SS France: The Pride of Norway?

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you everyone for watching! I loved making this one, the SS France is one of my all-time favorites. What ship should I cover next?

[@nevinhedley1797]

Great video - I just found your channel and am now a subscriber. What about the Empress of Britain of 1930, the Nieuw Amsterdam of 1937, the Ile de France or the United States.

[@robertklein1497]

A very interesting ship, one of the early cruiseschips, is Maxim Gorkiy. She has quite an interesting history to tell. When you like to stick with the former oceanliners, Alexandr Pushkin or the later Marco Polo. Mostly because there are a lot of video's about other well known liners. But if you can produce documentaires with the quality of this one, I am eager to see any other as well. Great work.

[@Caroux84]

Normandie is always fascinating

[@royaleatlanticinc.774]

S.S. France from 1910 would be cool

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

Excellent video thank you.

[@TheRavendearest]

I was aboard the Norway on September 11th 2001. The announcement of the attack came at lunch while we were in mid Atlantic. It was shocking and heartbreaking. We had just been in Manhattan earlier that week and had picked up a number of New Yorkers then with a couple brief stops in Greenland and Halifax we then began the crossing to Ireland, Scotland, France and England. The entire ship mourned, memorial services were held for the dead. We were all certain this was the beginning of WWlll and we sailed on to an uncertain future.

[@rmsteutonic3686]

Man, what an experience

[@CheyenneLoveLoveZebrasEDS]

It's amazing we all know exactly where and what we were doing that day..... I was 8 years old and at school. After bomb threats on our school district (in Missouri so idk why) they bussed us all home or to our parents work. I got to my mom's work and her and her coworkers were watching the news crying. I tried to cheer them up because I thought they were watching a movie. I was too little to comprehend what was happening and that something like that could happen in real life. --- 💞sending love to all lost and effected on that tragic day 💞 ---

[@zukosmom3780]

Oh brother

[@WestRail642fan]

"She looked down and smiled at me, i knew then that i wanted to keep her smiling for the next 20 years." That line got me

[@enoesgaard]

The special-built tenders that were housed on the bow live on in service at the NCL private island in the Bahamas still ferrying passengers from the ships to the beach.

[@eyestoenvy]

Wow, thanks! I never knew that. I've sailed from NYC to that private island on Breakaway and Escape, taken those very tenders both sober out, and shit DRUNK back aboard. I'd of never of guessed they had such history .

[@randyscherer1408]

The Norway was truly spectacular. It’s a shame nothing is mentioned much of the entertainment on board. I was a trumpet player fresh out of Berklee and got a gig with the Chip Hoehler Orchestra and got to perform with Jack Jones, Vic Damone, Frankie Valli, Phyllis Diller, and many others. And Chip was an amazing Trombonist and Band Leader. Totally world class!! What an amazing experience and one that still holds some of my fondest memories as a musician. I left there in October of 1980 and later enlisted into the US Air Force Band. Little did I know that I would return to ships in 2007 through 2015 and nine contracts, but not many memories can compete with those from the SS Norway. ❤️

[@robertklein1497]

It is still kind of ironic that as Norway the ship outlived the Concorde by a month. In april of 2003 Concorde made the last flight and Norway had her last sailing in may of 2003. I am very happy that I was able to see the great ship in La Havre back in 2001, making a lasting impression.

[@ivangenov6782]

But i thought the last flight of the concorde was in october? Edit: i may be wrong but that's how i remember it

[@robertklein1497]

@@ivangenov6782 you are right, but that wasnt a commercial one. Last flight with passengers was in april. Norway had her last sailing (under tow) in 2006 to the beach of Alang, India.

[@ivangenov6782]

@@robertklein1497 ooooooohhhhh, thanks for the information and correcting me

[@daviddunsmore103]

@@ivangenov6782 Both Air France and British Airways jointly announced the upcoming retirement of their Concorde fleets in April of 2003, and the former operated it's last revenue passenger flight with Concorde on May 30th. British Airways' last revenue passenger flight with Concorde was on October 24th of that year, with three of them landing in quick succession. The last ever Concorde flight was a month later when BA took a hundred of it's employees on a non-revenue trip from London to Bristol, with a short supersonic detour over the Atlantic Ocean. Apart from the Concorde that was lost in the July 2000 accident near Paris, and a second one that was scrapped in 1994 by Air France due to corrosion, all other Concordes are preserved in museums around the world, including the prototypes. 😎

[@JoeStudd96]

Air France ended Concorde services on 31 May, British Airways continued until 24 October. The very last Concorde flight was a ferry flight on 26 November so Concorde did outlive the Norway.

[@greg7577]

Did you say... Those weird ass funnels are Everything? I must have listened to that 100 times. Love it.

