SS France Maiden Voyage Arrival in New York, 1962

Featured here is some spectacular amateur color 16mm footage of the SS France's maiden arrival in New York harbor in 1962. Experience the grandeur up close and personal! The song "La Mer" is performed by the incomparable Chantal Chamberland! Bon voyage!

[@lasuvidaboy]

Designed in an era when proportion and aesthetics were still very important in ship design.

[@bertberlich943]

This ship was a dream. The nicest Passanger Liner of the World.

[@georgemallory797]

This (La Mer) was the original version of Bobby Darin's 1959 hit. What a wonderful video and song choice.

[@claudinewright2115]

I traveled on the SS FRANCE July 4th-7th 1963 to join Holiday on Ice Show in America . I was 24 years old, didn't speak much English but ready to disembark in the country which was to be my home for the rest of my life. I remember tearing up when I saw the Statue of Liberty. What a thrill ! America, don't ever lose your most important asset... FREEDOM!

[@death2pc]

Ils n'ont aucune idée de ce qu'est la liberté. Mais ils sont sur le point de le découvrir. Il EST enlevé. En Europe aussi. La Gauche impitoyable et vicieuse .......

[@Finnmarken91]

Truly arguably the Most Beautiful Oceanliner ever built.

[@yawhause]

Bless you for posting this. My family sailed to France on the SS France. June 8th 1962 and after living in Paris for a year we returned on her the very end of August, 1963. I can still remember almost everything. Sad to think she is no longer, but I have the memories (and your videos) to ensure I will never forget. Thanks again.

[@reiduningridnilsen4843]

I sailed May 1962 for 5 days crossing will never forget !!! :)

[@tylerfrederick246]

France was a drop dead gorgeous Ocean Liner! She was a diamond.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

And not forgetting the Normandie

[@charlesjakesamadan4924]

@Daniel De saint malo yes the SS Norway

[@mv2175]

French Line in my opinion had the best ocean liner designs. Especially the interior! Sadly now they don't do passenger ships. They were succeded by a container shipping line

[@litamtondy]

@Daniel De saint malo I don't think so.

[@Didierwerke]

She was the ultimate and last beauty of the oceans. 😍

[@barbaraadelman2811]

So appreciate your posting this video. I sailed on the SS France in June 1962 to France and returned Sept 1963 (my family lived in Paris for a 18 mos). I was 9 when we left, 10 at the return. I have wonderful memories of the trips. Funny because the ship seemed so mammoth when we sailed. Compared to the humongous cruise ships of today it was small. But no less wonderful for its time. Thanks again for the memories...(really!).

[@WashCounty]

What a beautiful ship - perhaps the last truly beautiful liner built.

[@jeanfrancoisgenay1566]

I moved to New York as an immigrant on the SS France in late August or early September 1967. Memories...

[@axelholm8752]

Absolutely superb! I sailed on her on September 11, 1964 from Le Havre to New York. Clearly one of the most exciting five days in my memory. Thanks for posting this beautiful and nostalgic video.

[@lizaltieri]

Thank you so much for this. My family set sail on this beautiful ship in November 1963 for London. The North Atlantic was like a pond. When we returned to New York in April 1964 our captain (who had braved the Wolf Packs) said it was his worst crossing of the North Atlantic. They ran out of Compazine (created by the French Navy) on the second day, and my mother and the skipper were the only ones still upright by day 3 out of Southampton.

[@barbarakuvet6052]

The SS France is dear to my heart. My cousin was an officer aboard the ship. When the shipped was moored in NY he would visit us. In 1965, I was 8 years old, he suggested to my parents to let him bring me to France to spend summer vacation with my cousins. They thought it was a fabulous idea. A few months later I set sail to France with him. Because he had to work and could not care for me a nurse in the ship's hospital was appointed to be my nanny for the crossings. She made sure I got dressed every morning, that I took a bath every night and tucked me in to bed. Two years later I went to the UK with my aunt. It was planned that after our month in the UK she would bring me to Southampton to meet Max and the ship. We crossed the channel and I spent the second month of summer vacation again with my cousins. On each sailing the entire crew were briefed that the small redheaded child traveling without parents was 'la petite cousines Americaine de Max'. The staff in the dining room were told to be sure I ate. The captain, his crew, and engineers all knew who I was. I had my little daily routine... Checked in with my cousin a few times a day. Visited the veterinary to see the pets of passengers' making the trip. Went up on the bridge. Played in the arcade. Went to the movies. In all, as a child, I made 3 Atlantic crossings and 1 channel crossing. I remember the ship vividly... it was stunning... a class act. Also, my parents enjoyed a cruise to Nassau/Bahamas. Magnifique!!

