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Having been in the passenger shipping industry for well over a half an century, working from the very bottom, to an agent selling berths on ships to and from the USA, UK and European ports, as well as having managed a major Passenger Shipping Company and operated a successful Cruise Company in the 1960/70’s, it stands to reason that my love for classic and traditional passenger liner/cruise ships is rather obvious!

Personally it has been my good fortune to have been directly involved in saving worthwhile passenger ships since 1995, but officially online in 1997! Sadly there have been far too many tragedies, but also some wonderful and sweet victories! But, this is not the time to sing praises for there are other ships that are now worth our time right now!

Let me advise you first; although I am no longer directly involved in the actual saving of any of these wonderful ships, but I now leave it to the other well set up organisations with some of the best qualified people who are well organised to do the job. However, but they do need your assistance! This page remains online because you have supported me for so many years and therefore I ask you with all my heart, to continue to assist me in all our endeavours to save some of these beloved classic ships, such as the SS United States, the MV Saga Ruby, ex Vistafjord that is also in danger, and did you know that she is the very last passenger ship to be built in Britain? And there are others!

Come aboard and support the work and feel good knowing that you will have done your something in saving a part of maritime history that will last long into the future for your children’s children to see!

Personally I supported many campaign’s, including the SS United States by becoming a multiple “Plank Owner” and I have an official “Plank” Certificate, and you know I am rather proud of it, that I even had it framed, for it will always bind me to this superb ship! Today of course there are other great and new ways for you to become ‘one’ with this great American liner, and I will explain this down the page!

I sincerely thank all my wonderful readers and supporters for the many years you have been with me and returned again and again, for amazingly we have now received more that 500 million visitors/readers to our sites since our sites reformation in 2003, and that is quite a feat! I thank all my supporters as am really touched!

But, now I ask for you to continue to support the Good Work that is being done, especially by SS United States Conservancy.

Reuben Goossens.

The author’s SS United States “Plank Owners” Certificate

Currently there are other great ways to support this great ship!

News Updates:

S.O.S. The SS United States Conservancy needs your URGENT assistance NOW. See details below!

MV Saga Ruby – ex Vistafjord to end her 40 year career in 2014!

SS Rotterdam sold & Great NEWS!

MV Queen Elizabeth 2 – She will now have a NEW LIFE but WHERE? - Also her “Timeline.”

MV Cape Don - Another fine Australian, built in 1963.

MV Baragoola - This proud Australian, which was built as a steamship in 1922.

TSS Dover - This is the very last British Rail steamship ever ordered & delivered in 1965.

Other Ships mentioned – Mostly Saved - By either this, or other campaigns. Including my beloved: SS Rotterdam / MS Veronica, ex Mona Lisa, Victoria, Kungsholm – However, I believe she is for sale again?

The ship of which I have been associated with since the 1970s since she was the MS Franca C, and I am still her official historian the MV Doulos, ex MS Franca C, SS Roma, SS Medina built in the USA in 1914. And finally, there is the fascinating classic cruise ship, the MS Kristina Regina, ex SS Bore.

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S.S. United States

Above we see the greatest American Trans-Atlantic Liner ever built and Let us SAVE HER!

Dear friends, it is vital to understand that the SS United States is without doubt one of the world’s greatest marine achievements that was brought about by the wonderful, William Francis Gibbs who was the brainchild behind the great SS United States an American liner like no ever other her the day. The end result was pure perfection a grand ship with the most sublime proportions, with her massive and impressive funnels to say the least, their grandeur would announce that “the SS United States has arrived!”

The ships builder’s plate taken quite a long time ago!

Part One: A short Introduction to a “Mighty Ship”!

For the more mature ones of us, we will well remember that the mighty SS United States departed on her maiden voyage on July 3, 1952 and she rapidly became one of the most sought after liners. Over the years she carried countless famous people, from Royalty, Heirs, Millionaires, the famous and great Movie, Opera and other famed Singing stars. However, her claim to fame is that she is the world’s fastest passenger liner!

