SS United States Ocean Liner

ExpatCruise · June 29, 2018

The SS United States, the largest cruise ship/ ocean liner ever built in the United States. She still holds the record for Trans Atlantic ocean liner ship crossing (Both ways). Most know something about here history, went into service in 1952, trans Ocean Liner 47,000 GT, 990 feet long, 12 decks, and driven by steam turbines, with a cruising speed of 35 knots and a top speed of 38.32 knots, carrying 1928 passengers.

The SS United States was the first class way to cross from New York to Europe in the 1950's and early 60's, and then came the modern jet age and it ended. In 1969 she went out of service and was sold to several different companies. For the last 21 years she has been docked in Philadelphia, rusting away. Cruise lines have talked about bring her back into service, NCL, Crystal Cruises, and much talk of a floating docked hotel, business but nothing really done but to spend money.

The ship is now owned by the SS United States Conservancy, a non profit group that seems to have done very little but to spend money. It has cost over 15 million dollars to keep the ship at the dock for the last 21 years. Cruise ship consulates say it would cost 500 million to 1 billion dollars to bring her back to service cruising today.

Is it time to just stop dreaming of rebuilding, and this ship cruising again or to keep throwing money at it? The ship is in poor condition now, it could already be to late,. She was a great ship should she just be a memory or rebuilt? Would today's cruising public even be happy with her as a ship? Even if rebuild she is a 1950's model when must today seem to like the current 2018 models. Below is a picture of her today and when jut placed into service.

Edited June 29, 2018 by ExpatCruise
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Shari2 · July 6, 2018

Don't think it would be a good idea to bring her back into service...too costly, and most want the newer ships. Think that it may be a good idea to fix her up a bit and make her into a paid for tourist attraction like they did to the Queen Mary. Maybe?