Cruise Talk: Britanis

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Britanis - Ellinis

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Topic: Britanis - Ellinis

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 08-23-2010 01:16 PM

Has anyone ever seen a picture of these two "sisters" docked or sailng next to each other in their Chandris liveries? I think it is interesting to see how different they turned out after all their renovations by Matson /Chandris.

Ellinis

Britanis

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 08-23-2010 01:34 PM

From what I understand, BRITANIS and ELLINIS were never in a port together while they were operating for Chandris. On the round-the-world itineraries they were always oceans apart, and later the BRIT served mainly the North American market. ELLI sailed Down Under, and her only US port of call was Port Everglades two or three times a year, which the BRIT never called at.

Even in their final years being laid up, they were thousands of miles apart.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 08-23-2010 07:30 PM

I sailed on the Ellinis back in 1973 on a cruise from Baltimore to The Bahamas. We had such a fun time, we booked the next trip which was a transatlantic to Southampton. There were still many Aussies on staff along with Brits and Kiwis. Great, fun group of people. The ship was in rough condition. I don't think she ever got the "re-do" that Britanis received. She still had much from her Matson days from what I could tell. We were so young it didn't matter, but we enjoyed her a lot.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 08-23-2010 08:27 PM

I always preferred the cleaner exterior look of Britanis. Ellinis was trying to hard to be something she was'nt-a newer ship

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

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 08-23-2010 10:46 PM

Amazing how much they looked alike exterior wise. Now, I need interior photos. Great shots of both of them and I can understand why they didn't have them side by side in any port. Too easy to make a mistake and get on the wrong one. But for me, that would be the fun of it.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 08-24-2010 10:02 AM

The Ellinis was in New York as well in the late 1960s doing cruises. She paired up with the Amerikanis before the Atlantis was finished. The Ellinis did some cruises to the Bahamas and Bermuda and then when the Atlantis was ready the later replaced her on the cruises.

If the Britanis and the Ellinis were ever together it would have been a one off happenstance meeting based on the divergent schedules.

Posts: 757 | From: New York | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 08-24-2010 06:20 PM

In her later years Ellinis was laid up and being used a supply of spare parts for Britanis. That gave Britanis a few extra years of life.

Brian

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 08-25-2010 08:48 AM

Brian is correct in that the laid-up Ellinis provided parts for Britanis. I remember reading that the Homeric provided parts for both during her breakup in the far East. Homeric was also a former Matson fleet-mate.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

rd77
First Class Passenger
Member # 2117

posted 08-25-2010 09:56 AM

Gee, I had always thought that the rebuild of the ELLINIS was very extensive, but when you put her next to the much-less modified BRITANIS, the two of them actually look almost the same!

Posts: 1037 | From: The Hague, Netherlands | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 08-25-2010 07:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rd77:
Gee, I had always thought that the rebuild of the ELLINIS was very extensive, but when you put her next to the much-less modified BRITANIS, the two of them actually look almost the same!

The Lurline/Ellinis had a few extra changes that Matsonia/Britanis did'nt get. Ellinis received a new flaired bow (Matsonia had a new bow installed in '57), re-styled openings on the covered promenades, glass windscreens fore and aft, greater alterations to the funnels and a modernized bridgefront with open bridgewings. Overall, I prefer the less modified Britanis.

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

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 08-25-2010 09:31 PM

Ellinis did keep her three per side lanai suites. They were well worn, but still a pleasant way to travel. Britanis only had one per side.....easily seen in the photos.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 08-26-2010 12:18 AM

Many of the differences exterior wise related to how they looked in their Matson days. The single Lenai suites either side on Britanis verses 3 on Ellinis were as Matson had refitted the ships. I don't think Lurline/Ellinis ever had completely enclosed bridge wings as Matsonia/Lurline did all Chandris did was remove the enclosed cabs at the ends of the bridge wings of Ellinis. I actually prefer the open bridge wing look and funnels of Ellinis yet prefer plenty of other details Britanis had. I have a soft spot for these ships having spend 6 weeks board Ellinis in 1974 on a long slow voyage from Australia to England via New York. She was only running at 14 knots max as had damaged a turbine and received a replacement direct from the being scrapped Homeric which then extended her life for many more years.

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 08-26-2010 12:32 PM

I'll have to look it up but I believe all three Matson liners (Lurline, Mariposa and Monterey) had partly enclosed bridge wings when built-a roof completely covered the wings and there was a glassed-in portion at either side.

ss Lurline's bridge was completely enclosed during her extensive post WWII rebuilding. Matsonia's (ex Monterey) was completely glassed-in during her 1957 refit. The Homeric (ex Mariposa) had her's completely rebuilt during her early 1950s refit and emerged w/open bridgewings and a more modern bridgefront.

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

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 08-29-2010 10:12 PM

Have done some digging and appears that the original Lurline always had roofed bridge wings with glassed cabs at the ends so Chandris removed the solid roof and the cabs when she became Ellinis. She never had a fully glassed in bridge. The Matsonia/Lurline/Britanis however received her fully glassed in appearance during her post War refit and kept this to the end of her days. I really dislike the glassed in bridge wings all modern cruise ships have as gives vessels a bug eyed appearance but it somehow suited the Britanis.

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

miamicruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4413

posted 08-29-2010 11:33 PM

So I wonder, was the Mastonia/Lurline/Britanis the first large passenger ship to have the now common enclosed bridge that stretched from side-to-side?

Posts: 54 | From: miami | Registered: Jan 2004 | IP: Logged

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