Floating Paradise Lost: Cruising Hawai'i With The SS CONSTITUTION
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- American Hawaii Cruises SS CONSTITUTION is shown here during her final Christmas Cruise in 1994, when she sailed the Hawaiian Islands in tandem with her sister, the SS INDEPENDENCE. In addition to the ship, this video captures the various islands seen and visited, from Kauai and Maui to the Big Island, with waterfalls, volcanoes and dramatic vistas in the backdrop. A few months later, the CONSTITUTION sailed back to the mainland in preparation for a major refit that never happened. Instead, she was laid up and sold for scrap, sinking 700 miles northwest of Hawai'i enroute to the breakers. This would be her last hurrah, shared with her twin sister, INDEPENDENCE, which continued sailing until 2001, when American Hawaii Cruises ceased to exist. The INDY joins the CONNIE in Honolulu at the beginning and end of this 25 minute video. #ssindependence #ssconstitution #americanhawaiicruises #hawaiicruises #americanoceanliners #americanships #clasicoceanliners #steamships #oceanliners #classiccruiseships
Although I never sailed on the SS Constitution, it was in my life until 1994. My father was waiter on that ship from 1953 until 1967. In 1962, I was nine years old, with my younger brother and mother, visiting her family in Milan and Venice where she was from. We traveled to Genova to meet my father who was arriving onboard the SS Constitution. My father retired from American Export Lines. A few years later, my mother passed away. My father remarried and then several years later took that Hawaiian cruise with his second wife.
I was stationed at Coast Guard Base Honolulu on my 19th and 20th years in the Coast Guard, 1992 - 1994. The Constitution and Independence were docked right across from where I worked. In all those years, only a few times I went aboard to meet my father on the return trips to New York where we lived.
Thankyou Peter for the video tour of the SS Constitution.
Peter Costa
Wow, Peter, while you never sailed in her, that ship was certainly a big part of your life. Thank you so much for sharing here -- your memories of your dad's experiences help bring her back to life.
I sailed on the Constitution and the Independence, both of which are forever etched into my memory. I said on them several times in the 1950s as a child traveling with my family on assignment to Europe. My brother and I loved exploring the ships and I will also remember looking up at the funnels and being in awe as I was of the ship overall. I had a chance to tour the Constitution in 1984 while it was in Honolulu. How small it had become, but I captured a few memories and loved the ship as I had before. Thank you so much for this video and your others. I cherish my trips across the Atlantic on the Constitution, Independence, Atlantic, and the United States.
Fantastic memories of two American beauties! Thank you so much for sharing them. How magical it must have been to cross the Atlantic in their prime. Thank you so much for watching and your kind post here. :)
I was a passenger on Independence in Dec 2000 and not only did I spend my birthday on board, but I landed in Honolulu the day before sailing during the presidential election crisis going on at the time and spent much of that day watching tv. I was SO glad I made the trip when I did, me and my Sharpe ViewCam, because the ship was gone not long after. I'll never forget looking down from the tender along side the ship and seeing very clearly the port side propeller and the rudder. If you stood on the docking bridge and looked down , you could see the prop spinning while Independence was under way. Lastly, I made the trip from Ft. Lauderdale to Hawaii on another soon to be gone classic-TWA!
Dear Geoffrey, thanks for your post and great memories of the INDY. I really wish I got that docking bridge shot when I could have aboard INDY in 2001. Such beautiful ships!
I was in College on Oahu from 1992-1995, I used to love watching these ships come and go. Something about a classic ocean liner compared to a modern cruise ship that stirs the soul! Thank you for this intimate look!
Thank you for watching and posting. It is hard to communicate to people who don't get the beauty of ocean liners why they are so special. In any case, at least some of us get it. :)
This was so wonderful to watch this morning from the front porch of our home 30 years after returning from our honeymoon on the Constitution. Thank you
Oh, what a wonderful ship to have spent your honeymoon on board! So glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for taking the time to post here. :)
I actually worked on SS Constitution on this cruise & so THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for posting your blessed cruise!
Thank you so much for watching and for your kind comment. :)
In 1992, I joined the Constitution as a roast and grill steak cook where I stayed for two years. While you were filming this in December 1994, I was recovering from an injury I sustained aboard the Independence awaiting to go back to the Constitution once I healed. Later to be surprised by the company placing me back on the Independence where I stayed until 1997 since they "sold" the Connie. Good times I had on those ships.
Oh wow, interesting. They were wonderful ships for that itinerary. Cruising Hawaii isn't the same now. Thanks for sharing. :)
Great video. Love the ship. Sadly so many people these days used to bells and whistles on new builds would turn their noses up at public rooms and cabins like this. Such character. Such fun.
Thank you. These ships had character and history. The new ships have more to offer with food and entertainment but less connection with the sea. Thanks for posting.