[@lj5801]

I mentioned on another of these videos that having crossed the Atlantic on the SS France, I can attest that those funnels did NOT steer the smoke away from her rear deck!

[@Viking88Power]

The most beautiful liner in my opinion.

[@cindyhuang7021]

i agree

[@ottoandriadis1391]

I crossed the Atlantic 4 x’s. The Ss France was my last voyage. From Southampton to NYC. It was 1963 or 1964 so she was relatively brand new and she was spectacular. I had made the crossing to England 3 years prior on the Queen Mary from NYC to Le Havre and on to Southampton. The Queen Mary was already showing her age and though she was a stately vessel there was no comparison. The France was the envy of every country, of every steamship company. The envy of everything on the high seas. I was a young teen on the France so you can imagine the adventures that I had on this ship. Too many to tell so I’ll only mention the very best and at the same time the worst. At night, in the first class dining room, we were joined by Joe Louis, for dinner. We, my father, mother , sister and myself were joined at the table by Mr Louis every night. He was traveling alone so we had the pleasure of his company at our table or maybe I should say his table at night. He was a real gentleman. I knew he was a famous person but it never really registered with me. He was just a super nice normal guy. What I won’t ever forget was throwing up all over him. We were both Detroit born so that gave me a bond to him. But by now after having lived in England for a few years I spoke unbeknownst to me with a proper British accent. He used to jab me (get it) in jest that I couldn’t speak like that when I got back to America because no one would understand me. Anyway, it was a winter crossing and we were hitting 40 foot waves. I never got sea sick but that night at the dinner table I was dying but bravely not trying to show it. He repeatedly asked me if I was alright and joking around that real sailors and tough guys don’t get sea sick. It came to the point where I could no longer hide how sick I felt as he turned to me ( I was sitting in the chair next to his) and said “son you look green to the gills”. And I answered in my patrician British accent. “No Mr Louis I’m………. And not being able to finish the sentence vomited all over him. Ever the gentleman he acted like nothing happened as I asked to go to my room both sick and aghast that I just puked all over the famous boxer Joe Louis. I understand he did have to change his jacket and the table settings The next night I was amazed to see he was at the table thinking he will never sit with me again But there he was. And for the rest of the trip he now had two things to rib me on. My accent and my unseaworthy demeanor. My last voyage across the Atlantic on the grandest of ships, the ss France with the grandest of men Mr Joe Louis

[@brober]

Great story! Thanks for sharing.

[@1lfp903]

Lol. I puked all the way from Le Havre to Southampton while my brother and my father were running around the ship having a great time.

[@georgemallory797]

Fantastic story. Thank you for sharing.

[@VanessaScrillions]

Wow. Incredible story. Thank you for sharing!!

[@bradmoberly6164]

Great story kind sir

[@vuzehyburd84]

Thank you for covering The Norway. I was aboard The Norway three times during the 90’s. It was the first cruise ship I was ever on and I was only 9 years old. I never wanted to be apart of the programs for kids. I instead took it upon myself to tour as much of the giant ship on my own. This included crew members only passages. I got as far as the engine room and was caught and asked to leave since it was too dangerous. It still did’t stop me from sneaking into over restricted areas and it was the most exciting part of the cruise. My parents hated when I disappeared for hours but they figured it was a ship and there was only so many places I could go. The cruise ships of today with all their cameras I would have never gotten away with all my sneaking around. It was worth it but once I heard it was going to be turned in for scrap I was heartbroken. It really was a grand and beautiful ship and will always be apart of my favorite childhood memories.

[@CJODell12]

IMHO, even with her 1990 refit which added two decks of cabins over the bridge, Norway still looks better than most cruise ships today.

[@AtsumuMiya123]

So the SS Norway has a special place in my heart because, though i have no memory of it, I sailed on the SS Norway in 2002 for my first birthday. I've seen the pictures my parents took from that time: one was of the ship off shore and the other was of me with a few members of the crew. Apparently, since it was my birthday the wait staff of the dinning room and even the captain picked me up and paraded me around the dinning room. according to my mom the crew adored me.

[@IzzyOnTheMove]

There is a song by Michel Sardou about the France. It's in French so it isn't that well-known in non-French-speaking places, but it's very evocative. It's in the first person as if the ship is speaking. The chorus says: "Never call me France again. France has let me down. Never call me France again. That is my last wish." It's a very emotional and poignant song. Even without speaking French, anyone knowing the story of the France would probably grasp the meaning just by listening to it. ❤

[@jetsons101]

Learn something new everyday, I never knew that the France and Norway were the same ship. I built a model of the France when I was a little kid, I always liked the funnels. Well made video, lots to information, straight to the point and just the right amount of "fluff." Thanks for your time and hard work. Hope to see more of your work.......

