6,448 tons; length 419 ft., width 61 ft., draft 17 ft, 20 knots; 172 cabins; 524 passengers; diesel, twin screw; built 1964, scrapped 2001
Go to mv Bilu brochure
Somerfin Lines, based in land-locked Switzerland, placed their new Bilu in service from Israel to Italy and France in 1964. It was a novel vessel advertised in Europe as a "boatel". Passengers paid a basic passage fare plus a charge for a berth on a sliding scale of privacy. Double occupancy in a two-berth cabin with private facilities came to US$75 per person. Food was served cafeteria style and was not included in the fare. Cars could be carried in a drive-on drive-off garage from only US$45.
After its first summer season, Bilu repositioned to Miami to spend the winter of 1964/1965 as a cruise ship on 3 and 4-day trips to the Bahamas including all meals.
There were five passenger decks with public areas including the Tivoli Lounge, Lido Grill, Rendezvous Bar, Continental Dining Room, a reading/writing room and shops. Except for a Penthouse Suite, all staterooms were inside on Mont Blanc and Alpine Deck, with the Garage Deck for 120 cars in between. There were 78 two-berth, 6 three-berth and 87 four-berth cabins, all with upper/lower berths and private facilities.
Bilu returned to Europe in the spring of 1965 and did not repeat the Miami deployment. In 1967 it was renamed Dan and sold to Zim Lines of Israel to continue in Mediterranean ferry service. Starting in 1976 it served various ferry routes in Europe and the Middle East with various other owners and names. It was finally broken up in India.
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