Needed: Passengers on Aug 31 1996 SS Norway T/A to France

[LuvBNatC]

I've been trying to get my NCL cruise history corrected, and it's come down to a discrepancy over the Norway's historic first return to France since she was transformed from the SS France.

 

It was a 12-day voyage from Miami to Southampton, via Charleston, NYC, and Le Havre, that began Aug 31, 1996. Haakon Gangdal was captain.

 

NCL is telling me it never happened, because the brochures of the day don't show it.

 

I have submitted my original ticket, but they're saying an old brochure trumps that, so if any of you were on that historic voyage (if you were, you'll remember -- it was like a national holiday in France!), please check in here.

 

If enough of you speak up, I'm hoping that the NCL presence who lurks here will take notice and forward this thread on to Sr. VP Bob Becker, whom I've been corresponding with.

 

Thank you, fellow CCers. I'm counting on you!

[TrumpyNor]

I did some "googling" on your behalf, and found this movie on youtube, that is from the sailing you are asking about. Hope this helps:

Edited September 25, 2014 by TrumpyNor

[TrumpyNor]

And here is some more "proof" regarding that historic transatlantic voyage:

http://www.oceanlinerlapelpins.com/NorwayPage.html

 

Quote: "On September 10, 1996 the S.S. NORWAY would return to a jubilant Le Havre for the first time since her departure in 1979. A reception of small pleasure craft greeted her at the breakwater, and fireboats sprayed water in the air as they escorted her to the pier. From the beach and surrounding area an estimated 100,000 people watched the return of their beloved ship." End of quote.

Edited September 25, 2014 by TrumpyNor

[LuvBNatC]

I did some "googling" on your behalf, and found this movie on youtube, that is from the sailing you are asking about. Hope this helps:

 

Oh, wow! Thank you! That video is giving me goosebumps. So good to see the ship again!

 

And it reminded me that I must have one of those certificates from the Captain in a scrapbook. I'm going to dig it out.

[TrumpyNor]

And here is some more info regarding the Transantlantic cruise in August/September 1996, you have to scroll far down the pages to find it (but all history there is in chronological order, so you should be able to find it):

http://www.classicliners.net/SSNORWAY.html

 

Quote:

"Before $4.8 million was spent on her next refit, a most historic transatlantic voyage eastward was set in place departing Miami on August 31st. A few days later this also included a hurricane bound arrival at New York, the first in sixteen years, and sailing fully booked towards France with 1902 passengers. The crossing proved most thrilling as history was retold via various onboard lectures, and dinners courses complete with fine cuisine observed in the manner of heyday transatlantic travel. Her arrival at Le Havre on the 10th of September 1996 was welcomed by more than 100,000 people along the beachfront and pier side. The mood of this celebrating day was reminiscent of her FRANCE maiden voyage into New York and Oslo arrival as NORWAY with the port filled with the appropriate spraying tugboats, and numerous fishing boats, yachts and helicopters buzzing overhead. Once again, there was a band welcome, not to mention reporters and TV crews documenting a very special occasion of the former FRANCE returning to its country of origin after nearly two decades. As NORWAY set a course North across the Channel by nightfall, her former home port lit up the sky with departing fireworks. " End of quote.

[TrumpyNor]

Did NCL really tell you this cruise "didn't happen" because they don't have a brochure with it in it??? This transatlantic cruise was done because SS Norway was going in to drydock in Southampton after the cruise was over - if I understood the last link (see my post above) correct.

[TrinaLC]

http://Www.classicliners.net/ssnorway.html recounts this voyage. :)

[TrumpyNor]

http://Www.classicliners.net/ssnorway.html recounts this voyage. :)

 

It is the same link I posted an hour ago (see above).... ;)

[LuvBNatC]

Did NCL really tell you this cruise "didn't happen" because they don't have a brochure with it in it??? This transatlantic cruise was done because SS Norway was going in to drydock in Southampton after the cruise was over - if I understood the last link (see my post above) correct.

 

Yes, this afternoon NCL actually had the audacity to tell me they had no record of the cruise, even though I provided my original ticket showing the voyage #, the 12-day itinerary, the works.

 

They must think I forged it. :(

 

Since posting this, I have dug out and sent my contact:

 

1) a clipping from May 31, 1996, from USA Today about NCL's big announcement of the voyage.

 

2) the brochure I received in the mail from NCL advertising this "epic" voyage.

 

3) a dated page of "Cruise Highlights" including all the ship's officers that was distributed during the voyage.

 

4) the signed certificate I received from Captain Haakon Gangdal recognizing me for being on the voyage, with the dates.

 

I lately discovered my NCL cruise history was a total mess, but they have managed to correct everything except this.

 

What galls me the most is that it was THE MOST IMPORTANT sailing the Norway had made since her launch. The ship was crawling with ocean liner buffs.

