The ship was used briefly for ocean cruises until 1990, when it was sold to the Swedish government, renamed as Stefan and used to house asylum seekers in Gothenburg from 1990 to 1992.

There were two notable orchestras on the Stefan Batory: guitarist Jerzy Kowalewski' band and a well-known group from Katowice under the direction of saxophonist/clarinettist Bronisław Dyszkiewicz.

During her long service, the Stefan Batory has at least twice appeared in film, significantly remembered, as "part of the set" in Kochaj albo rzuć (Love or Leave).

The motion picture team simply filmed the ship, festively leaving Gdynia, and a part of her original, regular voyage.

In 1962, Lee Harvey Oswald, his wife Marina and their daughter were brought to the United States from the Soviet Union on board the SS Maasdam.