Ship Nostallgia - S/S United States

[DaCruzNut]

The s/s United States was built in 1952, when I was ten years old. I remember watching her sailing out of New York Harbor, on her maiden voyage, and many subsequent sailings, from my window. And, all those trips on the , then elevated, West Side Highway, driving past this wonder.

She was fast! Her top speed was 43 knots (50 mph!) and she set a record when she crossed the North Atlantic in 3 days, 10 hours and 42 minutes averaging 35.59 knots (65.48 km/hr or 40.96 mph). Seventten stories high, and nearly 60,000 GRT, she was 110 feet longer than Titanic.

She was the first ship to make extensive use of lightweight aluminum and had over 2,000 tons of it in her make-up. In addition, all of the other materials used in her construction were fireproof, including widespread use of asbestos! The “wooden decks†were NOT made of wood! There was extensive use of Marinite, a “fake†plywood.

She was able to travel 10,000 miles without ever stopping for fuel or supplies!

At a cost of almost $80,000,000, she was one of the most expensive ships built. If you adjust the 1952 dollar to the 2004 dollar, you will get some idea…

Her history was brief, and cut short by the invasion of the jet plane, which took its toll on all of the ocean liners of the day.

Finally, in November, 1969, she sailed into Newport News Shipbuilding. In the late 1970’s, Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Lines, which later became NCL, was looking for a ship to convert to cruising. Their first choice was the United States. However, because the U.S. Government had picked up a good deal of her original costs, and because of some of her “top secret†design specs, she could not be sold to any foreign corporation. Norwegian bought the France, instead, and renamed her the Norway. Other plans to purchase, refurbish and put her back into service also fell through, and she sat at the dock….

The S/S United States at the

dock, in Philadelphia, PA

And so, it seemed, she was destined to sit at the dock, in Virginia, until she was sold for scrap, or just rotted away.

NOT SO FAST! NCL-America, the newly formed subsidiary of NCL, which cruises the Hawaiin Islands, has recently purchased her and announced plane to refurbish her. We have heard this before, but this time it looks like it will truly happen.

“Official Press Release - Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced on April 14, 2003 that it has purchased the S/S United States, one of the country's most venerable ships built in the glory days of trans-Atlantic sea travel. NCL intends to convert the vessel to a state-of-the art, modern cruise ship and to add her to NCL's planned US flagged fleet. A relaunched S/S United States will add more than 1,000 American maritime jobs and 5,000 shoreside jobs to the 3,000 maritime jobs and 17,000 shoreside jobs that NCL's US flag initiative with Project America is predicted to generate.

Widely considered to be the greatest superliner ever built in this country, the S/S United States was engineered to be faster, safer and more technologically advanced than anything else afloat when she was christened. To this day, her Atlantic crossing record has never been matched and she remains the holder of the fabled Blue Riband.

Knowing that S/S United States faced an uncertain future, NCL moved swiftly to purchase the vessel. NCL is now evaluating options for use of the ship under US flag and determining the extent of renovations needed to convert her to a state-of-the-art, modern cruise ship that will appeal to today's vacationer. The ship is expected to offer mainland US itineraries where cruise products are not currently available. The refurbishment of the hull and superstructure will be done at US shipyards with the outfitting completed overseas. NCL is no stranger to such conversions, having converted the fabled North Atlantic liner the S/S France into cruising's first Caribbean megaship, S/S Norway.

"When we discovered this American icon was in jeopardy, we saw a unique opportunity and acted immediately. The ship is a classic, she was built in America and is eligible to operate in domestic service under existing law and regulation," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. "The S/S United States would be a phenomenal addition to our US flag operation down the road. We remain focused on completing Project America and successfully introducing our innovative US flag cruise ships in Hawaii, but we will now organize a project team to work with US yards, naval engineers and architects to develop plans for what should be the fourth vessel in our US flagged fleet."

[DaCruzNut]

The s/s United States was built in 1952, when I was ten years old. I remember watching her sailing out of New York Harbor, on her maiden voyage, and many subsequent sailings, from my window. And, all those trips on the , then elevated, West Side Highway, driving past this wonder.

She was fast! Her top speed was 43 knots (50 mph!) and she set a record when she crossed the North Atlantic in 3 days, 10 hours and 42 minutes averaging 35.59 knots (65.48 km/hr or 40.96 mph). Seventten stories high, and nearly 60,000 GRT, she was 110 feet longer than Titanic.

