What a shame to see her this way!! A musueum? The best way to preserve this piece of history is to bring her back to her former glory and put her back to sea for future generations to experience her magnificence. I know I would pay a premium to sail on her. Somewhere there has to be someone that has the wherewithall to bring her back to life!!!
Beautifull looking ships with elegant lines like the United States are no longer built. Today they all look like floating boxes. I have gone on cruises in recent years but I wish i could have been in a cruise in one of thesegorgeous "Lady's" of the Seas.
@elsa425 it's true, she is a ship of that era. But that was a glorious era, and many people, If the US is put back into service, would pay LOTS to experience a cruise on her. Anyway, she's the only one left. ): but her future could call for activation!!!!!
@elsa425 I agree but many people like me will pay a lot of money to have that experience, of life back then on a steam powered cruise ship. Are there any of those still around??? I hope so.
I really want her to sail again. She's the only one of her kind... And it would be great to see a steam powered cruise ship with streamers flying around depart for a cruise once again!!!! Maybe to Hawaii or something.
I wonder what can be done to "save" this ship other than making her a museum. Cabins in tourist calss have no bathrooms. There ae no individual balconies like all cruise ships have nowadays. She has no outdoor pool. I love the US, and was on her many times in the 1950s and 1960s, but she's a ship of that era. To change her would totally alter her profile, and she woudn't be the US anymore. Better restore her to her old look and make her a museum.
The United States, in order to get government funding for construction had to be able to quickly convert to a troop ship and fireproofing was absolutely required. I returned on her from France in 1963 or was it '64 not sure. I seem to recall the only wood being that in the bar. It was a "cold" ship, but great food and service. Well skippred and crewed.
My grandparents and parents sailed on her several times beginning in 1952 w/the last trip in the early 1960s-after another US maritime strike. They were transferred to Caronia at NYC and never stepped onboard ssUS again. According to my mom, she was spotless and smelled extremely clean AND the food was excellent. Her interiors were very cold but comfortable according to her.
Love the look of the ship at anchor. Oddly enough, she reminds me of the QE2 in that light, at 6:24.
I was the same way about the Big U, when I first got into ocean liners. She really didn't appeal to me. And sure enough, there was just a click in me. The QM is still my all-time favorite, but I love our American masterpiece. Interiors are OK, you just gotta get into the mood.
Yes, Normandie is very popular amongst us ship lovers, and I think she was a beautiful ship... it's all a matter of taste, of course, but IMO, she was just too... overdone.
Yes.....but she was FABULOUSLY over done. My problem with 'United States' are those wretched interiors. You love them, I hate them but we ALL love these wonderful liners. As Maxtone-Graham said....'The Only Way To Cross.'
Normandie was lovely in a Busby Berkeley Deco sort of way, great for her time period. SSUS epitomized the design aesthetic of her own era. Let's agree to disagree. Words like "wretched" are rather inflammatory, don't you think?
The Normandie and the Mary represented two very different ways of travelling. On the Mary she was familiar, warm and comfortable. On Normandie it was pure fantasy..something rarely seen on land. for me I would have taken Normandie over the Mary..any chance to dance with Josephine Baker on top of the piano in the Grill Room at 4AM...
I'd like to see this ship restored but to be honest it's hardly my favourite ocean liner of all time. It's interiors were rather dull by ocean liner standards and I don't understand the design philosphy. Why build a ship for speed rather than luxury just as the airlines are becoming more viable?
I understand, and in fact, when i first got into liners, wasn't very interested in her at all. Then one day something just clicked, and I saw that she really is perfection. The pinnacle of form following function. I love her mid-century modern interiors now, and as for her speed, she was built to military specs. Personally, in my opinion, the SS United States is the most perfect liner of the 20th century.
we I am bringing back Titnaic in real time biggger and better then ever then just watch out ss United States we I can do this are you wityh us time to bring back Titnaic for real!
The film of the SS United States at sea were taken during her speed trials in 1952 and not during a Caribbean cruise. She still did over 28 knots to get down to those Caribbean ports and back to New York in time for her next Transatlantic crossing to Europe.
