amerikanis whilst sailing for Chandris's Fantasy Cruises division.