Liner Lovers...a poignant video

[patwell]

While not a Cunard ship, I thought all the rest of you liner lovers would share a tear with me over this little video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R4L9nedEU4

 

Yes, we have so many cruise ships out there to choose from today...huge ships with all sorts of unusual amenities. Some are attractive in their own way and some are just plain garish (IMHO). Once upon a time ocean liners were ocean liners, and perhaps this video will remind everyone of what we have lost and how beautiful they were in their day.

 

And I admit...I did shed a tear as I watched.

Penny...who isn't quite so cheery after watching this and is probably wallowing in nostalgia!

[pnhmrk]

While not a Cunard ship

 

There was one ship there with a blue/black hull and red funnels with black tops - I couldn't read a name though. I remember seeing the SS Uganda (of The British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd) in the Dart, just before her demise - I must have only been sixteen or seventeen but I remember she looked a very sorry picture.

[K.sailaway]

There was one ship there with a blue/black hull and red funnels with black tops - I couldn't read a name though. I remember seeing the SS Uganda (of The British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd) in the Dart, just before her demise - I must have only been sixteen or seventeen but I remember she looked a very sorry picture.

 

I believe you're thinking of Union Castle Lines' 'Windsor Castle' which is pictured in the video beached at Alang in a sorry-looking, partly dismembered state. She was a wonderful ship which I remember well. My late father drove my sister and me from north London to see her sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton to South Africa in 1960. I later had a day trip to look over her and I can still remember a first class lounge with comfy chairs around a fireplace. By strange co-incidence, in 1977 I played a very small part in the financial transaction that saw her sold to John S Latsis who renamed her the Margarita L. I believe Margarita was his daughter's name. The ship was scrapped only very recently and another grand old ocean liner met her end.

 

The shots of Norway (ex- SS France) and SS United States also bring back found memories of the 1960s.

 

K

(in nostalgic mood.....)

[imacruizer]

Penny, what a touching video. Thanks so much for posting it on Cruise Critic. It certainly brings back a lot of memories.

 

Beth

[guernseyguy]

I remember seeing the SS Uganda (of The British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd) in the Dart, just before her demise - I must have only been sixteen or seventeen but I remember she looked a very sorry picture.

 

My first cruise was on SS Uganda - in Stanley Dorm - corkscrewing down the North Sea from Leith to Corunna, then Lisbon, Cherbourg, Bruges and home.

[judy&steve]

Our honeymoon was spent on the Norway in January ’81 and was also our first cruise and one of the best we have been on. We also spent our 10th anniversary with our son and our parents on the Norway in ’91. A different experience but still a very enjoyable vacation. The Norway is very special to us and it is hard seeing her beached in India. She will be missed.

[bobby1119]

Thanks for sharing the tribute to those two great liners. I have seen the SS United States up close in Philly - a sad sight.

 

In April while on a holiday trip to the Philippines I saw a well-preserved liner - the Italian Line's Augustus. The ship is moored in Manila next to the Manila hotel. It is a defunct floating hotel & restaurant.

 

We still have QE2!

[cruznut]

That video is one of the saddest things I have ever seen. Too many memories. If they ever do that to the QE2 it will be a tragedy.

[Maharlika]

It is heartbreaking to watch. I"m glad the original Queen Mary is still around in Long Beach. Unfortunately, she's incapable of sailing.

[SSNORWAY]

Anyone who feels like I do about the SS France / Norway has the chance to do something about it NOW, but by the 26th November!! Check out the ss maritime site for the link to Club Le France Prestige, or try www dot clfp dot fr

 

They have a plan to take her back to Normandy, it looks like the best possible last hope, they have backing from lots of large French enterprises including the port authorities and local government, they need sponsors to provide quick money to secure the ship before the final decision at alang on the 4th December.

 

You can subscribe to be a shareholder for 50 euros (£ 30) ($ 55) you pay by pay pal and if the bid is not successful you get it all back!! (minus the pay pal fee) I have paid lots more than that for models of her, look at the site especially the subsription tab.

 

I hope we can all save her together, but the word needs to get around fast.

[tusitala]

My first cruise was on SS Uganda - in Stanley Dorm - corkscrewing down the North Sea from Leith to Corunna, then Lisbon, Cherbourg, Bruges and home.

 

My first cruise was also on the Uganda !