During her trials she achieved a massive top speed of 38 knots. She departed on her maiden Atlantic crossing in July 1952, completing it in just 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes (From Ambrose Lighthouse to Bishops Rock), thus beating Queen Mary’s previous Eastbound record by 10 hours, after which she broke the Westbound record of 3 days, 19 hours and 20 minutes, giving her an average speed of over 34 knots.

SS United States is seen during her being officially named on June 23, 1951

On her maiden voyage to New York July 3, 1952, she crossed the Atlantic (Eastbound) in record time and was duly was awarded the much sought after Bleu Riband with an average speed of 35.59 knots (65.91 km/h). She then broke the westbound record on her July 11 voyage when she reached her destination with an average speed of 34.51 knots (63.91 km/h). Since 1838 the British, Germans, Italians and French have battled to build the fastest ship ever and to gain the famed Bleu Riband, however the SS United States was the very last liner ever to gain the Bleu Riband and retains it to this day!

Obviously, her weight was lessened as her complete superstructure and her mighty funnels were made of aluminium alloy. In order to make her completely fireproof William Gibbs even ordered Steinway’s to build aluminium grand pianos. But Steinway obviously refused to do so. Thus as far as we know, the only timber onboard the ship were the pianos and the butcher blocks used in the kitchen, everything else being steel and aluminium. For her day she even featured telephones in every single cabin. For passenger pleasure she offered an indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, but she had two Turkish baths and two theatres.

Right from the beginning she was one of the most popular liners plying the Atlantic. During the first ten years of service SS United States sailed with an average of 90 percent occupancy rate. However loadings suddenly began to plummet and it was decided in 1966 to operate place her on a number of cruises between her Atlantic voyages to the UK. With poor loadings, her running mate the wonderful SS America was sold to Greek interests and she became the much loved Chandris Lines SS Australis. The author was the Queensland (Australia) GSA for Chandris Lines in the very early seventies.

But in 1968 the great SS United States was sold to the Walter Kidde & Company. But unfortunately the holding company believed that she had become obsolete and simply far too costly to operate mostly due to high labour costs. Thus, sadly her days were numbered especially as in 1969 the US government subsidy was completely withdrawn, and that brought about the end as her owners decided to withdraw her from service immediately! It would be on November 7, 1969, when she left her New York berth for Newport News where she was laid up without any future plans for use.

The great ship, she was and always will be, remained in lay up condition until 1992. Although there had been a number of failed attempts to obtain her and return her to service, or preserve her as a maritime museum. In due time, she was towed across the Atlantic to Turkey to have her interiors gutted and asbestos removed. And in 1996 she returned to the United States and was laid up again, but this time in Philadelphia, but there in due course she comically became known as “the largest abandoned vehicle in the city.”

A rather sad looking SS United States seen in Philadelphia

Photograph by & © Dominique-Reer

She was sold to the famed Edward A. Cantor who was a real estate developer, however he died in 2002, and his son took her over, but her really had no interest in the ship, thus the fate of the SS United States became an unknown factor.

Next came a period, I would love to forget, as an Asian Casino/Cruise consortium obtained her and retained her for the most dubious, if not evil of reasons, and finally having obtained from the US Government what they wanted, they “got rid of her” as she (and another ship the SS Independence) had become a burden to them, and sold her thankfully to the SS United States Conservancy, rather than to the breakers!

SS United States Conservancy:

The SS United States then owner (I prefer not to name this company) commenced to search for a buyer sometimes in 2009. Why, well it was costing them around US$800,000 per year just to keep this rusting away dockside, a ship they ever intended to use, except to use as a means of obtaining an American flagged cruise company! Not wishing to repeat the massive anti company publicity they had received from this Campaign for many years for their disgraceful handling of their previous two ships: 1. The SS Norway: 2. The disgraceful demise of the SS Independence, they were forced to reject a US$5.9 million dollar offer from the breakers, which they would have much preferred.

However they agreed to sell the SS United States Conservancy for just US$3 million. You may ask “WHY?” The truth is that this company simply could not afford any further bad publicity and they just had to get out of the news and continue with their cruise line which by now had been partially taken over and the CEO dropped!