@@midshipcinema I Was Traveled With The SS Constitution In December of 1992!!!
We cruised to Italy on the SS Constitution in 1955, I as just a boy. My father was being transferred to Udune, Italy in the USAF. I just finished reading a post card he wrote to my grandparents documenting the cruise date of July 25th 1955. The fold out postcard image was of both sister ships, SS Constitution & SS Independence. My baby sister had a cold frome the AC my father mentions, (the two liners were first liners to be equipped with AC the PC said). My father said the service was wonderful, they even made up my baby sister's baby formula for my mother. The postcard was cancelled in Gibraltar it had two stamps on the postcard a womens royal image above a Ocean Going Liner anchored in the Mediterranean Sea in front of the Rock of Gibraltar. I appreciate your visual tour of the "Connie" Peter. I was two small to remember but I do brag that I once sailed on the SS Constitution soon after it was built as did Princesses Grace.
Such great memories, Mike! Thank you for sharing them here. How cool it would have been to cross in her early days. Thanks again. :)
The video brought back wonderful memories of my trips around the Hawaiian islands onboard Independence and Constitution. They were such lovely ships. On a side note their designer Henry Dreyfuss owned a beautiful mid- century estate in South Pasadena, CA. The estate is owned by my dentist and his dental offices are in the former Dreyfuss studios where many iconic Dreyfuss designs were created.
Oh, wow! That is so cool about the Dreyfuss estate. I had no idea. Thanks so much for watching and posting. :)
I sailed on the Independence in 1981 when I was 11, with my parents. It was such a great holiday. We had a week on the cruise and then went to Maui the second week. I remember being excited seeing the ship the following week when we were in Maui and it was anchored off Lahaina. My dad and I played against another father/son in a table tennis competition. The ship had nowhere near the entertainment options modern liners have today but it didn’t matter and things were simpler 40 years ago. Good times 🙂. I also won/given a framed etching of the ship which I had for years and I think I still do somewhere in my garage. As a kid, I always thought that this was a ship should look like. Thanks for sharing and bringing back great memories.
Thanks so much for your post! I hope to get a proper video up about INDY soon. She was a beauty and I got to sail on her in her maiden Hawaii season and then at the very end, a few weeks before she was retired. Appreciate your sharing your memories here.
Apologies for the late reply - I look forward to seeing your video on the Indy. Cheers.
GREAT VIDEO...i SAILED ON THE INDEPENDENCE BACK IN THE MID 80'S
REALLY ENJOYED EXPLORING THE SHIP...i HAD VISITED ONBOARD HER BACK IN THE 60'S WHEN SHE WAS STILL SAILING FOR AMERICAN EXPORT.
I HAVE A FEW "SOUVENIRS" FROM MY VISIT THAT DAY! .
Thank you Tom, for watching and posting. INDY was a fantastic shp. Great you were able to get some souvenirs since she no longer exists. :)
Peter, there are not enough words to thank you for this video. As a former employee, serving on both the Constitution & Independence ('83-'91), I feel like you transported me home. I so loved these sister ships! I learned a few new things from your wonderful encounters onboard and so enjoyed your adventures, as well and the adoration you expressed for both ships. I would not trade one minute I had working onboard...best time of my life!!! I will come back to visit this video many times again. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Thank you so much, Pamela! Very kind words and such a nice post. Please do return and watch again and hopefully soon I'll have the full history and top to bottom tour of CONNIE up. Again, thanks.
@@midshipcinema I will be looking forward to the new video!! I shared the video to a FB page of ex-employees of AHC and they have loved it...nothing but great responses. This video has given us a place to go to re-live memories of some of the best time of our lives!!! Thank you again!!
Sailed July 1990 - what a great experience!
I can’t thank you enough for that one. I sailed on the Constitution in 1992. It was only my second cruise. I was fully aware of her history (Grace Kelley; “I Love Lucy” etc) when I stepped onboard. To say I was thrilled at that moment would be an understatement. I no longer have our home movies of that trip (or my partner, now an ex😏), so watching your video was the next best thing. In fact, I was so moved by the islands that less than 10 years later, I moved to Kauai.
Thanks again!!
Thank you so much for watching and posing Jamie. Both of those ships were beautiful but Connie had that extra Hollywood cachet and the connection with Grace Kelley. Very cool that you moved to Kauai. I think it is the ultimate paradise.
Just rewatched this. What a joyful walk down memory lane. They were really kept up nicely till that time. Such a shame she missed out on the refit and extra service time. 💔
Peter, Thank you so much for this. Watching this brought both a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. How fortunate I was to have sailed those lovely islands aboard the Independence in September 1995. Yes, she had those garish colours on her funnels, many of her boats were gone and the interiors were Hawaiianised but still she was simply magnificent. Due to a medical emergency on board she steamed fast overnight to Kona and showed that if necessary that old lady still had a good turn of speed in her. I'll never forget looking back at her funnels, the smoke streaming behind her. We got an engine room tour too and went along shaft alley. I think they made a bit of a fuss over us, being the only British passengers aboard. Thanks again for reminding us that 'they don't make them like that any more.'
