So my dad worked in the engine room on her maiden voyage. He normally worked on the SS America. But before he left the merchant marine service they had him work on her. He passed away 2 years ago this Saturday June 2nd. He always loved his days aboard the American Line Ships. I hope someone will give this beautiful ship a new lease on life. 😢
Sorry, I'm with you on that, but it is not to be! S he is going to be sank and turned into a reef and tourist attraction. But we all pretty much knew she was done for, sooner or later, when she was striped of her interior!
I do heating and air work, when I was 17 I did a job for a older man who’d worked as an Steward onboard her from start to finish under her first few trips. He said he’d been on some newer carnival ships but nothing matched the feeling the United States gave. He showed me a few original items from the ship he’d acquired along with some ashtrays, a pocket watch, and even a door handle. I became good friends with this man as we went the same church together, until he passed of a heart attack last year. A few days later at church his wife handed me a box that had all of the priceless items I’d been shown from the United States. I’d often imagine returning the door handle to the ship once she’s restored. How one can dream.
The Boomers, born after the end of WWII in 1945, were the folks who first wrecked tasteful clothing. All following generations have made it more distasteful.
aww I'm sorry you missed out 😢. I didn't, born 1960, I traveled on her 2x (67, 69), still burned in my brain like yesterday. If you want I'll tell you some adventures onboard, let me know . and you're right, your gen is horribly inelegant (except you of course!) happy holidays mate!
My dream is to see this beautiful ocean liner restored, I wanna be alive and see this guy full of life again, America must get together as a nation to bring, the American Symbol, SS United States is, back to what he truly meant, greets from Peru🇵🇪
I had to visit her yesterday. She still looks proud and majestic despite the weathered paint. She will live on in video and photos and in the memories of those who had the pleasure of sharing the sea with her.
I was about 14 when these home movies were made. I can't begin to imagine how expensive that little vacation would have to have cost! It was light years beyond anything my parents could have afforded or even dreamed about. Those were some very fortunate young kids in this vid! Oh, the clip of the Verrazzano bridge still under construction dates the pix very well. The bridge opened Nov 24, 1964. My guess is that this voyage is sometime in the winter/spring of '64.
I was very fortunate as an almost 10yo kid to be able to travel from NYC to Southampton England on this ship in 1968. It family was moving to South Africa and this was one leg of the journey. Still remember a lot of it...
There is a customer base for this service because there are enough people now that can’t stand to fly and have the time to sail, it’s just seems that every time we have something good going on it gets mismanaged into the ground
My mom and I sailed on the United States from NYC to Bremerhaven in November 1959. I was seven years old. I recall a storm over the North Atlantic and the steward came into our room and bolted a steel cover over the porthole. I was seasick and the ship was rolling back and forth. Things were calmer once we go into the English Channel. We stopped at Southhamton and Le Harve. My dad was standing on the dock in his US Army uniform waiting for us when we arrived in Germany.
Came to America Feb 1964 on the SS United States .... the right way. ... sailed right past the Statue Of Liberty .Spent 20 years in the US Navy .... then a year ago became a US Citizen .... a crazy trip !
Amazing video of a Byegone Era! The shots under the Almost completed Verrazano bridge are insightful and me beautiful. The simple times of the fifties and sixties is Refreshing to watch. Great job on the piece.
I'm a little late to the party, but I've been looking to see if anybody would comment on the priceless bridge shot . . . . . it's nice to see you noticed AND took the time to comment . . . . . nice :) it is a 2'fer for sure! . . . . . hope after 3 years, you might still be a 'tube' visitor to notice.
I'd like to point to the steadiness of the ship seen in force 5+ seas. Amazing, really. No flying keels, no high tech stabilization, just outstanding design. Was lucky enough to sail QE-2 on one of the last trip across the north Atlantic. Smooth...in the north Atlantic. Ahh, the fine Liners.