The SS United States Conservancy was able to obtain the ship mainly due to the great generosity of Philadelphia-based philanthropist Mr. H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest. The Conservancy took possession of the SS United States on February 1, 2011. It is important to note that this Mr. Lenfest’s donation and those of so many others who have so generously given, the Conservancy was not only able to purchase the ship but in this way able to buy time to locate suitable developer/s and a permanent home for this great liner!

Above image was provided by SS United States Conservancy, but Photograph taken by Greg Shutters

In addition to being a “Plank Owner” - Now I also own another part of the ship – IT is NEW …

Click the LOGO above to ENTER

In fact I now own 100 Sq inches on the starboard side of her aft funnel, and yes you are more than welcome to join me on the funnel from just a few dollars donation.

Thus, if you wish to join me and assist in saving this Great Ship, just click the LOGO above and wait for the interactive page to load, and you can donate for parts of the ship, which will carry your name forever and will be permanently listed! When the page opens, it will eventually take you to the very space on the funnel where I have my 100 Square inches and you can add whatever number of square inches you may wish to obtain! I would love to see you join me, and if you do, please let me know at info@ssmaritime.com.

What a GREAT way to assist this GREAT SHIP!

Above image was provided by SS United States Conservancy

And let me tell you right now, that without YOU the reader and our many and so many other supporters worldwide, there would be no future for the SS United States at all, for I am well aware that so many of you have already joined the Conservancy, or have donated in one way or another, and I thank you for that!

BUT, IF YOU HAVE NOT AS YET, PLEASE GO TO THEIR WEBSITE ASP - AND GIVE!

BUT NOW, there is an S.O.S. call out, as YOUR URGENT HELP IS REQUIRED!

Click the image above for the SOS donation page 

Why not become a friend of the SS United States for just US$25, a Supporter US$50

An Associate US$100, Benefactor US$250, or a Champion US$500

Or one of the other levels – But every single dollar counts!

There is a great future awaiting the SS United States, just look at one of the superb possibilities, a wonderful maritime museum, with interactive panels, a theatre, featuring the SS United States and other great American and great ships of note! A hotel, tourist and conference centre, etc, with so much more opportunities that this great ship is able to offer!

And Remember, you can have a part of that great FUTURE!

The above and museum images below have been provided by the SS United States Conservancy for which we are most grateful!

Above we see one of the suggested exterior possibilities for the SS United States future use, it stands to reason that she, as well as shore side, there will be substantial SS United States and maritime museum, as well as many other relevant features. Other intended projects may well include a well known Hotel chain, conference centre, restaurants, cafes and other tourist facilities!

You can help to make this a reality!

Museum ashore with the ship seen through the window

Discover the original plans and how they were drawn up?

Walk and relax on the Promenade Deck, just like the great old days!

Discover and view the engine room via a special viewing deck and large screen

To make all this become a reality support the …

ssMaritime.com & savetheclassicliners.com fully supports the SS United States Conservancy

And we ask that you donate TODAY and be PART in saving this great American Liner the SS United States.

Visit … http://ssunitedstatesconservancy.org.

Remembering, the “Great Dame” and the “Way She Was”

The great SS United States seen at sea during her great days!

This is a wonderful photograph I have had in my collection since I was just a shipping agent and one I greatly love!

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MV Saga Ruby to be Retired in January 2014

She was built as the wonderful Swedish MS Vistafjord

The last passenger ship to be built in Britain is to retire in 2014

This elegant and sleek looking cruise ship, the Saga Ruby, ex Vistafjord with 661 berths was constructed in 1973 in Newcastle upon Tyne, bust she will commence her very last 32 day Farewell Cruise next year on December 7, 2013 after more than four million nautical miles at sea.

Robin Shaw, the CEO of Saga Cruises, said the ship was being retired due to its advancing age. “Saga Ruby has delighted cruise goers for some 40 years, but operating a ship of this age to meet the exacting standards we and others set is becoming an increasing challenge,” he said. “We have therefore decided that she should be gracefully retired in 18 months.”