[@donaldlampert331]

Wonderful & moving! I was almost 11 years old, and living in NJ, just on her port side! We’ve lost soo much since then!

[@gordonc2377]

Thank you for posting this video. I sailed on the SS France when I was 3 1/2 in fall of 1962. I remember the huge dining halls and walking the upper decks with our German Shepard and so sad to put him back in the kennel after his walk. I also remember how I was fascinated and happy in the open ocean. My affinity for the sea grew; we moved on a boat on the Seine in Paris when I was 9, worked on tugs in Le Havre harbor at 15 and 16. Then enlisted in the US Coast Guard at 19. Since then have I spent 75% of my life upon the sea on variety of vessels, from commercial fishing boats, research vessels, sailing yachts that I have crewed on, delivered and owned. Presently live aboard my 57 ft sloop in Sausalito CA USA. I am grateful for my parents to have taken me on the SS France 🇫🇷 and enabling my dreams of life upon the sea

[@1lfp903]

I came to the Unites States on the FRANCE in 1968. I was 7. It was a wonderful trip that I remember to this day. Le Paquebot France vit dans mon coeur.

[@mikedrown2721]

I saw her in Naples Italy in 1967....WOW!!!

[@geoffreyking4515]

Saw her as a kid come up the solent..WOW. so elegant she was the longest in the world

[@gregt8638]

Thank you for posting this! The background music in French was a brilliant touch! I was a young boy at the time, and had just ridden the SS United States in '61, which was my favorite ship, so I was kind of jelous of this fantastic new France when it arrived. I thought the wings on top of the tunnels were so cool, along with being longest ship in the world.

[@bateau_en_papier]

Do love this ship! It's elegant and beautiful really.. Also it was launched on 11th May (it's my birthday) )))). Really enjoy that music and your nice video!! Thanks and greetings from Russia

[@User2718218]

I think it's the most beautiful ship ever built.

[@mmk92630]

Merci beaucoup! My mom was telling my kids about her arrival in New York on the maiden voyage of the SS France. With just a few clicks, we found this video and relived that excited day when she arrived in New York. She was one of the only French single girls on the boat and enjoyed dancing the twist. She loved her voyage and it was one of the most exciting adventures of her life. Thanks for the video. It's amazing what we can find on KZbin to relive our shared memories.

[@johnmcluskey]

Thank you for posting this video. It's really nice to see the France in it's glory.

[@guillaumeromain6694]

Gosh she looked so great!!! what a stunning lady! one of the greatest liners to have ever sailed. Thanks a lot for that vid! awesome footage. Yo can catch the goose pumps on my arms. She must have turned a few heads that day!!! Merci beaucoup, vive le France!

[@herbpetrillo163]

In ny harbor in 1965 she stood out among her rivals in dock....qe. Qm. Uss..of the 4 she stood out.

[@elizabethjacobsensnead2668]

My 1st cousin 2x removed piloted that ship into NY Harbor on it's maiden NY sail in 1962.

[@reiduningridnilsen4843]

I left LeHavre in May 1962 for the most fantastic 5 days on S/S France and a spectacular arrival in NYC - will never forget !! :)

[@Hannodb1961]

What the heck is wrong with France that they were unable to buy their last liner back and turn it into a floating hotel like the QM? This was the last beautiful liner ever constructed as far as I'm concerned.

[@SiriusXAim]

French Line wasn't as good as Cunard when it comes to management. NCL already ruined it when they added the decks on top towards the end, and no one had the balls to purchase it when they retired it. Sad. The France truly was the last grandiose Ocean Liner. It's retirement marked the end of an era.

