Cruise Ship That Inspired ‘The Love Boat’ Sinks in California

A 1950s-era cruise ship, once an inspiration for the TV series “Love Boat,” is in trouble in Northern California. The vessel Aurora has been moored in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta for several years but has now partially sunk and is leaking fuel.

What happens to cruise ship Aurora next?

The Coast Guard has cordoned off the wetlands area and deployed a boom around the vessel to contain leaking fuel. The agency said the extent of the pollution hazard is unclear, although the ship has sunk to the bottom of the 13-foot-deep channel and is partially submerged.

What’s next?

Peter Knego, Cruise Journalist/Historian and owner of the MidShipCinema YouTube Channel, told us, “What typically happens after a ship takes on water is that it is patched, then refloated via a gradual pumping out process that will take weeks or months to complete. Once refloated, without a well-financed intervention, AURORA will most likely be scrapped on site or towed off and scrapped.”

The 85-cabin ship was constructed in Germany and launched as a cruise ship in 1955. Through various owners, it sailed in northern Europe, South Pacific, the Greek Islands, Alaska, and Central America before retiring from service in 1977. Aurora was featured in the James Bond movie “From Russia With Love.”

Aurora ship had several past owners

Since then, it has gone through several owners and has previously been used as a church-run homeless shelter and a planned luxury yacht, although all these ventures proved short-lived.

In 2008, Chris Willson bought it after seeing an ad on Craigslist for $1.2 million. He spent years renovating the vessel and eventually sold it last year.

Willson said the 293-foot-long ship, which housed several sun decks, an Art Deco lounge, and 85 guest cabins, was seriously disrepair when he took over.

Along with friends and maritime history enthusiasts, he had spent years gradually refurbishing the interiors and planned to place the ship in a dry dock to refurbish the hull when funds allowed. The Coast Guard said attempts to contact the new owner have not succeeded.

Ironically, Knego and documentary filmmaker Robert James were filming out there just days before the sinking. You can see some the commentary of his visit below.

Knego closed by saying, “All in all, it is heartbreaking for those of us who have followed the AURORA’s long and storied career.”