Cruise Line History - July 4th menus featuring “Russian Caviar” and “Kangoroo Tail Soup” on the High Seas from 1900 until 1938 - aboard the SS Manhattan, SS Aleutian and the SS City of Rome.
By Michael L. Grace | July 4, 2009
Cruise Line History - July 4th trans-Atlantic liner and Alaska cruise ship dinner menus from the past… featuring “Russian Caviar” and “Kangoroo Tail Soup” on the High Seas from 1900 until 1938 - aboard the SS Manhattan, SS Aleutian and the SS City of Rome.
Anchor Line’s SS CITY OF ROME - July 4th Menu - 1900 - Russian Caviar
United States Lines SS MANHATTAN - July 4th Menu -1937 - Australian Kangaroo Tail Soup
Alaska Steamship Company’s SS ALEUTIAN - July 4th Menu - 1938 - More Russian Caviar
Topics: ALASKA STEAMSHIP LINES, ANCHOR LINE, UNITED STATES LINE | No Comments »
Cruise History: The Chandris Line and the SS America was the precursor of Celebrity Cruises.
By Michael L. Grace | July 3, 2009
Cruise History: The Chandris Line and the SS America was the precursor of Celebrity Cruises. For a history of the SS America click here.
One of the ships operated by Chandris was the beautiful Trans-Atlantic liner America previously owned by the United States Line and initially captained by Demitrios Challioris who had been in charge of a crude oil tanker in Southampton. Chandris changed the name to the Australis.
The ship had previously accommodated three classes but underwent a major refit and became a one-class configuration geared to carry 2300 passengers.
The aft promenade decks were extended, a swimming pool was added, and air conditioning was installed.
She made 3 month voyages around the world from Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Southampton, Casablanca, Las Palmas, Cape Town,(or through the Mediterranean via Gibraltar, Naples, Malta, Piraeus, Port Said and Aden), Freemantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Suva, Tahiti, Acapulco, Balboa, Cristobal, Port Everglades and return to Southampton.
Chandris Lines also had the Australian Government’s prized immigrant contract bringing tens of thousands of new immigrants out to major ports in Australia The ships were always sold out so that there were 3 sittings for dinner and special sittings for kids. P&O, a rival cruise line, had ceased the line voyage business to Australia so that the Australis was now known as “the world’s largest express liner.”
Topics: CHANDRIS LINES | No Comments »
The Paddle Steamer Emeraude - Colonial Indochina and Today’s Vietman
By Michael L. Grace | July 2, 2009
Cruising The Past: In 1910 a paddle steamer called the Emeraude was offering unforgettable cruises in Halong Bay for visitors to what was then French Indochina. The Emeraude was part of a flotilla owned by the Roque family who had left Bordeaux in 1858 in search of adventure and fortune.
Over a period of more than 50 years they found both. After several ups and downs including successful trading and timber businesses, near bankruptcy and being taken hostage by pirates, the Roque brothers built Emeraude, Perle, Saphir, Rubis and Onyx to ferry passengers and freight along the waterways of Indochina and cruise on magnificent Halong Bay.
Today the Emeraude offers a regular cruise service on board a luxurious replica steamer with 38 cabins meticulously designed to evoke the nostalgic charm of colonial Indochina.
Visit the Emeraude website for more information and reservations.
Background and History:
In 1999, the chance discovery the postcard of a paddle steamer Emeraude cruising in Ha Long Bay inspired a search for it origins in the vaults of the French Colonial Archives in Aix-en-Provence. From historical documents unearthed there, it was discovered that the Emeraude was part of a fleet of ships operated by the Roque family, transporting freight along the waterways of French Indochina and offering cruises in Ha Long Bay.
Letters were sent to all 1,200 people with the family name of Roque listed in France and eventually the descendants of the family of ship-owners were found. The Roque family in question kindly made the family archives available. As a result, the project to rebuild the Emeraude began in a Hai Phong shipyard in 2002.
The story of the Emeraude goes back to 1858 and three brothers, Victor, Xavier and Henry Roque, who lived in a small village in South-West France. Driven by their entrepreneurial spirit and dreams of adventure, the brothers headed to the Far East in search of their fortunes.
Arriving in Manila and then moving onto Hong Kong, the brothers were soon in business supplying fresh food and provisions of all kinds to the French Army. In 1860, following the taking of Sai Gon by the troops of Admiral Rigault de Genouilly the previous year, the Roque brothers left Hong Kong to set up business in the newly colonized city.
Their business prospered and in addition to providing supplies of flour, bread, biscuits and fresh meat for the army they also now supplied timber for construction, towing services, manufactured sugar, undertook public construction work and traded in opium.
