The MS Athena was built in 1948 under a different name and had a long and storied history (this was the ship that crashed into the SS Andrea Doria) as an ocean liner before becoming a cruise ship in 1994. It is a relatively small ship that holds around 650 people. Passengers are mainly middle to senior aged from America or Great Britain. There is a crew to passenger ratio of almost 1 to 2.
Ship Highlights
- 220 of the Athena’s 176 cabins have an ocean view
- Movie theater
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Casino
Cuisine
The Olissipo Restaurant is the main dining room and serves European cuisine at the restaurant’s single nightly seating. The time for this can vary.
The Lotus Lounge serves a breakfast and lunch buffet.
Lunch and dinner are sometimes served outside on the top deck.
Entertainment and Nightlife
Nighttime offerings are as varied as most other large cruise ships.
There is a casino for gamblers, onlookers and wishful thinkers. The Calypso Show Lounge takes the spotlight off the passengers and on to singers and dancers. The Cyclopes’ Auditorium is also a cinema where movies are played at various times throughout the cruise.
The ships Siren’s Bar is a great place for a nightcap. The Muses Night Club, however, is more suitable for cocktails and dancing.
Cabins
Cabins come in a variety of different classes based on if they have an ocean view, balcony or they are inside and if they are a suite or just a regular stateroom.
Cabins on the ship come equipped with air conditioning, television, telephone, a safe box, minibar, hairdryer, twin beds and a bathroom. Some rooms can accommodate up to three passengers. Although the ship itself is relatively small, the standard rooms measure around 140 square feet, which is a normal size for cruise ship cabins.
Suites have all the aforementioned amenities plus DVD player, sitting area, living room and Jacuzzi.
Recreation
For a leisurely afternoon check out the Ithaca Library, Tychon Card Room, the internet café or Emporio boutique. There are also daily port and excursion talks.
The fitness center has only a few choices for exercisers. The other option for getting your heart rate up is the ships jogging track or the outdoor swimming pool—just watch out for children because there is no separate children’s swimming area. If you are looking for relaxation, on the other hand, try out the steamy sauna, the beauty salon or the Athena spa.
Taking the Kids
The Athena is not a cruise ship geared toward children or families. There are no counselors, programs or organized activities. There is, however, a children’s playroom.
Onboard Fees
Some examples of onboard fees are as follows:
- The recommended gratuity for the ships’ staff is approximately $10 per day
- Alcoholic beverages at the ships bars are extra
- Beauty salon and spa treatments such as massages are extra