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SS United States: Crystal Cruises Planning Return of Historic Transatlantic Liner
gCaptain ^ | Feb. 4, 2016 | Mike Schuler

Posted on 02/04/2016 7:24:48 PM PST by rockinqsranch

"A major development today in the ongoing saga to save the SS United States from a trip the scrapyard.

Los Angeles-based Crystal Cruises says it has signed a purchase option for the historic – yet weathered – transatlantic steam ship and plans to refurbish the vessel and return it to oceangoing service as a modern luxury cruise ship.

The announcement was made Thursday by Crystal Cruises together with the SS United States Conservancy preservation group at a press conference at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City."

(Excerpt) Read more at gcaptain.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: americasflagship; crystalcruises; floatinggunfreezone; restoration; ssunitedstates
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1 posted on 02/04/2016 7:24:48 PM PST by rockinqsranch
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To: rockinqsranch

I went to Europe on this liner in 1965. Fantastic ship!


2 posted on 02/04/2016 7:26:50 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)
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To: rockinqsranch

Good for the SS United States! I remember reading about the historic trans-Atlantic trip in record time! I remember, too, that the passengers were worried because the sides of the ship were vibrating! ;-)

If I remember correctly, they averaged 35 knots or some unheard of speed.


3 posted on 02/04/2016 7:29:25 PM PST by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Why does every totalitarian, political hack think that he knows how to run my life better than I?)
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To: SubMareener

Sensational idea! I hope it succeeds brilliantly!

Makes me wonder what could be done by private enterprise to return train travel to the glory days.


4 posted on 02/04/2016 7:31:00 PM PST by JennysCool (My hyprocrisy goes only so far.)
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To: SubMareener

My mother used to travel on the Elizabeth and on the Michelangelo. Limo from CT to the pier, big goodbyes, letters from the ship, I remember family members taking about travel in those days.


5 posted on 02/04/2016 7:31:40 PM PST by Chickensoup (ISIS is like Marxism, not a country, but a dangerous sociopolitical philosophy)
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To: SubMareener

Good you had the opportunity.

Here’s hoping they actually do restore the vessel, and put her back to service, but these things most often are expensive exercises ending up at the scrapyard.

I really hope they succeed, and within what remains of our lifetimes as I’d love to take Mrs. RQSR, and head out to sea on her.


6 posted on 02/04/2016 7:32:53 PM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists Call 'em what you will, they all have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: spel_grammer_an_punct_polise

Wow...well that is crazy fast for a big ship.
Great story! I love nostalgia.
Wishing them lots of success and hope they do well.


7 posted on 02/04/2016 7:33:11 PM PST by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
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To: rockinqsranch
Gorgeous ship.


8 posted on 02/04/2016 7:34:30 PM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: rockinqsranch

The origional has swet lines. The revised version needs to loose one upper deck. Put a new deck at the upper level of the hull.


9 posted on 02/04/2016 7:36:21 PM PST by Paladin2 (w)
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To: rockinqsranch

My uncle went across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary as a WW 2 soldier when she was known as “The Gray Ghost”.


10 posted on 02/04/2016 7:36:34 PM PST by wjcsux ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)
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To: JennysCool

You and me both wish we could have meaningful railway travel.
It is absolutely spectacular taking a First Class train car from Paris to London.
Hopefully we can someday get rails upgraded here to allow that same type of high-speed / ultra-smooth travel.


11 posted on 02/04/2016 7:37:26 PM PST by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
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To: rockinqsranch

I saw the headline and pictured jack-booted thugs. I figured the article was about fascism in America.


12 posted on 02/04/2016 7:38:19 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (I don't know what Claire Wolfe is thinking but I know what I am thinking.)
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To: JennysCool

www.northernsky.com


13 posted on 02/04/2016 7:39:39 PM PST by Paladin2 (w)
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To: Talisker

Sleek and low-slung compared to contemporary ships.
Just gorgeous and hearkens to a very different era.


14 posted on 02/04/2016 7:41:36 PM PST by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
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To: rockinqsranch

WOW!!!

I’ve been a huge Ocean Liner nut since i was a kid and the SS United States is one of my all time favorites.
Read not too long ago that her fate was looking seriously grim, almost expected her to be heading to the scrap yard right about now.
this is GREAT news!
Gonna cost a FORTUNE to refurbish her.
Inside is totally gutted, ship covered in rust, need major refits to be brought up to modern code.
I imagine the engine room is still in good shape but doubt that propulsion system will even be used.


15 posted on 02/04/2016 7:43:34 PM PST by mowowie (`)
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To: rockinqsranch

I am stoked to go for a joy ride on this ship!

I recommend that they include as part of every cruise, an afternoon at sea where they open it up for a sprint.

It will probably take a few years to launch - but I’ll be waiting, God willing.

Other cruise ships (e.g. Oceania’s Nautica) have outrun Somali pirates, this one could run circles around them, and swamp them in its wake!

Yeeee Haaaw!


16 posted on 02/04/2016 7:45:20 PM PST by BeauBo
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To: rockinqsranch

Doesn’t have enough balconies.


17 posted on 02/04/2016 7:45:58 PM PST by Read Write Repeat (Not one convinced me they want the job yet)
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To: rockinqsranch
I was friends with a naval arch engineer who worked on a couple of past attempts to restore the USS America. No matter what they did, how they looked at it, or proposed different uses it would never pencil out to be viable. The ship design was optimized for one thing, speed and many trade offs were made to get that speed. One result is that it is totally unsuitable as a cruise ship and can not be converted into one.

Each of the several previous attempts to save the ship ended up giving up and just selling off whatever they could from the ship to get some of their money back. There is now nothing left to sell. Worse, the type of steel used in the hull is not even suitable for scrap because the metal can not be reused.

Everybody wished it were otherwise but such is life.

18 posted on 02/04/2016 7:46:52 PM PST by nevergiveup (When in Rome, speak Roman.)
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To: Paladin2

Agree with you, but am seriously pleased to see some positive action on her future. Let them convert her if they want as long as they do something positive with her. Great vessel.


19 posted on 02/04/2016 7:47:30 PM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists Call 'em what you will, they all have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: SubMareener

My US Navy dad was stationed at RAF Mildenhall from 1964-1967 and was the crew chief for Admiral McCain’s (John’s father).

We came back from England on the SD United States during the Summer of 1967.


20 posted on 02/04/2016 7:47:31 PM PST by SeaHawkFan
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