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! More is coming soon!

[@jdmrc93]

"Free quality table wine"... HELL YEAH

[@PRR5406]

Wonderfully illustrated and exceptionally well researched. "Normandie" was the finest, barr-none, but "France" was a very close contender in terms of exterior beauty. She is so very deeply missed.

[@MrDaiseymay]

There are few things more depressing, than once loved Ocean liner's, being desecrated and abused in a scrap yard.

[@christophercharles9645]

My family sailed on the SS France in 1970. It was an amazing ship to experience as a little kid and the family pictures from that trip confirm the impressions it made all those years ago. Thanks for putting this piece together.

[@mikecredille399]

I've been on cruise ships, but the SS France is the only ocean liner I've ever been on. Jun 8-13, 1973. I remember the first class dining room was called The Chambord. It was a great experience for a then 13-year old traveling w/his grandparents. I still have the menus from that crossing somewhere.

[@mikegrazick1795]

I sailed on Norway 4 times as a kid. My first cruise back in 1996. Each time was amazing now looking back. The tender experience to the shore was most memorable parts. The last two times I was on her, all eclectical went out for about 30 minutes. That was a sign of the times with her maintenance issues. She still sails on in my memory.

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Skirted the edge of a hurricane in her, there was a lot of motion but it was very predictable pitch, and almost no yaw or roll (ie, up and down but not side to side). Her slim lines and knife-like prow just sliced through the waves. Today's barges masquerading as cruise ships have a much tougher time dealing with foul weather. What a ship. Her ultimate fate was sad, a direct result of NCL's neglect, for which I will never forgive them for.

[@richardcline1337]

Marshal Dunnik, I fully agree. Today's cruise "liners" are ships in name only as most are so damned hideous you almost can't look at one of them without wanting to hurl your last meal. Thankfully, the pandemic caused a lot of them to be sent to the scrappers, thereby making the world a slightly nicer place to see.

[@brianwilliams1796]

It is sad that this ship is gone. I bought a cruise for college graduation in 1993. I spent 7 days on the Norway. I have many pictures and memories of this ship. It was a beautiful ship and I really enjoyed the cruise.

[@dm5374]

I crossed the Atlantic with her in 1966, from Le Havre to NY. I was just a kid but I have several clear memories, including the elegant dining room and the kids' playroom with its distinctive wallpaper with hot-air balloons. The best memory was when we hit a storm and a steward came into our cabin, instructing us to cover the porthole with the steel safety cover. Curious, I asked how bad the seas were. So the crewman hoisted me up so I could see for myself out of the porthole. I remember seeing just one huge wave with streaking foam, that's how big the seas were. But she never rolled thanks to the stabilizing fins. Those wre the days!

[@BalthazaarPaine]

Thank you for this video and for honouring the deceased crew members. I spent 15 years working at sea but the 2 years I served on the Norway in the early 90s were the best years of them all.

[@vespelian5769]

Only French industrial relations could manage a strike starting in 1974 and ending in 1947.

[@loyalpiper]

Either you've made a mistake or I've had a mental breakdown

[@Nikolai_The_Grolar]

@@loyalpiper Probably both

[@KingJalilYt]

@@Nikolai_The_Grolarlol 😂

[@_123Ackerman]

Bro wtf 😅

[@mergat2970]

This makes my brain hurt

[@tng2057]

Saw the ship in French Lines colors in Hong Kong in 1974. She was taking tourists sightseeing in Hong Kong and Guangzhou on a day trip. Will never forget her elegance. Vive le France!🇫🇷

[@henryfcawthonjr5419]

Really good video on SS France/Norway! I think you should do a video on the SS United States.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! I’ll definitely do something on the SS United States soon

[@MajorBlackadder]

@@BigOldBoats I discovered your videos over searching for the Normandie. Really good work, I enjoy every video :)

[@richardcline1337]

The SS United States will soon be just a memory as her hull is rotting away, tied to a pier, with almost her entire insides ripped out to get rid of the asbestos. Unless somebody comes up with a way to save her, she'll probably end her life in a scrapper's yard or at the bottom alongside the pier where she has been left to rot.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

I was blessed beyond words to get to sail on her as Norway in 1987. Back in those days you could still do navigation bridge tours and the view from the bridge wing down the full length of the hull was absolutely incredible. The extra decks would come later on in her career but I was fortunately to see her in her earliest configuration as Norway. The theater, the first class dining room and the first class smoking room all remained largely intact and I was lucky enough to have a table in the first class dining room (rechristened as the Windward Dining Room). It was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful rooms afloat at that time. Taking one of her tenders to shore in the Bahamas we crossed her bow to get to shore and I remember how awe inspiring that knife like cliff was looming over us. I will never forgive NCL and their parent company Star Cruises for their negligence and lies which led to her ultimate destruction and I will never give another dollar to that cruise line. I am simply thankful that I have those memories of her and got to see her in person before she was made truly ugly and eventually destroyed.

