New Images of SS NORWAY

www.vmanetconcepts.com/talkshow/ I found some video footage I took while cruising aboard the SS Norway in the the early 90's then I also found the video from my last visit aboard the ship before it had it's boiler explosion. I wanted to combine these videos into a mini-Cruising Authority video of my experiences aboard the SS Norway. I also posted some aerial photos I took of the Norway in the early eighties from a helicopter as she was departing.

[@yooperlooper]

Sailed on her 4 times in the 1990's - I get chills just seeing pictures of her. Greatest ship E-V-E-R

[@yooperlooper]

I cherish memories of 4 cruises I took on her - haven't cruised since she died. There will never be another like her. She had beauty, class, majesty and grace. Cruise ships today are like floating carnivals. The Norway swept you away into another era. I'll never forget her.

[@msadrianne100]

I sailed the SS Norway in June 1996. I had a wonderful time and great memories.

[@randeman]

My first cruise, and the only one on Norway. I went in '93. Checkers was still Checkers, with its silver palm trees. We were assigned the circular Windward Dining Room, which was the First Class Dining Room on France. I will never forget how blue the ocean was at sea, and the different shades of the water close to shore. I loved that there were portholes in the disco, "A Club Called Dazzles" that looked out INTO the aft swimming pool. You could watch the belly flop contest below the surface! Good memories.

[@richardsfaire]

She had beauty, class, and an interesting history! An example of not just style but also substance. I was fortunate enough to sail her in the 90s. I'm kind of getting choked up a little.

[@oldielover48]

WOW! Thanks so much for posting this memorable footage from my favorite cruise ship, the incomparable S/S Norway! I was a travel agent for 18 years and got to sail on her 9 times. There will never be another ship with the charm and class of the Great Blue Lady. R.I.P.

[@Brock_Landers]

Thank you very much Barry! I cruised the Eastern Caribbean back in 1995 and I saw the Norway in the Port of Miami and I remember seeing a wall of blue steel. I was on the Grandeur of the Seas on her 50th voyage and I had SO much fun. I was even at the helm on the bridge when the Norway had passed us. She was SO beautiful. I have been a maritime historian since I was 6 years old (back in 1989) and I even spent my honeymoon on the Queen Mary. I just wish that I had gotten a chance to see the Norway (France) before she had gone to the breakers. Once again, thank you so much for posting this personal experience.

[@patriciarosemastromonico3870]

I lived in the USVI back in 1994-1995. I always remembered the massive ship known then as The Norway. She was a glorious looking lady as she couldn't get into port bcuz of her size. She would dock on the other side of Water Island. There were rumors that they didn't want to pay docking fees to come completely into the port of St. Thomas. 😢😢 Also there were rumors that she would dump the waste water & other things in the blue Caribbean Sea. I did see the little boats that would bring the tourists up to the destination of St. Thomas. What a gorgeous ship & great memories!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@denniscostabile4264]

Sailed twice on the Norway in the early 90's. This is where cruising began. Porthole staterooms and no buffet except for the "Great American Cafe" just aft (hot dogs & hamburgers). This was the time of spectacular midnight buffets and a rented tuxedo waiting for you in your stateroom. I remember the gentle slope upward as we tried to find our stateroom forward, and the creaking and moaning of the "Blue Lady."

[@michaelmassek5561]

I sailed on the SS Norway 🇳🇴 Christmas 1987. Susan summers was on board!

[@cnmatl7]

I sailed her back in the 90's also... about 3 times... and have some vids from those cruises. I'll dig them out one day and post them on YT. My camera weighed 30 lbs. back then and we were one of the few if not the only cruisers on the ship with a video. It's shot in VHS format and must be digitized to download onto TY. Enjoyed your vid and your presentation.

[@perky26hughes]

harvey siegel Have you done them yet?!? I've been waiting for 5 years now 🙄

[@wayne7071]

Thank you for sharing . I worked on the ss Norway in 1998 . Working in the engine room while it was dry docked in Bremerhaven , Germany , sailed to Marsais , France . Then I came back shortly after when it docked in Barcelona , Spain . Best time of my life .

[@ehdimattia]

Wow! My first and only cruise was on this beauty in 2000 with my college friends!

[@chilis_no]

My parents went on a cruise with her in january 1988. I still have two unopened bottles of Champagne and two wine glasses from their trip onboard

[@Creanda]

Such a beautiful ship! I did manage to save one of the life jackets, and the original Danish flag from the bridge, before she was scrapped in Alang.