 

We went from Greenock to Lisbon, Madeira, La Rochelle and Vigo.

 

Don't remember which dorm I was in but I do remember most of my classmates getting very ill in the Bay of Biscay.

 

There is plenty of History and Photographs about this ship on the web.

 

I sorely miss the SS Seabreeze aka "Frederico C", which sunk in the Atlantic a few years back.

[travel-to-go]

I sorely miss the SS Seabreeze aka "Frederico C", which sunk in the Atlantic a few years back.

 

I, too, miss the Seabreeze (the name of my High School, BTW, also!) We were on one of her last voyages. They were obviously in great financial srtraits. We befriended many of the crew and staff who told us honestly about some things. Our cabin was not in great shape, but she had old teak decks, and lots of authentic accoutrements missing from todays "plastic" cookie cuter formulaic ships. This was one of the quirkiest cabins we have ever had! I still have saved a few books from the ship- At one point I had the pictures of the Coast Guard Rescue (with a record number of people on one Sea Stallion) and Coast Guard shots of her ignominious end bookmarked. That odd-shaped swimming pool stood out starkly against the 50 foot waves and serious heel. Seeing that pool made me cry. Had it been so recently that I was IN that pool? The chaises were still stacked on the top decks, though you can be certain many of her fittings probably "disappeared" before she began her journey from New York to Virginia (or was it North Carolina) I am certain that there was never any intention that she should reach her intended destination to be refitted, and odd that she would sink in deep deep water outside the coastal limits (if you had a limping ship and 50 crew on board, wuldn't you want to keep close to the coast?) With Liberian Registry, there was no way an inquiry would be launched and the cost to raise her would prohibit the insurance company from trying to determine why her engine room was taking water.

Some reallly "funny" things went on on board during our cruise. Some enraged the passengers. Staff and crew made the best of bad cirucmstances. We still had fun and loved our crew. I still have our bathrobes. One of them still in brand new shape in the original plastic, embroidered on the breast pocket.

 

Sail on, Seabreeze,

Karie,

Who thought she was a grand dame to die such an ignoble death

[guernseyguy]

My first cruise was also on the Uganda !

 

Congratulations! We are in the tiny minority of passengers who have experience of what a REAL 'Steerage' passage was like - dorms with 14 or so bunk beds - having done that - and it was great fun, it amuses me enormously when people get upset about 'Britannia' on the QM2 being called 'steerage' - when in truth even the smallest inside Britannia cabin is better than all but the grandest First Class suites of 100 years ago.....

 

Peter

[pnhmrk]

It amuses me enormously when people get upset about 'Britannia' on the QM2 being called 'steerage' - when in truth even the smallest inside Britannia cabin is better than all but the grandest First Class suites of 100 years ago

The English sense of humour sees the use of the word "steerage" as being funny. Those who don't have the good fortune of being born on these fair islands (:D ) don't:)

[tusitala]

Anyone remember the dance hosts on the Seabreeze ?

 

The second time time we sailed there were two guys who were just like Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau on "Out to Sea" and they were a lot of fun. I believe one of their names was "Vic".

 

The best thing about the Seabreeze was the fact that the ship was so small you got to know most of the passengers by the end of the week unlike the new ships where you are lucky if you run into people again.

[travel-to-go]

Anyone remember the dance hosts on the Seabreeze ?

 

The second time time we sailed there were two guys who were just like Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau on "Out to Sea" and they were a lot of fun. I believe one of their names was "Vic".

 

The best thing about the Seabreeze was the fact that the ship was so small you got to know most of the passengers by the end of the week unlike the new ships where you are lucky if you run into people again.

 

I didn't "hang" with the dance hosts. too busy hanging with the guy who was in charge of entertainment, who happened to be someone I knew from another group I am in. Barrie Cunningham was an entertainer himself, doing both Jimmy Buffett and Neil Diamond. Amazingly, he did both quite well, and you would never think it was the same guy! How one guy could look like both is simply incredible. He is part of a company that does this in Vegas and other casino areas. And of course he played lost of Bbuffett over the ship's system. Can't argue with that!

http://barriecunningham.com/

I guess he's still doing it, as there are shows from this year on his website. I think he also manages some of the other "impersonators"

 

Yep, nice small ship. friendly crew, interesting "non-cookie-cutter" rooms, like the QE2. I miss her.

 

Karie,

who likes the older more personable ships