(Lead Image: Crystal Cruises) The S.S. United States, the fastest passenger ship across Atlantic in both directions and holder of the Blue Riband award, has been out of service for close to fifty years, having been withdrawn in 1969. She has sat at Pier 82 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania so long that she was added to the Register of Historic Places on June 3rd, 1999. And she’s sixty-five years old, having been launched in the summer of 1951. Yet, she has remained at the pier while private parties and special interest groups shave tried, unsuccessfully, to restore her to her former glory as a trans-Atlantic steamship that was the pinnacle of luxury before air travel emerged as the way to travel. Ever since 2011, the S.S. United States Conservancy had held the ownership of the liner, but they weren’t sure just what to do with it. They attempted to sell the idea of the United States as a stationary attraction or as part of a urban renewal plan where the ship became a floating office building of sorts, but since October 2015, the group had started putting out feelers for recycling the ship because they were running out of money for the rent of the pier. However, on February 4th, 2016, Crystal Cruise Lines, known more commonly as Crystal Cruises, announced that they had taken over ownership of the S.S. United States and are planning on a restoration and refurbishment program with the intention of bringing a steamship that hasn’t seen passenger service since just after the Moon landing back to service.
According to their press release, CEO Edie Rodriguez had this to say: “When I was made aware that the ship was headed toward recycling due to the extent of disrepair and continued costs to maintain her status in her Philadelphia port, I knew that we could not let that happen. The SS United States boasts a past that is significant to both, American history and luxury travel itself. We are fortunate that our parent company felt the same way, and is supporting us in this venture with the same commitment they have displayed throughout our recent expansion.
It is only fitting that the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line be entrusted with the mission to restore this symbol of an elegant, bygone era of travel. Additionally, as our guests are discerning and savvy travelers, I feel that the return of this sophisticated era – combined with the modern luxuries that Crystal has perfected – will offer a truly unique experience at sea.
Through an agreement with the SS United States Conservancy, we will take over the maintenance of this historic ship as we begin the investigative process for the next steps toward restoring her bright future. Our aspirations of returning her to the seas carrying America’s flag as she calls in quintessential ports like New York City will have to wait while we ensure that she is brought up to 21st century safety and environmental standards.
Following this intensive process will be the very important venture to bring her up to Crystal standards, which will include our unyielding caliber of luxury amenities, service and guest experience on board. While certain onboard features will be hallmarks to the “Crystal Experience,” many of the ship’s spaces will remain true to her origin and era, including the Navajo Lounge (similar to the Avenue Saloon) and the Promenade. The ship will also boast spacious suites for 800 guests, retaining Crystal’s enviably high crew-to-guest and space ratio.
As we embark on this new journey with the SS United States, we are honored to be charged with the opportunity to bring her back to oceangoing service in the most efficient and responsible way possible. The many months ahead will see technical and regulatory studies to ensure this very significant task can move forward as planned, but I am confident that this once glorious vessel will be so again.”
To say that it is a monumental task would be a serious understatement…the ship is going to need the equivalent of a 100% restoration. Over fifty years of neglect and repair must be attended to and modernization of wiring, plumbing, and propulsion must be performed, but all of that will take a backseat until the United States is assessed to see if such a venture is even worth attempting. It will be interesting to see if Crystal Cruises and their parent company, Genting Hong Kong, are able to bring the United States back to the high seas. It’s an uphill challenge and we wish them the best of luck…it certainly beats the fate that that ships like the S.S. America received.
Well – they’ll have to find the other half first!
I admire such dedication to preserving a piece of maritime heritage. It would probably been quicker and easier to build a replica but that would have been a mere imitation of the real thing. Unfortunately if they hit any problems or find it is prohibitively expensive they might just do that.
Good luck and could you send it to Newcastle upon Tyne when its finished!
Words cannot express how much I love this.
“2.Strut February 6, 2016 at 6:56 am
Words cannot express how much I love this”
I am usually not at a loss for words, but I am with this news. Strut said it best for me. Thank you !
I literally have a tear in my eye writing this. IF the condition of the vessel allows them to proceed, it could be one of the first faint heartbeats of a comeback-of-sorts for America. We certainly need one.
This vessel represents a lot of what America WAS.
The Best, a place that took No Shit from anyone – anywhere and had the balls and the brains to back it up, unlike today’s typically emasculated, dumbed-down fat-assed, stupid fucking lazy American wearing a clown costume and taking marching orders from their palm wondering when Wal-Mart is open.
I salute Crystal Cruises, but stay awake and Keep the pitchforks sharpened up.
Anyone else find it concerning that the parent company is from Hong Kong? The ship was going to be scrapped by most likely a Chinese company anyway, and now it’s been sold to a cruise line owned by a Chinese company.
“Yeah we looked at the ship, it’s junk. Guess we have to scrap it now.”
I seem to recall that the ship uses a LOT of aluminum in it’s construction, not to mention other materials the scrap industry of a massive industrialized country would love to get it’s hands on.
I hope it gets restored, but I’m dubious.
I don’t think scrap materials are worth much right now, but yeah what a job. I know with the Queen Mary (now a hotel, we’ve stayed in it a couple times) a big part of the deal of it just sitting there is to pump the water out as fast as it leaks in. A little too big to dry-dock and do welding on. That said, I’d far rather sail on such a historic ship than any of the Disney etc. crap, maybe we’re the kind of people they’re thinking about.
It’s big, but not too big to put in a dry-dock, especially in Asia. I used to work right next to that pier. It is a very cool ship.
This ship can be dry docked. That said, it will be a long and tasking job to refurbish the SS United States to its formal glory.
I worked on cruise ships for 18 years and started that career on board a ship built in 1956 and two others built between ’56-62′ and lets just say, those were beautiful ships. Over the years the ships got bigger and bigger and the guest were less interested in the craftsmanship of the ship. Many of todays ships might have the large slides, rock climbing walls, huge screens on the tail end of the ship but in the end, they are just big floating boxes where people in flip flops and t-shirts pile in to the formal dinning rooms.
May the SS United States and Crystal bring back the beauty and traditions of cruising.
Say like the idea for ss united States let’s do it with the life boats in a line on both sides,on the top row olong her side so thair enough life boats to save everyone on board it’s counts with smart thinking