Comments for

Comment on SAILING THE GREAT LAKES on the SS SOUTH AMERICAN and SS NORTH AMERICAN by Robert Wilson

Robert Wilson — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:29:51 +0000

Always enjoy seeing my old ships, the SS North American and the SS South American. Those were the days when you could cruise the Great Lakes in comfort and style. They got me into travel and I lived in 20 different countries afterword.

Robert Wilson (Radio Officer on both ships)

Comment on The 20th Cenutry Limited in the 1930s and Kim Novak in the 1950s… by Carole Harper

Carole Harper — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:59:26 +0000

I’ve watched An Affair to Remember MANY times — I have the DVD! Thank God for DVDs — because they sure don’t make movies like that anymore. And there just aren’t the stars with the looks and Class like Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant in today’s world.

I remember when one just dressed up to go downtown or even take a flight or train somewhere. Now we can’t do that — someone might think we’re rich and we’d get mugged.

In 1965 I was fortunate to return home to America from Greece on the Queen Anna Maria — in time to have
my baby girl. It was unfortunate indeed that I had to travel alone since I was so far in my pregnancy that I could delay no longer. So that wasn’t much fun (my husband was waiting for his Visa to clear) — but I did so enjoy the music on the intercom and, especially “More” (a new hit at that time).
(It was that ship’s “maiden” voyage.)

Comment on THE GREAT BRITISH LINER – THE SS CANBERRA – THE LAST GASP OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE by Tony Brimson

Tony Brimson — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:11:33 +0000

It was a sad day in 1997 when the SS Canberra did her last voyage to the graveyard. I travelled to Australia on her in the mid 1960s with my parents. I still have fond memories of leaving Southampton on April 9th 1965, and arriving in Melbourne on the 2nd May. The most interesting part of the journey was, travelling down the Suez canal. We had arrived and dropped anchor in the early hours of the morning halfway at the Great Bitter lakes. awaiting for a convoy of ships travelling northward from the Indian ocean. Once these ships had arrived at the lakes, we pulled up anchor and started on our south bound passage. Canberra was the first in the convoy to lead, what a fantastic experience to see a line of ships behind, and most amazing was the people travelling along roads alongside the canal. To think that Canberra was honoured for her role in the Falklands war, and then to be scrapped. What an insult to the British people.

Tony Brimson.

Comment on THE DOMINION MONARCH by john green

john green — Sun, 05 May 2013 13:51:11 +0000

when I was in the RAF in 1946 we went to Durban on the Dominion Monarch via the Suez Canal stopping at Port Said, Aden , then on to Mombasa and Durban there was several service men aboard but it was not a troop ship as it also carried paying passengers

Comment on THE ANDREA DORIA TRAGEDY HAPPENED 57 YEARS AGO by Edgar J Jakubowski

Edgar J Jakubowski — Sat, 04 May 2013 18:13:04 +0000

Until recently I thought Captain Gunnar Harry Nordenson was a Swede. But, he was born in the United States. No wonder that American justice system made big effort to burthen Andrea Doria Commander Piero Calamai of being guilty for the tragic end of that Italian Beauty. Like Edward J Smith from Titanic, Captain Nordenson, despite his great experience made a cardinal mistake leaving his post to a young much less experienced mate Carstens Johannsen during densy fog on this much shipping traffic loaded sea area. Why did not he wait on the bridge until his (Stockholm) passed Nantucket Island? Big experience should not excuse those who actually make mistakes. American lawyers pushed everything against Italian part claiming bad naval design of Andrea Doria. Nobody has to teach Italian engineers how to build ships. They have great experience and history. Andrea Doria was not built to sail in Northern Atlantic area during winter times as Stockholm was. For the purpose of what she served she was a perfect sailing vessel. In my private opinion the Stockholm Officer Carstens Johannsen was an ordinary jerk WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS SENSE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITY. His smirk on his face from the photo right after tragedy shows that. I have just seen his interview from his home in Sweden. HE IS AN ORDINARY LIAR. I do not know any English expression for that, but some people are able to lie to themselves and to others until many years later they believe that it was the perfect true. And they die with this assumption. Carstens Johannsen should never carry duties as an Officer of the Swedish Merchant Navy. It was either a very big mistake or oversight from the Swedish Merchant Navy authorities by giving him certificate to operate any ship and to give him any kind of authority. Just a crook.

