NAVIGATION-Cruising and Maritime Themes

S.S. "ORIANA" was built in the UK by the prestigious VICKERS-ARMSTRONG at Barrow-in-Furness, the ship was to be the last liner of ORIENT STEAM NAVIGATION CO. "ORIANA" when built was 41.915 GRT with capacity for about 2000 passengers divided in two classes, first and tourist, she left from Southampton on her maiden voyage to Sydney in December of 1960. "ORIANA" was a very fast ship, during her sea trials she managed 30.64 knots, she held the famous "Golden Cockerel" trophy  for the fastest ship on the P & O fleet until 1986 when she eventually retired from a sea-going passenger liner, until the introduction of CANBERRA in 1961 "ORIANA" was the largest liner operating from the UK to Australia and New Zealand. In 1973 the ship was converted to a one class cruise ship, from 1981 to 1986 she was based at Sydney. "ORIANA" was preserved as an hotel after 1986 first in Japan and then in China, in 2004 she capsized after

              S.S. "UGANDA" at Helsinki in the late seventies                 S.S. "UGANDA" laid-up at the river Fal in 1985 S.S. "UGANDA" was built in 1952 for the BRITISH INDIA service, she was completed in July of 1952 by BARCLAY CURLE & CO. at Glasgow. "UGANDA" remained in regular service until 1967 when she was withdrawn and sent to Hamburg to HOWALDSTWERKE to be converted on an educational/cruise ship. After one year she sailed from Southampton on the 27.2.1968 carrying students and ordinary passengers, she sailed to the Mediterranean, her cruising programme remained until 1982 when the ship was called for war duties, she was converted into an hospital ship and sent to the Falklands, during the conflict she acted as a base for the International Red Cross. By July of 1982 her duties as an hospital ship were over, she became then a troop-ship returning home laden with Gurkhas and their equipment, alike CANBERRA and the QE2 she

Taking Place this Saturday is London is the SHIP SHOW. Please click link below to see the talks programme scheduled for this event. Photo above, Portuguese liner "SANTA MARIA" at Funchal, collection Luis Miguel Correia. London International Ship Show - Saturday 27th October 2012, Royal National Hotel

QE2 to be scrapped? (From Daily Echo) : Disturbing rumours are circulating in Dubai that the legendary "Queen Elizabeth 2", OUR QE2, could be scrapped, please click link above for further reading from the Southampton Daily Echo about this matter. Above photo acquired on board the ship in 1996 during a cruise.

The 2012 London International Ship Show organized by the OCEAN LINER SOCIETY is taking place on the 27.10.2012. For all the information, please click  here . Not to be missed

For all the information on the CRUISE SHOW taking place at the N.E.C. in Birmingham next week end please click here

Exactly 15 years ago to this day, CANBERRA left her home port of Southampton for the breakers, one of the most iconic passenger ships of all time, one that we will cherish forever and will be present with all the ships enthusiasts on daily basis.

                                   SAGA RUBY in Lisbon September 2012                                         SAGA RUBY at Funchal last week                                  Postcard of the brand new VISTAFJORD                                  Caronia in Lisbon, summer 2000                              VISTAFJORD sailing for CUNARD, summer of 1997 "SAGA RUBY" was built in the UK, yes in the UK, by Swan Hunter in 1973 as a combined ocean liner/cruise ship, she was the VISTAFJORD, the last flagship of the Norwegian America Line, she had a typical liner profile with the funnel midships and a streamlined hull, much of this still remains to this day making this ship a classic beauty, a delight to watch and photograph. VISTAFJORD remained in service with N.A.L. until 1983 when she was sold to CUNARD, she kept her original name until 1999 when CUNARD decided to rename the ship CARONIA, she had a loyal legion of fans during those years. In 2004 the ship wa

"BRAEMAR" was built in 1993 for CROWN CRUISE LINE as the CROWN DYNASTY by UNION NAVALE DE LEVANTE in Valencia, she is 24.344 GRT, cruises at 17 knots and has capacity for 910 passengers. CROWN DYNASTY remained with C.C.L. until 1997, before being sold to present owners and operators, FRED OLSEN CRUISE LINES in 2001, the ship sailed for CUNARD, MAJESTY CRUISE LINE and NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE. "BRAEMAR" is seen above at the British Port of Dover, photos 6.10.2012

One of the few classic cruise ships still in service is seen arriving Lisbon last week end. The "OCEAN COUNTESS" was built in 1975 as the "CUNARD COUNTESS", the ship is owned by MAJESTIC INTERNATIONAL CRUISES of Greece and is operated by UK-based CRUISE and MARITIME VOYAGES. Photos taken, 30.9.2012. For other posts of this ship please click  here