Christmas on an Ocean Liner

[@Shayna11NM]

The year my husband died, at just age 30, none of us in the family knew what to do. We didn't even want to celebrate Christmas without him. So, his Mom, my amazing Momma-in-law, scheduled us (her, her husband, me, her daughter and her husband and his Mom) for a 10 day Christmas cruise through the Panama Canal. It was really the most therapeutic thing we could have done. I don't remember the food, what movie I watched in the theater, what entertainment I attended, but I remember being with my family while all of our hearts were trying to heal and that cruise was a big bandaid. 12 years later I still look back fondly on that trip. Edited to add: Princess Cruise Line, Island Princess.

[@macflod]

Im sorry for your loss! That is a great idea what they did! Especially at around Christmas it can be very hard! I lost both parents and a close elderly friend when i was 30, 32 and 35, all in the weeks leading to Christmas. It was a lot to bare year after year and Christmas took on a feeling of dread for me. I also work on ships and i volunteered to go to sea in December through to January. Its a time of year im happy to miss and be away for. However on the ship i work on (which has no passengers, just working crew) the catering crew and stewards still go to extra effort decorating the ship with many trees, lights, Christmas ornaments! Honestly where they hide it all i cannot work it out! Then they are making huge meals from 23-26 and over 31s-2 January. This included ice sculptures! Big Cakes made like in the shape of the ship! Gingerbread houses! Biscuits etc. sculptures from food! Really cool stuff!! Only problem was that you don’t always get time to sit and enjoy it slowly, often we were rushing back to out work posts but not always! Anyway im glad you got to go on a cruise to help!

[@tundrawomansays694]

I was also a young widow at 37. No one outside of maybe family knows “what to do” for us because we don’t fit into the typical age group for widows/widowers. I’m so pleased you had family to grieve with and hope it aided in your recovery-if we ever do “recover.” Best wishes with your continued journey and my sincerest condolences to you and all who have lost loved ones especially around this time of the year. I kind of feel foolish even typing that as let’s face it, when *would have been a “good time” for them to die,* right?

[@TheGreatBigMove]

I've been on a Christmas cruise aboard Celebrity Millennium, back in 2006 when she still had her Olympic Restaurant. I didn't like the idea of a Christmas cruise at first because it interfered with what my family normally did for Christmas. However, it was a fantastic trip and it is actually one of the reasons why I am interested in maritime today.

[@adamhauskins6407]

I didn't care for the Christmas cruise I went on. Just out of curiosity what was ur route

[@TheGreatBigMove]

@@adamhauskins6407 I don’t remember exactly, but it was the eastern Caribbean

[@adamhauskins6407]

@@TheGreatBigMove mine was Mexico central America out of New Orleans the city that I liked

[@AndyHappyGuy]

@@TheGreatBigMove hello, didn’t expect you here. You make good videos.

[@TheGreatBigMove]

@@AndyHappyGuy Thanks, Andy!

[@Slightly_Classy]

4:23 Listen, puréed turnips is actually one of the tastiest sides ever. I saw that face you made lol

[@DerpyPossum]

I'm in love vintage Christmas aesthetics, and I'm in love ocean liner aesthetics. So one could imagine how amazing this would’ve been for me :)

[@Hihihihihihi147]

100% agreed!! I wish there was a way to go back on time and experience this once ☺️

[@jeffcampbell1555]

I totally geeked out when this showed up. Like..."OMG, I'm gonna swim in this video and imagine I'm there."

[@jimmyrafferty6241]

The wood paneling from the Captain's cabin from the Mauretania was in a pub in Dame st in Dublin.

[@TheToonMonkey]

Nothing ever beats someone from the other side of the Atlantic trying to say 'Yorkshire' (or any of the other 'shire' counties). 😀 Merry Christmas!

[@sc1338]

It’s funny because New Hampshire is pronounced correctly

[@jeffcampbell1555]

And don't even start with "cester." To us yanks, the name Leicestershire seems like a deliberate trick.