He added that MV Quest for Adventure, one of the company’s two remaining cruise ships, will assume its previous name, being the MV Saga Pearl II, from 2014, and will no longer sail her previous adventure voyages. The company has hinted recently about their plans to expand the Saga fleet in due course.

MV Saga Ruby – scheduled - 31 day Farewell Cruise:

Southampton, England - December 7, 2013.

Praia Da Vitoria, Azores - 11 Dec 11.

Bridgetown, Barbados - Dec 17.

Trinidad, Trinidad & Tobago - Dec 18.

Isla Margarita, Venezuela - Dec 19.

St Georges, Grenada - Dec 20.

Castries, St Lucia - Dec 21.

Roseau, Dominica - Dec 22.

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Dec 23.

St Johns, Antigua - Dec 24.

Funchal, Madeira - January 1, 2014.

Lisbon, Portugal - Jan 3.

La Coruña, Spain - Jan 5.

Southampton, England - January 7, 2014 - the end of her glorious 40 year career!

With Saga Ruby sailing days ended, she will to be sold early in 2014, and her estimated selling price is mentioned below.

It would be wonderful to see this ship saved, for she is the very last of the superbly British built passenger ships and her long success sailing the seas of the world is proof of her the sheer excellence of construction and engineering! In addition she has some of the finest lines that a ship could possibly have and she is admired by all who see her around the globe! Internally she remains in perfect shape and she would be more than suitable as a luxury hotel in any part of the world.

If you have any interest in her, please email me at: info@ssmaritime.com, or if you are a genuine buyer please contact Richard at: mtcusa@gmail.com.

For interest I have been told that she may be on offer for US$16 million, but that may not necessarily be the price she will be sold for! Richard is the best man for that job as he is the ultimate expert. Please do NOT waste Richard’s time with simple or basic questions, it is best to ask me. For Richard is for genuine buyers only!

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SS Rotterdam V

Has been sold – BUT?

A superb photograph of the SS Rotterdam V, now a hotel in the city where she was built and would depart for New York – Taken in March 2011

Photograph © by Philippe Pierre Brebant

2 November, 2012: The superbly beautiful ex Holland America liner and cruise ship, the SS Rotterdam was sold, however the good news is that she will remain in her homeport of the City of Rotterdam!

On Friday October 26, the ships owners being the accommodation corporation “Woonbron” sold the Rotterdam to a Netherlands based Hotel Company “WestCord Hotels” who also own the famed “Hotel New York”, being the original Holland America Line head office located on the original HAL wharves. The sale is said to have been for 29.9 million Euros.

With the acquisition of the SS Rotterdam WestCord will now have a total of 15 hotels throughout the Netherlands. Although, I have been advised, that the transfer of the ship to WestCord will take place before the end of April of 2013!

Besides WestCord, there was also great interest by an Oman who desired to obtain this amazingly popular SS Rotterdam, but obviously when a Dutch Hotelier desired to obtain her this was obviously a far better option for the Netherlands to retain this great ex Dutch liner in the City she was built as well as being her homeport. The decision was received with a great applause worldwide! As for myself having commenced my campaign so long ago in the mid nineties to save her, believe me, this news was a huge relief, for I certainly did not desire her to depart the Netherlands, for she is far safer in Rotterdam than anywhere else!

There is one other factor that will come into play for her future. As she will be in the hands of a solid and safe Hotel company, for I am very happy to say that “WestCord Hotels” will manage the “Hotel De Rotterdam” in a far superior manner than her previous owner, for ever since she was opened to the public as a hotel I have, which is very sad to say, received countless complaints from those who stayed on her and visited her from around the world. The vast majority made a very similar statement, which said that they felt that the ship was geared only to the Dutch public and English on board, was very poor to just bad and that so many venues were closed most of the time.

