'Save the SS Hamburg/SS MAXIM GORKI' Foundation (Germany)

'Save the SS Empress of Britain(The Topez)' Foundation

'Save the MV Augustus' Foundation(Italy)

'Save the SS Oceanic' Foundation(Italy)

'Save the SS Olympia(Regal Empress)' Foundation(Greece)

'Save the SS VISTAJORD(Saga Ruby)' Foundation(Norway)

'Save the QE2' Foundation (England)

The time to save these ships is now. Not when the vessels are on the market. Will anyone step up to the challenge and spread the word? I would love to hear your thoughts about creating a Foundation in these ships' honor. If such a plan was in place, the SS Canberra would still be with us today as a floating hotel, instead of a pile of memories. Let us use this time to draw up support for the ships mentioned while they are still in service.

[ 04-15-2007: Message edited by: Redlinekid2 ]

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Originally posted by Redlinekid2:
For those of you who would love to see the following ships preserved for future generations, I certainly hope that some of their respected fans would establish the following foundations early on so that the situation that surrounds the SS Norway is not repeated, and to raise awareness to restore and preserve these fine ships in by way of the SS Rotterdam's' example:

'Save the SS KUNGSHOLM(Oceanic II, Mona Lisa) ' Foundation(Sweden)

'Save the SS Empress of Britain(The Topez)' Foundation

'Save the MV Augustus' Foundation(Italy)

'Save the SS Oceanic' Foundation(Italy)

'Save the SS Olympia(Regal Empress)' Foundation(Greece)

'Save the SS VISTAJORD(Saga Ruby)' Foundation(Norway)

'Save the QE2' Foundation (England)

The time to save these ships is now. Not when the vessels are on the market. Will anyone step up to the challenge and spread the word? I would love to hear your thoughts about creating a Foundation in these ships' honor. If such a plan was in place, the SS Canberra would still be with us today as a floating hotel, instead of a pile of memories. Let us use this time to draw up support for the ships mentioned while they are still in service.

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Missing the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation. This foundation there campaign to save the Rotterdam was hopeful, painful and above al very successful. I believe they are the ones that actually keep the Rotterdam in the spotlights and help save the Grand Lady.
Steamship Rotterdam foundation.

For instance, the Augustus (in my opinion the most beautiful of those listed ships) cleaned up and returned to its 50's appearance, could be a very novelty hotel to attract tourists. "A step back in time" sort of thing. Or even if a few condos were built on board in the second/ third class cabin spaces? The ship could be towed to another location twice a year. Not far of course, but a change of scenary might boost sales, not to mention I think a stay during the towing would be quite popular.

Anyway, if anyone whose living in the countries mentioned, now is a good time to create a grassroots campaign. It's also the same course of action that convinced Northern Ireland to buy the SS Nomadic.

It's not too late to create a foundation in each of the ships' name to promote awareness.

However, the most difficult renovation into a hotel ship will be the SS United States. The renovation of the ship I had mentioned on my starting post is nothing compared to that: over $400 Million.

For the time being, the job of a Foundation is to raise awareness to the public and private officials. Not to own and operate a ship. In addition, as far as costs are concerned, that job should be left to those who has that knowledge to renovate and restore the respected ships to thier former glory.

We the people will be the ones to determine whether a preserved classic ship will be profitable or not.

I forgot to add this important ship to the list:

'Save the Pacific Princess(The Love Boat)' Foundation

This is the ship that help to lauch the cruiseships' popularity. Image this ship permanently docked in Los Angeles , San Francisco, or San Diago? It would definately be a popular site that could showcase the history of the Love Boat TV Series.

[ 03-29-2007: Message edited by: Redlinekid2 ]

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Originally posted by Redlinekid2:
I didn't post 'The SS Rotterdam' Foundation because they saved the SS Rotterdam V. Also, I stated that they are great example of how a campaign should be run.

Anyway, if anyone whose living in the countries mentioned, now is a good time to create a grassroots campaign. It's also the same course of action that convinced Northern Ireland to buy the SS Nomadic.

It's not too late to create a foundation in each of the ships' name to promote awareness.

However, the most difficult renovation into a hotel ship will be the SS United States. The renovation of the ship I had mentioned on my starting post is nothing compared to that: over $400 Million.