As ever, thanks so much for watching and for sharing, here, dear Clive! Those two were such stunning beauties, more so on the outside, of course, but what a pair! I sailed on INDY during her maiden season in Hawai'i and felt like I was in a dream, it being my first long distance travel as an adult and witnessing that liner, which looked destined for the scrappers a year or two prior, in full action. Did one of her final sailings in the new livery, too and she was still magical if a bit tired. Great ships, both
@@midshipcinema Do you happen to have a similar video/tour of your later sailing on Independence? This video is amazing. I never got to sail on Constitution, but my first cruise ever was Independence when I was a young kid… maybe in 95 or 96? Would love to be able to see her again, just as you’ve magically captured Constitution here.
Amazing footage as always. Also thank you for capturing her voice. Both Independence and Constitution were lovely ships.
Thanks so much, Bryan. I loved it when she "sang". :)
Thank you so much for recording and assembling this! Today's mega-ships have so much more in the way of amenities, but the sense of being on a ship is often lost.
Thank you so much for watching and posting. Yes, the new ships are better for amenities but they lose so much in their connection to the sea and their architecture is so hum drum compared with the graceful ships of the past.
I don't think I'll ever live to see it but I honestly hope one day the classic liner profile will come back in full beautiful Glory
Me, too! Disney almost did it with their first pair but they stray farther away from it with each class delivered.
Thanks for posting this… It was a real treat! I spent about 3 1/2 years bouncing back-and-forth between the Connie and the Indy as an entertainer in the early 90s. I have a bit of video of the shows that I was in but only still photos of the inside and outside of the ships… it was a great trip down memory lane watching this! Thanks, again! :-)
Fantastic! I'm so happy to hear from people like you who knew these ships so well. I'm really glad you enjoyed and found the video useful.
Hi Peter, I was actually on board with you... I was one of the entertainers on board! Great job and wonderful to reminisce my first few years in the industry on board some magnificent liners. I am still working in the industry with Four Seasons Yachts.
I love the stern and lovely big and low aft deck. The wonderful days before on-board bumper cars, mini shopping malls and skating ring extravaganzas! Just the pleasures of open air, sun, trade winds and inspiring ship architecture.
We are in the minority but I think we make up for it in our appreciation. Thanks for watching and posting.
Thank you so much for this video! I worked on the SS Constitution and SS Independence in the 90’s and was working in the Pursers Office during your cruise. I don’t have any video from my time on the ships only pictures. There is now video I can share with my kids. Look forward to seeing the rest of your footage from the ships.
That's fantastic, Amanda! I should be posting the CONNIE top to bottom decked tour soon, so there will be more footage of her to see.
Aloha Amanda! What a nice surprise!
I remember you (and Natalie and Karen) at the Pursers Desk from my 3 weeks on the Connie in December 94 when I first started working for American Hawaii Cruises. And then of course on the Indy where I worked for 5 years (cocktail waitress, then Jr Asst Purser then Gift Shops). My name then was Jean Carver.
Peter, I cried watching this video. What a blessing to relive my favorite memories of sailing these classic sister ships in the lovely Hawaiian Islands. Mahalo nui loa for sharing this wonderful video!
I always enjoy watching your videos of cruising past. It’s a shame we lost all these classics and even now we are at risk of losing smaller vessels. In 1995 a family friend was teaching English as a second language aboard ships in Florida. My grandmother and mother were set to join the ship as passengers but unfortunately the cruise line defaulted and they lost there deposits. I imagine they would of been on one of the ships you’ve filmed. Mom can’t remember the name I just remember it was 1995 as I was 17 and threw a fit that my brother had to stay with me that week. They went to Florida anyway. My grandmother never sailed and my mom didn’t get to until 2005 when I had the opportunity to go so I took her. She enjoyed herself immensely and we have been many many times since mostly on Royal Caribbean (Carnival first). She is now 80 and we have two cruises set this year one on Oasis and another on Vision of the Seas. We have done Christmas cruises. The Oasis will be our first mega ship. However we enjoy the smaller ships personally. Hopefully in 2024 we can try a Celebrity cruise as we are both at a age the less children the better now. My niece won’t go even when we offered to go Disney she’s afraid of sharks. One might bite through the ship. Perhaps she will go when she gets older and cruise with us. I promised my mom 2 a year as long as she is able. Thankfully we live near a cruise port in Baltimore and can travel to NJ, NY and VA (come on Philadelphia). Her bucket trip is Panama Canal so we will either do a partial from Florida or one way from California to Florida. I plan to move to Florida when I retire so I can cruise. By then the ships I sailed on will be memories. Carnival Victory has already been renamed. I so wish I had the opportunity to have had sailed on a former ocean liner it looked so nostalgic. We have sailed to Bahamas we don’t even get off the ship. Our vacation is the ship the rest is a bonus. Thank you for documenting history
Thank you so much, JC, for watching and sharing here. Hopefully you can get more info on that ship from 1995. I visited Florida regularly at the time and got most of those ships documented. Yes, those classic ships had such a wonderful ambiance. I do miss them very much. Thanks again. :)
How very special...this footage is priceless...she's just beautiful...iconic...thank you...