She not only was the fastest ship, she was beautiful as well. Her lines are wonderfully symmetrical, and streamlined, she is just beautiful. I don't know why the United States doesn't deserve a ship like this, we had some terrific ship builders, even our nave ships of the era were quite good looking. The United States was as much s seafaring nation as any in Europe, our ships took a hit during prohibition. During that time, American flagged vessels were bound by the same no alcohol laws as back home, thus many Americans crossing the pond did so on European flagged vessels.
I sailed on that ship in 1964 from France to New York as a young boy. First class was completely segregated from economy class. Somehow I wandered into first class one day and was unable to get back to economy. I had to ask a ship officer to let me out. Economy class was indeed spare, looking like a navy ship. When the seas were rough, the ship rocked like crazy. I remember the waves in the indoor swimming pool in the middle of the vessel.
Thank you for sharing this footage! Wasn't familiar with the SS United States untill the announcement about Crystal Cruises' plans to restore her and put her out on the waters again!
Very nice indeed. I saw her quite a few times when I was in the Brit. MM. what a beautiful ship and such a shame to be left the way she is for years. I know it would cost an enormous amount of money to refit her to her former glory but hopefully this might be possible before it is too late. BIG U fan! Australia.
The ships today have lost the magic of the ships of long ago. I was a child and young adult when I experienced transatlantic cruising. It was an incredible experience one that I will treasure always. It doesn't compare with cruising today. The most exciting was watching the events on the dock as the ship was taking on passengers. They would hand out streamers to throw as the ship sailed away and people would wave and cry from the dock. It was especially emotional in particular traveling back from Europe to the US. It's all different today thanks to terror threats.
Wow I had no idea she once looked so beautiful! Now I see why her conservators are so adamant on saving & restoring her. Her skipper must have struggled valiantly in fighting the urge to open up her engines to full speed throughout every voyage! The USA at sea! 🇺🇸
I would imagine she could do almost 50 mph, from what I have heard about her. Unbelievable power system for the 1950’s. Gibbs and Cox in their finest hour. Design, engineering and fine workmanship in a matter of 2 years. Just looking at her in the water “ I want to go fast! “ Captain, all ahead full!
100% I'd give anything to be in my 30's or so back then. We were a proud country then, everything was much easier, fun, respectable. im 55 now and have seen quite a bit of strange things as a whole, dont like where we are going......weird times
Hey, 0:46 looks like somebody found the lost footage that 'The Skipper' was discovered from. . . lol . . . after all, it was later this same year (1964), that he and Gilligan set sail for that 'three hour tour' . . . lol
She's lucky to have survived for 72 years. Most of the Great Liners were scrapped after 25 years. It doesn't make economic sense to restore her - some things are worth saving because of their historical significance - the United States was once the embodiment of America on the move and so classy! Paint her, make her watertight and fight for government support for her mooring fees. Don't turn her into a reef. She really is the last of her kind.
It’s to late now, ownership has been signed over to Florida. I hope to see it soon from the parking lot of IKEA in a few days. Since it was gutted inside because of asbestos, and to remove all the lead based ain’t from the hull, that is an enormous amount of money to raise. Finding an open dry dock that’s over 1000 feet in length and restoring and just getting back the propellers would be a monumental task. Believe me, I certainly wish she could be saved for history, on the water, rather than an underwater reef. I’m 75, and I don’t intend to take up diving anytime soon, and to add to that, scuba diving may have an impact on a person’s life insurance policy, if someone has one. Our government should have recognized the importance of her 30-40 years ago to help restore her. Perhaps it could have been converted to a Navy fast support hospital ship. So with all that said, it is wonderful that there are at least documented films and photos of her, that we can watch and dream about her. May she rest in peace.
Great little video of a home movie on this iconic ship in all its glory.Wish they had filmed some interior shots.And so sad this historic and to this day speed record breaking (Blue Riband) legend is going to be towed to a watery grave unless by some miracle sense prevails and a rescuer arrives.!.
We need to come together as a nation pick up a paint brush and materials and restore our magnificent ship back to her 1952 glory and make her like the Queen Mary a hotel and Museum so future generations know what that magnificent ship is and what she stands for!!!!!!!We cant lose this grand ship to history it is bad enough we lost her sister ship the foarmer SS America now the SS American Star ship wreck!!!!
