THE SHIP WHICH HELPED PROPEL THE MODERN IMAGE OF WHAT CRUISING WOULD BECOME, ITALIA IS ONE OF THE ACTUAL STARS OF THE ONCE-POPULAR TV SERIES "THE LOVE BOAT". HER PEDIGREE LINKS THIS SPECIFIC MODEL TO MAX LINDER, ONE OF STAN McDONALD'S ORIGINAL PARTNERS IN THE WEST COAST CRUISE INDUSTRY. THEY BEGAN IN THE WINTER OF 1965-66, CHARTERING THE PRINCES PATRICIA FROM THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY FOR RUNS ALONG THE MEXICAN RIVIERA. A NEAR INSTANT SUCCESS, LINDER AND McDONALD ADDED THE NEWLY BUILT ITALIA TO THE SERVICE IN 1967.
THE INFORMALLY NAMED "PRINCESS ITALIA" MEASURED 488.85 FEET IN LENGTH AND 69.55 FEET OF BEAM. SHE COULD REACH SPEEDS OF 19 KNOTS, WITH A GROSS MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF 11,879 TONS, AND WAS EQUIPPED TO COMFORTABLY CARRY 452 PASSENGERS PLUS HER CREW. SHE WAS BUILT IN 1966 BY CANTIERI NAVALE FELSZEGI AT TRIESTE, ITALY, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CHARTER CRUISE MARKET.
THIS SHARP MODEL IS AN ADVERTISING AND MARKETING TOOL WHICH LINDER TOOK INTO HIS PERSONAL COLLECTION WHEN THE SHIP RETIRED FROM THE PRINCESS LINE SERVICE IN 1974, SLIGHTLY BEFORE THE BRITISH P & O COMPANY BOUGHT THE BUSINESS, SLOWLY CONSOLIDATING SEVERAL OTHER LINES INTO THEIR COMPANY OVER TIME. OF NOTE ON THE MODEL IS THE FITTED CONSTRUCTION OF THE HULL AND THE PROUD ITALIAN HOUSEFLAG OVER THE MAIN BRIDGE.
PROVENANCE: FROM THE COLLECTION OF MAX J. LINDER, PARTIAL OWNER OF THE NYK LINE AND AN ORIGINAL FOUNDER OF THE PRINCESS CRUISE LINE; MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA
FIVE SIDED GLASS CASE WITH WOOD TABLETOP BASE DIMENSIONS: 66"L x 49½"H x 13 ⅛"W