Thanks so much, Jimmy. I'm glad I had the chance to capture so much of her. Working on the Decked! top to bottom and history of the ship and hope to have it ready soon.
Mom and I had the honor of Sailing on the Golden Princess, both times was so much fun and remember seeing the Connie a few times when in Hawaii Thank you Peter
Thanks so much, Bud! I hope to get to GOLDEN PRINCESS one day. I really liked that ship and was sad to see her end of days at Aliaga this past year.
I worked on the Conny in 1995. Last trip for the Conny was in 1995. And I seem to remember this particular trip as the order of stops was different that usual.
Thanks for taking us along with you.
Well, thanks for joining us, Chris! And thanks for watching and posting. :)
Sailed on the constitution in 1987. Thanks for the memories.
Thank you for watching and posting. She was a lovely old lady.
Talking about memories , i worked both ships 80/ 86 as a bartender great times , the stories i could tell you about c deck ,,,smile,,,
Hah, well, I've heard a lot of stories from back in the day. Thanks so much for watching and posting. :)
You ain't lying....1984 relief AB on both ships as a c card with siu. Came back 1988-94 as AB, Bos'n mate, Bos'n. Stories for days, lol.
Thank you Peter! That brought back vivid memories of my 6 months aboard her as a Jr. Assistant Purser. I, like you, relished the tender rides and even docking in Hilo, any way to get views of this classic ship. And as you said, she was beautiful from every angle. But the counter stern was the feature that I most admired. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for watching and for your comment, Tom! I didn't know you worked on her -- very cool!
❤ the Independence was my 3rd cruise ship. 2001 ❤ beautiful video ❤
She was magical! I hope to get a video up about her one day. Thank you for posting.
Thanks for the wonderful show. It’s a joy to see these gorgeous liners in their latter days.
Thanks so much for watching and posting, Simon. I hope to get many more up as time permits. :)
Great job, Peter! Thoroughly enjoyed a stroll down memory lane. I wish you could have seen the solarium/gym in the 80s. It was an intimate piano lounge, but it was hard to find by the passengers and did not get much use. It was a hidden gem. We would go up there during sail away and watch the Honolulu city lights while floating by. I too loved when both ships were at Aloha tower. Very special time in my life! Look forward to your “top to bottom” tour! Let me know if you need any photos for filler. Best, Steven.
Thanks so much, Stephen! I wish I saw it that way, too, as featured in so many AHC brochures. Thanks so much for watching and posting. :)
Thank you so much, nice memories of sailing on SS Independence. This was delightful what great American cruise ships. ❤️🌹❤️
Thank you, Mary! Those two ships had tremendous history and character.
Well done video,,,,, They were such beautiful ships to grace Hawaii...... A tear came to my eye as Indy arrived at Alameda, Calif. from Hawaii for transfer of custody the US Maritime Administration. As I stood on the pier when she arrived, she looked tiered, and worn. there boilers secured for the last time. Our shipyard in Alameda prepared her for temp lay up, and destoring of provisions, then eventually towed to the reserve fleet in Suisun Bay.
Thanks for posting, Greg. I watched and videotaped her coming in under the Golden Gate that day. She was given a fireboat welcome, which was so nice to see.
great video Peter! thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching and posting! :)
Many thanks for posting this wonderful video and tour .
Thanks for watching and commenting, Richard! :)
I sailed on the Constitution in 1986. She was truly beautiful.
She had gracious lines and beautiful decks. :)
This was so great, my wife and I used to go up Aloha Tower and look down on both ships moored end to end! Really enjoyed seeing this, a trip down memory lane, thanks!
Thanks so much for watching and posting. I wish Aloha Tower was open that day but I did get to see INDY from the top in 2001.
Thanks, Peter. Loved the sound of those booming whistles!
They really were powerful! thank you for watching and posting.
Another great video to unwind after work to peter. As always great job.
Thanks so much, Greg! Really happy you enjoyed my tribute to the CONNIE. Love and miss those two.
Great shots, thanks for sharing! Brought back memories of my one and only AHC cruise, aboard INDEPENDENCE, in 1985. To this date, one of my most memorable voyages!