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One very, very important item within any foundation is the cooperation between the boardmembers. One should trust each other and you must share all information one can get.
You have to work according to the rules within the deed and never make a step outside of that!
Such a foundation cannot and may not be a one-man's business. It is really to much work and you need some more people, however, as said before, one has to trust each other and never keep any information to yourself.
Oh, and if you are a boardmember of such a foundation, do not go to work for the owners as by than you will manoeuvre yourself in a very difficult situation. It is very difficult to work with your co-boardmembers wearing two hats

I don't mean to burst anyone's bubble, but I will voice my usual skeptical (some my say cynical) views on this.

Contrary to your view, the Canberra would most definitely have gone for scrap as that is the fate her owners decided was best for her. They didn't want her mis-managed by another cruise line or to have her "saved" as a monument, only to fall into grave disrepair and besmirch her memory and reputation.

While the intentions are great and noble, establishing a foundation such as this is pie in the sky. Saving old liners from the scrap yard is the easiest part in that it would only require a few million dollars. It's what comes next that is the hard and expensive part.

Converting and maintaining these old liners is prohibitively expensive, not to mention the great costs incurred with undoing the "damage" of each of these ships' succession of owners.

What, if any, of the original ships is left in terms of the interiors of the TOPAZ, REGAL EMPRESS or the MONA LISA for example? Far too little if any.

Then there is the fact that every country is petrified of asbestos, which almost all of these ships contain.

What would be the draw to the average person? Little to none I am afraid.

What type of attractions would be installed as a draw other than a maritime museum?

How would the ship sustain itself in a financially viable fashion? Old ships make lousy hotels as far as the general public is concerned!

One only has to look at the Queen Mary as the shining example of a failed venture. She was a sad sight when I was at her at the end of January, her highest profile attraction being the Saturday night performance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, sponsored by some crap new-wave radio station and the crowd largely consisting of cigarette smoking goth high-shoolers. And she was/is FAR more of a high profile ship than any of the ones
you listed.

Then we have all the bureaucractic, financial, and environmental problems that the Rotterdam has experienced thus far. The Rotterdam is far from saved at this point.

I think the best we can hope for, and something we should embrace rather than trying to preserve these ships whole, is to document their past and
present while they are still with us. Support authors who are willing to write books documenting these beautiful ships and merchants such as Peter Knego who can and do offer pieces of these ships for ownership after they are gone.

Spend your money to cruise on them while you can, these ships were never built to last forever and they certainly won't.

Ships are much like people, once they reach a certain age their mortality is something they can't escape. As hard as it is, you just have to let go....

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Originally posted by Cunard Fan:
I think There should be a "Save the Liners foundation". I was thinking what if they made classic ships into something like The World?...it is still a interesting idea.

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As Tim has just nicely explained (above) an "interesting idea" does not necessarily make money.

There have been lots of 'Foundations' to save Liners - they rarely work as the one thing they don't have is money. People with money are too wise to invest it in rusty old ships. If you had money and invested it in old ship you would soon be broke!

Queen Mary 1 was mostly original upon retirement and is Rembrandterdam. QM1 was the first venture of its kind. It was noted that the Rotterdam Foundation learned from QM1's mistakes.

Those 2 ships were original enough to make it worthwhile. The others simply are too far gone.

In regards to financing; I believe that the government should help, not with subsidizing the hotel, but the museum functions.

[ 04-03-2007: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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Originally posted by desirod7:
Tim,
In regards to financing; I believe that the government should help, not with subsidizing the hotel, but the museum functions.

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

In Southern California today that money goes to endless social programs that did not exist 30-40 years ago.

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Originally posted by desirod7:

Lets not forget corporate welfare and welfare for the wealthy.

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

That is partly true but what I see on a daily basis here in L.A. is sad. Money that could go to museums, parks, general upkeep is diverted to programs that in the end do not help people. Of course we now have a 50% public high school drop-out rate and the ones that do 'graduate' do so at an 8th grade level so I guess giving them some spending money for their 'bling' will keep 'em quiet-for a while. That is until they realize that all the decent paying low-skilled jobs they would have done in the past are now overseas. McJobs anyone??

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quote:

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Originally posted by desirod7:
Tim,

Queen Mary 1 was mostly original upon retirement and is Rembrandterdam. QM1 was the first venture of its kind. It was noted that the Rotterdam Foundation learned from QM1's mistakes.

Those 2 ships were original enough to make it worthwhile. The others simply are too far gone.

In regards to financing; I believe that the government should help, not with subsidizing the hotel, but the museum functions.

[ 04-03-2007: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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[ 04-15-2007: Message edited by: Redlinekid2 ]