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Topic: What I think happened...

Beezo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1505

posted 05-25-2004 08:29 AM

***This thread is more or less an extension of the thread found in the Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships forum, titled "SS United States Meeting, May 2004"***

What I think happened....
I think NCL realized that if they were to put the S/S Norway and the S/S United States back into service, it would cost way, way too much money. I think they had to sit down, and decide which ship had to go, and which one had to stay. I believe they chose the SSUS to stay because if they turned around and sold her for scrap, or for a different owner, they would have been ruined, ridiculed, etc...
It's too bad everything had to turn out the way it did. I think things could have possibly been different if issues didn't turn up with Pride of America, and having the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dream having propulsion problems (may seem not like a big thing now, but these were all huge issues during the time period)

Your thoughts?
Brian

Posts: 865 | From: Massachusetts, USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 05-25-2004 08:49 AM

Sadly, if NCL scrapped SS United States, the masses could care less, and it wouldn't effect NCL's business...there are not enough ocean liner fanatics to make a big enough dent as far as a protest...the majority of people really don't care. It would certainly be sad, but if NCL must drop the BIGU for business reasons...it would make a lot of liner buffs angry, but the masses (who don't even know what the BigU is), could care less. Actually I think NCL has a more viable product with the NORWAY, because so many people have experienced her on a cruise in recent years. That brings me to another reason why few people care....thousands, tens of thousands of passengers have, in recent years, experienced a cruise on the NORWAY, and since she has been withdrawn...NCL has been going strong...the masses don't seem to care...so why would the masses care if a ship that no one has seen in service since 1969 care more about the BigU?

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

moodus2
First Class Passenger
Member # 2414

posted 05-25-2004 08:59 AM

ss norway-to open the ship up to
access the boiler room and replace the boiler is apparently
more then ncl wanted to spent
and they no longer wanted to
operate a steam plant.

ss united states- this ship is
pretty well gutted internally.
so ncl can make her solas compliant. the steam powerplant
will be removed and replaced
with diesel-electric.
the united states will fit in
with the ncl america brand because she will fly the u.s flag.

Posts: 473 | From: moodus,ct. | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 05-25-2004 10:11 AM

If ships had a soul, SSUS would be a tourmented soul. I hate to see good ships scrapped but poor United States must wish she was put to rest all those years ago.

That said - if NCL convert her they better damn well keep her original lines, if not then what joy will any of us get in seeing her turned into a floating box with a pointy bow... none.

Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Atlcruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4586

posted 05-25-2004 12:33 PM

http://www.jlippert.net/bremerhaven2004/bremerhaven2004.html

I did a quick glance and did not see the above link posted on here anywhere else but here are some recent photos of the Norway that posted on usenet. She still looks great and as if she were waiting on her next group of passenger to set sail.

On the other hand, the POA is butt ugly IMHO. That bow(if you can call it that) is not attractive at all.

[ 05-25-2004: Message edited by: Atlcruiser ]

Posts: 916 | From: Atlanta | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 05-25-2004 12:39 PM

I thought NCL wanted the SSUS for it's Hawaiian and US coastal service and for that the ship had to be US built or have a temporary US registry. SSUS is a clean slate to work on. Her interiors are perfect for renovation as the expensive demo. work was carried out 8 years ago. Her vast aft decks are large enough to handle two pools, spas etc. Her hull is in excellent condition, she just needs a good sandblasting. Many forget that for 17 years, she was one (if not #1) of the most popular ships on the very competetive North Atlantic run. At the end of the 1960s the problem with her were the out of control unions that destroyed her reputation and eventually her career with United States Lines. By 1970 almost all of the US flagged and union run ships were laid up and the crews were all out of work. Today, I think many would be grateful to return to sea and have a job aboard a beautiful ship flying the Stars and Stripes.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Namlit
First Class Passenger
Member # 1940

posted 05-25-2004 02:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Atlcruiser:
http://www.jlippert.net/bremerhaven2004/bremerhaven2004.html

WOW! One of several excellent pictures from Jochen Lippert's website. This one is entitled: "She almost looks like she could sail away anytime now"

Posts: 309 | From: Greene County, Indiana, USA | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

lebelty
First Class Passenger
Member # 3855

posted 05-25-2004 03:17 PM

these are my favorite pics:

(exept for that blob in ther center

)

tyler

Posts: 672 | From: CT/Maine | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Globaliser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4153

posted 05-25-2004 06:13 PM

Tyler, I think you may mean this picture and this picture?

Posts: 1869 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 05-25-2004 10:38 PM

Why is NCL having her lit up at night? I would think it would be expensive to light her funnels/upper decks if she is in lay-up. Maybe they are trying to keep her looking good for any potential buyers.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 05-25-2004 11:16 PM

Its definately sad to see the NORWAY go, but economically its better for NCL to keep the BIGU than the NORWAY. Probably NCL will take down her superstructure, but keep the hull in its shape. Another question is since the BIGU has a "banana shaped" hull, how is it possible to put in module cabins? I think with the latest problems over at NCL and Star, the BIGU project is being pushed back alot...

I know that the NORWAY was a cheap option to cruise. I wonder what has happened to those cruisers?

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 05-25-2004 11:27 PM

Oh yea, by the way, the POA is really ugly!!!

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Beezo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1505

posted 05-26-2004 01:12 AM

i wonder what the model of the ship looks like in Colin Veitch's office....

Posts: 865 | From: Massachusetts, USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

bulbousbow
First Class Passenger
Member # 4440

posted 05-26-2004 01:22 AM

quote:
Keitaro wrote:
Oh yea, by the way, the POA is really ugly!!!

She is very top heavy. Looks like a barge with a hotel on top of it.

Cheers

Posts: 6866 | From: Adelaide, Australia | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

Globaliser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4153

posted 05-26-2004 07:03 AM

quote:
Originally posted by bulbousbow:
Looks like a barge with a hotel on top of it.

To me, it looks like a floating dock with a hotel on top of it ...

[ 05-26-2004: Message edited by: Globaliser ]

Posts: 1869 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 05-26-2004 08:57 AM

I love this one...

Thanks to : www.jlippert.net/

Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

linerguy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4289

posted 05-26-2004 10:06 AM

Regarding POA:

I can't stand it when a ship doesn't have a forward observation area below the bridge ... that's another area where QM2 shines.

Notice how the ship's length (between perpendiculars) is almost exactly the same length of the forward superstructure ... yuk!

Another 50ft. of bow would have helped (but not saved) her appearance.

Russ

Posts: 1486 | From: Bright, Indiana | Registered: Dec 2003 | IP: Logged

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