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 ...
No balcony cabins right?
errr - SS United States. Sorry.
For the last thirty years there has been one plan after another to put this ship back into service.
Whatever the costs are double or triple that amount.
And if there is asbestos which was I believed used on ships built back then quadruple the amount. If private enterprise want to do this fine, but no taxpayer dollars to refurbish or operate it.
There is also one fundamental problem: this ship was built to carry passengers from the US to Europe. It was not built as a cruise ship.
Europe to NYC in 1960 for me. Best crossing aboard the best ship ever — and that includes 24 years in the Navy! If Crystal pulls it off, I want a ticket (if I can afford it)!
In 1959 as a young lad I sailed across the Atlantic from Bremerhaven, Germany to New York on the USS Buckner. About four days after we left Germany the USS United States passed us like we were standing still. I will never forget it.
I remember around 1950 getting a book about this liner and a family that went across the ocean on it. I was just learning to read then and I wished I could have such an adventure.
It sure looks small today, sort of like a lifeboat for one of the huge cruise ships.
“I went to Europe on this liner in 1965. Fantastic ship!”
That must of been a GREAT experience!
There are a few really cool message boards on the web where former passengers and crew share their stories.
I think that they are essentially buying a rusty hull and a distinguished pedigree.
Here’s a prayer that they make something glorious out of it.
Will never happen. Even at the very high rated that cruise line charges, it would be a financial disaster.
The article says “option”, not purchased.
In this article they show a picture of the turbines. The small turbine on the left is the high speed and the larger on the right is the low speed. It looks like a lot of work needs to be done there.
The photo looks to be taken from top of the main gearbox facing forward where the boilers would be. The SL7’s are kind of similar to this setup.
Those ships can still reach 32 or 33 knots and they are 40 some years old.
Neat story. I will be interested to see her completed.
You go ahead and pay for it yourself. Passenger trains in America do not make money, and do not make sense. Even in the Northeast corridor, they cannot survive without massive subsidies.
I worked her. She was little more than a ferry boat. She had two runs. One with Germany and one without. My first trip on her was as a linen keeper utility but I also worked as a tourist BR. I’m glad she may be sailing again but don’t get your hopes up. You simply can’t go home again. That said, go girl...go.
The only other ocean liner that is comparable in awesomeness was probably the Normandy.
Sad fate that ship had...
I was wondering about the asbestos too. That reminded me about a man that ended up in prison after trying to cut corners scrapping the USS Coral Sea.
He died in prison.
I think i know where your thinking is going, they insure it to the top deck and then one night a welders spark thats been smoldering guts the ship.
Yea, compared to the European ships she was not particularly luxurious at all.
Gibbs was crazy about fire prevention, i read that flammable materials on board were kept at an absolute minimum.
Read that the only wood on board was the butchers block.
Dunno if i can believe that though.
Her older sister ship the SS America was a far cozier ship.
Sad end to that one....
Awesome news. Just awesome.
If they can pull it off...what a coup!
The ‘S.S.United States’ still holds to this day the ‘Blue Riband’ as the fastest ship to do a transatlantic passenger run in either direction.
When it was first designed, the blueprints were considered ‘Top Secret’, as the possibility existed for it to be used to ferry troops to Europe in case of another war.
I saw a documentary once about the ‘United States’. Such luxury! Oh....to have been able to ride on her in her heyday!
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