CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, one of the nicest ships ever built
SS "LEONARDO DA VINCI" a remarkable liner with a short career
The SS "LEONARDO DA VINCI" was an ocean liner built by ANSALDO SHIPYARDS at Genoa in 1960, the ship was intended as a replacement for the ill-fated ANDREA DORIA to operate on the North Atlantic run with ITALIAN LINE, she was as built 33.340 GRT and had a top speed of 25.5 knots. The ship left on her maiden voyage on the 30th June 1960 from Genoa to New York, she was kept on this service until 1965 when the new superliners MICHELANGELO and RAFFAELLO entered service, LEONARDO was then used on cruising in the MED, CARIBBEAN, SOUTH and NORTH AMERICA, after the withdrawal of the new superliners from service on the North Atlantic due to lack of passengers LEONARDO was back on the transtlantic service, but only for a brief spell, she went back to cruising until 1978 when she arrived at La Spezia in Italy to be laid up, she caught fire in 1980 and was considered a total loss, she was finally scrapped in 1982, a brief career for such a beautiful ship, she was not a lucky vessel un
Dear Vitor, I remember "Cristoforo Coloombo" when he was in Azores in the years 60. In that time many people from Azores traveler to and from USA on board of ships of Italian Line. I have 2 photos of "VULCANIA" and "SATURNIA" anchors in Ponta Delgada in 1939.
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law came over on the SS Saturnia. Can you email pictures? bhgministries@aol.com She wanted film footage. Do you know where we might get any?
DeleteHi Antonio, thanks for your comment, Italian passenger liners were unbeatable for me in terms of design, I used to go on board C COLOMBO between 1974 and 1975 and she was something..... Amazing liner, ships like her are always with me
ReplyDeleteAll the best
Vitor
Do you have any manifest info my family emigrated to Canada aboard this ship in 1965?
DeleteHello , My father came to America on this ship in 1954 from ,gioia Calabria ,Italy. He says it was a very nice ship but was sick most of the way here lol . but had great storys about the cruze.....thank you Anthony.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Tony, she was a brilliant ship, one of the best looking passenger liners of all time in my opinion
DeleteBR
hello nice to see this post i came from calabria on this ship with my family i was 10 years old in 1969 boarded in messina to palermo,napoli,malaga,lisbon,passed the azores and halifax then to toronto by train what great memories just today my mother showed me a picture of us departing from messina on the ship thats how i found this blog we came from monsoreto calabria my name is bartolomeo manfre
ReplyDeleteWas it in October of 1969? Because I believe I was on the same sailing except we boarded in Naples
DeleteI was on this ship with my family in December of 1971 I was 12 yrs old. We boarded in Palermo Sicily to Naples, Malaga, Lisbon, Halifax to New York. I Can't seem to find a passenger list.
DeleteThank you for your comment Bartolomeo
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In 1958, at the age of 4, I came to America with my mother. I have very vague memories of the journey but remember that my mother was always sick and the stewardesses took care of me and a young boy. They let us deliver the newspapers and place them under the doors of the cabins while yelling "posta!"
ReplyDeleteIn1958 I also made the journey from Genoa to New York. I was 10 years old. I don't remember where we were checked in since Ellis Island was closed would you know
DeleteThanks for the comment above, unfortunately don't know where people used to check in apart from Ellis Island
Deletethanks for your comment Rose
ReplyDeleteMy father came to the USA in 1954 on the Cristoforo Columbo , he always talked about how beautiful it was. He came from L"Aqulia Abrussi made the trip 3 times married my mother the first time then came back for good. Always loved his stories about his trips , I miss him dearly....
ReplyDeleteFor many fans of the Cristofo Columbo cruise liner one can revisit the past and actually see the ship on film. The ship including the famous port in New York filled with Italians can be seen in a remarkable DVD digitally remastered film called ROME ADVENTURE with Rossano Brazzi, Suzane Pleshette (her film debut) and Troy Donohue.