[@TFTDougrich]

The Norway was my first cruise Loved It

[@JayyB]

Thanks for this great video, Barry. I have always loved the big liners and had the good fortune to take a trip on the Norway in 1984: Philadelphia to Southampton, the on to the Norwegian fjords. Riding one of the tenders to Honningsvag at the North Cape we came right across her prow. That was an awe inspiring view! Ships like her are/were simply magnificent. Most modern cruise vessels look like floating shopping malls with no sense of proportion, abominations compared to the beautiful liners!

[@wcgolfpro]

Sailed on her twice in 80s and 90s out of Miami , beautiful ship when cruising was classy!

[@manojmanghera285]

Hay my self manoj from India I loved this ship as I worked as a pastry man on this ship

[@buttbutt3515]

Thank you. I admire your passion. I'm getting old... I was on the SS France as a child in the early 70's. Brings back fond memories...I recall climbing the stair railing from the outside. A french female staff shouts "regarde le petit singe!" (look at the little monkey). My parents were mortified. The tip of the bow was sitting on display I believe in Paris after auction (sold). That's all that is left of this once majestic ship.

[@WinterBeautyxo]

I used to go on this ship with my grandparents I knew my way around that ship this brings back memories

[@ibrennan]

Very cool video! I was on the SS Norway as a young kid with my family around 1998 or so. I remember being fascinated with it back then at 11 years old, brings back many memories. Oh also, we were lucky enough to be in the owners suite, I think it was right above the bridge. (That they built in the early 90s I think?) Had fantastic views of the tenders and sea with the floor to ceiling windows.

[@geraldyukevich2202]

Dear Barry - Thanks for the wonderful shots of the S/S Norway. I served as a ship's doctor on the Norway back in the '80's. It was a true thrill. I would work emergency medicine shifts in Boston and then fly to Miami and catch on the boat for a month at a time. I made some wonderful friends, and though I served on other NCL ships, the Norway was clearly the class of the fleet and the class of the seas. I was very sorry to hear of her explosion and subsequent retirement. My novel about the S/S Norway is called Cruise Ship Docotr (2003) but it soon will be revised and republished as "The Dancing Doctor Cruises out of Miami," and it will be the first in a series of Dancing Doctor titles published by Martha's Vineyard Veranda Press. It's a screwball comedy and has been very well received. I will send you a copy if you would like to get the behind-the-scenes point of view with some high farce to boot. Great work on your Norway commentary, and I truly cherish the memories your films brought back in me. Moved to Martha's Vineyard 20 years ago and live here with my wife Martha. My daughter Anna soon will graduate from Kenyon and will pursue a career in acting. All the best! Bon Voyage! Gerry Yukevich

[@hharry2757]

Thank you for a great video and great memories. I've been on 2 cruises and both were on the Norway in the mid-80's. To me, the ships of today could never compare to the stately glamour that was the Norway. Once in awhile, I smell something or taste something that brings me right back. Thank you again.

[@SL-is7sc]

Great video! I sailed on the Norway in 1993. I also sailed on the OceanBreeze in the mid-90's when it was owned by Dolphin Cruise Lines.

[@paulmartucci8513]

The Azure Seas was the first and one of the smallest ships I ever worked on, The Norway, the largest. Very different to each other but both fantastic and unique ships.

[@michaelcallahan5358]

Gone but not forgotten.

[@michaelcallahan5358]

Ship of state Flag Ship of France.

[@abl78]

Thanks for posting this very informative and detailed video of this great ship !

[@renestar99]

thank you so so much. i am René from norway i have seen it here in oslo ecery summer and 10-14 times in miami in 2001-2002and had a wish to travel with her for all of my life. i am crying right now i must say i dont cry often i did cry whem our KING Olav the 5th died and for my daughters that i lost and now i just found out ! i just have to thank you so much. i can not belive that my country (the richest country in the world ) did not save her and made i hotel or museum of her! fuck my goverment so much! but thank you agin thank you! René Gebecke 45 yearS Old and allways been a fan of the SS NORWAY. IT WAS A PRIDE OF NORWAY AND CAME TO WISIT EVERY SUMMER HERE IN OSLO.!!! THANK YOU

[@IgnacioAgramonte]

THANKS FOR THIS MARVELOUS VIDEO. I SAIL THERE IN THE 80s

[@gacj2010]

Me Mom and Dad went on it about 4 times and loved every bit of it....I miss all

[@hclaypo1]

I sailed with her on that last voyage. During our last night, we had drinks in one of the lounges where they were showing old movies of her maiden voyage as the SS France. The next morning, I remember hearing a loud boom and wondering if we had somehow run into the dock. The power went out and we heard over the PA system that we needed to go to our lifeboat stations... Very scary, but also so sad that there were lives lost. And now it's sad to see what's become of this once stunning ocean vessel.