In addition, for ship lovers who travelled especially to Rotterdam just to stay on her found that “the ships souvenir shop was closed much of the time”, and thus they were unable to obtain the souvenirs they so much desired. “No one seemed to care less and it seemed that the “Hotel De Rotterdam” was not being run like a real hotel at all. No it was a really sad stay for us, for we remember the days we sailed on this ship, both during her liner and her cruise ship days. Sadly, we will never go back to her as this hotel, for it destroyed our memories, even though some of the venues are still much the same that is if they were not locked!” With her sale, this problem will be fully overcome, for Dutch hotels, to my experience are very efficient, and I do know WestCord are simply excellent hotels! If you have ever stayed at the delightful and historic “Hotel New York,” you will know all about it!

Below is our previous report, which is no longer valid, but I will leave it for the record!

September 2, 2012: I have been advised that it is now very likely that SS Rotterdam will be purchased by a certain Omani business interest for her to be used assumingly as a luxury hotel. However, considering the massive amount of work that has been put into her by both me and the Dutch Rotterdam group working to save her and see her back in Rotterdam, this is most sad indeed. Apparently, the cost of her massive restoration has proven just too great for her owner’s, and should she depart and head for the Middle East, it will be a massive loss for the city of Rotterdam.

Hotel De Rotterdam seen at her special berth at her homeport the City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in March 2011

Enter the SS Rotterdam V multi page feature

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MV Queen Elizabeth 2

MV Queen Elizabeth 2 seen laid up in Dubai UAE – but registered in Port Vila Vanuatu

Photograph Copyright © Reuben Goossens

Finally the fate of the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) purchased by Dubai back in 2008 for her is to become a floating 300 room luxury hotel at the new man made Palm Island Jumeirah. However, due to the global financial problems this plan was abandoned due to the extreme high costs involved to convert the QE2, as her owners intended a massive rebuilding programme that would have dramatically changed her appearance. In addition it would have required dredging a deep channel that would be needed to move her to Palm Island Jumeirah. Thus the economic crisis did place the future of the QE2 in doubt for quite some time!

However, all that has now changed, and the following guarantees have been given by Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the chairman of DP World and the head of its investment arm Istithmar who paid US$100 million for the QE2 in 2007;

1… “Preserve her tradition.” Meaning retaining her externals as is! Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said, “So we have decided to leave her basic design as it is. We will preserve her tradition. What we are doing today is what we should have done when we first bought her.”

2… Her interiors including her furnishings are perfectly preserved and it looks as new, as there has been a maintenance crew on board at all times. Most of her cabins will be rebuilt, turning them into superior hotel style rooms, whilst all deluxe suites and other superior large rooms will be totally upgraded and enlarged where needed.

3… The announcement came after a two-year audit of the ship, which pronounced her in a “remarkable condition.” In addition, there are three main hotel groups, including Jumeirah that have been consulted about running Hotel QE2 and the good news is that all are “interested,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.

What will be special is that being the new centrepiece at the Ports Rashid Cruise Terminal, the QE2 will have the United Arab Emirates’ coastal shipping trade for company, that is until the new terminal is completed right next her, which should be within the next two years, if not a little sooner, and then all modern cruise ships will berth there and passengers will be able to see what a real classic ship looked like!

Personally I am delighted with the outcome and hope that there will be no changes, for obviously this is far better than the previous idea of having her located at some upmarket high-rise housing estate.

MV Queen Elizabeth seen in Brisbane Australia during her final days of cruising

Photograph by © David Kellet

For ongoing QE2 NEWS Updates, visit … www.theqe2story.com

But Now … There is some very good News!

Please click the above Image to enter the page that contains FULL DETAILS!

I am in full contact with the QE2’s owners and will continue to keep all my readers up to date with the QE2’s movements and her details as I receive them. I will place all the latest news on the new Hotel QE2 page online. After you have visited it for the first time, may I suggest that you either save this, my Main-Page in your “Favourites” or the actual!

I am sure that all those who love the “Grande Dame” will be filled with joy with the latest news!

Best wishes,

Reuben Goossens.

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The MV Queen Elizabeth 2 Story:

In July 2007 the QE2 was sold to Istithmar being the investment arm of “Dubai World” a wholly owned company of the Government of Dubai. However she would be taken over by Nakheel, also a “Dubai World” company would redevelop her and construct the new islands being built known as the “Palm Jumeirah” where she was going to be berthed to become a major luxury hotel. Istithmar paid and estimate £65 million (British Pounds) for the QE2.