[@harrietharlow9929]

As in Lanca-sheer and Devon-sheer ? I was the only one in my family who pronounced it correctly. But...I was an odd child.

[@liamcollinson5695]

Its easy to pronounce if you say it as yorkcher instead of Yorkshire at least for Americans

[@tundrawomansays694]

I think of the dogs of this breed when pronouncing it. We call them “yourkshers” not “yourkshires.” English is a complicated language-even for native speakers! Sigh.

[@UnconsciousCompetence]

I've never heard of a harmonica with a bell attachment before? My mind has just been blown.

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

I've never spent Christmas on an ocean liner though it looks so inviting that I would if I could. However, I have spent the core of Christmas (Dec. 22-26) on a Via Rail train going from Vancouver to Toronto. If you can't get a berth on a liner, I can assure you that a holiday feast onboard a train can be a luxurious and satisfying experience. Aircraft are all about destinations but trains are still about the journey.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Via is wonderful! I hope to take another trip on it again at some point.

[@harrietharlow9929]

My mum who was of German descent, would make goose during the hols (I grew up in Michigan). She would render fat with apple and onion and I remember having it on rye bread-one of the pleasures of growing up German-American. On Christmas we would watch "A Christmas Carol" as I enjoyed my Christmas prezzies.

[@AndyHappyGuy]

We often see these ships as from some old forgotten time, so having these Christmas decorations really help me visualize and connect with this era of ocean liners. Thanks Tom!

[@nordisk1874]

I sailed on the SS Norway on her last New Years cruise and there was nothing like the holidays on a former ocean liner!

[@triceratroytv2292]

I know that it's kinda tacky, but the Titanic museum in Pigeon forge decorates their Grand Staircase every year and I think it's beautiful.

[@Maritime_History]

Thank you for uploading this.

[@macflod]

I thought for a second there that Poseidon movie was based on real event! I was like! What! How did i never hear this!!! I work on ships and have doesn’t Christmas at sea. On a ship with all workers and no passengers i can say i was lucky as the stewards and catering crew put real extra extra effort in - making giant ginger bread houses, ice sculptures and cakes in shape of the ship! There were three days of big meals? Christmas eve, Christmas day, boxing day of which Christmas day was the most extravagant! The ship was decorated with many trees and lights, snowmen and santa ornaments! Honestly i didn’t know where they could keep it all. However i know not every ship goes to this effort but i was very lucky :)

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

also, I actually had the chance of celebrating Christmas on a liner... yes it was only a day ferry, but sailing back upon the Caledonian MacBrayne after Christmas night spent in one of the older churches on the Islands The Christmas breakfast course we got was rather nice, with live bagpipes, a dance, and special courses with a some very tasty seasonally decorated nuts berry porridge, Christmas Pudding, Mince-Pies and other seasonal deserts in the menu.

[@TheCalico72]

That sounds charming and delightful. What a nice memory for you!

[@jamesanderson3160]

Tom I know I’ve said it before but, you’ve outdone yourself again. I really enjoyed this one! Love that you’re starting to upload weekly. Gives me something to look forward to each Saturday. Can’t wait to see what you have for us next time! I hope you and Emma have a very Merry Christmas!

[@DerpyPossum]

@@samwecerinvictus how is any of this pathetic?

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Thank you, I appreciate that. I’ll be taking next Saturday off for Christmas, but more coming in the new year! Merry Christmas to you as well.

[@PartTimeExplorer]

@@DerpyPossum Nothing- ignore that comment. He seems to insinuate that I’m incapable of creating original videos any time I reupload one of the older documentaries I made and published on the THG channels. He doesn’t seem to comment on the majority of my other videos though, which are new content.

[@arnepianocanada]

A heart-stirring post, rich in feel of history relived. Btw for future reference: the British say *sheer* for each shire ('county' in England, especially midland regions) - e.g. Yorkshire, Devonshire, Oxfordshire

[@ChickVicious237]

You had me going for a second with the Poseidon Adventure! That movie was the source of my nightmares when I was a kid, it would have blown my mind to learn it was based on a real story (more so than the what-if suggested by Queen Mary's near disaster). Another fantastic video, thank you!