THE GOVERMENT or a private entity should do something about it.. This is as american as the Empire State building, or our conney island hotdogs... Please guys..
The SS United States is a part of the american history. Thinking that NCL would treat her in any way better than SS Norway is a lie.The big U deserves a better faith than that.
NCL are just trying to make profits, and dont give a shit about the history of this ship.
My first trip to sea was on the old girl. My dad's tour of duty was to end in July of 1962. My mom, my sister and I set sail on the SS United States in La Havre in June 1962 bound for New York. She was a magnificent vessel.
Flying into Philadelphia a few weeks back I saw her rusting hulk in the Deleware river. It brought a tear to my eye. Thankyou for returning the smile.
You Know, after the sale of the QE2, a bunch of people look at the sale of that ship to the middle east as a hotel as a disgrace. I support the QE2 being a hotel, just simply because its better it be a hotel in the Middle east (sorry my British friends) then end up like the SS Norway aka SS Blue Lady
Hopefully the Big U will see a new life somewhere in america, its OUR (americans) ship, we need to protect it
Fantastic film.. I have gone to see her docked in Philadelphia many times.. I can only hope and pray we all get the chance to sail on her.. I hope NCL has some integrity.. the lost my repect when they got rid of the Norway.. We can only hope..
What a great film, I only wish it was about two hours longer. I was 6 then and saw the United States but never was on her. It was so great to be an American then, I wish I was my age now then, made the same career choices, did everything the same and was 88 or dead now. As I love ships you could have been sure I might have been on that cruise in 1964 with you.
thanks for the film, she was amazing to be sure. Wonder how fast she was going in some of those clips on board....she was cruising so I would guess quite a bit slower?
When it opened in 1964, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was the world's longest suspension span. The ends of the bridge are at historic Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, both of which guarded New York Harbor at the Narrows for over a century. The bridge was named after Giovanni da Verrazano, who, in 1524, was the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor.
What a shame to see her this way!! A musueum? The best way to preserve this piece of history is to bring her back to her former glory and put her back to sea for future generations to experience her magnificence. I know I would pay a premium to sail on her. Somewhere there has to be someone that has the wherewithall to bring her back to life!!!
bills43057 1 year ago
Fuel oil was 3 cents per gallon when the United States was built. The ship
burned tens of thousands of gallons per day crossing the Atlantic. Oil
is going to rise in price the next year, (2011) to $200US per barrel, which
will be $5+ per gallon.
Figure what it would cost in fuel alone to operate the US today, even if we
were NOT in a 10-year long depression economy, and
a restoration looks pretty GRIM, if not TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE, especially
since all the ship's trimmings were sold off.
4freespeech 1 year ago
Voilare? I havent heard that song anywhere!
TheYarxia 1 year ago
Just beautifull.
This was indeed another era!
Beautifull looking ships with elegant lines like the United States are no longer built. Today they all look like floating boxes. I have gone on cruises in recent years but I wish i could have been in a cruise in one of thesegorgeous "Lady's" of the Seas.
VIRIATO1942 1 year ago
should be a museum of immigration, the era of transatlantic passenger ships, and the 1950s
zequelll 1 year ago
@elsa425 it's true, she is a ship of that era. But that was a glorious era, and many people, If the US is put back into service, would pay LOTS to experience a cruise on her. Anyway, she's the only one left. ): but her future could call for activation!!!!!
pancreasmen 1 year ago
@elsa425 I agree but many people like me will pay a lot of money to have that experience, of life back then on a steam powered cruise ship. Are there any of those still around??? I hope so.
pancreasmen 1 year ago
I really want her to sail again. She's the only one of her kind... And it would be great to see a steam powered cruise ship with streamers flying around depart for a cruise once again!!!! Maybe to Hawaii or something.
pancreasmen 1 year ago
Compared to today's luxury liner, it's not much at all... She's built for speed, and she's one FAST Girl !
justanotherengine 2 years ago
Fantastic!!!!
pashook 2 years ago
Thanks for posting this, what a great resource. Thanks for sharing your information and collections with us!