Having completed her final official cruise, the QE2 departed Southampton for the very last time on November 11, 2008, and she began her farewell voyage to Dubai. She arrived on the evening of 26 November 26, 2008 in a flotilla of around 120 vessels that were there to greet her including the MV Dubai, being the personal yacht of Sheikh Mohammed the ruler of Dubai. QE2 was greeted with a fly-past from an Emirates A380 jet as well as a huge fireworks display, while thousands of people gathered at the Mina Rashid, waving of British and United Arab Emirates flags.

It was a fitting welcome and her future seemed assured, however things was not as it seemed for the financial crisis of 2008 caused Dubai to have a financial freefall and the wealthiest of its citizens escaped the country, even leaving their Mercedes and BMW’s and super luxury cars at the airport as they escaped the financiers who were about to pounce on them, for most emptied their accounts and run. This disaster also left the QE2 high and dry and although she was reregistered cheaply in Vanuatu in Port Vila in 2008, she had been well maintained by around 100 workers until recently, but most have now gone, with just a very small number remaining to keep her reasonably tidy. However reports state that she is suffering, especially in areas that are from view and behind the scenes.

Today her future is unsure and when I visited the ship a company insider told me that they doubted that she will ever become a hotel, for the company had suffered far too greatly. Although, the country did receive money’s from the outside to revive its tourism industry and attempt to restore some pride, but to date numbers remain way down. In reality Dubai has little to offer as it is all show and razzmatazz, there are heaps of spectacular man made structures and they are great, but they are just building filled with very expensive ships, and Dubai is VERY expensive indeed! Then they do have some beaches, well by Australian standards these are of an extremely poor standard and rather small and with the severe heat there and no protection provided whatsoever from the blazing sun, this is what I would call the melanoma (skin cancer) capital of the Middle East! I have been throughout the Middle East and I love this region, but Dubai has little to offer, unless you like skyscrapers! I would choose countries like Oman and Egypt for they really have something to offer!

The truth is that QE2’s future will most likely be a rapid and a secret sale to the breakers, and it will come so swiftly that we will be totally unprepared, and that is my greatest fear! Please stay alert and if you hear anything let me know!

Interesting background on the QE2:

QE2 sailed an amazing 5.6 million nautical miles, that's more than any other ship ever I know about, in other words that is like travelling to the moon and back 13 times. She has accommodated approximately 2.5 million guests and completed 802 Atlantic crossings and 24 full world cruises, thus some 1,438 voyages. That is an excellent record indeed!

A close up of a clean looking ship as she had recently been repainted

Photograph © Reuben Goossens

The Timeline of the SS/MV Queen Elizabeth 2:

1964 - Cunard signs a contract to build the ship with John Brown Shipyard Clydebank, Scotland.

1967 - September 20 the ship was launched by HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

1968 – QE2 undertakes her deep sea trails; the first was on November 26 to 29, and the second, December 17 to 19.

1968 - QE2 departs on her maiden voyage, being a cruise from Greenock to the Canary Islands with the author on board. Sadly the ship developed turbine troubles and she had to return to her builders.

1969 - After renewed trails on April 1 to 8, Cunard takes delivery of the QE2 on April 18 for the second time.

1969 - On May 2 the QE2 commences her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, officially taking four days, 16 hours and 35 minutes.

1970 - She crosses the Atlantic Westbound in record time of just three days, 20 hours and 42 minutes.

1972 - QE2 undergoes a refit and rebuilding as penthouses added to the top of the ship, altering her external appearance. Accommodating 604 First, 1,223 Tourist, and 1,740 one class when cruising.

1975 - QE2 departs from Southampton on her first World voyage, the first of many world cruises.

1982 - The QE2 was requisitioned by the British government as troopship to operate in Falklands Islands Campaign. She carried 3,000 troops and 650 volunteer crew to the South Atlantic. However, she was kept well out of the way for no harm was to become her, for the ship did carry the name of Her Majesty the Queen, the Sovereign of Britain, thus she was kept far out of harm at all times, unlike the SS Canberra!