These ocean liners are some of the most elegant objects every built. It's a shame that only two are left--the Swedish former MS Stockholm and the Soviet Aleksandr Pushkin, now the MV Astoria and MS Marco Polo, respectively. Only the former Soviet ship retains any of her exterior vintage class, however, with the Swedish ship having taken on a far more 'modern' appearance. They seem like two unlikely survivors of the era, one having been involved in one of history's most famous shipwrecks, the other having been built for a country that no longer exists. It's great that they're both still in service; it's a shame that SS United States is in the situation she's in.
Truly hoping for a miracle, this ship is so worthy of preserving the hull and power plant. She is for a fact 'the best of the design era', in itself worthy of a worldwide effort from all the participants that were in the quest back in the day for that record breaking ship. A life-sized specimen, not a sliced off bow section. Here this one is still in such great condition structurally and even the power plant (though to keep it, it would never ferry passengers). Just as a static museum and marketable commercial space . . . . or just a dream.
Beautiful! When travel had class! Would have loved to have been on board! Still hoping for a better fate for this magnificent ship than being sunk as a reef. Wish it could have been moored beside a great companion, the Queen Mary! 😊
What a beauty she was, so elegant and classy. I drove by her last weekend driving out of Philly and it is always so sad seeing her rotting away. I hope Crystal Cruise line will be able to renovate her. She looks so far gone, that I am doubtful.
I would love to be able to just see Big U up close. The SS United States should be a Hotel/Museum restored and docked next to the Intrepid. I remember driving with my parents along the harbor in NYC and seeing a rusting ‘United States Lines’ wrought iron archway on a pier. I was 12? And it made me sad to see the neglect of such a part of history.
People still underestimate, how fast those things went 32kn around 38mph is quick... today, no one would be allowed to go on deck with a vessel moving that fast
The first part this film 2.49 to 3.00 was taken at Bermuda. The tender was the CHAUNCEY M DEPEW. The stock and pillory are still in St George's, Bermuda,
oceanliners andshipsonlineandothervideos I don’t know it’s hard to tell, but it could be the America judging by the design compared to the United States. She did do some cruises just before she was sold to Chandris in late 1964.
I was 8 when i was on the ship I only remember how it rolled even in moderate seas.I remember putting an orange on the floor of our cabin and watching it roll from one end to the other.
Had my Dad who was an Air Force Doctor chosen to serve in England and Germany instead of Columbus Ohio, my family would have sailed over on this great ship. What a missed opportunity.
Amazing that IN 1964 they had an ocean liner in 1964 that goes faster than anything they have today. Where we have computers today that go Millions of times faster than the computers then, now the ocean liners go 30% SLOWER ... :(
Yeah it's pathetic 🙄 but except for Queen Mary 2 they're not ocean liners but cruise ships, don't need great speed. Don't get me wrong, I sailed on SSUS and several others , and I think today's ships are just floating Walmarts ( or cesspools) 🤮
The Big U. was and is an extremely sophisticated super liner who is at the very apex of centuries of martime engineering design. She has destroyer lines (Gibbs & Cox built DD's) and a pwr. plant to match her size. One would do well to read "A man and his ship" which is al about super amature naval designer WFG struggle to get the impossible done. Namely to capture the worlds engineering lead for the USA. The Big U is the living embodiment of this and therefore is a National Treasure, Gift, and Legacy. It should therefore be saved, refuirbished, and be returned to some benifical service, no matter what the cost. She could serve as both a hospital ship (ala the Hope )and an excellent training platform for an entire new generation of engineers. The USN has done this many times in recalling vet's to teach the skills needed to man the New Jersey class BB's. This would most certainly be money well spent as compared to the wastefull billions being spent by NASA.
Out of all the money wasted by our government NASA would definitely not be on that list. I love ships, and I'm ready to be relaxing on one looking out my cahin window at stars, nebulas and colonized planets.
