The Last American Ocean Liners

[StarFox]

The days of the Ocean Liners are over. The Jet has won. Now we cross the ocean packed in a plane, and enjoy the wonders of Jetlag.

But me, I was not around for the era....or for 2 decades after it ended, but I would love to go back to it. Imagine it, being on a ship 990 feet long, 101 feet wide, you could walk around, enjoy a play, catch up on reading, anything that was possiable in the 1950's (sorry, no bigscreen TVs) you could do it

There were, and to some extent still are a large number of ex Ocean Liners in the world, however they are vanishing, but one ship remains. Hands down the Best Ocean Liner ever built.

She was once called the First Lady of the Sea's. She is still the largest passenger ship ever built in the United States (even Project America was shorter). She was, and still is, the fastest Passenger Liner EVER built anywhere in the world. She could carry over 2,000 passengers, across the Atlantic in 3 days 10 hours....10 hours faster then the famed RMS Queen Mary.

She is still the Last Liner ever to hold the Blue Riband. The Award for the fastest Transatlantic crossing. Even the modern Catamaran Ferrys that hold the record today.....less then 1/10th her size and carrying 3,000 less people could only top her record by 2 hours.

Still not sure which ship I'm talking about. If not, here you go



I only learned of this ship about 4 years ago. During a school project on Maritime Engineering. I was looking up examples of ocean liners (at the time I was focused on the Titanic) when I learned of the SS American Star....A ship wreck that until recently was on one of the Canary Islands. some of you may know her as the SS OWND!



I was sad to see such a great ship get wrecked like that. and as I started reading her history, I learned she had a much Larger Sister, the SS United States. I quickly learned about her speed, size, everything about how great she was. I was almost sure thats where it ended, but I was wrong. I learned that unlike the SS America (American Star) the United States was still around, and intact (minus interior)

at once I thought, how can such a great ship still exist and no one knows about it! I very quickly and very sadly learned, that after 17 years in service, she was laid up in 1969. and quickly forgotten.....

Today she sits, idle and rusted, in my place of birth...Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She is currently owned by Norwegien Cruise Lines, who promised to restore her, and another great American Liner the SS Independence (see photos below) to Cruise Service. that was in 2003. today, the Truth shows. NCL America is in service, the only US Flagged Cruise Line. The Independence has been sold to "someone", no one really knows who. the Great SS Norway (ex SS France) which was also promised to be redeemed in some sense, possiably a hotel, is currently being scrapped in Alang India

Sadly it seems not that NCL has lied to us. Although they still own the United States, their main promise has been broken. there will be no pair of classic ocean liners cruising American Waters, at this rate there will be no Ocean Liners Crusing American Waters at all. The Independence, in her almost pristine state of preservation based on pictures taken recently of her interior, has an unknown fate

the SS United States, rusted, empty, and static, also has an unknown fate. Maybe she will end up in India...but that has been asked for 30 Years...and has yet to come true.

One thing is for sure....SOMETHING must be done

I am Currently Working with Reuben Goossens, Corey Abelove, and Alex Naughton who are all part of the ssmaritime.com "Save a Classic Liner" Campaign, dedicated to Saving the SS United States, SS Independence, and any other Vintage ocean liners left in the world. and do not think it is a senseless fight!

the Campaign in the hands of Reuben, has Already preserved one ocean liner for the future, the SS Rotterdam

Who knows, with enough support, some day the SS United States hotel in New York City will open. Maybe the SS Independence Hotel in Oakland, or Honolulu, where she cruised up until 2001.

But without support, these last great AMERICAN ships, the Mighty United States, and the Delightful Independence could be scrapped, turned into "something else"

I urge anyone, everyone who loves the ocean and the Ships and Subs that sail it, contact every Senator, represenative, news agency, everyone. Tell them the Story I have shared with you, Americans espically, DO NOT let this ship, who has been called the "Flagship of America" for over 50 years now, fall into the hands of a steel worker in india. Dont Let the Independence, who could cheaply be restored and either returned to service, or made into a hotel, be turned into next years new cars.