She was the first ship to make extensive use of lightweight aluminum and had over 2,000 tons of it in her make-up. In addition, all of the other materials used in her construction were fireproof, including widespread use of asbestos! The “wooden decks†were NOT made of wood! There was extensive use of Marinite, a “fake†plywood.

She was able to travel 10,000 miles without ever stopping for fuel or supplies!

At a cost of almost $80,000,000, she was one of the most expensive ships built. If you adjust the 1952 dollar to the 2004 dollar, you will get some idea…

Her history was brief, and cut short by the invasion of the jet plane, which took its toll on all of the ocean liners of the day.

Finally, in November, 1969, she sailed into Newport News Shipbuilding. In the late 1970’s, Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Lines, which later became NCL, was looking for a ship to convert to cruising. Their first choice was the United States. However, because the U.S. Government had picked up a good deal of her original costs, and because of some of her “top secret†design specs, she could not be sold to any foreign corporation. Norwegian bought the France, instead, and renamed her the Norway. Other plans to purchase, refurbish and put her back into service also fell through, and she sat at the dock….

The S/S United States at the

dock, in Philadelphia, PA

And so, it seemed, she was destined to sit at the dock, in Virginia, until she was sold for scrap, or just rotted away.

NOT SO FAST! NCL-America, the newly formed subsidiary of NCL, which cruises the Hawaiin Islands, has recently purchased her and announced plane to refurbish her. We have heard this before, but this time it looks like it will truly happen.

“Official Press Release - Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced on April 14, 2003 that it has purchased the S/S United States, one of the country's most venerable ships built in the glory days of trans-Atlantic sea travel. NCL intends to convert the vessel to a state-of-the art, modern cruise ship and to add her to NCL's planned US flagged fleet. A relaunched S/S United States will add more than 1,000 American maritime jobs and 5,000 shoreside jobs to the 3,000 maritime jobs and 17,000 shoreside jobs that NCL's US flag initiative with Project America is predicted to generate.

Widely considered to be the greatest superliner ever built in this country, the S/S United States was engineered to be faster, safer and more technologically advanced than anything else afloat when she was christened. To this day, her Atlantic crossing record has never been matched and she remains the holder of the fabled Blue Riband.

Knowing that S/S United States faced an uncertain future, NCL moved swiftly to purchase the vessel. NCL is now evaluating options for use of the ship under US flag and determining the extent of renovations needed to convert her to a state-of-the-art, modern cruise ship that will appeal to today's vacationer. The ship is expected to offer mainland US itineraries where cruise products are not currently available. The refurbishment of the hull and superstructure will be done at US shipyards with the outfitting completed overseas. NCL is no stranger to such conversions, having converted the fabled North Atlantic liner the S/S France into cruising's first Caribbean megaship, S/S Norway.

"When we discovered this American icon was in jeopardy, we saw a unique opportunity and acted immediately. The ship is a classic, she was built in America and is eligible to operate in domestic service under existing law and regulation," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. "The S/S United States would be a phenomenal addition to our US flag operation down the road. We remain focused on completing Project America and successfully introducing our innovative US flag cruise ships in Hawaii, but we will now organize a project team to work with US yards, naval engineers and architects to develop plans for what should be the fourth vessel in our US flagged fleet."

[Guest]

Wow!!! Thanks for that news that would be a real dream cruise. I hope they can update her but keep her majestic charm and elegance. Thanks Lisa for the review of the Rotterdam---- Great memories--- Old nautical term for the "Grand Old Ships"----- "They were yare" Alice Underground Enchantment of the Seas------1/04

[Guest]

Wow!!! Thanks for that news that would be a real dream cruise. I hope they can update her but keep her majestic charm and elegance. Thanks Lisa for the review of the Rotterdam---- Great memories--- Old nautical term for the "Grand Old Ships"----- "They were yare" Alice Underground Enchantment of the Seas------1/04

[Shari2]

Thanks for the information, Jeff! Very interesting!!!

[Shari2]

Thanks for the information, Jeff! Very interesting!!!

[PEB]

The United States is one ship I have admired and studied about for years. I do hope she sails again and I hope I get the opportunity to be one of the passengers on her.

[PEB]

The United States is one ship I have admired and studied about for years. I do hope she sails again and I hope I get the opportunity to be one of the passengers on her.