RetroRoadmap 2 years ago
I wonder what can be done to "save" this ship other than making her a museum. Cabins in tourist calss have no bathrooms. There ae no individual balconies like all cruise ships have nowadays. She has no outdoor pool. I love the US, and was on her many times in the 1950s and 1960s, but she's a ship of that era. To change her would totally alter her profile, and she woudn't be the US anymore. Better restore her to her old look and make her a museum.
elsa425 2 years ago 3
From a better time; a better place. I am so jealous.
mongo5888 2 years ago
That's a wonderful video--
Where did you get the music from the ship's orchestra?
chrishanson70 2 years ago
From an album recorded by the ship's orchestra. It pops up from time to time on eBay.
shipgeek 2 years ago
@shipgeek What's it called?
Stallendale 1 year ago
@Stallendale "Let's Dance On Board the SS United States." It recently appeared available for purchase on iTunes!
shipgeek 1 year ago
The United States, in order to get government funding for construction had to be able to quickly convert to a troop ship and fireproofing was absolutely required. I returned on her from France in 1963 or was it '64 not sure. I seem to recall the only wood being that in the bar. It was a "cold" ship, but great food and service. Well skippred and crewed.
uslines 2 years ago
OH, a SUMBAH NUMBAH!
ANATOLIACHTZEIN 2 years ago
My grandparents and parents sailed on her several times beginning in 1952 w/the last trip in the early 1960s-after another US maritime strike. They were transferred to Caronia at NYC and never stepped onboard ssUS again. According to my mom, she was spotless and smelled extremely clean AND the food was excellent. Her interiors were very cold but comfortable according to her.
lasuvidaboy 2 years ago
great vid i love it
russia295 2 years ago
Love the look of the ship at anchor. Oddly enough, she reminds me of the QE2 in that light, at 6:24.
I was the same way about the Big U, when I first got into ocean liners. She really didn't appeal to me. And sure enough, there was just a click in me. The QM is still my all-time favorite, but I love our American masterpiece. Interiors are OK, you just gotta get into the mood.
ManWhoLovesTheMary 2 years ago
5:28 Shows why the funnels had fins on them. I used to think it was for looks, since everything seemed to have fins in the Fifties.
PlanBModels 2 years ago
In my book the only perfect liner ever was 'Normandie'.
aardvaark069 2 years ago
Yes, Normandie is very popular amongst us ship lovers, and I think she was a beautiful ship... it's all a matter of taste, of course, but IMO, she was just too... overdone.
shipgeek 2 years ago
Yes.....but she was FABULOUSLY over done. My problem with 'United States' are those wretched interiors. You love them, I hate them but we ALL love these wonderful liners. As Maxtone-Graham said....'The Only Way To Cross.'
aardvaark069 2 years ago
Normandie was lovely in a Busby Berkeley Deco sort of way, great for her time period. SSUS epitomized the design aesthetic of her own era. Let's agree to disagree. Words like "wretched" are rather inflammatory, don't you think?
shipgeek 2 years ago
It's not mean if it's true.:) Anyway I wish I had been around to actually travel on any of the great liners during the heyday of Atlantic crossings.
aardvaark069 2 years ago
The Normandie and the Mary represented two very different ways of travelling. On the Mary she was familiar, warm and comfortable. On Normandie it was pure fantasy..something rarely seen on land. for me I would have taken Normandie over the Mary..any chance to dance with Josephine Baker on top of the piano in the Grill Room at 4AM...
homeric9 2 years ago
I'd like to see this ship restored but to be honest it's hardly my favourite ocean liner of all time. It's interiors were rather dull by ocean liner standards and I don't understand the design philosphy. Why build a ship for speed rather than luxury just as the airlines are becoming more viable?
slimes23 2 years ago
I understand, and in fact, when i first got into liners, wasn't very interested in her at all. Then one day something just clicked, and I saw that she really is perfection. The pinnacle of form following function. I love her mid-century modern interiors now, and as for her speed, she was built to military specs. Personally, in my opinion, the SS United States is the most perfect liner of the 20th century.
