Holland America Line’s MS NIEUW AMSTERDAM carries on liner and cruise history of the famed cruise line.
By Michael L. Grace | July 30, 2010
Holland America Line’s MS NIEUW AMSTERDAM carries on liner and cruise history of the famed cruise line.
Launched from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Venice on July 4, 2010, the 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam celebrates the glamour and history of New York City, formerly called Nieuw Amsterdam, with its inspired interior design and art collection.
Holland America Line has installed an array of works valued at over $3 million, ranging from antiques by traditional Dutch masters to creations by renowned contemporary artists. Some pieces reflect the Dutch Golden Age while others, such as the spectacular centerpiece in the atrium, express a contemporary curiosity. Adorning the ceiling of Nieuw Amsterdam is an eye-catching abstract sculpture of the inverted New York skyline made from clear translucent blocks that hang upside-down. The sculpture was created by husband and wife Italian artists Gilbert Lebigre and Corinne Roger of Creazioni Lebigre & Roger. The significant collection, which includes works by celebrated artists Andy Warhol, Richard Estes and Roy Lichtenstein, continues with astounding displays throughout the ship.
A complimentary self-guided iPod art tour is available for guests wishing to view the entire collection. The iPod art tour is also available to download at no charge at www.hollandamerica.com and on iTunes.
Nieuw Amsterdam joins the recently launched Eurodam to further define and expand the Holland America Line premium brand with new concepts such as the innovative pan-Asian Tamarind restaurant and Silk Den lounge surrounded by panoramic views overlooking the ocean expanse and the Lido pool. Other additions are an Explorer’s Lounge Bar, a premium wine-tasting lounge, an elegant luxury jewelry boutique, new atrium bar area, enhanced and reconfigured The Showroom at Sea, and a new photographic and imaging center.
The new ship continues several much-admired Holland America Line features, including outside-view, glass elevators at midship; the Explorations Café — a cyber-coffee house powered by The New York Times; the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, where culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in a state-of-the-art on-board show kitchens; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft. In addition the ship will feature the family-style Canaletto Italian restaurant.
Nieuw Amsterdam features 11 guest decks and staterooms spotlight all the Signature of Excellence premium amenities. Also featured are innovative spa staterooms with additional spa amenities.
The first Nieuw Amsterdam.
Deck scene aboard the first Nieuw Amsterdam.
The first Nieuw Amsterdam was launched in 1906 and used both a full set of sails and steam engines. She was 17,149 tons and carried 2,886 passengers, 2,200 of them in third class. She sailed in regular service through World War I and then through to 1932.
A look at the second Nieuw Amsterdam.
(Left: 6/5/1948-New York, NY: Star of stage and screen Katharine Hepburn, becomingly clad in slacks, unbent and gave an interview to the boys of the press as she sailed from New York, June 5th, on the S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam.)
The famed Nieuw Amsterdam II joined the fleet in 1938 as the company’s flagship. The silhouette of this ship can still be seen today behind Henry Hudson’s Half Moon in the company’s logo. At 36,287 tons, “the Darling of the Dutch,” as she was known, was decorated in great style and was launched by Her Majesty Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands.
Nieuw Amsterdam II served proudly in World War II completing 44 war time voyages carrying nearly 400,000 passengers (mostly troops).
Following the war she was rebuilt and, as the queen of Holland America Line’s “spotless fleet,” hosted countless well-known figures among her guests, including Katherine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Spencer Tracey and Albert Schweitzer.
The Nieuw Amsterdam III.
Nieuw Amsterdam III was launched in 1983 as one of the most elegant ships of her time. At 33,900 tons, Nieuw Amsterdam III sailed in Alaska in the summers and in the Caribbean in the winters.
With innovative design and guest offerings, Nieuw Amsterdam IV continues the proud tradition of her name and evolution of Holland America Line’s sophisticated mid-sized ships.
For complete information on Holland America Line’s cruises – click here.
Topics: CRUISE SHIP REVIEWS, CRUISING THE PAST VIDEOS, Cruise History, Cruise Memorabilia, cruise reviews | No Comments »
2010 – ICON WEB AWARD WINNER
By Michael L. Grace | July 28, 2010
A Social History wins honors – The number one “Hip” Historical Website of 2010. Retro meets today!
The ICON-WEB AWARD is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. Established in 1998 during the Web’s infancy, the ICON is presented by The European Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which includes an Executive 750-member body of leading Web experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries and creative celebrities, and Associate Members who are former Icon-Web Award Winners and Nominees and other Internet professionals.
(Dot Com judges dining out at awards) The Academy is an intellectually diverse organization – made up of young leaders in the internet world. Reflecting the tremendous growth of the Internet as a tool for business and everyday lives, the Icon-Web Awards expands the mission of the Internet by honoring excellence in over 100+ Website, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile Web categories.
Formal dinner for the ICON-WEB AWARDS – 2010.
Topics: SOCIAL HISTORY | Comments Off
ALCOA TO THE CARIBBEAN
By Michael L. Grace | July 21, 2010
Social and Travel History: Alcoa to the Caribbean. When ALCOA operated three passenger cargo liners to the West Indies. Modern ships – elegant yet casual service. A look to the cruising past.
Because of shipping shortages in World War I, Alcoa (formerly the Aluminum Company of America) developed its own shipping line to carry bauxite from its source in what is now Suriname and Guyana to aluminum mills in the United States and elsewhere. At first the line operated under foreign flags. From 1940 to 1969 it operated under the US flag.
Following World War 2, Alcoa Steamship Company acquired three unfinished Victory ship hulls in 1946.