Comment on The Unsinkable Andrea Doria – 55th Anniversary by Edgar J Jakubowski

Edgar J Jakubowski — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:31:09 +0000

Until recently I thought Captain Gunnar Harry Nordenson was a Swede. But, he was born in the United States. No wonder that American justice system made big effort to burthen Andrea Doria Commander Piero Calamai of being guilty for the tragic end of that Italian Beauty. Like Edward J Smith from Titanic, Captain Nordenson, despite his great experience made a cardinal mistake leaving his post to a young much less experienced mate Carstens-Johannsen during densy fog on this much shipping traffic loaded sea area. Why did not he wait on the bridge until his (Stockholm) passed Nantucket Island. Big experience should not excuse those who actually make mistakes. American lawyers pushed everything against Italian part claiming bad naval design of Andrea Doria. Nobody has to teach Italian engineers how to build ships. They have great experience and history. Andrea Doria was not built to sail in Northern Atlantic area during winter times as Stockholm was. For the purpose of what she served she was a perfect sailing vessel. In my private opinion the Stockholm Officer Carstens-Johannsen was an ordinary jerk WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS SENSE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITY. His smirk on his face from the photo right after tragedy shows that. I have just seen his interview from his home in Sweden. HE IS AN ORDINARY LIAR. I do not know any English expression for that, but some people are able to lie to themselves and to others until many years later they believe that it was the perfect true. And they die with this assumption. Carstens Johannsen should never carry duties as an Officer of the Swedish Merchant Navy. It was either a very big mistake or oversight from the Swedish Merchant Navy authorities by giving him certificate to operate any ship and to give him any kind of authority. Just a crook.

Comment on THE DOMINION MONARCH by G.McLeod

G.McLeod — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:59:33 +0000

I am attempting to find the names of the three cruise ships at Seattles World Fair 1962 which acted as “boatels”. There was the Dominion Monarch and the Catala. The third I am unable to find. She apparently was 536 feet in length. Can anyone advise me ?

Many thanks,
G.McLeod

Comment on SS PRESIDENT CLEVELAND – FAREWELL DINNER – CAVIAR – American President Lines passenger ship enroute to Japan and China – 1949 by Cynthia Smith Sopher

Cynthia Smith Sopher — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:56:47 +0000

I was 7 when I went across the Pacific on the USS President Cleveland. We went from Hawaii to San Francisco and then flew to my home in Columbus OH. It was a trip I will never forget. They woke us up early in the morning playing “San Francisco here I come…” I remember the long trip of watching flying fish and wondering if I’d ever see land again…and then standing there on the deck in my nightgown and seeing the lights of San Francisco through the early morning fog. The ship was elegant to me and had stores and school rooms; two swimming pools. It was quite a delight. What a nice memory.

Comment on P&O’s SS HIMALAYA by Ron Scott

Ron Scott — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 05:22:24 +0000

departed U.K june 17 going to port said then onto New Zeland enboye remobers

Comment on HISTORY OF THE ITALIAN LINE and THE MS VULCANIA by Denis Schreiner

Denis Schreiner — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:01:34 +0000

My Mother brought me over to Canada in a Basket, when I was 5 months old on the Vulcania. (From Germany). I was a crying a lot she said. And a real nice black porter came over to her and said “Don’t worry maam …Only good babies cry….That was in 1952. The trip was…. Italy….. Portugal and Halifax Canada….Thanks for all the information and pictures.