[@johnbee7729]

Thank you for this. And I really appreciate the time spent in identifying the difference between a cruise ship and an ocean liner. I have never wanted to go on a cruise, but a transatlantic crossing on one of the historic liners would be a dream.

[@BabyScatha]

I was never onboard this ship, but I remember so clearly seeing her from the harbor in Oslo when I was a kid. Might have been the last time when she was there since I was old enough to remember. It's sad see she is no more :(

[@koltp1909]

What an interesting career for this beauty. Began life as an ocean liner, and ended her life as a cruise ship. That's absolutely amazing

[@Kras2fr]

Great documentary. I was on the Norway as a kid in 1995 with my parents. We cruised the Bahamas. It was my first time on a cruise and it was amazing. I remember walking around in awe of the architecture and art deco pieces.

[@SeaTravelr123]

Another great video. Great footage. Thank you for honoring the list crew members. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided if NCL had not been so cheap on upkeep. I sailed on her in 2002 and we had “issues” in St Thomas with engine. We heard that it was common. So sad.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! Yeah, it's so sad how neglected she was in those final years. But so cool you got a chance to sail on her!

[@richardcline1337]

With NCL, as with all the cruise lines. it's all about the money...greed, greed, greed is their seeming motto and NCL does it best.

[@lindisandersson8130]

Gorgeous ship. Great video!

[@BigOldBoats]

Many thanks!

[@abigailgerlach5443]

The S.S. France was the epitome of luxury. Waiters would bring consomme in cups out on deck so you could stay warm in your deck chairs. Bottles of red and white wine were on the tables at every lunch and dinner. The Captain had a cocktail party for all guests who'd made repeat voyages on the ship. If the seas were particularly rough, the staff would string rope holds around the decks so you had something to hang on to. Children were given scuba diving lessons in the pool. It was a wonderful trip every time.

[@elliotdawson8355]

The blue lady, one of the greats and might be my personal favorite of the Era. Thank you for the video!

[@BigOldBoats]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@EskimoCanadian44]

Your channel is seriously underrated. I subscribed! Would like to see a video covering the SS Normandie and the tragic (yet avoidable) fate that struck her.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! Normandie is definitely on deck, she's one of my all time favorites.

[@katiekendrick8866]

My first cruise ever was on the Norway in the 80’s! It was so exciting! I never thought I would ever go on a cruise! I have been cruising ever since!

[@philvillafana2584]

That is not a cruise.... That is an ocean liner...

[@2flyabove]

Glad to see that you used much better video quality than many of the other videos on youtube about the France/Norway. I enjoyed watching this video, thank you.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Another fascinating liner video! Thank you! The deterioration of then explosion on the Norway makes me think of the movie "The Last Voyage" in which a boiler explodes aboard an aged and worn out ocean liner. The movie was filmed aboard the France/Norway's predecessor Ile de France. interesting how art and life have so much in common.

[@richardcline1337]

Ironic that France, the country that no longer wanted the Ile de France and sold her, were so outraged that she was used for a movie set and even partially sunk. The crazy part is she was being given a short reprieve as she was on her way to the scrappers when the movie company rented her. France should be speaking German now....still a pain in the ass for the rest of the world!

[@WynneElizabeth3]

It was a beautiful ship! In 1973 I was on the SS France from La Havre to NYC ❤️

[@jofreddy8643]

All 3 of your videos are fantastic!! I really hope that you grow in subscribers and viewers! People dont know what they are missing out on. Thanks for sharing the story of SS France! These videos are a lot easier to learn than other videos. Lots of the time information seems to go in one ear and out the other. Thats why I prefer reading. But these videos for whatever reason, stick the information into my head and its a fantastic way to learn about ships! Thank you for existing! :)

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you so much! I'm really excited to keep creating! :)

[@Susancsi]

Enjoyed the video! We sailed on the Norway in the mid-90s for an Anniversary cruise. We had a wonderful time and the ship was part time capsule and still up to date as she could be.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! That sounds like it would have been such a great experience!

[@traderalex1]

sailed on her for the Millennium Cruise, departed Miami December 28, 1999.