I've been on a few of today's cruises and I hope u don't mind being "Sold" from one end to the other.. Cruise ships of today are largely 3-world based and un-regulated., and if you innocently encounter any diifculties..it's a them vs. you and there the house!!! Sadly the behaviors that in the past that would never be tolerated exist enormously today. I find Holland-America to be the closest thing so far to "Old School Civilized" crusing ..right down to the wood-varnished deck chairs, tough no-nonsence Dutch Officers, and Java/Sumatra Crew. ie tradition....but even their owned by Big C. I would expect the same of Cunard but have never sailed w/ that legend!! If all else fails u can return to stargazing...and wish u were there!!!
Horroratio Neilsen She should be restored to her original working condition and operated part time as a museum, floating event hall, and/or hotel; the other half of the time she should be operated properly as a retro ocean liner.
2:26 Music "Aquarela do Brasil, composition of Ary Barroso. This is a brasilian classic Music of MPB. Congratulations.Muito bom o vídeo. Vendo agora em 2018. Seria muito bom ver o S.S United States novamente a singrar os mares e quem sabe até visitar o Brasil numa romântica e nostálgica viagem de Cruzeiro. Mesmo faltando-lhe o requinte e o luxo do passado, ainda é um belo navio.
Yes, but the test to get a Captain’s license still requires the ability to plot a course on a chart, with 90% accuracy. We still have our parallel rules and dividers!
Just discovered that we had this ocean liner half hour ago, I'd never heard of it...and I'm 62... For some reason I'm really upset this is rusting away in Philadelphia. The SS UNITED STATES! SS UNITED STATES!!!!!! 😦😤😟
Lovely to see this marvellous ship as she was supposed to be with happy people on board, instead of slowly dying alone and few care about her any more. I think its DISGUSTING that the US government havent come forward to do a full restoration of a ship named after their own country😡. She has been gutted out to such a poor condition that its DOUBLED the cost to refit her now as even basic things like FLOORS need replacing let alone all the fixtures and fittings 😕 I would pay anything to cruise on that ship if she was returned to duty!
It won't be long before you can visit her, for a small fee, by diving to her after she is sunk to form a new reef. She could not be saved, but as a reef is better then scrapping, don't you think?
Curious... she sliced 10+ hours off of the Queen Mary's speed record, but it would be uneconomical to run that fast on every voyage. I read somewhere that she 'settled' in to a more economic cruising speed of 30 knots for the rest of her career. If a discerning traveler had to chose between Queen Mary or the Big U, would speed really be a factor? A travel agent couldn't exactly say 'Take the Big U you'll get to Europe 10 hours faster!'
This ship was a famous ship so it had alot of people but it was more famous than other ships... Celebrities and even presidents sailed on this ship... The interior had alot of rooms... Too bad this ship is now docked at a port,rotting over the years and getting closer to it's death... Luckily there is a company that owns the liner and is raising funds to make the ship the popular floating hotel it was
Sorry to report I made a BIG mistake, yesterday: THE PHOTOS I MENTIONED WERE TAKEN ABOARD SS "AMERICA" , NOT SS "UNITED STATES". Sadly, the former magnificent ocean was utterly destroyed during a storm
She is gone, not forgotten, there’s more second chances, all the life we lived is in the bottom of the ocean. All the history we made is underwater now, good bye First Lady!
There were so many grand ships of that era. They hold their place of respect in history. I think it’s unfair, however, to criticize the ships of today. They are also beautiful in their own right and are built more for what vacationers want to do today. Would you want to spend a week on a ship where the big highlights are shuffleboard and bridge?
Title is completely wrong for this video. This was not a cruise nor was the SS United States a cruise ship. It is an ocean liner that was used to transport passengers who embarked from one port and disembarked at another port. Cruise ships do not transport. They are for pleasure.