Both ship Deserve to be Preserved. Any and All Americans should make an effort, even if just signing my petition, to protect this great ship

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/s...igu/index.html

Email Senators, do your part

Edit #1

I would also suggest getting in contact with any 2008 hopefuls. If they are on the side of protecting the ship, it could easily become a campaign issue...with huge press....which would bring these great ships to the light once again

Best Regards
-Will Gant
Proud SS United States and SS Independence Supporter
http://www.ssmaritime.com/SS-United-States.htm

Below are images of the ships Mentioned

the SS Independence, and her current home at Pier 70 in Oakland



The SS United States....Awaiting her fate in Philadelphia, such a sad sight, she has not been painted since 1968





The SS Norway (ex SS France) who was disgracefully disgaurded by NCL, who neglected her boilers until one exploded, then lied about her destination and fate to the German Government to get her to a breaking yard in southeast asia....what a Disgrace for their fleets flagship for over 20 years!!

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/WILL%27S%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

[Skybird]

As a meaningful and needed tool of mass transportation, the days of cruisers are over, yes, but the holiday cruise buisiness is booming - practically all majopr shipyards in the world have filled books, and every major competitor is boosting up his fleet.

Me personally fail to see the fun in spending two weeks on a flying city with shops and shops and shops and more shops and promenades offering more shops and reaching from bow to stern.

If I would consider to make a holiday on the high seas, I would search for an adventure turn on a sailship, at least a very huge yacht. Something liike boarding the gorch fock. but it is unlikely I will ever feel tempted to do even this. Being close to the sea and spend some times in Lübeck and the coast in the Lübeck Bay is good enough for me.

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by Skybird

As a meaningful and needed tool of mass transportation, the days of cruisers are over, yes, but the holiday cruise buisiness is booming - practically all majopr shipyards in the world have filled books, and every major competitor is boosting up his fleet.

Me personally fail to see the fun in spending two weeks on a flying city with shops and shops and shops and more shops and promenades offering more shops and reaching from bow to stern.

If I would consider to make a holiday on the high seas, I would search for an adventure turn on a sailship, at least a very huge yacht. Something liike boarding the gorch fock. but it is unlikely I will ever feel tempted to do even this. Being close to the sea and spend some times in Lübeck and the coast in the Lübeck Bay is good enough for me.

How easy. I agree with every word you have written here. The whole concept of being stuck on a cruise liner has absolutely zero appeal to me.

[mrbeast]

Originally Posted by Skybird

As a meaningful and needed tool of mass transportation, the days of cruisers are over, yes, but the holiday cruise buisiness is booming - practically all majopr shipyards in the world have filled books, and every major competitor is boosting up his fleet.

Me personally fail to see the fun in spending two weeks on a flying city with shops and shops and shops and more shops and promenades offering more shops and reaching from bow to stern.

If I would consider to make a holiday on the high seas, I would search for an adventure turn on a sailship, at least a very huge yacht. Something liike boarding the gorch fock. but it is unlikely I will ever feel tempted to do even this. Being close to the sea and spend some times in Lübeck and the coast in the Lübeck Bay is good enough for me.

Think you pretty much echo my sentiments too.

Modern liners are less ships more floating shopping malls and they look about the same too. The classic liners like the Queen Mary or the Titanic, I could go for but in a choice between a tall sailing ship and a modern liner, the tall ship would win everytime.

[kiwi_2005]

Yeah but guys imagine all the single ladies running around in bikinis just waiting to meet someone just like you. Does not that appeal to you:hmm:

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

Yeah but guys imagine all the single ladies running around in bikinis just waiting to meet someone just like you. Does not that appeal to you:hmm:

Oh yes :hmm:

[Etienne]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Oh yes :hmm:

I worked on a cruise ship for a while, and I can assure you the average passenger is 30 years older and 100 pounds heavier.

And seriously, the "Classic liners", while they look good, didn't have accomodations that would fare competitively with today's offering... And conversion to meet USPH and USCG standards would be somewhere between Ouch and "Please stop!"

Plus, these babies are probably steam powered. Talk about a major drydock job.