Deletehttp://www.amazon.com/Rome-Adventure-DVD/dp/B001QYOY3S
This is a truly beautiful film with spectacular scenes of Rome and many locales in Italy. But for fans of the famous Cristofo Columbo cruise liner this is THE FILM where you can see the famous cruiseliner one more time. It was truly one of the most elegant cruise liners of all times. There is a 15 to 20 minute segment that is filmed on the ship including the cruise back to New York harbor from Naples. Enjoy the film and a flash back to a time of our parents and relatives who came to America on the Cristofor Columbo. ENJOY!
Thank you for your comment Anthony, she was a remarkable ship indeed
ReplyDeleteI came to NYC with the Cristforo Colombo in 1969 I believe October. The voyage was very shaky and it lasted almost 2 weeks because of strikes in different ports. Anyone come on the same voyage? Would love to touch base
ReplyDeleteMy parents and me (I was 7) were on that voyage. I remember very well how rocky that voyage. My mom was sure we were going to die. My mom was telling me that the crew was crying. But we made it.
DeleteMarilyn, thank you for your comment
ReplyDeleteWhere can we get some memorbilia for Cristoforo Columbo, I want to put together a scap book of my father, and I want to include the ship pictures. Any models made of this ship??
ReplyDeleteAnthony, thank you for your comment, memorabilia I suggest you visit ship shows, for model of the ship suggest www.scherbakshipmodels.com
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are watching the Titanic Blood and Steel, series. Which led us to research the Olympic cruise ship and brought us to your blog. We further decided to look up my wife's trip to the US on the Cristoforo Columbo in June of 1959. We sailed out of Marseilles and arrived in New York on June 9.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful memories. The ship was luxurious. We also were sick as many other people seemed to indicate. I would love to see pictures from the interior. Again, thank you.
Fabienne
In 1962, it must have been December, my dad, who wouldn't fly, took us from NY to Italy aboard the C Colombo. I was 11 years old and I'll never forget the voyage; at one point the waves were seemingly the size of "skyscrapers" and the ship handled them magnificently. I am so grateful to see some pictures of her and read these other posts. Thanks. Paul
ReplyDeletethanks for your comment Paul, please continue to visit this blog, as I will be posting new photos of CRISTOFORO COLOMBO
ReplyDeleteBR
Vitor
I sailed on the Columbo in 1971 as a 9 year with my Grandmother. I have many kodak pictures. I have the first class menu from that cruise and the passenger list plus the fold out map of the ship level by level.
ReplyDeleteSailed on that ship in July-Aigust 1972. Naples to New York I was 10 Would love to see some of the interior pics of this beautiful liner
DeleteGinoelectric17@gmail.com
thanks for all the comments above
ReplyDeletewe came over in Dec. of 1963 with my parents i was 9 yrs old, this year celebrating 50th anneversary in the new world,going back to New York, any one know the pier that Cristoforo Colombo docked
DeletePier 84, Hudson River, NYC
ReplyDeleteI traveled with my mother and aunt on the Cristoforo Colombo in 1960. We were returning from Europe and boarded the ship in Gibralter. It was winter - we crossed at the end of January - but I loved everything about the crossing. I remember the afternoon concerts and a men's chorale singing "Cristoforo Columbo" each day at the concert. I still have some daily menus from that cruise.
ReplyDeleteI came on the Cristoforo Colombo in November 1954 I was 6 yrs old. I came with my Mother and Father and sister and brother.I remember very little about the ship,only that eveyone was sick,except my dad and I. I remember going to dinner with him.We landed in New York and took the train to Oakland Calif.
ReplyDeleteHow can I find out about a specific voyage from Gibraltar to New York in March 1964?