Topics: CRUISING THE PAST VIDEOS, Cruise History, Cruise Memorabilia, STEAMSHIP LINES | No Comments »
SANTA FE SUPER CHIEF – TRAIN OF THE STARS
By Michael L. Grace | July 17, 2010
Social History – 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.
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: STEAMSHIP LINES | 2 Comments »
STEAMBOAT ‘ROUND THE BEND – A CRUISE ABOARD THE GORDON C. GREENE – 1949 – 20 DAYS – TEN DOLLARS A DAY
By Michael L. Grace | July 12, 2010
STEAMBOAT ‘ROUND THE BEND – A CRUISE ABOARD THE GORDON C. GREENE – 1949 – 20 DAYS – TEN DOLLARS A DAY – News: There have been no overnight cruise on the Mississippi River since 2008. The American Queen remains docked. The Delta Queen is a floating hotel in Chattanooga, Tenn., and the Mississippi Queen was sold in May for scrap. The Gordon C. Greene preceeded all these steamboats – look at this journey aboard the steamboats in 1949.
The Steamboat Gordon C. Greene heads down the Mississippi in 1949 for New Orleans.
(Left: Capt. Mary Greene – co-owner of the Greene Line, and for 50 years the only woman pilot on the river. She also was hostess aboard the steamboat) Social History and Steamboat History – A cruise aboard the GORDON C. GREENE in 1949. A steamboat cruise south on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers – from Cincinnati to New Orleans and back – via Cairo, Paducah, Evansville, Memphis, Baton Rouge. Over 61 years ago. When times were much different.
Topics: STEAMBOATS, STEAMSHIP LINES | 2 Comments »
Gerry Lenfest to Donate Up to $5.8 Million to Save SS United States
By Michael L. Grace | July 12, 2010
Liner History and Social History: Gerry Lenfest to Donate Up to $5.8 Million to Save SS United States
The SS United States Conservancy has announced a gift of up to $5.8 million from Philadelphia philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest to help save the legendary ocean liner from destruction.
Topics: UNITED STATES LINE | No Comments »
PATHE NEWSREEL OF QE 2 ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK ON MAIDEN VOYAGE
By Michael L. Grace | July 11, 2010
PATHE NEWSREEL OF QE 2 ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK ON MAIDEN VOYAGE
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the ‘QE2′, is a former Cunard ocean liner, now owned by Nakheel (a division of Dubai World). She was designed to primarily run a transatlantic service from Southampton, England, to New York, USA, and was named after the earlier Cunard liner RMS Queen Elizabeth, and served as the flagship of the line from 1969 until succeeded by RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004. Built in Clydebank, Scotland, she was considered the last of the great transatlantic ocean liners built for over four decades before the construction of the QM2.
Before she was refitted with a diesel power plant in 1986/87, QE2 was also the last oil fired passenger steamship to cross the Atlantic in scheduled liner service. During almost forty years of service, the QE2 undertook regular world cruises and latterly operated predominantly as a cruise ship, sailing out of Southampton, England. QE2 had no identical sister ship or running mate and never ran a year round weekly transatlantic express service to New York. QE2 did, however, continue the Cunard tradition of regular scheduled transatlantic crossings every year of her service life.
QE2 retired from active Cunard service on 27 November 2008, where it was planned for her to begin conversion to a floating hotel which would have seen her eventually moored at the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. However, as of March 2010 she remains moored at Port Rashid awaiting an uncertain future.
Topics: CUNARD LINE | No Comments »
Oldest living Pullman porter looks back.
By Michael L. Grace | July 7, 2010
Social History: Oldest living Pullman porter looks back. Lee Wesley Gibson, 100, began working for Union Pacific in 1936. The railroad job helped him lift his family into the middle class.
Lee Wesley Gibson, 100, stands next to a 1937 Pullman dormitory/club car at the Travel Town Museum in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park.
By Ann M. Simmons, Los Angeles Times
July 5, 2010
(Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times)
When Lee Wesley Gibson began his new job as a coach attendant with Union Pacific Railroad in 1936, the country was in the grips of the Great Depression.
Millions of Americans were out of work. Like so many others around the country, Gibson moved from Texas to California in search of new opportunities. Within a year he landed a job with the railroad in his new hometown, Los Angeles.
Topics: PULLMAN, STEAMSHIP LINES, STREAMLINERS | Comments Off
Cruise Line History – INDEPENDENCE DAY aboard ship. Menus featuring “Russian Caviar” and “Kangoroo Tail Soup” on the High Seas from 1900 until 1938.
By Michael L. Grace | July 3, 2010
Anchor Line’s SS CITY OF ROME – July 4th Menu – 1900 – Russian Caviar
Liners and cruise-ships use to serve Caviar in first class – at least once or twice during each voyage. That is a perk of the past. Now the food is superior institutionalized cuisine on most ships. Like a an okay banquet. The caviar is gone and so is first class.
Topics: STEAMSHIP LINES | 1 Comment »
THE FIRST CRUISE SHIP WAS A “PRINCESS”: – The Prinzessin Victoria Luise was the world’s first cruise ship.
By Michael L. Grace | June 29, 2010
THE FIRST CRUISE SHIP WAS A “PRINCESS”: – The Prinzessin Victoria Luise was the world’s first cruise ship.
The Prinzessin Victoria Luise was the world’s first cruise ship.
Cruise Ship History and Cruising The Past – The Prinzessin Victoria Luise was the world’s first cruise ship. Built for the Hamburg America Line, she was launched on June 29, 1900 and served as a cruising passenger ship until December 16, 1906 after being accidentally grounded off Jamaica.
Topics: CRUISE SHIP REVIEWS, Cruise History, Cruise Memorabilia, HAMBURG AMERICA LINE, STEAMSHIP LINES, cruise reviews | No Comments »
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