[@kimberlyfitts6141]

what was she like was she just as grandI was too young to remember anything about the ship whe it was around

[@jessegreenwood1956]

I sailed on the SS France along with my family in 1974. We were returning from Iran (My father was stationed there) and traveled Europe for two weeks and left from Le Havre on the SS France. Fabulous ship! I was just a kid and had a blast. The food was outstanding. Movies every day. We were in a storm most of the way and it was still excellent! The French were stupid to give up their namesake but I am glad they did instead of scrapping it. Saw the videos and pictures of the Norway's end at Alang. Sad.

[@ironmatic1]

I feel lucky to have some sort of personal connection to an ocean liner. My father worked as a pianist for a while on the Norway in the 1990s.

[@kikurass322]

Most beautiful liner ever built.

[@theginganinjaa97]

Those weird ass funnels are *e v e r y t h i n g* lmao 😂 love your channel man

[@BigOldBoats]

lol thank you!!

[@1lfp903]

I was 7 when I crossed from France to the US in '68. What a great trip. My dad caught it all on film which I still have today. I guess that's where my love of these liners comes from. We arrived in the early morning and my dad woke us up to so we could see the Statue of Liberty go by. Great video.

[@robertstewart407]

Could you post your father's film, I crossed from Southampton to New York in August 1974

[@1lfp903]

@@robertstewart407 Hi, Robert. Years ago, the 8mm film was transferred to video along with all other family films. I'd have to first figure out how to clip the France portion and then posting it. I'll let you know. Thanks.

[@chriscusick6890]

I'd love to see that myself. I was 8 in 1964 when I crossed from Southampton to NYC.

[@1lfp903]

@@chriscusick6890 Hi, Chris. Still trying to figure out how to cut that section out of this MV4 video file so I can post it. I'll chime back in when I figure it out. Thanks.

[@kjell-jorvikyvind5205]

One of the best ships I ever worked on. While the passengers loved her we crew had a lot of pride in the ship. There was so much of the crew spaces that were still as they were when she was the France

[@gladys300jr]

The puppy is so cute in 6:52 😍😍😍

[@noahhh07]

Amazing video I always thought there wasn’t many channels about ocean liners luckily I’ve stumbled across this gem. Keep up the good work can’t wait for more :)

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! I'm so glad you like it! :)

[@chezsnailez]

Thanks to Time-Life's book 'Ships', the France was the first ocean liner we ever heard of and thus our first 'love'....

[@DSGNflorian]

What a nice touch commemorating the crew members who lost their lives in the Norway's boiler explosion incident.

[@Gisle2100]

Splendid video, but I miss the scenes when the SS "Norway" arrived in Oslo for the very first time in may 1980 and was greeted by thousands and thousabds of Norwegians!

[@gaelonyt7553]

Thank you for your videos! As a french I kind of lost track of the France/ Norway after she was sold and renamed. I didn't know about the accident and the end of her life. That picture at 15:35 hurts.

[@radamik]

Sometimes a piece of furniture from the SS France shows up on the vintage site 1st dibs, one I remember was a curved leather sofa from the smoking room. I would love one of the modern glass lamps from the first class cabins or an aluminum bureau painted to look like marble or tortoiseshell. The latter stayed on the ship when it became the Norway though the public rooms were largely (not entirely) redecorated.

[@cindyhuang7021]

i agree

[@roseannefenwick6909]

Our very first cruise. Wonderful time!

[@Gardis72]

Wonderful documentary. Well done with scenes that I've never seen before. Great job!

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!

[@radamik]

The tapestry behind the bar in the first class “smoking room” was gorgeous. Some of the wall panels and art works were made of Formica, a material much disparaged today but when used properly can be as notable as any other medium. And those white and red/orange chairs in the main dining room with the little “saddles” on their arms! The France, along with Italy’s Leonardo da Vinci of 1960 and Holland’s Rotterdam of 1959 were the epitome of mid century modern at sea (GOOD mid century modern - not all of it is).

[@atcdude1]

I sailed on her in September 1993. I was part of a group that gathered for a wedding in St. Thomas. It was an amazing sailing; non-stop fun and frolic. The food was off the charts topped off by the Midnight Chocoholic Buffet. Back then, guests had to line up well in advance just to get a chance to photograph the buffet prior to it being attacked by the onslaught of the hungry mob. There was no 24 hour eatery in those days. Great memories.

[@ahnafazmain3747]

Man, the quality of the video is awesome.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!

[@gasparocelloman9852]

Great production. Very moving.

[@mrpeel3239]

Your videologues are both epic and sentimental. Perfection!

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! Glad you're enjoying them!