In 1872, the Roque brothers, financed by the British trading house of Jardine & Matheson, signed a contract with the French colonial administration to establish the Cochinchine Steam Lines. In exchange for an annual fee, the company provided transportation services for passengers, freight and mail between Cochinchine and neighbouring Cambodia.
In 1890 Victor Roque obtained a coal concession in Dong Trieu in northern Tonkin. Success breeds envy and two of the Roque brothers were kidnapped, along with others in their employ, by bandits led by the notorious Luu Ky. To pay the ransom, the Roque family was forced to sell off family assets, leaving the company weakened. Victor Roque, then 61 years-old, bankrupt and in ill-health, returned to France.
Following the departure of Victor, Henry assumed sole responsibility for the Roque family business but was soon joined by Paul Roque, son of Xavier, in Hai Phong. It was here that they had the idea to build a small fleet of ships to transport freight and offer pleasure cruises on Ha Long Bay. The construction of the four flat-bottomed paddle-steamers, to be named EMERAUDE, RUBIS, PERLE and SAPHIR, was carried out in Hong Kong. Each ship could be easily distinguished by the coloured band around the top of its funnel: green for EMERAUDE, red for RUBIS, white for PERLE and blue for SAPHIR.
By 1919 the business became a limited company known as the Société Anonyme de Chalandage et Remorquage d’Indochine, or SACRIC for short. Paul Roque returned to France in 1921 and was appointed a Vice-President for life. One of the future Presidents of the company was to be Edmond Giscard d’ Estaing, father of Valéry, who was elected President of France in 1974.
In 1937, the Emeraude sank en-route from Hai Phong to Mong Cai without loss of life With the French withdrawal from Tonkin in 1953, the Société Anonyme de Chalandage et Remorquage d’Indochine was no more. Paul Roque died in 1966.
Topics: STEAMSHIP LINES, Stemboats | No Comments »
SS Catalina and SS Avalon sail to Catalina Island
By Michael L. Grace | July 2, 2009
1950s RETRO: THE BIG WHITE CRUISE SHIP SAILS AGAIN TO CATALINA ISLAND! from CRUISINGTHEPAST.COM on Vimeo.
Cruising The Past present our own video on the SS Catalina and SS Avalon. These are the big white cruise ships that once sailed from Los Angeles to Catalina Island. Sail away - as the ship’s orchestra plays “AVALON”!
Topics: CATALINA ISLAND STEAMSHIP LINE | No Comments »
TItanic: The Artifact Exhibition now playing in six cities from Las Vegas to Lisbon
By Michael L. Grace | July 1, 2009
Cruise Line History visits the RMS Titanic.
TItanic: The Artifact Exhibition now playing in six cities from Las Vegas to Lisbon
By Sue Frause (Courtesy Seattle Travel Examiner)
After 97 years, the R.M.S. Titanic has finally docked in New York City. On June 24, 2009 Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition opened at the Discovery Times Square Exposition for a limited engagement. Located in the heart of Times Square in the former printing press room of The New York Times, the 12,500 sq. ft. exhibition features the largest collection of Titanic artifacts in the world. Many are on display for the first time after being recovered 12,460 feet below the surface of the ocean. The exhibition is a production of RMS Titanic, Inc., a subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions, Inc.
I saw the exhibition in Victoria, BC two years ago. It included 281 artifacts recovered from the Titanic’s resting place, creatively displayed in a series of galleries that trace the life of the unsinkable ship — from its design and construction to its discovery, recovery and conservation. It’s not just about the sinking of the ship, but stories of the people who lived through this tragic incident. It also honors the memories of those who lost their lives.
To keep it real, visitors are issued boarding passes before climbing the gangplank. Each pass includes the name of a passenger and details about his/her voyage. At the end of the exhibit, you can find out if you survived. I was 29-year-old Sarah Elizabeth (Lawry) Chapman form Spokane, Washington. My husband John Henry Chapman and I were on a belated honeymoon to America to live closer to my brother in Fitzburn, Wisconsin. Our journey began in Southampton in southern England, where the Titanic departed at noon on April 10, 1912. We were to arrive in New York City o April 15, with stops along the way in Cherbourg, France and Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland to pick up mail and additional passengers emigrating to the U.S.
What impressed me were the special programming elements of the exhibition. Throughout the galleries were demonstration stations staffed by trained interpreters and junior docents who utilized props, reproductions and hands-on demonstrations to tell Titanic’s tale. You’ll learn about shipboard life and the difference between 1st and 3rd class; explore the contents of an elegant steamer trunk; and even sniff perfumes of the era. We were able to slip on a replica life jacket and lounge in a replica deck chair to get the feel of life on board the majestic ship.