[@AndyHappyGuy]

Imagine being a troop in the war on the Queen Mary. You get in the promenade, look over the side, and you see a massive wall of water heading towards you.

[@ChickVicious237]

@@AndyHappyGuy I can't imagine, it gives one a fresh appreciation for being on solid ground and having plenty of air to breathe.

[@CJODell12]

@@AndyHappyGuy When the rogue wave hit Queen Mary, she briefly listed 52 degrees (3 more and she would have capsized) before slowly righting herself.

[@AndyHappyGuy]

@@CJODell12 then imagine being that same soldier, realising that you are in danger and you turn back and run towards the nearest door. The wave hits and you are thrown into the wall and a wall of water hits and splashes on you.

[@CJODell12]

@@AndyHappyGuy If the ship had rolled 55 degrees or more, she would have capsized, killing everyone on board.

[@jec1ny]

Great video. The Italian Line also typically had dedicated chapels onboard their liners. In 1936 the papal nuncio, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli sailed to the United States on the SS Conte di Savoia as part of an important diplomatic mission. (Three years later he was elected Pope and took the name Pius XII.)

[@PartTimeExplorer]

I didn’t know that- thanks for sharing!

[@harrietharlow9929]

I believe at least some Greek liners also carried dedicated chapel space. I think it's nice.

[@thomasgatley624]

@@harrietharlow9929 The SS Normandie also had a dedicated chapel as well.

[@stuartlee6622]

And then worked with Hitler and Mussolini sending Jewish people to Achewitz.

[@jec1ny]

@@stuartlee6622 That is a lie.

[@robobee1707]

Great video. Wasn't the Lusitania the older sister?

[@sk8trnate24]

I've watched just about every video on your channel now, I love your storytelling and attention to detail. Keep up the hard work, man! Thanks for all your videos.

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

Wishing you a merry Christmas Tom. Thank you for all the high quality, tastefull content you provide,.

[@WarAndMilk]

Merry Christmas Tom! I spent Christmas 2008 aboard the Skorpios III in south Chile. Albeit far from an ocean liner or any large cruise, there really was something magical to spending the holidays on a big boat navigating through fjords and glaciers, while hearing sailing stories from the captain.

[@jeffreyoldham55]

Merry Christmas, Tom & Emma!

[@Nakosuke-75]

Every day's like Christmas when the Part -Time Explorer uploads :)

[@bradfordbarrettluckotheIrish]

Great vlog, those old menus are fun to read, such heavy meals and long before “heart healthy” or “low cal” options were ever considered.

[@kevinchaffee9694]

You are a wonderful maritime historian, and I’m so glad to see that John Maxtone Graham has a worthy successor. Good luck and I look forward to following you in the years ahead.

[@peterj5022]

* Maxtone - Graham

[@chessdad182]

Nice. That would have been great to have traveled that way. When I retire I hope to travel in a similar fashion.

[@mikefly562]

Thank you Tom for posting this video. I’m really enjoying your videos in regards to classic ocean liners, and your voice is so wonderful to listen to. It’s really fascinating to learn so much from you and I thank you immensely for the time and dedication that you put into these mini lectures.

[@carltrotter7622]

You’ve taught me a lot over the years, thank you for another insightful video! Have a great Christmas!

[@tonyperez4791]

Thank You for sharing this great video. Wish you and your loved ones a Happy and Safe Holiday Season ! Cheers, Tony

[@amsmith123]

I worked on the QE2 in the late 80s and spent several Christmas's at sea usually in the Caribbean somewhere, the ship always got into the Christmas spirit decked out with Christmas trees & decorations plus plenty of activities including many crew & officer Christmas parties.