1987 – In October the SS Queen Elizabeth 2 made her final Trans Atlantic crossing from New York under steam as she was about to head to Germany where her new diesel engines were to be installed and an extensive refit and remodelling at a cost of US$162 million.

1988 –A new look MV Queen Elizabeth 2 complete with a new and far superior funnel and far more economic and faster that before, she returned to service and gained even more popularity on the Atlantic service.

1990 - Queen Elizabeth becomes the first Monarch to sail on the commercial liner with other passengers on board.

1995 - QE2 leaves New York for Southampton on her 1,000th voyage.

1996 - During her twentieth around the world cruise the QE2 passed her four millionth mile mark, and amazing feat, but there was more to come!

1998 - South African President Nelson Mandela sails on the QE2 from Durban to Cape Town. A year later the QE2 was treated to a multi-million dollar refurbishment which included all her public rooms as well as her cabins that needed updating.

2002 - QE2 passes five million miles - a world first.

2004 - The QE2 was considered as being one of the last of the great Trans Atlantic liners, for there has not been any true liners since. Although, they pretend that the Queen Mary 2 is a liner, but she certainly is not and neither was the QE 2 in her latter years, for both were then cruise ships. Although QE2 was built as a liner that would also operate cruises, but her main function was to be a liner; that means line voyages from the UK to the USA and back. Today all ships operate short and longer cruises and they may undertake the occasional cruise from the USA to and from the UK, but that does not qualify them as being a “liner”, for the encyclopaedia clearly states that a liner must be a ship that is on a regular (constant) liner service – “line voyage”!

2005 - The QE2 becomes the longest serving Cunard ship ever, surpassing the RMS Aquitania's 35 years.

2008 – November 11 Queen Elizabeth 2 departed Southampton in the evening for Dubai UAE and she was officially retired from active Cunard service.

2009 – September 21. The author saw and photographed the QE2 today whilst on a around the world cruise on Dawn Princess and noted that she was registered in Port Vila Vanuatu.

2010 – January 29. QE2 broke loose from her moorings during a storm and was only just saved from destruction by two brilliant pilots.

2012 – July, 03. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem announced that a decision has been made to retain the ship’s exterior in her “classic and traditional shape, and install 300 rooms and use her as a hotel at the new Port Rashid International Cruise Terminal within several years! Sultan Sulayem said: “So we have decided to leave her basic design as it is. We will preserve her tradition. What we are doing today is what we should have done when we first bought her.” And I agree with him, they should have and she would have been operational by now!

QE2 in Dubai on September 21, 2009 – Note that she is registered in Port Vila

Southampton can still be seen beneath the over painting

Photograph © Reuben Goossens

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Ships Waiting to be Saved!

Three Special Vessel’s worth keeping in mind

Two in Australia & One in the U.K.

1. MV Cape Don

The remarkable 1963 built - MV Cape Don

Like the famed historic Sydney Harbour ferry, the MS Baragoola, which I strongly support in saving and preserving, and I am now adding the delightful 1963 built MV Cape Don, which is a unique all Australian vessel that should, and must be retained at all costs! However she is a genuine ship that has sailed great distances and has a fine history. It is worth reading her story via the link below! But we need your support NOW!

Enter my NEW MV Cape Don feature

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2. MV Baragoola

Originally built as a Steamer but converted into a Motor Vessel between 1958-61

I am well aware that the MV Baragoola may not fit my criteria as a “classic liner,” however, I believe with all my heart that this superb historic 1922 built and famed Sydney Manly ferry, which I have supported online for quite some years, needs to be restored and retained long in the future! Manly ferries are one of the most popular means of transport in Sydney to this day, and Sydneysiders and International visitor’s all make sure they take a trip on a 35 minute cruise on one of the most beautiful harbours in the world, with views that just have to be seen to be believed.