[@Finnmarken91]

@@SiriusXAim So sad but true. Wish I could forsee a future where we only could travel by these great liners again.

[@SiriusXAim]

@Daniel De saint malo Indeed. I was born in France, and this was quite the National tragedy/scandal. Tough making her back France would have been quite the undertaking. Removing the god awful Norweigian upper decks and the enlarged poop deck, as well as redoing the interior from scratch.

[@charlesjakesamadan4924]

Problem is that unlike QE2, the Norway was did sell the ship for free to anyone but since the French Government isnt interested and others doesnt have the money for such an ship she was sold for scrap

[@pederlettstroem980]

And the beautiful Normandie was totally destructed in a fire in the New York harbour. Very sad. I have a little replica of Normandie about 1 mtr long. I like it. But before the fire many art deco interior designa from tha boat, was before fortunately separated from the vessel. But who wants to rebuild a new Normandie? Like they have done with Titanic. Normandie is almost forgotten nowadays.

[@joeytinoful]

I worked on her when she was the Norway and sadly NCL did not take very god care of her the last few years. Some of my cherished souvenirs of my time on board was original SS France signage and other parts I caught sight of in a trash pile. Cruise ships then used to dump all of their trash overboard in international waters, and it was a shame what was lost.

[@SeaTravelr123]

OMG.. Thanks for your posts.. your videos are superb!!! The France brought tears to my eyes!!!

[@onefootinthegroove39]

Proud to be the first to watch and comment on this video! Those are some good camera angles showcasing the aerodynamics and style of this wonderful liner! Thanks for uploading!

[@denniscostabile4264]

Geez! Thank you for this video. My first cruise was on the Norway.

[@lasuvidaboy]

My parents crossed the Atlantic several times on the France between 1962-74 and I was lucky to sail on the ship in 1968 as a 5-year old. The France was my mother favorite ship. They traveled on the Liberte, Ile de France, United States (their second choice as best ship) as well as the Queen Elizabeth but the France was the ship my parents preferred. When France was retired, we sailed on the Queen Elizabeth 2 as family several times and were booked on the ship in the summer of 1976 when the trip back to the US was cancelled due to a serious fire. My mom told me years later that there was no comparison between the QE2 and the France. France was the most luxurious ship she sailed on.

[@CastleMc]

I had a similar childhood!

[@pederlettstroem980]

lasuvidaboy e. and Normandie?

[@lizaltieri]

Me too. But did they really love this ship because they had a lockup for kids? American children at that time did not react kindly to confinement away from their parents. Seriously, in our New York to Southampton crossing in April 1964 we thought we'd die the second day, they ran out of Compazine (the French invented this drug) and so forth until I won the best box of chocolates ever.

[@poodumrover1]

My fav ship & a treat of a video with perfectly apt Musique too !!

[@TWTR4EVER]

Ces't Magnifique!

[@jynxjynx3068]

I've crossed the Atlantic many times aboard the liners of the 60s and 70s. The France was among them. The first class dining room was absolutely beautiful and offered excellent cuisine. Other ships that I sailed on include the original Queens Mary and Elizabeth as well as QE2 and QM2. But, my favorite ship to have crossed on remains SS United States.

[@Aquablue33]

To France, one of the most beautiful ships to sail the Seas...

[@shipgeek7579]

I am so happy to hear that you're enjoying the clips. And have fun on the Queen Mary--I've never been disappointed when I've visited!

[@lucyrice7232]

shipgeek ñ

[@kenneththompson1809]

When it left for the return trip it was still cloudy weather. I was on a Eire-Lackawanna ferry on a trip from Hoboken to New York when it passed and the""France" exchanged wistle salutes and flag dipping with the lowly "Binghamto".

[@laks1946]

I was there , funny to se it again. At that time I was 16, and worked on a small Norwegian ship; Ms Rosita .I was a gallyboy there for 15 month. This was my first trip to America.

[@DonnaMarieUllman]

Tres manifique! C'est formidable !

[@R2d233de]

I Love your Videos!! Especially this one!! Viva La France

[@aamfrgvols]

Does New York know how to throw a party, or what? I was fortunate enough to be there. My grandmother sailed on the return trip and I got to see her close up! Unfortunately I don't remember going on board though I am sure I did. I was 11 at the time.