Actors in period costumes portray the main characters central to the Titanic story, roaming throughout the galleries, answering questions and interacting with visitors. The characters include captain Edward Smith of the R.M.S. Titanic; shipbuilder Thomas Andrews; John Jacob Astor IV, the wealthiest man on the Titanic; and Margaret Tobin Brown, better known as The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
So did my husband and I survive the sinking of the Titanic? I forgot to check — maybe that’s best.
For more info: To find out more about the recovery of the artifacts, visit www.discoverytsx.com. Tickets to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition are available online at www.titanictix.com.
Topics: CUNARD LINE, STEAMSHIP LINES, WHITE STAR - CUNARD LINE | No Comments »
Book Signing in Los Angeles - Los Angeles Steamship Company - Interview with author about a cruise line the LA Times Chandler family helped start.
By Michael L. Grace | June 28, 2009
Cruise Line History - Harry Chandler built the Los Angeles Times into arguably the most powerful and successful newspaper on the West Coast. He also was instrumental in starting the Los Angeles Steamship Company in the 1920s to rival San Francisco’s Matson Lines. A wonderful new book tells the story.
Los Angeles photographer Martin Cox grew up in the south of England, half a world away from California. But as a teenager he read about an obscure L.A. institution and a bit history that for some reason he was never able to forget: The Los Angeles Steamship Company. 
The LASSCO steamships began to ferry passengers between Los Angeles and Honolulu during the roaring 1920 in smaller and less refined vessels than today’s massive cruise ships. But Cox was surprised when, after moving to Los Angeles as an adult, no one seemed to know what he was talking about when he mentioned the steamship company and its fleet of ships, some of which had a habit of getting into trouble as well as into Hollywood films.
The Los Angeles Times or other bios don’t mention Harry Chandler’s strong association with LASSCO and the publisher’s involvement in organizaing the steamship line.
So, Cox, a 40-something commercial photographer, set out to find out more about the shipping line, a years-long adventure that resulted in a book he co-authored with Gordon Ghareeb, “Hollywood to Honolulu - The Story of the Los Angeles Steamship Company.” Cox will be reading about the book during an appearance this Sunday at Skylight Books in Los Angeles.
Cox’s obsession with the defunct steamship company has also lead him to start a shipping website and to collect more than a 1,000 photos and hundreds of pieces of LASSCO memorabilia, from passenger lists to the ship’s china adorned with poppy and hibiscus blooms - the state flowers of California and Hawaii. But for all his interest in nautical history, Cox rarely travels by water. He gets terribly seasick.
Read more about the book signing and interview with Martin Cox in the LA Eastsider by clicking here.
Topics: LASSCO | No Comments »
The Lurline “was” Hawaii!
By Michael L. Grace | June 23, 2009
Maston Line’s SS LURLINE was advertised as: “The Lurline is Hawaii!”
SS Lurline was the third Matson vessel to hold that name and the last of four fast and luxurious ocean liners that Matson built for the Hawaii and Australasia runs from the West Coast of the United States. Lurline‘s sister ships were SS Malolo, SS Mariposa and SS Monterey. As USAT Lurline (aka USS Lurline), she served as a troopship in World War II.
Rechristened in 1963 by Chandris Lines as the MS Ellinis, the ship became one of the most important luxury cruise ships on the Australian and New Zealand services. She operated in Australasia and Oceania until 1980.
Topics: MATSON LINES, STEAMSHIP LINES | No Comments »
Just a long weekend away - Aboard the SS United States or SS America
By Michael L. Grace | June 14, 2009
Cruising the past. Just a long weekend away - Aboard the SS United States or SS America - During the heyday of trans-Atlantic travel in the 1950s - before the Jet made “getting there” what it is today! A living nightmare.
Topics: UNITED STATES LINE | No Comments »
The Legendary Super Chief, Flagship Of The Santa Fe - Train of the Stars!
By Michael L. Grace | June 13, 2009
Cruising The Past welcomes you aboard the legendary Santa Fe Super Chief - the train of the stars. Extra Fare - All Pullman Streamliner.
She came on the Super Chief.
One reason that the Santa Fe became such a famous railroad was because of its flagship passenger train, the Super Chief (and, the railroad also claimed the most streamliners in operation at one time).
The train quickly eclipsed its rivals (including its own cousin, the Chief) as the premier train to the Southwest and became so popular that it was the transportation choice of many Hollywood celebrities from the late 1930s through the 1960s.
It was also the Super Chief that inspired Santa Fe’s classic “Warbonnet” livery that is arguably the most beautiful paint scheme ever to be applied to a passenger train. Today, the Super Chief carriers on under the Amtrak banner although its one-of-a-kind paint scheme and interior designs are relegated to history.
Interestingly, the Super Chief came about because of necessity. With the Union Pacific having launched its new streamlined City of Los Angeles in 1936 the Santa Fe needed to launch its own competing premier train between Los Angeles and Chicago.
