Norwegian Cruise Line Acquires U.S. Flagship S/S United States

Norwegian Cruise Lines - Press Release ^ | 4/14/03 | None

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Some good news from the maritime world. It will be nice to see this grand dame afloat again.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Thought you might find this interesting. Seems that she'll be leaving us.

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[finnman69]

Both incredible ships. The hew cruiseships are so awful looking and simply put, have no class. The entire Carnival fleet should be turned into artificial reefs.

These are real ocean liners.

[Zavien Doombringer]

I remember it being brought to Hamptonroads back in the eighties, what a magnificent ship! It remained in the boneyard for years here, when I got back from a 3 year tour of duty overseas, she was gone. I loved looking at her!

[B-Cause]

Bump

Never heard of it actually.

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She is a fast ship (I once tracked her on radar at over 40 knots) - has the engines of a 50's era aircraft carrier, heavily subsidized by the U.S. government and operated on the Atlantic run by now defunct U.S. Lines. Click here for a a link to a starting point to surf around and learn more.

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[Constitution Day]

Neat!
A lot of the fixtures & memorabilia from the SS United States are at a restaurant in Nags Head, NC.

I had always thought the ship had already been scrapped.

[wireman]

It's been sitting at a derelict pier on the waterfront in Philly for the last five years or so. She was a marvel in her day!

[John H K]

The question is, does she get renamed "Norwegian Flower" or some other idiotic name, get painted baby blue, and have a gigantic butt-ugly box superstructure slapped on?

Or does she remain the United States with the original black paintjob?

At least she'll be US flagged.

[B-Cause]

Bump

Here's a photo of her rusting away in Philadelphia.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

She's berthed down around Pier 80 near the Walt Whitman Bridge.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Now how did you get that photo? The guard wouldn't let us through the gate, even for $100.

[ericthecurdog]

bump

[lawgirl]

I hope they RESTORE her and not turn her into a floating velvet Elvis painting. I am a classic movie fan, and everytime someone in the movies makes a transatlantic crossing on one of these grand ladies I wish that I could go along. Preferably with Cary Grant of course. ;-D

Hmm....where did I put that copy of An Affair to Remember.........That movie featured the Constitution I believe- whatever happened to her?

[sjersey]

Here's a tour with plenty of pictures. SSUnitedStatesTour

[stationkeeper]

THIS will be one very expensive re-fit. IIRC, GE or LAVALL steam turbines turning 4 shafts......bunches of SHP and incredible top end that was never fully disclosed. All of this will have to be yanked and replaced with either diesel or gas turbine.

also think it is still quite infested with asbestos.

Heckuva project if they can pull it off.

[sjersey]

Here's more pictures - SSUS

[sinkspur]

These are real ocean liners.

Without balconied suites, and with the small number of rooms, these old ships will never be as popular as the newer liners. In addition, I just don't see how they expect to make money. The Hawaiian-island itinerary is NCL's idea; notice that Royal Caribbean, and Princess, and Celebrity have not followed. Cruise ships that sail inter-island are not allowed to operate their casinos when sailing between islands. The Independence was an old, worn-out vessel. NCL will just make it a newer, still-boring liner.

Besides, NCL is one of the lowest-rated lines in the latest Conde-Nast survey.

[budanski]

Back in the '80s everyone was against Japanese corporations from buying up american assets? Why arent Americans now boiled with the fact that the Europeans are the new threat? Burger King, Snapple, and Chrysler are a few that now un-american.