[@thomasgatley624]

It's my Birthday today! Also Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

[@MrMalvolio29]

Terrific video. We have an English dinner for Christmas every year, and your videos about the great ocean liners give me a hearty, warm feeling of nostalgia for something I myself never got to experience. Today’s garish “cruise ships” lack the great elegance, charm, and grace of the great liners…True, the strict, early-twentieth-century British distinctions among first and second-class passengers and those in steerage--boundaries rigidly enforced-today strike us as “unpleasant” or even “repellent.” Yet we would be typical American hypocrites to pretend that class distinctions do not *still* exist-at least economically-in our own contemporary, 21st-century society. And-to be sure-those same distinctions still exist among cruise ship passengers, some of whom are able to enjoy luxurious suites with great views; some of whom can afford window or “porthole” cabins; and some of whom must be content with what remains. The purported “non-existence of social class” in America is yet another of the fundamental lies on which the United States was founded.

[@Shipwright1918]

A Merry Christmas to you all, and may your voyages in the coming year be happy ones.

[@ChunkeyMonkey40]

This video is amazing! Tom you do such a great job on your commentary, I've been following since the days of The Last Signal, and I'm absolutely a huge fan!!! Keep them coming, you're an inspiration! You were a big part in me wanting to make KZbin a career path, and it's working! Thank you for what you do! Merry Christmas man! 🎄🇺🇸

[@scofab]

Of the days when Joy was the main Gift, and the gift not the main joy. We do our best even these days to follow in that tradition. Well done once again, thank you.

[@Brock_Landers]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Thomas! I hope you, your family, and the rest of the THG crew have a great holiday. God bless.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

something slightly reminiscent of that today are the Christmas/New-Year celebrations on some of the great railways of the world... indeed, the trans-Siberian dining car on some of the Pullman equivalent trains might have both in decoration and menus a match to some of the smaller liners... in the early 00s, partridge pies, quails, Deer or Boar, caviar on Baguette, various Vinaigrettes, swan shaped eclairs, dark chocolate, wedding-like decorated Cakes & a selection of Chianti & Konjacs were the fare for first class passengers (or any with Seasonal-Dinner Pre-Reservations)... certainly, for a certain slice of upper middle class, celebrating on board a train was a thing in Post-Soviet Russia... my guess is, thesame happens in other parts of the world with long distance sleepers...

[@richardgraham65]

Back in the 1970's we used to take the daily ferry from Cullercoates to Nova Scotia, and ast Christmas, the ferry company would provide a Christmas room where Jimmy Saville and a few Catholic Priests would hold audience, it was a real treat! after visiting the priests and Jimmy we used to be fed sparrow, stuffed inside a blackbird, stuffed inside a crow, stuffed inside a pigeon, stuffed inside a partridge, stuffed inside a grouse stuffed inside a chicken, stuffed into a turkey, stuffed into a sawn then stuffed into a a goose, inside of an emu, then into a Dodo, and finally stuffed inside an ostrich, what a delightful meal it only cost a farthing and really made up for the extreme pains we had in ou8r back passages! Funny, I never remembered asking Santa for for that present from Jimmy!

[@jonnawyatt]

Jimmy Seville and a few catholic priests. 😮

[@ratso4443]

Awesome. You do some great work. My favorite Christmas dinner entree is prime rib au jus, which I think back then they enjoyed as a roast beef. Also plum pudding and a thick, hot, citrusy drink to sip. Merry Christmas!

[@sweetwater156]

I love reading old menus. I always try to pick out something I’d like to try. Alas, I don’t eat eggs, pork, offal or seafood so I’d have a hard time with some of these. I probably wouldn’t be so picky if I lived back then, but luckily I’ve lived 36 years with no eggs or seafood passing my lips. The offal and pork is a personal preference. I’ll take the vanilla buns, and maybe watercress? Seems the greenest thing on the menu.

[@jeffcampbell1555]

You two just go from strength to unexpected strength. This is a terrific holiday episode, and it must have taken a lot of prep and research. I started vacuuming up liner history around age 12-13, and I've never encountered most of these anecdotes and stories. I'm astonished at the British lines' disrespectful policy limiting Catholic services to lower classes. I'm non-religious, so I guess I'm indignant on behalf of Catholic fellow-humans. You always nail the ways our own past is like a foreign country. Ox-tail soup...ewwww. And what the hell is green corn?

