Cruise Talk: Canberra, would have been 50 this year

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Canberra, would have been 50 this year

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Topic: Canberra, would have been 50 this year

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 08-18-2011 06:37 PM

canberra tourist cabin, and yes, I slept here

Saw the movie "What's Up Doc" in this theater

[ 08-18-2011: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 08-18-2011 07:58 PM

I did 2 transpacifics on Canberra, and wish there were more! Probably my favourite ship of those 35 I've sailed on. Loved the forward exterior deck for port arrivals and departures and soaking up the rays. The Bonito pool was ideal for cooling off, and the Crowsnest the best observation bar afloat; a feature Oriana and Rotterdam, ships from the same era, did not have. I'm afraid there will just not be another passenger ship built to live up to Canberra's class.
Grant

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 08-19-2011 01:53 AM

Grant the Oriana certainly did have a very nice forward Observation Lounge called the Lookout which I spent many a quite hour enjoying the view from. The view wasn't quite as good as from Canberra's Crows Nest though.

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

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 08-19-2011 06:31 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Grant:
I did 2 transpacifics on Canberra,............I'm afraid there will just not be another passenger ship built to live up to Canberra's class.
Grant

She and SS Rotterdam are my favorite ships. I would have loved to cross the Pacific on the Canberra, the cross the Atlantic on the Rotterdam in tandem.

At the time 1973 P&O had very good entertainment. Count Basie played in the William Fawcett Room. Same year Rotterdam had Ella Fitzgerald.

Grant, was not the Canberra a great seaboat?

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 08-19-2011 07:41 AM

That is one ship I would loved to have sailed on, she looked very grand inside and out. Graceful lines; just beautiful. I did sail the ROTTERDAM in a way, when she was the REMBRANDT with Premier, I really enjoyed sailing on her.

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

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 08-19-2011 12:33 PM

I found the forward observation bar on Oriana had a blocked view when seated; Ok but not as nice as Canberra. As for sea keeping, Canberra was great. On one trip is was so rough leaving San Francisco that we were taking green water over the bow on occasion, and yet she was very stable. Almost a slow motion feeling, perhaps because of the concrete ballast that was added to keep the bow down!! The second trip the Pacific was like glass for the entire 23 days.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES
First Class Passenger
Member # 5641

posted 08-19-2011 01:07 PM

Email Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES

Having worked on both ships ss Oriana was the better sea ship in rough weather.

Should Oriana slow down, due to any rough weather, she also had the speed in reserve to get back on to schedule and arrive in port on time.

This was the reason the ss Oriana displayed, above her bridge, the companies Golden Cockeral brass trophy as the fastest ship in the fleet.

She made the fastest crossings of both the Pacific and Indian oceans by a cruise ship.
.

Posts: 2355 | From: Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 30 miles north of London | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 08-19-2011 02:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Neil - Ex P. & O. S. N. Company.:
She made the fastest crossings of both the Pacific and Indian oceans by a cruise ship.
.

I recall Canberra could make 29 knots and change and the Oriana could steam 31 knots?

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 08-19-2011 05:25 PM

My fondest memory is of Canberra doing a sail by at speed.

I was lecturing on Star Princess trans-Atlantic and the last day before reaching St. Maarten on the crossing early in the morning a small white spot appeared off the stern on the horizon. The P&O Commodore was aboard Star Princess because it was a special celebratory crossing. Early in the morning the captain of Canberra radioed the captain of Star Princess and the Commodore asking for permission to do a coordinated sail by at mid-day.

That little white spot on the horizon grew bigger till it was clear Canberra was overtaking. At mid-day she shot past in full glory and I just happened to be standing on the rail with a group of British passengers and hookey as it sounds they decided their was only one appropriate response to the moment....

Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves
Britons never, never, never will be slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never will be slaves.

Still more maje-e-estic shalt thou rise,
More dre-e-e-e-eadful from each foreign stroke,
More dreadful, dreadful from each foreign stroke,
Loud blast above us, loud blast that tears the skies
Serves but to ro-o-o-ot thy native oak.

Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.

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

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 08-22-2011 11:21 PM

Having sailed on both ships in all sorts of weather they both handled big seas well, although I'd give the edge to Oriana. Perhaps it was due to having more weight in the middle of hull rather than far aft? Oriana also had one big set of stabiliser fins while Canberra had two smaller sets.

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

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