The Transvaal Castle was built by John Brown & Co (Clydebank Ltd) and launched in January 1961. She sailed on her maiden voyage from Southampton in January 1962 and served as part of the mailship fleet carrying only 1 class of passenger, the so-called "Hotel Class". In 1968 she was sold to Safmarine and renamed SA Vaal and registered in Cape Town. Her hull was painted white and she was given a grey funnel with the colours of the South African flag on. She completed 114 voyages from Southampton to Durban and back, steaming approx 1544200 miles. Her final voyage ended in Southampton on October 10, 1977. She was then sold for further service to Carnival Cruise Lines who sent her for an extensive refit, emerging with an extended superstructure and increased passenger capacity. She operated successsfully under the name Festivale until the mid 1990's when she was sold to Dolphin Cruise Line to operate as IslandBreeze. This lasted until Premier Cruises acquired her along with Dolphin Cruise Lines. When Premier folded she was laid up at Freeport in the Bahamas and was reported as having been bought by UK holiday company Thomson for further service. This never came to pass and she continued her lay up at Freeport. In November 2002, an Australian cruise operator, Megawest Cruises wanted to fund a new cruise venture that would involve basing the laid up ex Transvaal Castle (now laid up with the name Big Red Boat III) in Freemantle to tap West Australian cruise markets. They needed to raise approx AUD 4.2m ($2.35m) to fund the venture. Nothing came to pass of this venture and in April 2003 it seems as if the end was near and she commenced her final voyage to the breakers in May. She was finally beached at Alang on July 13th 2003. As built she was 760 ft X 90 ft and with a GRT of 30 212 Gross Tons. She had capacity for 731 passengers and cargo space of 674 680 Cubic feet. Her twin screws were driven by double reduction geared turbines of 44000 BHP. Click on the stamp for interiors