[@gideonsoldier6143]

This site is GREAT, hope you put out many more video’s . Keep up the great work, you have a lot to be proud off, Thank You so much !!!!!!!!! HOORAH

[@prairiedoggy1]

One of your best videos yet!

[@willbreckinridge8010]

I'm back for my annual rewatch of this video, it really makes the whole holiday season feel even more festive. If only we still had these magnificent ships around. Imagine sailing the Olympic or Mauretania on a 1920s Christmas voyage. There's just something about a Christmas at sea that you can't beat :)

[@josephjkerski4674]

Thanks so much for this and your other videos. I am a geographer… Love ocean liners. My favorite ocean liner is the Aquitania.

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog! Greetings from Norway. In the late 50s and early 60s we did not have the fastest or the biggest. We had the Grand old lady of the Atlantic. S/S Stavangerfjord. She was built in Liverpool in 1917, and her final trip was in 1964! What a ship! Once her rudder broke and the captain had to move her stb or port by rev up or down the two props. In the 11 days that took the machine telegraph had chimed close to 5000 times!

[@jonriley8342]

Thank you again, I so enjoy your videos.

[@MrPeterthepilot]

Goose hasn’t been part of a British menu at Christmas or any other time since before WW2, but a terrific look at Christmas at sea none the less. I’ll watch more of these…

[@SeaTravelr123]

Very Nice video. Post war, the liners all did their Christmas cruises, they usually sailed between 12/19-12/21 returning on 1/2 or 3. With the shortest days of the year, they often sailed with their lights twinkling and Christmas trees at their masts. Great memories on 12/21/74.

[@roadweary5252]

Well done, Tom! Happy Holidays to you, Em and the family!

[@QueerOkie]

Merry Christmas, Tom! Thank you for this lovely video!🎄

[@migue4793]

Beautiful Christmas 🎄 decor through Candlemas the end of the Christmas season.

[@leskobrandon6950]

The knowledge of history makes me wish we could all go back and live 100 years ago. We have things so easy, yet so many complain about how hard it is today. Our ancestors made our lives easier in labor hours, now we suffer in free time to cruise Facebook.

[@edwardsant7503]

Great video, never knew that the Normandie’s chapel was so beautifully stylized. Looking forward to seeing more from you!

[@sonicspeedster2684]

0:31 How *Lusitania* Saved Christmas

[@Bigger-Than-Jesus]

Hey Tom! merry Christmas! just watching this before work. ill comment a bit more when i get home! Still hoping you will cover the Mutiny on the Bounty one day Peace

[@Bigger-Than-Jesus]

i like the fact that you used the word 'anachronistic' regarding LED lights. Funny what Christmas decoration has become! its like a competition these days!

[@AndyHappyGuy]

What is the ship depicted in the thumbnail and in the poem at the end?

[@thomasbrooks1153]

It’s ocean liner Christmas time.

[@tdecker2937]

This was excellent, thank you so much.

[@Massev6871]

So interesting. Christmas in the past on liners must have been wonderful...

[@RU4MU]

Excellent job Tom!! This is great! +

[@bluesinsanityfantasy2683]

You brought back memories with that movie

[@penprop01]

Another great video. Merry Christmas

[@kevincarlson4562]

1:58 Looks like mosh pits started in the Edwardian era aboard classic liners.It must have been the smoking or reception room.

[@tylerg7567]

Outstanding work. Thank you

[@darrensmith6999]

Great Video. Merry Christmas and a Happy 2022 (:

[@ironcross7854]

Awesome video thank you

[@samwecerinvictus]

Was waiting for this to be reuploaded after it was taken down from THG.

[@diamonic1765]

Finally found it I thought it was unlisted or deleted from the main channel

[@arnepianocanada]

Hahahaha! 😄🤣 A Canadian 🇨🇦 , I love your Gosling (Ryan) photo reference!! Too bad they didn't have Reynolds (also Ryan) Wrap yet for the leftovers 😉

[@HugoGHA]

This is a very interesting topic, great and well done video Tom!