[@croixpicoriello931]

Barry.. such a great set of videos... I got many places on the Norway, but never up to the crows nest.. .Well done you.. We should compare notes some day.. have great original brochures from 1980 and some good pics from a helicopter ride when I was on Costa Riviera in St. Thomas.. Some of my best photos ever were of Norway.. Cheers.. Croix

[@jvh8806]

I sailed her 4 years in a row - 86 to '89 on the floating jazz cruise ! Awesome jazz artists every nite for some great musical entertainment !

[@jpengen]

Great video... wonderful memories. I just took one cruise on her but I will never forget her beauty.

[@williamsadoski1510]

I had the privledge of sailing on the SS NORWAY Nov.1992.I still have a souvenir letter opener as well as a beach towel with a side view of the ship on it!We stayed in a stateroom S11.So sad to hear she's long gone.I love this style of ship and am NOT impressed with the behemoths of today.

[@snlker]

My mother took me and my brother on this ship in June of 83 , it was a blast !!

[@caseywagner8656]

Hey Berry boy I have a awesome story to tell you about the SS Norway and I have always loved any ship and still do to this day.In 1990 my Grandfather and uncle sailed onboard the SS Norway.I never herd about his awesome story till after years of me being intrested in any ships.I got intrested in ships when I read a book in 5th grade called finding the Titanic.After I read that book it changed my life.

[@waynetetley584]

Great memories. Truly unique. Thanks for sharing 🙂

[@jimbosteen2935]

And I worked in Club international!!!

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Terrific video! This is valuable documentation of the Norway both inside and out. I imagine there's little about the engine room and the crow's nest area was a complete surprise to me. What a beautiful ship, truly beautiful, and the France/Norway had not only beauty but dignity. I stopped being interested in new cruise ships many years ago. It's the classic liners for me. Great to hear William Miller. I like his approach that the Norway had a long life and left a worthy legacy. Over and over on You Tube I read comments about how this or that liner should have been preserved and it's simply not feasible. How many non-sailing ocean liners can there be and what do you do with them and how do you pay all the enormous expenses that would go with them? I'm a little surprised the Queen Mary is still here. Ocean liners were built to last for around 30 years not indefinitely. The France/Norway had a remarkably long life and her longevity is even more remarkable when one thinks about how she debuted in the early 60's when jets were already replacing liners and then fuel prices went so high in the 70's and the ship lost its subsidy from the French government and was laid up and then someone actually purchased a ship that big and then made it successful and profitable. A very possible scenario would have been years of layup then eventual scrapping. The odds were against her from the start but the France/Norway was a winner.

[@CruiseTalkShow]

+Andrew Brendan I'm so glad you enjoyed my video! Yes, the liners were truly unique and I appreciate those grand palaces that went to sea.

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@CruiseTalkShow This ship was renamed Blue Lady and chopped into small pieces of scrap by the industrious brown ants of Alang beach. Very dangerous ship full of asbestos and nasty chemicals, it definitely needed scrapping!

[@Suburbano2012]

I'love the classic liners

[@AJkoubek]

went on in 94 one of my fav. ships

[@alanbull8008]

well done barry interesting stuff...nostalgia

[@SSNorway97]

Incredible stuff, thanks for posting.

[@oldyidarmy]

Worked on the Norway from January to April 1985 as a bar waiter. Great memories

[@TFTDougrich]

The Norway had a disco called "A club called Dazzles"

[@user-ly5tf1sz6h]

I loved this ship. There will never be anything like her.

[@75mirabelle]

You did a very nice video, well presented. How did you manage to climb all the way up ? With the wind it must have been a little scary especially with a camera in one hand ! I congratulate you. I wish these great liners would still exist......

[@PakaBubi]

My Grandpa had sailed on the France. My parents had their honeymoon on the Norway and I had worked on the Norway for one contract just before she went off service. :(

[@JerryShieldsJr]

I was lucky as a child and loved this ship. Sad It's gone my late father showed me the engine room and I got to meet the captain. I took 2 7 day cruises on this ship and I went on other ships but none of them had me impressed. I loved this ship. so many memories on it. I was 12 years old on the second cruise in 1992 8 years old on my first cruise in 1988. The ship reminded me of the titanic. Especially when you see it. It is huge.

[@Dianaemanuel]

I really enjoyed your video. I just wish there were more interior shots instead of deck ones. :-)

[@DaJSUDiva]

My first cruise on this ship was at the age of 8, second at 15 and my last voyage with the SS Norway was 18(1995) greatest ship ever to sail :) I'm bias lol

[@caileymiller3591]

Does anyone have a link to the murals in the kids room? Haven’t seen them in so long and wanted to remember them

[@taffydavenport1965]

Great job. Thank You !