ReplyDeleteI was 9 years old when my mother & 2 sisters came to America on January 29th 1958, we left from Naples. Being a kid with no responsibilities I had a great time on board roaming the whole ship. One day I was caught in the captain's cabin & the captain gave me a tour of the ship, places most people don't see regularly. We didn't have the best accommodation but that didn't matter, to me it was a great adventure. During the voyage we hit a very bad storm & I remember grabbing onto a table leg that was drilled on deck & she was really rocking, I had a great time. At this age now I would have been petrified but as a kid it was great! To this day I can still remember how I felt when I saw the Statue of Liberty & the American flag for the first time, truly amazing. I don't believe that American born citizens appreciate it like I do. I googled to find a passenger manifest but am not having much luck, I would appreciate any direction given me. This past Christmas my nephew gave me a large matted picture frame with several pictures of my ship that he purchased on e-bay, it brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteHello.. thank you for setting up this blog. My father was 19 when he came to America from Italy in April 1962. So you have any passenger lists from that year. It would be so amazing to show my children of their grandfathers voyage. Looking forward to your response.
ReplyDeleteI traveled on the CRISTOFORO COLOMBO to America from Naples Italy & arrived in NYC on 1/30/58. I have searched numerous websites trying to locate the ship's manifest, menu, etc for that trip. I would like to share this very special voyage with my 2 grandchildren. If anybody out there can help me with either copies or perhaps a website where I can obtain these items, it would make me very happy. Thank you in advance.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for setting up this wonderful blog, I truly enjoy it.
Hi Carmela, I've also been trying to find passenger lists from the SS Cristoforo Colombo's 1958 voyages, but haven't been able to locate any. Unfortunately, the National Archives only has passenger lists up until 1957. Have you found any information since your last post?
DeleteHi, Nice to see your post & unfortunately have no additional information other than what I wrote on my previous posts, not for the lack of trying. I was also able to find that the National Archives only has passenger lists up until 1957. I was able, however, to find information on the Archives for my father, brother & sister who immigrated July 1956. Please keep me in mind should you find any information for January 1958.
DeleteHi Carmela, I spoke with National Archives and they said that the 1958 to 1964 records should be available on Ancestry.com within the next two years. Although they have been legally available for some time now (the 50 year privacy period having expired) they were kept from public use because of their poor condition and no second copies available. Apparently, the microfilm is so fragile that if placed in a viewer it would almost certainly break. Ancestry has sole use for 4 years at which time the records become more widely available. Because of budget cuts it's unlikely that the National Archives will have them ready for public use before Ancestry, which is privately funded through subscriptions. They may not be arranged by name as are the prior records, but by port of entry. Apparently, the National Archives had arranged the previous records prior to Ancestry receiving them. Hope this helps. Daniel
DeleteDaniel, Thank you so very much for the information you provided me. Although I cannot retrieve the records now, at least I know they will be available in a couple of years. I'd like to know why these years are in such poor condition, since prior years have been kept in better condition & available without any delay.
DeleteI've waited this long, I guess I can wait another couple of years.
Daniel, again I thank you for sharing your research, it is most helpful. I'm curious, were you a passenger on the SS Cristoforo Colombo's January 1958 voyage or are you searching for someone else. Thanks again, it's nice to hear from you.
My name is Vincenza Ilardi and I was just turning 5 years old when we arrived in New York from Italy ( maybe Palermo) in 1969, May 2 nd to be exact. I also remember my family feeling seasick. I believe we were inoculated on the ship. Was anyone else on the ship during that specific time? Is there a list of names somewhere of the passengers?
ReplyDeleteMAY 1958,MY FAMILY AND SAILED FROM NAPLES ON THE CRISTOFORO COLOMBO
ReplyDeleteI sailed from New York to Gibraltar in 1963 on the Chrstofo Columbus. I was 20 years old. What an experience for a girl from a small town of 10,000 in NW Florida. I was embarking on a 2 month tour of Europe. Wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and I took a brief tour of the ship (Colombo) while it visited Boston one time. Still remember the loud banter between the officers on the bridge and the longshoreman below while it was being tied up at Commonwealth Pier. Fun.