Thanks so much, Rich. Glad you enjoyed the visuals. I was lucky to do INDY twice and CONNIE once. It helped to be on the West Coast but then you had so many more great ships available on a regular basis in Florida. Good times! :)
Thank you for sharing this video. It brings back memories of when I used to work on the Independence back in 1981 as a waiter and later as cabin steward. I enjoyed working on that ship and met a lot of nice and wonderful people! …Another lifetime ago.
Oh, wow! You were there in the beginning. I sailed in her in 1980 with friends from work. We shared an inside 4 berth near the stern. Thanks for watching and posting. :)
Wonderful video, what a treat for a saturday night! Thanks Peter!!!!
Thanks so much. Really glad you enjoyed it. She was a beauty!
Thank you Peter for another trip on a classic liner!
Thanks so much for joining me, David! :)
Soooo cool watching this …Thank you
Thank you, Michael. Appreciate your watching and posting.
I was born and raised on Kauai and I do remember watching bot independence and constitution sail in and out of Nawiliwili during the 80's.
Thanks for watching and posting. Fond memories, indeed!
Your videos are priceless. So so nice to see that someone feels those ships the same way I do. In all their segments. Thank you for beautiful videos.
Wow, thanks so much for the kind comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this and I hope to have more to watch in the near future. :)
@@midshipcinema Thank yooou! For posting;)))) I enjoy on every minute.
Great video! TY
Thank you! :)
Poor Peter & his fear of heights. Peter, my dad says the thing that scares him the most of when he’s at the top of a giant cliff or the top of a Ferris wheel or whatever that he feels an almost irresistible urge to throw himself off the top of it, which I later learned is incredibly common.
SO true! :)
Kudos to Peter Knego for thoroughly documenting and actually vlogging in an era where CZcams and smartphones were unthinkable. I love photos from classic ships, but live video gives you much more sense on the look and especially the feel of those vessels.
Thanks so much for posting -- all my friends were taking photos but few did video and while my footage is somewhat crude, it does capture the sounds and movement of these wonderful ships. I just wish I had started earlier and had taken a lesson or two so my earlier footage could have been a bit better.
Beautiful Voyage 🌴
Thank you. It was a great trip. :)
Great video Pete. Thanks for posting it
Thank you Frank, for watching and posting. :)
@@midshipcinema Hi Petr This is Eric Shanahan Frank is my husband. I remember when you Mike went ont that cruise.
As promised, I watched the video this afternoon and I again wished my late husband and I would have flown to Hawaii and sailed on her or on INDEPENDENCE. This video was so good. I should have also done what you did with the tender when I sailed on the NORWAY. That was a good idea. Also how ironic to have worn a T-shirt from the ACHILLE LAURO during a lifeboat drill. Loved seeing the rooms. Now waiting for the Deck by Deck. ❤️❤️
Thanks so much, Deborah! I learned early on that the ships would not necessarily be around for another chance, so made sure to prioritize them before the ports and anything else. I can still go back to Kona but I can never see CONNIE again. So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for posting. :)
I like the 'Titanic' stern, and I still have my SX-70 camera. I don't use it now, but it's still a cool, iconic camera I've had since 1974.
The legacy of Henry Dreyfusss! Thanks for posting. :)
I was on this ship in 1968, my dad worked on the ship as a band member. We sailed to Puerto Rico.
Very cool! You got to experience one of the great American liners in her final year or so. Thanks for posting.
@@midshipcinema I was 4 yrs. old. The ship had the livery with the sun on the side.
@@davidtennien39 Ahhh. Well, then you were on the INDEPENDENCE, her identical sister. CONNIE never got that paint job. Still, very cool.
@@midshipcinema correct I thought this video was the Independence. Thanks
I worked on the Indy and the Connie from Christmas Eve of 1993 to Christmas eve of 1994. You began filming this video literally the day I left the ship and flew back to Florida.
I worked on them both too! January 1993- Aug 1993 so I think I just missed you. Aloha!
I was a roast and grill cook on the Connie 1992-1994 then cooked on the Indy until '97.
@@yesand what department did you work? I worked in the galley slinging steaks and prime rib. Fun times.
I was a deck lounge steward, assistant waiter, then DJ. @@insaneseafarer
Thank you so much.
Thank you for watching and commenting. :)
Another fantastic job, Peter! I've always regretted not sailing on one of the two ships.
Thanks so much, Russ! I fear there is nothing quite like this one to sail in these days but do try and get on some vintage ships while there is a chance. :)
Fantastic! I sailed on the S.S. Independence in the summer of 1984!
Thanks so much for watching and posting. I will do the INDY at some point in the future. :)
Appreciate you documenting these classic old girls before they are lost to the cutters torch.
Thanks so much. Appreciate your watching and commenting.
Boy cruises sure have changed as well as cruise ships, THANK GOD! How cramped and claustrophobic!