The title is absolutely correct! While the SS United States was, indeed, an ocean liner and not a purpose-built cruise ship, she did a few cruise itineraries during her 17 year career. The home movies shown here, by former ship's purser Jim Green, were taken aboard a 1964 cruise (not a crossing) to the West Indies.
shipgeek sorry I wasn’t meaning to be confrontational. I just get defensive about maritime and nautical topics because so many people don’t know the history of the great ocean liners that came before the jet age. These are beautiful ships that need to be preserved. It’s living history.
@@nathanpgraf I absolutely agree, and I'm always quick to point out the difference between crossing and cruising to the uninitiated. Just wanted to set the record straight that the voyage in these home movies is actually a cruise aboard an ocean liner!
The whole concept of slow but luxurious traveling by ship died when large jet airliner travel became affordable and fashionable. Hard to see how the cost of restoration, making it operational, and profitable nowadays could ever happen.
Update on the SS United States October 5th 2024 The ship has been sold for 1 million dollars to OKALOOSA county Florida and its done deal. It will be prepared in Newport news shipping dock and then towed to Florida for sinking November 1st 2024. All paid for by OKALOOSA county Florida. I know about this because I volunteer to help save the ship. But there's nothing more I can do. Sorry to you all. Its done deal.
Yeah if they restore her to glory they better return her to cruise service instead of making her a hotel or mall if they put into cruise service they can make a fortune of money with her am I right
+Adam Chancellor Not burning 1,000 gallons of fuel oil per mile. They'd have to repower her as a diesel trawler that would go 12 kph, a fate worse than death for the mighty SS United States. MY God if there's a "Conservancy" what exactly are they conserving? A gutted, rusty hulk tied to a dock corroding away.
I would love to see her sailing, as a steamer, but that is probably not feasable. Just don't strip her of all her engines and machinery like they did to the QM. That was a perfectly steam able vessel, she steamed in and then was gutted to best suit her new needs. I don't know why you have such a problem with oil GooglFacists, diesels use just as much, just in a different manner. Restore her as a hotel without gutting the spaces and completely reconfiguring. If she sailed cruises I would ride her in a heartbeat before I rode any diesel cruise ship. With the SS Norway gone no large steam liners are running. With the nations name it would be a huge pride symbol, and I would think many people from the United States would ride a ship called the SS United States when heading to a foreign country, as tourists always announce they are an American.
+Jacob Woods she would be beautiful if they could make her go full steam ahead. but unfortunately at this point her engines are so badly gone. They couldn't hold the pressure. Plus she used tons of fuel. it was very expensive. I want to se her restored and new engines installed so she could sail again. my grandparents met onboard. My granny still has the big yellow hat she wore on her deck. She was going full speed and the wind blew her hat to my grandfather's feet. That's so romantic. He is dead now. When she heard she was getting restored. She promised to sail on her and wear her yellow hat.
So my dad worked in the engine room on her maiden voyage. He normally worked on the SS America. But before he left the merchant marine service they had him work on her. He passed away 2 years ago this Saturday June 2nd. He always loved his days aboard the American Line Ships. I hope someone will give this beautiful ship a new lease on life. 😢
Sorry, I'm with you on that, but it is not to be! S he is going to be sank and turned into a reef and tourist attraction. But we all pretty much knew she was done for, sooner or later, when she was striped of her interior!
Such a beautiful ship, and the fastest ocean liner ever built by mankind with a record that will never be surpassed
I was lucky enough to have sailed on this ship back in January of 1966. A beautiful ship and great memories. We sailed out of New York to Europe.
I do heating and air work, when I was 17 I did a job for a older man who’d worked as an Steward onboard her from start to finish under her first few trips. He said he’d been on some newer carnival ships but nothing matched the feeling the United States gave. He showed me a few original items from the ship he’d acquired along with some ashtrays, a pocket watch, and even a door handle. I became good friends with this man as we went the same church together, until he passed of a heart attack last year. A few days later at church his wife handed me a box that had all of the priceless items I’d been shown from the United States. I’d often imagine returning the door handle to the ship once she’s restored. How one can dream.
You should totally do that if the ship ever gets restored.
Beautifully written, beautifully done.