While some of them are very good looking, ships are essentially tools. When a tool becomes obsolete or worn out, or when its purpose is no longer, it is discarded. That's pretty much the end of it.

[JSLTIGER]

Actually, the SS United States was purchased by NCL a few years ago, and at the time it was intended that she would return to service as a cruise ship. They were doing feasibility studies on repairing her, but I haven't heard anything in a while.

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

Yeah but guys imagine all the single ladies running around in bikinis just waiting to meet someone just like you. Does not that appeal to you:hmm:

No because I'm married and value my life.

[swifty]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Me personally fail to see the fun in spending two weeks on a flying city with shops and shops and shops and more shops and promenades offering more shops and reaching from bow to stern.

I used to feel the same way until my GF talked me into going on one. And as far as vacations go it's got to be one of the most relaxful ones I have ever been on. The only real worry I ever had was to make sure I didnt lose track of time while in port and miss the boat, every thing else was taken care of. Now for me I have it made I live no more than 2 hours from the 3 largest cruse ports in the US (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Cape Canaveral) so I don't have to worry about flights. I see it as a great way to unwind and recharged as a four day weekend.

I worked on a cruise ship for a while, and I can assure you the average passenger is 30 years older and 100 pounds heavier.

I will agree the average is 30 but there is almost always a group of 20 something co-eds. Just about all my lady friend go on a cruse each year.
Some of my friends:

[Torplexed]

Oh my. Cruise ship babes.

Where's ol' Leisure Suit Larry when you need him?

[geetrue]

Looks like all of those girls had the same plastic surgeon to me ...

Just kidding ... I love old ships.

Good luck StarFox ... Have you thought about fixing the United States up with a perment mooring place ... then turning her into a time-share stateroom venture.

I have ... but a little low on dough right now, like three bucks.

[JSLTIGER]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Oh my. Cruise ship babes.

Where's ol' Leisure Suit Larry when you need him?

The original taught me how to type when I was a little kid...

[Etienne]

Let's play Guess the Cruise Line!

Originally Posted by swifty

Carnival Cruise Line, Original Flava.

Originally Posted by swifty

Royal Caribbean. The top picture is in Labadee or that other private place they have in the W. Caribs.

Did I get any right? :-D

(You know you've been working too much when you try to identify the ships in the pictures before you even notice the girls.)

Originally Posted by StarFox

...first fire proof ship...

Funny that they could build unsinkable ships in 1912, but waited forty years to take care of the flammabillity problem. :-D

[StarFox]

I know im gonna get flamed for this post, but I do not care....i guess no one here cares about history

And look up William Francis Gibbs, he indeed made a true fireproof ship, it was not just a catch line, it was a true fact

I have just head from Jon Haeber in California. He recently took some wonderful pictures
of the Interior of the great SS Independence. the ship looks almost in pristine shape,
almost new. sure the exterior is beat up, but its the interior that matters

I along with the rest of the "Save a Classic Liner" campaign have hoped that this historic
ship, built in 1951, she sailed until 2001. 50 Years in Service, quite a record, even the
SS United States cannot show such a record.

However, Jon has told me, the word on the Street is that the delightful Independence (now
renamed Oceanic) is leaving next thursday for "asia"

We all know that could mean two things, either a yard to refit the ship for service (which
is unlikely as no one even knows who owns the ship now) or she is going to a breaking yard

the Independence represents one of two remaing AMERICAN ocean liners from a bygone time.
the other of course being the SS United States. the Sistership to the Independence, the
Constitution, sank on her way to india in 1995.

I am trying to put together a huge media Blitz in a last bid attempt to save this great
and historic ship. Anyone willing, anyone who calls themselves a ship lover, be it
warships of commerical ships, you should help with this effort. Sure she has no guns,
never killed anyone, but she is the 2nd to last american ocean liner left on earth. The
rest as far as I know, are gone for good. Dont let this happen! Help, Email, call every
international news station on earth. Please, dont let another great ship meet the torch.

Help preserve history, Save a Classic Liner!!!

-Will Gant
Member of the "Save a Classic Liner" Campaign