They sure have. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Thanks for watching and posting. :)
Thank you so much for posting this video. My wife and I took out very first cruise in Hawaii on the Constitution. I have some still pictures of our trip, but no video; now I do. What's even better, we had the same style outside cabin (#432 on Bali Deck). The foldout bunk beds, the round shower, even the same colors. What great memories. Sadly my wife passed away in 2021, but know I have video memories to reflect on and show my grand-childern. My on my best memories is the two sister ships "passing in the night" the Hilo to Kona overnight cruise south of the Big island. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for watching and posting, Bobby. How wonderful that you witnessed them passing at sea. We didn't have that chance on our trip. All my best to you. :)
@@midshipcinema And, as the two ships passed each other, Kīlauea was erupting and Capt got as close as he could to shore and we watched the red hot lava flow into the ocean with huge clouds of steam and fire. What a memory! One quirky thing about the S.S. Constitution dining rooms you may remember. During 1980's upgrades, the companion way between the two dining rooms was removed due to kitchen expansion. There was no way to get from one dining room to the other for passengers. As we were on Bali Deck aft, even though the Dining Room was one deck above on Aloha Deck, we were assigned the Hibiscus Dining Room (forward) and had go up 2 decks to Main Deck, walk forward to the forward staircase, and go back down 1 deck to the Dining Room. We were late for dinner the first night trying to figure it out, but got use to it. Never run into that on any other ship after 25+ cruises.
@@bob81449 Incredible memories, Bobby! You help bring her back to life by sharing them. Thank you! :)
Those ‘Viking’ ships were so lovely looking as well.
They were. That generation of Scandinavian designed cruise ships was especially sleek.
Wonderful
Thank you for posting. :)
Thanks for a brilliant film Peter. It would be great to see some of your 2001 Independence footage.
Thanks so much, Michael! I've got the CONNIe top to bottom tour lined up next, then will do some other ships before I jump on INDY but she will definitely get a video or two at some point.
I did the S.S. Independence back in 1993. We were shocked at the age of the ship especially since our first cruise was on the Carnival Celebration. We loved Hawaii and the cruise, just not the ship.
She was an old lady but well maintained and full of character. I appreciate the bells and whistle of the new ships but wish I could sail in INDY and ships like her again. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Gorgeous ship!!!
So agree. Thanks for watching and posting. :)
Independence and Constitution were such wonderful old ships. Shame we'd never see anything like that again. They sure wore their age and refits well. True classics. In your collection of wonderfully documented old liners do you have any of the 1960s era Italian ships? My first cruise was Celebrity's Meridian and while I tried to document her as best I could, I was using an old relic of a video camera that to call cranky and prone to misbehaving would be polite so the end result was... lackluster.
I did document MERIDIAN in New York in the 1990s. I may get to her at some point but have a long list of ships to cover. Also, of course, the AUGUSTUS and AUSONIA, OCEANIC and EUGENIO C as BIG RED BOAT II. On the latter, she is well covered in my Sands Of Alang DVD. Thanks for watching and posting. :)
Sailed on the USS Constituition in 1994! I had a wonderful time.
Nice! Just in the nick of time as she was retired in early 1995.
Wtf… why have I just found your channel? If I was to make a CZcams channel this would be it…! Thank you Peter xxx
Welcome aboard, Stuart! Very nice to have you here and I hope you enjoy exploring this channel. Much more to come in 2023! :)
@@midshipcinema Peter your blood gorgeous too! What’s not to love ❤️ xx
@@stuartrabbit Hah, well, thank you for making my day! :)
OMG PK!! Total home run on that. Beautiful footage of the ships and the islands. So sad that she wasn’t refurbed. She looked sturdy, comfy and clean. My friends dad sailed on her and boy was I jealous. Thank you for sharing. Did you do a CT article of her? Some of those pics look familiar. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much! I wasn't writing for CT then but maybe Ships Monthly, MaritimeMatters or a Bill Miller book or two. :)
its crazy to think they planned on scrapping these two in favor of two Knut e Hansen designed newbuilds which were essentially squished versions of the..."interesting" looking 1988 built Seaward in 1989, thankfully that never happened!
the lifeboat drill with the Achille lauro T-Shirt was...a strange coincidence, but at least nothing like that ever happened!, and also seeing the lifeboats lowered to promenade like that reminded me a lot of the 1959 movie "the Last Voyage" which was the first time I had ever seen lifeboats loaded like that from a promenade before!
as an aside, I NEVER knew the two stripes below the "flower" logo were different shades! (I always assumed they were one color but this footage clearly shows otherwise!)
overall the design of her reminds me a LOT of the Japanese Cruise-Ferry "Sunflower 11" of 1974, very slender and tall, with two distinct funnels :)
Thanks so much for commenting! I never saw the Hansen designs but recall a very cool rendering of what ended up being PRIDE OF AMERICA with a very sleek and streamlined profile. A shame it morphed into what it did, although I'd love to sail in POA if for nothing else than that great itinerary and her AMERICA library. I hadn't thought of it before but you are so right about the Japanese SUNFLOWER II profile. The Japanese designed interesting ships, not all of which were beauties, but that one really stood out.