[@rickyrochambeau5513]

I emigrated to the USA at age ten on the SS France....arrived Pier 86 on 8/17/1966.....there was an airline strike at the time, so my mother & bro. took the boat- my dad had been in the US for a few weeks, to find a house to rent. He met my mom, bro and I in 1966 Ford Falcon...we drove across Manhattan, to the Queens Midtown Tunnel....and along the LI Expressway to Albertson, LI, NY. The US was an optimistic place then.

[@Dakiraun]

It's profoundly sad how many of the liners have this slow fade from glory until they're pretty much forgotten. In one crazy bit of irony, the great Concorde that was meant to replace the France as a symbol of national pride ended up being retired _before_ the liner it replaced. I sincerely hope that with as awful as flying has become nowadays that we slow down a bit and start considering ocean liners again as a much nicer and more relaxed means of travel.

[@noahthesarcastictd]

The Concorde retired in 2003 and the Norway also retired in 2003. How ironic.

[@ladykimono401]

On my living room wall, I have a poster that at some point, hung on the SS Norway. Its damaged by both the sun and the seas, but its stunningly beautiful. The poster was designed in 1979 by Laura Smith. I have no idea who commissioned it since it was before it was sold to NCL, but after she was decommissioned.

[@WojciechWachniewski-st1zm]

Of all the FRANCE ships most interesting to me is the only French fourstacker - liner smaller than the Lusitania, but bigger than Kronprinzessin C. A jewel in the crown of Messrs. CGT, she was 'next in the line' as to average speed (after 'Mauretania'). The third FRANCE did enter the history of... cinema (Gendarme a New York!)

[@lawrencelewis8105]

I recall reading that the absolute best French restaurant in the world was on the France. I used to have the Airfix model of it. Too bad that 13 year old boys and firecrackers are not a good combination! I did see the Michaelangelo and Raffaello in Genoa in 1974 when they were taken out of service. They were sitting there tied up together. Both were sold to Iran to use as army barracks. I wonder if they still exist?

[@aegonthedragon7303]

Michelangelo was scrapped in the 80’s, Raffaello sank and was partially scrapped :(

[@SeaTravelr123]

Just re watched this and the one on the Normandie..The heartbreak of Normandie comes up everytime I see her story.. Such a perfect ship.. Her successor, ss France, was the very first ship I set foot on.. She was gorgeous, and soooooo big.. Since we made our maiden voyages in the same year, 1962, I have always had an attachment to her.. When she returned in 1980 to NYC, I cut school to watch her unique profile enter our harbor again I was blessed to sail her 2x, once transatlantic in 1996 for her first return to Le Havre and for my 40th in 2002. I never knew she hit 35 Knots!!! She was a wonderful sea boat, and definitely deserved a complete re engining as the QE2 got, instead of the "cosmetic Makeover" and "lipstick" she got.. She lives on however, in our memories, in great videos like yours, and all the media we have of her...

[@douglassparnell8732]

Sail on her in a hurricane for days, she could cut water, she was built for it. No sleep for the hull stressing was like a train wreck , screaming ...what a great time and ship.

[@Edgetravelguy]

That was excellent..........great job. I remember visiting the France while docked in NYC back in the late 60's. I also had a chance to visit the Norway on her Sept 2001 port call in NYC. If you are looking for suggestions on other ships to highlight- consider the Independence or Constitution of American Export line- they had long & interesting careers.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! I'll check them out!

[@jonnysouthjersey]

My most vivid memory of the France is getting sick watching a movie in the theater during a particularly rough storm . Otherwise, it was a great ship.

[@jonnysouthjersey]

@@scvandy3129 no it was a really bad storm - they happen on the North Atlantic, which is why only certain well made ships are certified to cross the North Atlantic. I try to avoid sailing on ships that are not North Atlantic certified.

[@tomspaulding9555]

I was on that ship New Years 1989-1990, it had a tired interior (i still have a S S Norway t-shirt)

[@db4239]

Great video. I was fortunate to ride the "France" Trans Atlantic twice in the early seventies. Even as a young teenager I remember how amazing the food was. I also remember those house bottles of table wine! The French did it right.

[@BigOldBoats]

That must have been such a great experience, thank you for sharing!

[@mathieufrancois6054]

Michel Sardou sang a song about the selling of the France to Norway. French people were pissed about it

[@denniscostabile4264]

Can't thank you enough for this video. I struggle to explain the difference between a cruise ship and an ocean liner to my family and they never seem to get it? My 1st and 3rd cruises were on the Norway, but well aware of her history as an ocean liner.

[@TheSonic1685]

A legendary vessel with an amazing history worth preserving sold for scrap? Must be a day of the week that ends in Y.

[@stevoplex]

I sailed aboard the SS Norway on a Caribbean cruise in 1989. Fantastic! More open deck space than many cruise ships of the time. I also remember that she was just 2 inches too wide for the Panama Canal.

