Royal Olympic Cruises, Ltd.

MTS Jason

Rating:
Submit your review here
Operator: Royal Olympic Cruises, Ltd.
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1965 / 1997
Length / Tonnage: 330 / 5,500
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 140 / 280
Officers / Crew: Greek / Greek and Filipino
Operating Area: Aegean, Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Suez Canal
Telephone / Fax: Tel 113 0471 / Fax 113 0471

Maybe it was the origin of the JASON and STELLA OCEANIS in the design section of an Italian shipyard that gives them aesthetic advantage over so many small cruise ships, but it could have been plain luck...both ships are great looking vessels, real eye candy for ship lovers...True...there are plenty of differences between them...the JASON has the original flat stern fitted in Italy while the STELLA OCEANIS was given a new cruiser stern and their lido decks have ever after differed in shape and size as do some cabin arrangements...but the ships are more alike than not... small and comfortable, the JASON is a good little cruise liner and we'd take her anywhere.

To review what was said about the origins of the STELLA OCEANIS: "Three ships being built in Italy during the mid 1960's had been promised to the government of Greece as the final installment of Italian World War II reparations to Greece. Ordered by the National Tourist Organization of Greece, plans called for each ship to be operated by a different Greek company, though ownership was to remain with the Greek government. The ships were intended as cruise/ferries, a new concept back then. They would have accommodations for 414 passengers in deluxe class, tourist class and aircraft seats. They were to have swimming pools, lidos, lounges and the like to please if not attract passengers, but were to be first and foremost work horses.

Each was to have a garage capable of carrying 40 cars - they were to bring tourists to vacation in Greece. Of maritime historical significance, they were among the first passenger carrying ships to have bow thrusters, those handy devices that eliminate the need for tug assistance when maneuvering in ports. One of the three ships, the ADONIS of Nomikos Lines, was instead turned over to the "K" Lines and eventually became the full scale cruise ship ATLANTIS. A second ship, the EROS, was set to go to the Typaldos Lines. Typaldos had just purchased 3 ships in France and did not need additional tonnage, so the ship was sent to Epirotiki Lines and renamed JASON and still charms passengers today. The third ship, the STELLA OCEANIS, was christened APHRODITE when she debuted for the "K" Lines in May, 1965.

She immediately went to work, sailing thrice weekly from Piraeus to either Rhodes and Dodecanese or Crete. Her internal fittings were in the ferry boat configuration, but by the following year, she had been withdrawn for renovations to become a cruise ship for the Sun Line." Similarly, once Epirotiki got the EROS, they made her the trendy cruise liner JASON. Epriotiki hasn't needed to do much to the interiors of the ship...the design was so good that only decorative refurbishings have been necessary over the years. Like the STELLA OCEANIS, the JASON has needed no major renovations. With the principal public rooms ranging on one deck and a Taverna at the forward end of the deck above...it's pretty easy to find your way around the JASON.

It seems like the JASON's been around forever and been almost everywhere...well maybe not FOREVER but she sure has a whole lot of impressive itineraries on her logbooks! A lot of people love the JASON and we're two of them. She has carried an awful lot of people to an awful lot of places and right here and now let me tell you, there is nothing awful about her! This former Epirotiki Liner makes her first appearance in Royal Olympic's fleet with the 1999 summer season...We're kind of excited about this because she is going to work a really wonderful itinerary. That's all you're gonna hear about that now...for more details...read on! With a crew of 120 and a capacity of 280 passengers, the JASON is one of those small cruise ships we prefer...the big ships we two like...and there are a some...are few in number...Nope...we like the small, intimate ships and the JASON fits the bill. She is a near sister of the line's STELLA OCEANIS and we think that ship is one of the prettiest small passenger ships afloat!