[@eamonnca1]

Holy intrusive graphics, Batman!

[@kapetanchristos3701]

Eamonn ‘

[@eriksmithdrummer]

Great video! Went on a european cruise with it back in 1998 as the SS Norway.

[@jynxjynx3068]

Along with Queen's Mary and Elizabeth, QE2, Andrea Doria, and SS United States, SS France was one of the most beautiful ocean liners to ever sail.

[@SamhainBe]

Classic lines - balance and beauty. I do so miss the days of beautiful ships. The modern cruise ship is about as stylish as a houseboat

[@Augusto33329]

Fabuleuse épopée du FRANCE arrivant à NewYork 62, la chanson est bien appropriée! ❤🚢🍏🍏🍏

[@Aquablue33]

I think the France outdoes her a bit, but to each his own, eh? I'm actually building a model (from 1962) of France right now. What a beauty!

[@johnmiller4973]

My grandparents returned home on the maiden voyage of the FRANCE and all they could talk about was how well she rode out that nasty storm she ran into when got into the open ocean after leaving England

[@JSchulteProductions]

Got engaged on this ship when it was the Norway in May 2002.

[@Bingo2112]

We have a wooden deck chair from this ship. My wife uses it for tanning!

[@laks1946]

So nice to se. I was there on that day in 1962. Messboy on ms Rosita Ugland Grimstad

[@NJPhotographer62]

Great video!

[@exeuroweenie]

Lusitania and Mauretania somehow looked dainty for such behemoths.Andrea Doria/Cristoforo Colombo reminded me of curvy,sexy women,The Bremen and Europa looked vaguely aggressive and businesslike.The France just looked serene and,with those winged stacks,somehow angelic.

[@semsemeini7905]

I had lunch on the France in Southampton before my aunt left. Passengers could invite guests on board.

[@ravenwing199]

Une Grande Belle of Ocean Liners.

[@perrypics]

Just curious... did you folks find the video through youtube, my channel, blog, or what? And so glad you like it!

[@gloriahuffman6612]

Sun., 5/7/2017 1:50 am EDT - CT, USA: I have just started a Facebook group, "UNC Year-at-Lyon 1967-1968," and wanted to double-check that our gloriously luxurious ship, the SS France, crossed the Atlantic in only five days in September 1967. So I Googled "SS France" and happened to notice this video as the sixth result on the first page. Clicked, et voilà! I have added this video url to my 5/5/2017 5:57 pm post on the Year-at-Lyon group. Very exciting, and thanks.

[@longbowfta]

It must have been about 1968 My parents had taken us kids to Calshot spit in the Solent I remember the excitement as the SS France was leaving port She turned starboard at Calshot then did a 180 to follow the deep water channel to head across Cowes and leave the Solent on the Portsmouth side of the IOW .I was completely swamped by her wash hitting the beach like a tsunami there were children and parents soaked by the deluge. Happy Days.

[@shipgeek7579]

Sorry Maasdam, i spend too much on these films and am tired of people stealing them and appropriating them as their own.... that's why I have the badge. Seems a small price to pay to enjoy the footage essentially for free.

[@TheCarnivalguy]

Well stated and perfectly understandable. To see one’s intellectual property stolen can be frustrating, discouraging, and maddening. On a lighter note, I have two first class dinner menus from the SS France dated April 30 and May 1, 1965. Fabulous ship with haute cuisine! Cheers.

[@bremndo]

De toujours t'aime la France !

[@America100000able]

I love it.

[@DEVASTATOR478]

wonderful ship

[@markthompson3323]

Pure class!

[@williamfranco5599]

o ss france e lindo demais

[@shipgeek7579]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@IlllIIIllllIIIIIllll]

Was für eine wundervolle Schiffsform! Der krasse Gegensatz zu den heutigen "Schiffs-Hochhäusern".

[@johntapp1411]

The Normandie herself in spirit!!! The France was every bit the ship the Normandie ever was. I do wonder what it would have been like to have both of them as sister ships-actually more precisely Mother-Daughter ships. BTW, the song “Beyond the Sea” in French Smooth Jazz, was mighty nice.