I wish we could return to those days...
I was born in 2002, so I missed this era. I wish my generation was as elegant as them.
The Boomers, born after the end of WWII in 1945, were the folks who first wrecked tasteful clothing. All following generations have made it more distasteful.
aww I'm sorry you missed out 😢. I didn't, born 1960, I traveled on her 2x (67, 69), still burned in my brain like yesterday. If you want I'll tell you some adventures onboard, let me know . and you're right, your gen is horribly inelegant (except you of course!) happy holidays mate!
My dream is to see this beautiful ocean liner restored, I wanna be alive and see this guy full of life again, America must get together as a nation to bring, the American Symbol, SS United States is, back to what he truly meant, greets from Peru🇵🇪
I'm with you on that, sorry, but it's not to be!
Unfortunately that will never happen since she is destined to be sunk to be an artificial Reef
I saw my grandparents here. Amazing
I had to visit her yesterday. She still looks proud and majestic despite the weathered paint. She will live on in video and photos and in the memories of those who had the pleasure of sharing the sea with her.
Wow what a time. And everyone is dressed up. 😎
I was about 14 when these home movies were made. I can't begin to imagine how expensive that little vacation would have to have cost! It was light years beyond anything my parents could have afforded or even dreamed about. Those were some very fortunate young kids in this vid! Oh, the clip of the Verrazzano bridge still under construction dates the pix very well. The bridge opened Nov 24, 1964. My guess is that this voyage is sometime in the winter/spring of '64.
People back in the day sure didn't expect much when it came to ocean cruises. Turtle races with lame turtles seemed to be the most exciting event.
I was very fortunate as an almost 10yo kid to be able to travel from NYC to Southampton England on this ship in 1968. It family was moving to South Africa and this was one leg of the journey. Still remember a lot of it...
There is a customer base for this service because there are enough people now that can’t stand to fly and have the time to sail, it’s just seems that every time we have something good going on it gets mismanaged into the ground
My mom and I sailed on the United States from NYC to Bremerhaven in November 1959. I was seven years old. I recall a storm over the North Atlantic and the steward came into our room and bolted a steel cover over the porthole. I was seasick and the ship was rolling back and forth. Things were calmer once we go into the English Channel. We stopped at Southhamton and Le Harve. My dad was standing on the dock in his US Army uniform waiting for us when we arrived in Germany.
3:35 why is he holding a TURTLE>?
@@randomrazr - Turtle races! Passengers would bet on them.
Came to America Feb 1964 on the SS United States .... the right way. ... sailed right past the Statue Of Liberty .Spent 20 years in the US Navy .... then a year ago became a US Citizen .... a crazy trip !
I bet you regret coming to America, don’t you?
I personally love the classic feel of ocean liners cruising out of NY. I’d do anything to be onboard during that.
Amazing video of a Byegone Era! The shots under the Almost completed Verrazano bridge are insightful and me beautiful. The simple times of the fifties and sixties is Refreshing to watch. Great job on the piece.
th-cam.com/video/ak-rp0uyiUE/w-d-xo.html
I'm a little late to the party, but I've been looking to see if anybody would comment on the priceless bridge shot . . . . . it's nice to see you noticed AND took the time to comment . . . . . nice :) it is a 2'fer for sure! . . . . . hope after 3 years, you might still be a 'tube' visitor to notice.
Need about 3 more of those bridges in NYC...
I'd like to point to the steadiness of the ship seen in force 5+ seas. Amazing, really. No flying keels, no high tech stabilization, just outstanding design. Was lucky enough to sail QE-2 on one of the last trip across the north Atlantic. Smooth...in the north Atlantic. Ahh, the fine Liners.
I went to England on the QE2 in 1998. Never forget it.
And all w a slide rule
She not only was the fastest ship, she was beautiful as well. Her lines are wonderfully symmetrical, and streamlined, she is just beautiful. I don't know why the United States doesn't deserve a ship like this, we had some terrific ship builders, even our nave ships of the era were quite good looking. The United States was as much s seafaring nation as any in Europe, our ships took a hit during prohibition. During that time, American flagged vessels were bound by the same no alcohol laws as back home, thus many Americans crossing the pond did so on European flagged vessels.