@@midshipcinema if you want I can send you the profile drawing of the ship over Facebook, its a bit fuzzy but in all honesty its so far the only stuff I have been able to find
and indeed, I too have seen the early renders of POA and I have to agree, it looked so much better initially!, and it is so strange that they went with what they eventually did
and indeed, Japans ferries range from Beautiful like Sunflower 11, to Strange but still Eye-catching like the Central No.1 and 6 (later No.1 became "Tassili" in Algeria and was Scrapped in 2001, and no.6 became "Tampomas II" in Indonesia and sadly sunk in 1981) and to downright weird, like the 1986 built "Ariake", a Combination Passenger, RORO, and Container ship for Okinawa Service!
Nice
Bravo to the filmmaker. The only thing he failed to mention was how the ship's crew was having more than anyone!
Thank you for posting. LOL, I wasn't privy to the crew's antics but nothing surprises me. :)
Wow I wasn't even born yet . She look like an amazing ship for her time
She was! There were many like her in that era. :)
Handsome little steamships, a pity they're not still around today, a quiet little voyage without all the hullaballoo and glitz of the modern big girls sounds rather nice.
Guess I'll settle for sipping a Singapore Sling as my model of Orient Lines' Orcades sails around the pool.
ORCADES? Now THAT was a ship! Those P&O and Orient liners were perfection. Loved visiting her sister ORONSAY back in my early teens.
@@midshipcinema
Wow, would've loved to see them myself, ways before my time though!
Apparently Tri-ang, the British toy manufacturer, made the Orcades as a toy/working model in the mid 50's, found one on Ebay along with a freighter from the same series.
Did a little research, and the battery powered version was done up as the Orcades, but the clockwork version was dressed up as the Pretoria Castle, one of Union Castle's fleet, I believe.
Either way, happy to have found my mini Orcades. Done my best to fix her up to get her sailing again, have to make some detail parts to replace ones that are missing like the tripod mast and some of the cargo derricks. Definitely got played with by the looks of things!
I noticed the ship had small platforms extending from the aft deck port and starboard, which I have only seen before on HMS Patris. On PATRIS one would stand on them essentially looking back down to the waterline and could see the spinning propeller particularly in rougher seas. They may have also been used for clay target shooting which my father participated in during that cruise.
Thanks for viewing and commenting, Logan. Those were docking wings, which were used by officers during maneuvers and relatively common on the liners of that era and before. PATRIS and her cousin AMERIKANIS had them and to name a few others, the SOUTHERN CROSS/CALYPSO/AZURE SEAS/OCEANBREEZE, DAPHNE and DANAE, OCEANIC, SEAWIND CROWN, etc. They came in handy when docking and undocking, especially in the days when tugs were needed to do what thrusters so easily do now.
I think they were also used for docking in days when you simply didn’t have the tech we have now. An officer was positioned on them when backing a ship in to give a better view and comicate with the bridge.
Your channel came up on my CZcams Recommends. Glad I clicked and watched this. Glad you are documenting liners that are no longer around anymore. I am in aviation, but always been curious about ocean liners. I had my High School prom aboard the Queen Mary in 1984, that was neat! Was there a part of the SS Constitution that you didn't get to video, but planned to?
Thank you. That is great to know CZcams has it as a recommended video. I'm very happy that you enjoyed it and appreciate your post. I pretty much got to every place aboard the CONNIE that I wanted to see but wish I could do it over again with a better camera and skills. I'll be doing a detailed top to bottom tour and history of CONNIE soon. Wonderful that your prom was on the MARY, too! Thanks for watching and posting.
You are awesome
You are very kind! I will say that this ship was awesome, however! Thank you!
Great ship.
Wholeheartedly agree! :)
Loved working on Indy in 2001
I sailed in her that year, just a few months before AHC went under. Wonderful ship. Thanks for watching and posting.
I worked on these ships. I miss the cruising of the days gone by!
Me, too, Kim! A completely different experience from the massive ships with multiple restaurants and thousands of people. I prefer the way it was. Thanks for watching and posting.
Peter, I now have a great SS Constitution printable 3D model, both 1951 and 1959 refit versions (Designed by LinersWorld's Matt Pontecaille). I'd be happy to print a copy for you in the scale of your choosing.
Hi Eric. SO sorry I missed this post until now. That is very, very kind of you. I'm rearranging things here but maybe I can come back to you to purchase a CONNIE or INDY at some point. Thank you so much. I saw the one you posted a photo of on the ITALIS photo and it looked spectacular!