shipgeek 2 years ago
spot the building Verazano Narrows bridge
fordlandau 2 years ago
we I am bringing back Titnaic in real time biggger and better then ever then just watch out ss United States we I can do this are you wityh us time to bring back Titnaic for real!
eleventhdr 2 years ago
HAHAHAHAHA. Best joke I've heard.
roaklin 2 years ago
What a magnificent ship, and piece of Americana! This ship is historic, and needs to be preserved!
sophiegromit 3 years ago 2
I too think the ship should be preserved. Whether it could said again is a question of safety. Can all that old steel hold up after over 50 years?
From what I understand it's been stripped down, all the interior is gone.
sandhgreen 3 years ago
my freinds uncle worked on this ship its a very beutiful ship.
crysis888 3 years ago
The film of the SS United States at sea were taken during her speed trials in 1952 and not during a Caribbean cruise. She still did over 28 knots to get down to those Caribbean ports and back to New York in time for her next Transatlantic crossing to Europe.
lasuvidaboy 3 years ago
Yup, I know. It was an editing thing to create the feel of a voyage. :)
shipgeek 3 years ago
Thanks Mark!
lasuvidaboy 3 years ago
The SS United States site has been updated fully please feal free to ask questions!
SSUnitedStateslife 4 years ago
THE GOVERMENT or a private entity should do something about it.. This is as american as the Empire State building, or our conney island hotdogs... Please guys..
historiachibcha 4 years ago
The SS United States is a part of the american history. Thinking that NCL would treat her in any way better than SS Norway is a lie.The big U deserves a better faith than that.
NCL are just trying to make profits, and dont give a shit about the history of this ship.
marsupilamu 4 years ago
That is so cool! I used to love to visit the Queen Mary just to be onboard a ship.
chicklitwriter 4 years ago
WoW!
My first trip to sea was on the old girl. My dad's tour of duty was to end in July of 1962. My mom, my sister and I set sail on the SS United States in La Havre in June 1962 bound for New York. She was a magnificent vessel.
Flying into Philadelphia a few weeks back I saw her rusting hulk in the Deleware river. It brought a tear to my eye. Thankyou for returning the smile.
Mark
marlinseagle 4 years ago
i hope this beatiful ship will still sail the atlantic
KrIsTeN1295 4 years ago
You Know, after the sale of the QE2, a bunch of people look at the sale of that ship to the middle east as a hotel as a disgrace. I support the QE2 being a hotel, just simply because its better it be a hotel in the Middle east (sorry my British friends) then end up like the SS Norway aka SS Blue Lady
Hopefully the Big U will see a new life somewhere in america, its OUR (americans) ship, we need to protect it
will107 4 years ago
Fantastic film.. I have gone to see her docked in Philadelphia many times.. I can only hope and pray we all get the chance to sail on her.. I hope NCL has some integrity.. the lost my repect when they got rid of the Norway.. We can only hope..
Mik1262 4 years ago
What a great film, I only wish it was about two hours longer. I was 6 then and saw the United States but never was on her. It was so great to be an American then, I wish I was my age now then, made the same career choices, did everything the same and was 88 or dead now. As I love ships you could have been sure I might have been on that cruise in 1964 with you.
soccercleatscrush 4 years ago
thanks for the film, she was amazing to be sure. Wonder how fast she was going in some of those clips on board....she was cruising so I would guess quite a bit slower?
miamidice 5 years ago
The U.S. does have a large shipping industry, but we mostly build military and trade ships.
crackwhore69 5 years ago
Nice film, like time travel to the '60s. Sad that America no longer has a shipping industry.
michaeluae 5 years ago
When it opened in 1964, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was the world's longest suspension span. The ends of the bridge are at historic Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, both of which guarded New York Harbor at the Narrows for over a century. The bridge was named after Giovanni da Verrazano, who, in 1524, was the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor.
shipgeek 5 years ago
she is a icon, dont let her rost away, at least make museum ship out of her. Fastest ship over the atlantic.
STS107 5 years ago