[@Hbopper7]

thanks for the wonderful video.

[@GayHDman]

ahhhh!! I Saw her Twice, but never got the Chance to Sail her. the first was 1995, I sailed on Sensation , a 3 year old 70,000 ton ship, one of the Biggest new ships in the industry, and altho Norway was relatively the same weight, and Sensation was taller, Norway, even from above Sensation's Bridge, Still Seemed like the biggest thing I had ever seen! Still just as Grand, and Majestic in 2000 As I admired her from aboard the Brand new 102,000 Carinval Triumph (then the largest Cruise ship).

[@yves3560]

The Norway was still good looking after here transition from ss France, but the second makeover with the additional decks was horrible : So sad.

[@claudinelowry9925]

It was so sad I was on the SS France on her last trip from Le Havre to New York , we couldn't live the port at 10 am because the problems took all day before we finely live around 10 O'clock, it so sad she blow the horn and we left arrive in New York in seven days ...Went back to France and stay there for longtime before Norway bought her.I have all kind of stuff like the wine card the restaurant menus and more,,,unforgettable trip..

[@Laser110]

Saw The Norway all the time growing up on St. Thomas. If it was Wednesday, it meant The Norway was in. Great memories seeing her bounce up and down at anchor in '84 during tropical storm/hurricane Klaus. How did you get into the engine room? Also wanna know how you got up the mast with no one seeing you?

[@citizen23606]

I cruise strickly holland American line due to their excellent service and classic atmosphere

[@aventurero1]

Wow, love the video!

[@thegrayknight71]

Great vid. Thanks. Beautiful ship. The last of the Titanic-design. :( I wish they could have made a hotel of her og pulled her up on land. But the restoration and repairs would have been very expensive.

[@Hjorundfordingen]

Great video ! :D

[@bayousbambino427]

Yeah, I climbed up the radar mast into the crow's nest, too; at night. I just found the door at the bottom unlocked. So, why would I let that opportunity slide by? I was 15 years old.

[@janickgoudeau6126]

you can see her in the Miami Vice introduction I think..

[@richardplanck5650]

2002 we sailed her

[@gdcat777]

She belongs to the ages, and a few lucky collectors. I never liked what they did to the upper decks, but I'm an idealist. If they had upgraded her other four boilers to QE2 standards, she'd have lived longer. I believe NCL wanted to be rid of her before the explosion.

[@jandksplend]

I love this ship. My daughter and I cruised on her twice.!!

[@MrChuck8895]

If you get this message Barry I am looking to take my family to Alaska it would appreciate some advice

[@fuhlerron]

Hey barry did you know the queen mary ship you on was hanted! and you stayed in a hanted Room!

[@Docpowjr]

Very special memories

[@marshall.cochran]

this ship looks like some kind of mansion compared to the more hotel ships today

[@Creanda]

@VMAdventures Oh, I'm afraid that you are way too late out on that. During the stripping of her fittings for the upcoming sale, one can be lucky to save some items like that. But now, they are most likely left somewhere in a scrappers pile in a junk yard.

[@panosxaitagian5817]

S S '' F R A N C E '' R.I.P..................................

[@jimbosteen2935]

Yep I remember checkers

[@tylerfrederick246]

Barry. Please tell me, Why did France Norway have to get scrapped in the first place? Why couldn't she be saved? Why?

[@yves3560]

Money, sadly.

[@mikspo97]

Jævla fin båt! Beutiful ship and I'm actually FROM Norway ! :D

[@xlou.bellax6833]

Spent 2 years as a croupier on the great ship, 90-92. Still in love with her!

[@stanbernstein6564]

I performed on the Norway. Its a shame the company wasted 50 mil on destroying what was once a beautiful trans oceanic liner. If they had spent money restoring her to her original pristine condition it would probably have survived.

[@jimbosteen2935]

I was on 3 years I think , maybe more, a musician.

[@waynemerlo7448]

They totally ruined her looks when they added those upper decks!

[@claudinelowry9925]

Left le Havre at 10 pm

[@johnson11b]

You look like frank from American Pickers

[@donnamahan3760]

Sailed on her 3 times / last time was when they added the new decks & we upgraded cabin location . Hate the new bigger ships / NORWAY was slim long & classic.. New ships are UGLY . On the NORWAY , you dressed. Up for dinner & occasions …. Today whatever you want to wear 😱. 👎. .