[@samueljaramillo4221]

This is when ships were built for comfort ,long, beautiful, graceful, and sleek. Now they’re long, bulky, ugly and look like a building laying sideways.

[@allangibson2408]

That’s the difference between a cruise ship and a liner. Liners are designed for speed. Cruise ships are designed for comfort and are MUCH slower.

[@hurri7720]

They are floating hotels/amusement parks/shops, they are built and look accordingly, they are not liners or car ferries either.

[@deltaboy767]

@@allangibson2408 And can't handle the rough and high tides of the Atlantic, thus making them unsuitable for ocean crossings.

[@alexis_ian]

I especially hate the Norwegian Epic looks big box and unstable would rather sail on NCL other ships.

[@ocker2000]

Enjoyed this video. I headed out on a cruise not long after that boiler accident happened. As our cruiseship left Miami we sailed right past the SS Norway, I took pictures, and thought will she ever sail again? Your video told me the rest of the story. Thank you.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@roycagayat4438]

Yes sir,I been there early my carrier 1998 first contract with SS Norway.... it's a fun ship ..

[@kimberlyfitts6141]

what was it like I love these ships and I would love to hear more about her especually the stuff people do't know about

[@johnrasmussen4507]

I sailed with Norway in August 1998.. from Oslo to Southampton

[@chrispeasley1780]

I've just subscribed! A most enjoyable journey through history. If I remember correctly, after that huge oil price increase from US$3 per barrel to US12 the fuel cost of sailing the France to and from New York was US$2million!! Mind boggling! ... Can anybody verify that figure?

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you! I'd love to know if that's the right figure too. I know she was wildly expensive to operate at the end of her days as the France so I'd believe it.

[@rewind1960]

Got to sail on the Norway back in 1990. The last real ship with style and grace. You knew you were on a ship, not a floating hotel/amusement park like all the modern boats. It was a fantastic experience that, unfortunately today, nobody else will ever know.

[@kevinkim271]

I wonder if SS Norway would still be around (or saw more years of service) if Knut Kloster also converted her from steam to diesel during the conversion in 1980. Cunard did exactly that to the QE2 during an extensive refit in 1985-1986. It really gave her a new lease on life. I suppose $80 million was already quite a hefty sum and SS France's steam powerplant presented no major issues during her service career under CGT unlike QE2 after 19 years of not so reliable service she had with her steam powerplants. In the end, it was really the lack of maintenance that did the Norway in.

[@dfuher968]

Yeah, its sad, that lack of maintenance ended her, at least in my heart. She was such a beauty - b4 the added decks. But my head understands, it was simple economics, her time was over, and she was simply too expensive to maintain and operate. In a way, it was a weird decision to even build her, when in 1960 the time of the great liners was already a fading memory coming to a close. Its amazing, that she operated until 2003, but as an accountant by trade I shudder to think, what the maintenance and operating costs mustve been compared to investing in a new, modern cruise ship. Just consider, that the French Line was never able to operate her profitably, even when she was brand new, they needed a government subsidy just to break even. Still, while my accountants head understands, my heart is nostalgic for these majestic liners of a bygone era. The modern cruise ships might be luxurious, but damn! they are soooo ugly.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

It's difficult to say honestly. A diesel engine CAN be neglected too of course. Negligence and greed destroyed her and by the time it happened Kloster was long gone having been forced out of his own company by a hostile take over by Star Cruises.

[@Sonicspeed-hz9qn]

Great Video dude! I just wanted to point this that the very tip of the France's bow still exists back home in Le Havre .

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!

[@mrblanche]

We sailed in one of those added suites about 2-3 weeks before the explosion. One thing that fascinated me (and you had to know where to look!) was the little courtyard in a circle which was, by that time, filled with the bottom of one of the pools.

[@adamellis3013]

Great video, it’s cool that it was basically the beginning of cruises as we know them today

[@toonvandenbroeck1697]

This beautiful looking ship was launched on my birthday! I'm from may 2001 so yeah that's awesome

[@rapunzel1701]

My first cruise was on Norway, mid '80's ish. Still have the t-shirt.

[@jerryshimon8541]

Thank you. Very well done.