When the superbly built SS Baragoola was built back in 1922, there was no “Coat-hanger” or better known to the world as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or one of the best known structures known to man, the Sydney Opera House with its grand sails sitting on Bennelong Point, but she did eventfully sail under the Bridge and past the completed Opera House, but then she had become the MV Baragoola! Her interiors are of beautiful timbers and her owners intend preserving her in all her glory. Thus I recommend that All Australian and genuine lovers of fine vessels of this kind come aboard!

Enter the MV Baragoola multiple page feature

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3. T.S.S. Dover

Renamed in 1977 “Earl Siward”, in 1982 “Sol Express” and in 1993 she became the nightclub “Tuxedo Royale”

The TSS Dover, was later renamed; Earl Siward, Sol Express but currently she is the Tuxedo Royale, is a British built twin screw turbine steamship and she was built in 1965 as a stern loading roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry, but she spent a great deal of her final years as a permanently berthed floating nightclub before closing down and since then she has been laid up on the River Tees in Middlesbrough. However, thankfully there is considerable interest in this fine classic ferry to preserve her, as she was also the very last steamship to be ordered by British Rail. A viable conservation plan is at hand with an excellent organisation having been set up, being the “Dover Steamship Company,” which ssMaritime, and the “Save The Classic Liners Campaign” fully supports and I trust that my readers will also support this work and go and visit their site and join this good work!

Read the Chairman’s News letters, which are available on their own site and this is located on my TSS Dover feature!

Enter the TSS Dover feature

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Ships Saved by this & other Campaigns

SS Rotterdam V

She is berthed in Rotterdam the Netherlands

The author commenced his original “Save the SS Rotterdam Campaign” in 1997, when I heard that Carnival (HAL) had intentions of disposing of the superb SS Rotterdam, but, suddenly they sold her to Premier Cruises and she became the SS Rembrandt. For this reason I abandoned the campaign at that time. Premier had her refitted, which turned out to be at half the cost that Carnival had estimated to bring her up to SOLAS compliance, and upon completion she returned to duties and continued as a popular cruise ship, with many past Rotterdam passengers sailing on her. She commenced cruising first in South American waters and then elsewhere. However, as is well documented Premier Cruises officially shut down on September, 13, 2000! As soon as I heard this news I recommenced my original “Save the SS Rotterdam Campaign” which continued and received massive supports from around the world!

However, it was at midnight on September, 13, 2000, when the terrible news was made official and Rembrandt’s captain was ordered to go to Halifax Nova Scotia, and offload his passengers. Upon arrival the ship was placed under arrest by the Halifax Sheriff's department until early the next day. However, she was permitted, under special warrant conditions to sail for Freeport in the Bahamas, arriving September 21, and was laid up and was placed on the market to be sold. AS we continued the campaign there was a superb Dutch organisation then headed by Klaas Krijnen, and considering they were doing such an outstanding job and with the Rotterdam being an all Dutch ship, I decided to hand over to them and continue my pages, but only in a support role and ensured that my visitors would go to their pages and join their organisation, etc and give funds of course! We all know that this ended up well and that the ship is now owned by “De Rotterdam BV” and she is a huge success, and I am so glad that I was part of that success in some way! However, now you can enjoy the sublime pleasure of living on board this once great Dutch liner, thus head for the Netherlands and stay for a week on board the SS Rotterdam and explore a wonderful city that has so much to offer and a country filled with fine castles, delightful country villages, fishing villages and many wonders to behold. I loved my last visit there!

SS Rotterdam has been superbly restored to her original 1958 beautiful self and is now open to the public

Serving as a fine Hotel, restaurant, food and conference venue and tourist centre

This Dutch ex Trans-Atlantic liner was known as the “The Grande Dame” was launched by HRH Queen Juliana in a gala ceremony on September 13, 1958, and she departed on her maiden voyage on September 3 1959. The SS Rotterdam became the very last of the great Dutch “ships of state,” employing some of the greatest Dutch artisans during her construction and fitting out process. Her successful career spanned a good forty years, and she became one of the most successful and profitable passenger ships of all time. She sailed from September 1959 until her final retirement in September 2000.

Visit the English version of the … SS ROTTERDAM Website