 

On the other hand, I'm not surprised that they're trying to sweep certain things about the Norway under the rug, given the ignominious way they behaved in first promising to repair her and bring her back, only to sneak her off to India to be scrapped.

 

I'm just glad the SS United States, which NCL owned for a time, is now in other hands, with people who recognize precious maritime history and are working like mad to save it.

 

Left to NCL, SSUS would undoubtedly have been recycled into beer cans by now. :mad:

 

Yeah, yeah, I know. They're a business. In it to make money. Save it. I get that. My objection is to them trying to rewrite history to suit them.

[TrumpyNor]

I can't imagine NCL will continue to ignore all the facts you have given them now - keep us updated regarding how it turns out in the end. :)

 

PS: I just took a look at your public CC profile, and the list of cruises is impressive, but I must admit that I am the most impressed with 23 (!!!) cruises on the SS Norway.

Edited September 25, 2014 by TrumpyNor

[LuvBNatC]

PS: I just took a look at your public CC profile, and the list of cruises is impressive, but I must admit that I am the most impressed with 23 (!!!) cruises on the SS Norway.

 

Trumpy, if the boiler hadn't exploded, my Norway cruise count would have been MUCH higher today. :D

 

As you can see from my sailings, I've been a nomad since 2003, looking for another ship to call "home." After so many sailings on a "real" and legendary ocean liner, all these boxy white floating amusement parks just don't do it for me.

 

I've studied the ship's history for years, and I'm now writing a book about my many strange and wonderful experiences on the Norway.

 

NCL picked the wrong passenger with whom to play Norway denial games. ;)

 

My next cruise is on Norwegian Getaway, which NCL has eerily following in Norway's wake, both in homeport and itinerary. Norway originally called at St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Nassau before NCL got Great Stirrup Cay.

[LuvBNatC]

Just heard from NCL. They have admitted their records were incorrect and fixed my cruise history.

 

Not only that, they also went in and fixed the history of the friend I shared a cabin with, and she didn't even have to ask!

 

I feel vindicated. Whew! :D

 

But I'm wondering why no other passengers on that sailing have surfaced. Does it mean I'm getting too long in the tooth? :confused:

[TrumpyNor]

Just heard from NCL. They have admitted their records were incorrect and fixed my cruise history.

 

Not only that, they also went in and fixed the history of the friend I shared a cabin with, and she didn't even have to ask!

 

I feel vindicated. Whew! :D

 

But I'm wondering why no other passengers on that sailing have surfaced. Does it mean I'm getting too long in the tooth? :confused:

 

Great news - thank you for the update. Happy cruising! :)

[Barb Nahoumi]

I did some "googling" on your behalf, and found this movie on youtube, that is from the sailing you are asking about. Hope this helps:

 

Thank you for posting these great youtubes of the Norway. They are so impressive, as were many of the vintage youtubes listed alongside.

[GMCOLT]

She was a great vessel. I was lucky enough to visit the Norway the last time the Norway was in New York a week before 9-11.

NCL Norway crew loved working on board.

I am building 2 models for former crew who are still with the company.I found some France models that I am converting to the Norway. The Norway was so refined looking compared to current cruise ships.

Here's a couple pictures. One of the Norway backing out of pier 88 in 2001.

The other is a model that is on the Breakaway on the bridge.

[JohnIreland]

I see everything it sorted , but just to add an old NCL press release that mentions the voyage.

 

https://web.archive.org/web/19970125234052/http://www.ncl.com/html/latest97.html

[DMH15]

Just heard from NCL. They have admitted their records were incorrect and fixed my cruise history.

 

 

 

Not only that, they also went in and fixed the history of the friend I shared a cabin with, and she didn't even have to ask!

 

 

 

I feel vindicated. Whew! :D

 

 

 

But I'm wondering why no other passengers on that sailing have surfaced. Does it mean I'm getting too long in the tooth? :confused:

 

Hope not! My cruise on that fine ship was 1986!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LuvBNatC]

Thank you all for your photos and the press release. I still miss the Norway every day. She was a big part of my life for many years. Many happy memories. :)

 

I made three crossings on her (2 eastbound, 1 westbound), including the August 1997 one mentioned in the press release.

 

On the 1999 westbound, we stopped in mid-ocean to witness a total solar eclipse, and again when we were in the vicinity of Titanic so John Maxtone-Graham the maritime historian could preside over a ceremony where a huge wreath of flowers was thrown overboard in memory of the victims.

 

Everywhere Norway went in Canada and Europe when I was onboard, she was welcomed like a celebrity.

 

I think it was on one of our stops in Canada that the local paper ran a front page headline that read something like, "Ship of the Rich and Famous Arrives" with a large picture of the ship across the top of the fold.

 

There will never be another Norway.