[@sidz0001]

What a great video with a beautiful ending 🇫🇷

[@Kaidhicksii]

Dude the way you pronounced the Chantiers de L'Atlantique, France, AH 😫👌. Crisp. Titanic/Titanic II, United States, and Queen Mary 2 are my top 3 favorite liners of all time. Extending out to top 5 and top 10, I'm still trying to figure out where other liners I know and love fall. However, I'm pretty sure that France/Norway is 4th. She was such a lovely lady: she marked one of the last hurrahs to the golden age of ocean liners, and then gave birth to the modern cruise industry, where the ships are the destinations, and vacations in themselves. It's a shame that NCL eventually started neglecting her when they put all that work in to make her the grand belle of the Caribbean, and it's an absolute disgrace that nobody was able to save her in the end. Like JUST SPEND THE FRICKING MONEY NEEDED TO GET RID OF THE ASBESTOS, THEN MAYBE LAY HER UP FOR A WHILE, LIKE THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY IS!! SOMEONE WILL COME AROUND WHO CARES ABOUT THIS GREAT INTERNATIONAL (because after her rebirth as Norway, she was no longer a national symbol of France: she was an international symbol across the world) SYMBOL ENOUGH TO RESTORE HER AND GIVE HER A NEW HOME, AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE UNITED STATES!! It's not like they didn't have that enough of a budget! The only thing they saved was the tip of her bow. WAS THAT SERIOUSLY THE BEST THEY COULD DO?! I'm not even from France; however being from Canada means I have some French roots in me. I feel her loss very deeply. Like holy crap! People are so friggin' lazy! It's beyond irritating! My rant out of the way, you did an excellent job on covering this masterpiece of a ship. She may not have been very well constructed as a dual-purpose liner (and turns out, only QE2 had the most effective design), yet the irony is that she still filled both roles impeccably. She just did so under different names. I'm currently writing a short 5 chapter story on the life of QE2, told from the ship's perspective. It is nearly done. I can confirm that Norway is very much a part of it. This is my imagination running wild, but IF someone decides to right this wrong, take her bow, and reconstruct the entire ship, whether it's to the specifications she was as the France or as the Norway or a design that combines the both of them, and regardless of whether or not she takes to sea again, personally, I think they should rename her the Lady Juliet. I cannot appreciate her identity as the France more so than her identity as the Norway and vice-versa. France and Norway are allied; Lady was part of her final name when she went to the scrappers; Juliet is a name found in both France and Norway (though I guess you could also find that name anywhere). It stood out to me so much when I first thought of it, and personally, I think I'm a genius. Who am I kidding: I've always been a genius. :) Great job once again: keep it up. I guess the United States would be the best option to talk about next, since she's already being suggested and that the SSUS Conservancy and RXR Realty are well on their way to restoring her.

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!! haha I tried my best to not totally destroy those French pronunciations.

[@normandiebryant6989]

Titanic II doesn't exist yet and probably won't. It was ordered by a wealthy lunatic Australian mining magnate and amateur politician, Clive Palmer. Everything he does ends with a court case.

[@Kaidhicksii]

@@normandiebryant6989 Titanic II actually does exist, just not as physical pieces of steel yet. A guy online who I follow reached out to Deltamarin, the Finnish naval architects designing the ship, shortly before 2020 ended (link to his blog; you can just scroll down and find what I'm talking about titanicll.wordpress.com/), and they confirmed to him that the ship was still in its design phase and that they were beginning to look around for shipyards. This tells me that the final design is bound to change from the initial concept art we're all familiar with, and I'm quite certain it'll change a good bit, as you can't 100% replicate Titanic if you intend to sail her in this century. As for Palmer, I have yet to see anything from him that would make me classify him as a lunatic, and while he might have gotten into a couple of court cases, he hasn't lost any either. :)

[@owenshebbeare2999]

@@Kaidhicksii Palmer has lost many court cases, and has been embroiled in more than just a few. If you believe anything this blowhard says them you are a fool.

[@anthonysantiago1999]

I lived in Miami from 1979 til 1985. I remember seeing her all the time Docked there. At the time she was touted as the biggest cruise ship around. I didnt know until now that she was scrapped. What a shame.

[@janickgoudeau6126]

If you have the opportunity have a look at RVL Royal Viking Lines. There Ships and brilliant history.

[@thekrakenfromagario]

vive la france! nice video!

[@n2bigu]

I did the "farewell cruise" still my favorite cruise/ship out of 9, was such a beautiful ship.

[@williamconnelly6172]

En 1972, j'ai escorté ma grand-mère «grande dame» à bord du France pour une traversée de New York à Southampton. Élégance vraiment française, service impeccable, cuisine fabuleuse - et le vin! La piscine intérieure était un peu sombre, mais les spectacles et autres divertissements compensaient largement. Tristesse - une époque est passée.

[@danielwardwell914]

Thoroughly enjoyed this!

[@murielle1703]

The most majestic and the world ’s nicest ocean liner. We always wait France 2.

[@OceanChannelProductions]

i love the newer one wit h the dark pint job and the 2 added decks. a lot better

[@majorneptunejr]

The added decks where ugly and made the ship look top heavy.