[@JP-su8bp]

Great narration, thank you.

[@laylaleannejepson7]

Christmas at sea sounds awesome 🙂

[@robbicu]

Thank you, Tom! Well done!

[@kellyblack4897]

Am I the only one that watched this in the summer, and ended up so mouth watering hungry? Stoefers lasagna and not ox tail, but hey.

[@frantasramota1359]

7:35. I love this.

[@danielhirschberg876]

You make nice videos. Keep going!

[@harrold.j.marakta.1505]

Thanks for this video! 😁

[@fhwolthuis]

Excellent video, thank you! 👌😃

[@domcataldi5188]

Great video, as always may I request an in depth video on the Virginia Ferry Company? I think you’d really get a kick out of that operation.

[@CJODell12]

The only error in this video is that Lusitania was actually slightly older than Mauretania. Lusitania was launched in June 1906 and entered service in September 1907. Mauretania was launched in September 1906 and entered service in November 1907.

[@thesweepspot]

That was really enjoyable, thank you

[@owellafehr5191]

The clip that starts at 1:58 is SO cute!!!

[@owellafehr5191]

LOVE the picture at 5:51 too! 🥰

[@MrRC2501]

Great video,Merry Christmas 😉

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Same to you!

[@CPorter]

Haven't heard about this yet, and like usual, a quality video. Perhaps sometime you should make a video just about your collection of stuff from the ships? Any shipping line works. Also I've never heard anyone pronounce "Anachronistic" the way you just did.

[@cardboardempire]

Merry Christmas Everyone!

[@TheRavendearest]

I'll be at sea on a cruise this new years! You mentioned an incident where the Queen Mary almost capsized, could yo tell us more about that!?!

[@knutarneaakra6013]

X mas on qe2 was a real treat. good memory great trip across the pond

[@mattstorm6568]

It's called Christmas.

[@frederickherring4550]

I was onboard the SS Orontes, 1960? I think. I do remember the Christmas & New Year Celebrations on her. I think I was about six years old. Remember we arrived in Fremantle in 1960? It was the first time I heard the term Ten Pound Pom.

[@stephenhemingway8218]

merry Christmas - this is a fantistic post

[@YellowStarLine]

Ah, a beautiful day made more beautiful aboard an Ocean Liner, if you are like me and don't require a gathering of just family members and as long as you celebrate with people that's good enough

[@thoughtful_criticiser]

I think that age may have damaged the second class Christmas menu. It was probably "Mince Pies" which are rich fruit and nut filled sweet desserts.

[@velezdragon3574]

I wanna be on a liner for xmas

[@harrietharlow9929]

How wonderful to know that at one point many ships had synagogues or chapel related space aboard. Even the Queen Mary's switch- out arrangements for Catholic worship space were very nice I was doing research for a Titanic novel and found out that the "Hebrew" (Kosher) cook on the Titanic was a rabbi as well.

[@harrietharlow9929]

The anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany is all the more sad because of the contrast with the period before. A Jewish man tells of travelling on a German liner before the Nazis took power with his father. He said on one occasion his father wore his yarmulke to the table and perhaps hesitant to show his faith to too great an extent, began to remove it. The captain told him to keep it on if he liked then said, "People should respect your beliefs". That is how it should be. Thank you for a fascinating and heartwarming look into Christmas on a big liner as well as how passengers' spiritual needs were met! Well done!f

[@Kae6502]

Thank you for this one Tom. Happy Holidays to you. Growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan the story of the Christmas Tree Ship was well known. A message in a bottle from the sinking ship washed ashore in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. My home town. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rouse_Simmons

[@discostew115]

I loved the video. May I ask what book were you quoting when i speaking about the musical instruments?

[@kokam4682]

Tom can you do britannic patroness of the Mediterranean ocean liner version tour please

[@indridcold8433]

I could not imagine being trapped in a ship with 3500 strangers. That is not my idea of fun. It is my idea of agony.