There are more public rooms and deck space than you would think a small ship would have and the JASON lacks for almost nothing. Like the STELLA OCEANIS, this ship is in every way a full cruise liner in miniature. Decor by Maurice Bailey and Arminio Lozzi distinguish this one from the STELLA...otherwise they are still sisters in so many ways. Most evening entertainments are held in the Main Lounge - dancing, variety shows and of course, the Greek show performed on every cruise...when the band plays only Greek music and crew dance Greek dances and everyone screams a lot of "OPAs". In this ship there is a small library midships on Dionysos Deck, with a small casino opposite. On the deck above is the Night Club, a seagoing version of a Taverna. It's normally a late night spot, but it also offers large windows with terrific views of sea and scene...so it's a nifty observation room by day.

The Dining room is located forward on Dionysos Deck and looks out forward and to the sides. Big enough to seat 200 comfortably, there are usually two sittings...since it's rare that the ship isn't full, full, full! No matter...the two sitting service is usually at dinner only with breakfasts and lunches usually open sittings. If our recent experiences in the other ships of this fleet are any indication, we will enjoy the food when we sail in her in the spring of 1999 (we'll get back to you and let you know for sure!)...The menus are standard through much of the fleet and we know we like what is offered. We feel that praising the food the JASON will serve is a safe bet. After all, the food in her fleetmates TRITON and ORPHEUS was delicious!

Graded in seven different categories are the 100 outside and 37 inside cabins aboard the JASON. Top digs here are the six TA grade rooms aft on Apollo Deck, but somehow we prefer the slightly less expensive TB rooms just ahead of them...maybe it's the curving wall at their forward ends...we just like 'em! But the TA's are nothing to sneeze at and we'd be happy in any of them...If you prefer a lot of room in your room, the JASON can please you because like private quarters in the STELLA OCEANIS, cabins here are very cute and while many are cozy at l30 square feet...they are quite are comfortable. Deluxe cabins (the higher graded TA and TB cabins) run as big as 165 square feet. All have ample closet space and each cabin has private bathroom with shower (there are also bathtubs in categories TA), air conditioning, lock drawer for valuables and dual channel radio. The JASON has a few inside minimum cabins fitted with one lower bed and an upper berth...they are dandy for single occupancy... Another area where the line excels is cabin service, so expect to become a fan of your steward...We spend an awful lot of time at sea and give our nod to Royal Olympic for outstanding cabin steward service...they are some of the best we have ever encountered in many, many years of sea travel...

It will be an interesting mix of passengers when the JASON performs the company's brand new...so new it hasn't started yet....itinerary...the 7 night "Footsteps of St. Paul" cruise..Expect an international mix of passengers...40 plus... mainly Americans but also Europeans...so if announcements in foreign languages bug you...don't say you weren't informed... Royal Olympic cruises always gets a lot of repeaters, and with this new itinerary we can hardly wait to see who we will run into...The JASON is a "White Ship"... so she's a little more relaxed and casual than her "Blue Ship" near sister STELLA OCEANIS...experienced travelers have long favored both ships, and both appeal to many with solid backgrounds who don't need the glitz of neon and gimmicky gadgets. Because of the number of religious sites in each port of call, it would be fair game to say...expect a lot of pious travelers, too.

From April 2, 1999 through her return from her October 15, 1999 cruise, the JASON will operate 7 night "Footsteps of St. Paul" cruises... from Piraeus to Rhodes, Patmos, Kusadasi, Dikili, Istanbul, Kavalla and Thessaloniki (both in Northern Greece) and back to Piraeus. If you take her in May you might run into us...we plan to do one of these!

She's nothing fancy but there's so much we like about the JASON. While of all the ships in her size category we find ourselves most drawn to the STELLA OCEANIS, we are plenty enthusiastic about the JASON, too...both of them look and feel like ships...and for us the ship is the thing! We don't hesitate to recommend the JASON to travelers who know that this is not a mass market cruiser...no glitter nor glamor here...no atrium, no neon...no crowds... People who can't "stand furriners" won't like this one either but you probably will! We know we sure do!