[@charlesjakesamadan4924]

I wont call them Sister ships since they have an 20 years gap

[@johntapp1411]

I like Animation :D 27 years to be more precise. But wouldn’t it be nice to have them in service alternately or drydocked one in front of the other as a convention center?

[@MoabYoda]

I cruised on this ship in her later years when she was the Norway. Would have been around 1991 when I was on her. I was 15 at the time.

[@USFanLovesMinHo]

What classy gal!

[@Devilsfan3332]

Great video..Do you have a video of the QE2's maiden arrival on 7 May 1969???

[@therandomytchannel4318]

Tell us the accommodations in steerage Mr Dawson, I hear they are quite good on this ship 😁

[@zacharywagner5143]

The music ❤️❤️❤️

[@jallyson90]

Beleza, luxo e classe.

[@SSNorway97]

Do you know the name of the fireboat at 2.00? Is it the Alfred E. Smith? The one at 3.00 is the John D. McKean.

[@dsciarrino3663]

The best.

[@rusynlig1]

The most beautiful ship, since the SS Normandie. And now she is chopped in pieces...

[@charlesjakesamadan4924]

Just like the Normandie

[@ericwent4931]

To my eye, this ship, the Normandie, the Leonardo da Vinci, and the Rotterdam of 1959 are among the most beautiful ever. Today's ships, without exception, look like condo blocks that fell in the water and swam away. Functional, surely, but downright hideous.

[@pederlettstroem980]

Beautiful ship! What is the difference in size between Normandie and France?

[@peterbruning5298]

Same designer, nearly same dimensions, so you can say they are mother and daugther or sister born with a difference of 20 years.

[@charlesjakesamadan4924]

The France is known the be Longer then the Normandie

[@CaptainSmith23]

Nice vid,but your name on the vid is distracting!

[@McLarenMercedes]

Agreed. I think the Normandie looks better still.

[@TheGeoff2209]

I saw her while on holiday in southsea wow what a sight as she came from Southampton up the Solent. i never saw her again but i will never forget that day the Elisabeth & Mary looked dated compared to her

[@drax6594]

Thank's for the footage, Better choice would have been Charles Trénet instead of this unknown singer!

[@tylerfrederick246]

Momoko di France duisuki yo!

[@grah84mck]

Ah they dont make them like they used to.

[@aaronreeves8376]

A beautiful ship, but no Normandie.

[@maxkoll118]

Ss france , queen mary , ss normandie , queen mary 2 are the best

[@finnd8778]

If Only Titanic was Built in 1960 and up...it would have been a great footage

[@charlesjakesamadan4924]

Except the Titanic would not be Popular since in the 1960s the Titanic isnt that popular only on the 1980s when the Titanic started to Boom on popularity

[@randomrazr]

noramndie looked nicer

[@scottread]

If only the naval architects had got the forward superstructure and bridge right, the France could've been a superb-looking vessel. Almost the right ship, but certainly in the wrong era.

[@America100000able]

We don't build ships like that anymore. Today's ships are ugly!

[@leha4630]

It's all about money. If they already knew then that you could fly across the Atlantic, you would not even build such ships. If you knew what such a ship pulls per nautical mile, it would be cheaper to fly across the Atlantic.

[@jimszikk775]

Whats the reason to why the small boats splashing water?

[@perrypics]

Jim Adam Gustafsson Traditional welcome for a ship’s maiden arrival.

[@andreferro4618]

@@perrypics Became the same to airplanes.

[@R2d233de]

i like the color and design but, i dont like the funnels, remind me of the carnival cruse lines

[@ericwent4931]

Carnival Cruise Line wasn't even founded until 11 years after this gorgeous ship was launched. Many later ships copied the France's winged funnels because they blew soot to the sides, reducing the amount that fell on the afterdecks.

[@greenseaships]

FUCK that watermark is obnoxious!

[@Oarzy]

the extra supersturcture on ss norway is awful 😢

[@stuartlee6622]

She was the favorite of the homosexuals.

[@emilianodelbue1665]

Michelangelo and Raffaello were a lot better