Wasn't one of them used in the series the love boat??? Im from Hawaii... born n raised... loved watching that ship in Kahului harbor Maui...
Neither were in The Love Boat but they did get featured on some TV shows, including Magnum PI. CONNIE was featured on I Love Lucy and other shows from the late 50s/early 60s. Thanks for watching and posting.
Hi Peter, thank you for another brilliant and interesting episode. Noting that these ships were originally designed for the New York, Naples, Genoa and return service, did you get a sense of their seaworthiness and suitability for the North Atlantic during your cruise? When I first went to sea, I did my initial training in steam ships. The black smoke you see coming from the funnel in such ships really means that the Engineers on the boiler sprayers have the fuel/air mix wrong. Some ships I was on had a series of mirrors so you could monitor the exhaust. Newer ships had cameras. We would receive severe criticism if the bridge rang down to report “black smoke alpha” or “bravo” depending upon the funnel. It was only tolerated during flash up from a cold start. This would happen at night to cover our tracks! Again, really enjoying these videos; like being there.
Thanks so much, Ivan! Fascinating background on the smoke issues. I know both CONNIE and INDY were running at very reduced speed and power from their speedy, fuel-guzzling Transat days. They both felt very seaworthy to me but I'm not much of an engineer, so I'm just commenting from how they handled the occasional swells and how solid their construction felt under foot. I recall with NORWAY and a few other steamers that the cloud issues were usually at night when few could see them, so it must have been a bit embarrassing for CONNIE's officers to have her belching like that in Kona with so many eyes on her. I almost thought she was on fire when I first saw that black cloud overhead. It was just a few weeks after ACHILLE LAURO, after all. Appreciate your comment.
I worked on both of those ships back in the day at Todd Shipyards Alameda CA as a mechinest
I remember one had a bad leak of Amoneia in one of the Refrigerator units it was a problem to fix but it got done
Very cool! They were floating museums! :)
The last voyage was in 1995. I worked on the Conny in 94-95.
Yes. Exactly. She was originally scheduled to be refitted in the spring of 1995 but the plans were dropped and she was laid up. This was her final Christmas cruise. :)
So sad to know that these 2 great ships, (the Connie and the Indy) are resting on the bottom of the ocean.
Well, only parts of INDY as some of her keel is probably still stuck in the mud off Gopnath, where she grounded and broke her back. Very few happy endings for ships, I'm afraid. Thanks for posting.
It's amazing how small ships were back then .
Or, maybe it's amazing how big ships are now! :)
That was a medium sized ship for the era. It’s ships these days that have grown far too big to actually be ships and more floating apartments.
I’ve always wondered why constitution was sent for scrap so early both twins were wonderful shame I never got to see them
They ran out of money for her refurbishment and after she sat for a couple years, there really was no more market for her. Thanks for watching and posting.
Great job as always, Peter! It's very uncommon to see a ship built in the 50s with a counter stern. Was there a particular reason?
Thanks so very much, Umberto! Really appreciate your subscribing, too. At some point, I do hope CZcams will monetize this channel so I can make many more of these. Not sure why Dreyfuss chose the counter -- it may have been an inspiration from his conversion of the FOUR ACES that came before CONNIE and INDY. In many ways, those ships were their forerunners and they were built with counters. I think it was just for aesthetics but I could be mistaken, in which case, someone more learned will chime in. Thanks again!
@@midshipcinema It might be a reason! They looked fabulous by the way, also in their original black livery (how cool to see them docked in Genoa!)
I do hope to see many more of these videos!!
@@umbertodealexandris Thank you, Umberto! They were most beautiful in their black livery before the superstructure was enlarged but still remained so for the rest of their time. I hope to make more! :)
People when where building the ship: let’s make the ship horn sound like Godzilla
Hah! Or the people dreaming up Godzilla said, "Let's make him sound like the CONSTITUTION and INDEPENDENCE's steam whistles!" :)
Just got off the Allure of the Seas. Quite a different experience. Now it’s all about distractions, instant gratification, cash cash cash - it’s no longer relaxing.
I hear ya! Different ships entirely. I'll take CONNIE or INDY any day, minus the extra dining options and 5,000 more guests. thanks so much for watching and posting.
Mais um bom video belo navio antigo de cruzeiro, mas cortina de plastico no box é terrivel kkkkkkk
Thanks so much, Cyros for watching and posting here. I really appreciate it. These were two legends, for sure!
Thanks for keeping this beautiful ship alive! Do you know what happened to the frog with the snail on its back? I assume it's at the bottom of the ocean with the rest of the Constitution?
Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I wish I did know what became of the frog/snail bronze and hope it was removed before she was towed off.
4:51
This is the ship that Lucy and Ricky went to Europe on
In the show, yes, but they used a set for the on board footage and used nice stock shots of CONSTITUTION at sea.
@@midshipcinema Yeah