1952 – Present Day / The ocean greyhound to rule them all, United States was the last liner to capture the Blue Riband. However, her career was soon put on life support with government subsidies, and she was retired in 1969. Astonishingly, she survives to this day, although a sad shadow of her former self and with a very uncertain future.
1950s
9 posts
1952 – 1994 / Also known as Carla C, Carla Costa, and Pallas Athena / Built to modernise the French Line’s fleet after the war, Flandre was unfortunately beset with electrical problems at the start of her career. In spite of this, she went on to have a long career with various companies, but was lost to fire in 1994.
1952 – 2000 / Also known as Stefan Batory and Stefan / As part of the new tonnage that was added to the Dutch merchant fleet after World War II, the fourth Maasdam brought many innovations with her design. She would go on to enjoy a career of almost half a century, before being sold to Turkish shipbreakers.
1953 – 1956 / The pride of Italy and a great national symbol, the Andrea Doria is above all remembered for her tragic demise. After having collided with the Stockholm in the waters off Nantucket, the Italian ship sank with the loss of 46 lives.
1954 – 1982 / Running mate of the Andrea Doria, the Cristoforo Colombo was actually the slightly larger ship of the two. She was decidedly more fortunate as well, and stayed in Italian service well into the 1970s.
1955 – 2003 / Also known as Calypso, Calypso I, Azure Seas, and OceanBreeze / Breaking the mould with an innovative exterior design, the long career of the Southern Cross would see her go from being daring and new to representing the old guard among modern cruise ships. Remarkably, she survived into the 21st century, but was ultimately sent to the breakers.
1957 – 2004 / Also known as Rhapsody and Regent Star / One of the larger and faster additions to the Holland-America Line’s fleet in the post-war years, the fourth Statendam remained with the company into the eighties. Her career continued with other companies, and she managed to survive into the 21st century before finally being sold for scrap.
1957 – 1975 / Also known as Ocean Monarch / Another post-war ship that was built when the economy had recuperated, the Empress of England helped modernise the Canadian-Pacific fleet. Later in life, she was sold and refitted as a dedicated cruise ship, but lasted only a few more years before she was sold for demolition.
1957 – 2001 / Also known as Navarino and Regent Sea / Originally part of the ‘White Viking Fleet’, the second Gripsholm remained with SAL until the company folded. The ship went on to serve other companies in the cruising industry, but was lost in 2001, while under tow off the Cape of Good Hope.