Having a direct route to the two cities (unlike the UP which had to hand off the train to the Southern Pacific to reach Los Angeles and Chicago & North Western to reach Chicago) gave the Santa Fe a distinct advantage although its first version of the Super Chief, while well planned, was not really up to par with the City of Los Angeles in that it was not streamlined and used standard heavyweight equipment.
Knowing it needed something better the Santa Fe with the help of the Budd Company, introduced the all new streamlined Super Chief in May of 1937. What resulted was a passenger train unrivaled in style, design, and luxury.
Super Chief Pullman Drawing Room - By day and by night.
Part of the train’s phenomenal success was its appeal and character. In designing the new Super Chief the Santa Fe wanted not only a contemporary passenger train but also one that reflected the railroad’s long-held relationship with Native American’s of the Southwest. To style the new Super Chief the train had an entire staff of designers, which quickly set to work bringing the soon-to-be legend to life.
Industrial designer Sterling McDonald created the train’s classic interior Indian designs and themes. Whenever possible McDonald used authentic Native American (many of which depicted the Navajo) colors (such as turquoise and copper), patterns, and even authentic murals and paintings in the train. He used a combination of rare and exotic woods like ebony, teak, satinwood, bubinga, maccassar, and ribbon primavera for trim through the train giving the Super Chief an added touch of one-of-a-kind elegance.
Everything inside the train exuded the Native American culture and way of life. However, the Super Chief’s livery also conveyed this, if not to an even greater degree.
The train’s now-classic “Warbonnet” paint scheme was actually designed by General Motors’ artist Leland Knickerbocker. Knickbocker’s livery featured gleaming stainless steel with the front half of the locomotive painted in red crimson, wrapping around the cab and trailing off along the bottom of the carbody with a Native American-inspired design (a design that would go on to distinguish the Santa Fe) used on the front of the nose with “Santa Fe” flanking the center.
For trim golden yellow and black was used. As Knickerbocker put it the design was meant to convey an Indian head with trailing feathers of a warbonnet (thus where the livery derived its now-famous name).
The locomotive that powered this new train was General Motor’s EMD EA model, a streamlined and completely self-contained diesel locomotive that handsomely matched the new Budd-built cars (themselves clad entirely in stainless steel giving the train a gleaming, “new” look).
For the most part the Super Chief remained quite popular through the 1950s. In 1951 it was reequipped for the final time featuring the Pleasure Dome lounge that included dome viewing, a cocktail lounge, and the famed Turquoise Room used for dinner parties. However, none of the upgraded equipment matched the exquisite beauty of the original Super Chief cars.
As the 1960s dawned, and as with the passenger rail industry itself, the Santa Fe found its fleet likewise in decline as passengers took to their private automobiles or the skies for faster and more convenient modes of transportation. However, unlike most other railroads which let their service slip and trains run down, the Super Chief remained an on-time, clean and regal operation right up until the end when Amtrak took over most intercity passenger rail operations in the spring of 1971.
While the Santa Fe, perhaps reluctantly, handed over its illustrious flagship to Amtrak at least the railroad could take comfort in knowing that the Super Chief, while nothing near as plush as when it was privately operated, was one of the routes retained by the national carrier and continues to be operated to this day as one of Amtrak’s most esteemed trains (although it is now known as the Southwest Chief).
Topics: PULLMAN, STEAMSHIP LINES, STREAMLINERS | No Comments »
ALASKA CRUISE VIDEO - 1954 - $9.00 PER DAY
By Michael L. Grace | June 11, 2009
1954 ALASKA CRUISE from CRUISINGTHEPAST.COM on Vimeo.
ALASKA CRUISE - 1954 - $9.00 PER DAY. Cruising The Past presents an historical video of a 1954 sailing aboard the SS ALASKA on a cruise to Alaska and the Inside Passage. A retro 50s look at a style of cruising and travel now vanished. Views of the ship leaving the Port of Seattle, with streamers, confetti and visitors waving goodbye – something rarely seen today. See the ship sail up the inside passage… with passengers dancing, dining, playing shuffleboard and man nostalgic scenes of an Alaska steamship far different from the massive ships sailing the Inland Passage today. The Alaska Steamship Company operated passenger service from Seattle to all ports in Alaska from 1895 until 1954. During the summer weekly sailings visited the Inside Passage. The line challenged all kinds of winter conditions and operated year round offering regular sailings as far north as Nome. These are family films and footage taken during the 1920s through the 1950s.
Topics: ALASKA STEAMSHIP LINES, CRUISING THE PAST VIDEOS, Cruise History, Cruise Memorabilia, cruise reviews | No Comments »
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