Passenger ship “CARLA COSTA” The Love Boat

Posted on Novembre 6, 2015Novembre 6, 2015 by Alfredo De Cristofaro

Flandre, also known as Carla C, Carla Costa (callsign ICCO), and Pallas Athena, was an Ocean Liner and then a Cruise ship that took passengers on transatlantic voyages and on Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises from 1952 to 1994. She was operated by the French Line, Costa Cruises, and the Epirotiki Line.
Costa Cruises:
The first assignment for the newly refitted Carla C. was a charter for Princess Cruises, which marketed her as “Princess Carla” (the ship was not renamed). It was during this time that a set of producers originated the idea of the popular television-series Love Boat aboard Carla C. Consequently, the first scripts were written on board the ship.
The ship proved problematic at first, after problems were detected with the boilers. In 1974 and 1975, Costa replaced the boilers with Stork-Werkspor diesel engines and Carla C. was returned to service around the Caribbean, where she served until 1992. In 1984, the ship underwent another major refit, to ensure safe travel for its passengers for many years to come. In 1986, Carla C was renamed Carla Costa. No other changes occurred with the name change.
Carla Costa was a common sight on the San Juan ship dock on Saturdays during that era, and her regularly scheduled route included Curacao, Caracas, Grenada, Martinique, and St. Thomas USVI.

Source wikipedia

Details:

Tonnage: 20,469 GRT
Length: 599.7 ft (182.8 m)
Beam: 80.3 ft (24.5 m)
Installed power:

• Steam turbines (1951–1975)
• Diesel (1975–1994)
Propulsion: Two propellers
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)

Sources of pictures:
http://www.naviearmatori.net/
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/

CARLA COSTA (ICCO) Receivers desk (photo taken in 1978)