ReplyDeleteBoth my Parents came to America in 1955 on The SS Cristoforo Colombo. I have The Programma Della Giornata and their boarding passes from when they were on the ship displayed in a beautiful frame. My mother was 9 months pregnant and she said she spent most of the time in the infirmary, she said the ship made her so sea sick, that is was NOT a smooth ride at all. she said one year later the Sister ship of The SS Cristoforo Colombo they had called the Andrea Doria sank! I found records on Ancestry.com and their signatures when they signed the Passenger log. I think you might want to check Ancestry.com, their Archives seem to be in order there, but you have to be a member to look at them.
ReplyDeleteI was on that liner in early summer of 1972 as a 14 year old travelling to Italy ,- Trieste I believe. Are there passenger lists online to confirm - searching is proving difficult. It was an amazing trip to say the least - NY , Lisbon, Malaga, Messina, Palermo , Athens and finally Trieste ...
ReplyDeleteHey, I was on the same voyage in April 1972. I was 6 years old. We went from NY to Athens with those stops on the way. It was an amazing trip. I remember at the New York dock they dropped a car while loading it on deck. It was smashed on the pier. At sea, it seemed as kids we had free run of the ship. I had so much fun exploring the lower decks. The lower you went the louder the engine. We had a dog so I was always looking to visit him down below - there was a special hold for live animals. There were different lounges on the upper decks. There was a magician and a guy who did card tricks. For dinners I seem to only remember eating spaghetti bolognas. It became my favourite food. For easter they threw a costume party for the kids. It was a beautiful ship. The crew were friendly and kind.
DeleteIn early 1962 we boarded the Cristoforo Colombo in Napoli to NY an 8 day trip.since we left late February we had a great 3 day trip until we went past the straits of Gibraltar into the Atlantic Ocean. We then had 5 days of high seas where everyone was seasick myself include. We finally made it to NY where I saw my first snow and the Statue of Liberty.
ReplyDelete1958 week of May 7 left Naples en route to NYC to live in CT. Best friend left Italy same year and we have been friends all that time.
DeleteThanks for this site. In summer 1956 my mom, younger brother and I (age 6) travelled from New York city to Genoa, with a brief stop in Naples on the way. I have many wonderful memories of this amazing experience. We had the cheapest cabin, windowless, but I had no idea of the other classes, so I was happily ignorant. I marvelled from the deck railing at the departure hubbub and festivities, with people cheering, shouting and waving goodbye, streamers and confetti being thrown, and several small but powerful tugboats pulling the liner away from the Manhattan pier.
ReplyDeleteOur mother made my brother and me wear bright orange life vests because she was a super-cautious mom and she knew that we would be uncontrollably running around the decks.
I remember being fascinated watching shotgun skeet-shooting when the ship was out on high seas. Certain passengers would have fun shooting at clay pigeons off the rear deck, using the shotguns and equipment provided by the ship's entertainment team. Occasionally an empty shotgun shell cartridge would bounce off the deck in our direction and we would pocket it as a souvnir.
After docking for a day in Naples, there was a tour of the Amalfi coast and Pompeii available to passengers so we three got on a bus and enjoyed the tour.
The next day the ship continued to Genoa where my mom's brother in law picked us up.
Nice story. Nice memories. Thank you
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather took me this beautiful ship in 1963 when I was 15 and we had beautiful first class cabin the ship was wonderful and I made friends with a lovely 14 year old Italian girl we had a wonderful cruise and we stayed friends for 50 years until her passing, many treasure memories 😊😍🇮🇹
ReplyDeleteNo argument about one of the most beautiful ships built!! Sadly, post Andrea Doria disaster, she seemed to be the ship Italia wanted to keep quietly in the shadows. The twins and the New Da Vinci became their big photo opportunities. None of them were slouches in the looks department, but the fine balanced lines of Cristoforo Colombo definitely took to the back seat. She was even demoted to the Adriatic Route with many stops in Boston. I think she was one of the last of the North Atlantic ships to to be disposed of. I consider Augustus to be a South American Liner, even though she was indeed the last Italia Liner to go.. .<3. Thank for sharing these love photos.. The one is Venice is perhaps one of the most beautiful pics of her ever taken.. Perfectly captures her lines and curves!!!
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