Welcome!

Welcome to caledonien.net, celebrating two much-loved Messageries Maritimes ships, the Calédonien and the Tahitien (later reborn as the cruise ship Atalante).

For nearly two decades these handsome ships carried cargo, passengers and military personnel to French outposts in the Caribbean and the Pacific, on regular round trips lasting almost four months between Marseilles and Sydney. They were amongst the last of the real working cargo-passenger liners, plying their trade until long sea journeys were displaced by mass jet passenger travel. They were a far cry from today's floating hotels, a style of long sea voyage which has long gone and is missed by all her experienced it.

Calédonien departing Woolloomooloo, Sydney, on 3 December 1969. Photo by Richard Francis

I travelled from Sydney to Marseilles on one of her last voyages, and know a few other souls who enjoyed the same marvellous, budget travel experience. Their leisurely pace and the need to load and unload freight meant extended stays in exotic places like Tahiti, the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) and the Caribbean.

New additions

New additions, as of January 2010, include some new pictures in the photo galleries and a passenger list from 1970.

Official Messageries Maritimes post card used for both Calédonien and Tahitien

I welcome any input by email from anyone with images and stories about these lovely ships.