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Poor thing, just sitting there in Philly rotting away right now
I sailed on that ship in 1964 from France to New York as a young boy. First class was completely segregated from economy class. Somehow I wandered into first class one day and was unable to get back to economy. I had to ask a ship officer to let me out. Economy class was indeed spare, looking like a navy ship. When the seas were rough, the ship rocked like crazy. I remember the waves in the indoor swimming pool in the middle of the vessel.
Really enjoyed that, the music was lovely to, thanks
It sure would be neat to bring this back and be able to cruise on her again.......those were the times ....
Thank you for sharing this footage! Wasn't familiar with the SS United States untill the announcement about Crystal Cruises' plans to restore her and put her out on the waters again!
Love this video. Great music!
Very nice indeed. I saw her quite a few times when I was in the Brit. MM. what a beautiful ship and such a shame to be left the way she is for years. I know it would cost an enormous amount of money to refit her to her former glory but hopefully this might be possible before it is too late. BIG U fan! Australia.
The ships today have lost the magic of the ships of long ago. I was a child and young adult when I experienced transatlantic cruising. It was an incredible experience one that I will treasure always. It doesn't compare with cruising today. The most exciting was watching the events on the dock as the ship was taking on passengers. They would hand out streamers to throw as the ship sailed away and people would wave and cry from the dock. It was especially emotional in particular traveling back from Europe to the US. It's all different today thanks to terror threats.
In what century do you live in what terror threats. I don't know what's magical for you about people crying.
@@dkdanis1340 you lack an understanding of life and you’re a ass.
Wow I had no idea she once looked so beautiful! Now I see why her conservators are so adamant on saving & restoring her. Her skipper must have struggled valiantly in fighting the urge to open up her engines to full speed throughout every voyage! The USA at sea! 🇺🇸
I would imagine she could do almost 50 mph, from what I have heard about her. Unbelievable power system for the 1950’s. Gibbs and Cox in their finest hour.
Design, engineering and fine workmanship in a matter of 2 years. Just looking at her in the water
“ I want to go fast! “ Captain, all ahead full!
Just Saw this Ship in my favorite movie Bon Voyage. So excited for her restoration.
There was a respectable classy spirit to society back then that doesn’t exist in today’s society
100% I'd give anything to be in my 30's or so back then. We were a proud country then, everything was much easier, fun, respectable. im 55 now and have seen quite a bit of strange things as a whole, dont like where we are going......weird times
As an avid cruiser I miss ships this size.So sick of the floating malls .
I agree.
Totally agree the old ships were great ships new one's are over the top
I like the new ships better more entertaining
@@jakebu293 we are talking about design
@@haechiwr yep the design looks more cancerous then lisa gaming roblox-
Hey, 0:46 looks like somebody found the lost footage that 'The Skipper' was discovered from. . . lol . . . after all, it was later this same year (1964), that he and Gilligan set sail for that 'three hour tour' . . . lol
She's lucky to have survived for 72 years. Most of the Great Liners were scrapped after 25 years.
It doesn't make economic sense to restore her - some things are worth saving because of their historical significance - the United States was once the embodiment of America on the move and so classy!
Paint her, make her watertight and fight for government support for her mooring fees.
Don't turn her into a reef.
She really is the last of her kind.
It’s to late now, ownership has been signed over to Florida. I hope to see it soon from the parking lot of IKEA in a few days.
Since it was gutted inside because of asbestos, and to remove all the lead based ain’t from the hull, that is an enormous amount of money to raise. Finding an open dry dock that’s over 1000 feet in length and restoring and just getting back the propellers would be a monumental task.
Believe me, I certainly wish she could be saved for history, on the water, rather than an underwater reef.
I’m 75, and I don’t intend to take up diving anytime soon, and to add to that, scuba diving may have an impact on a person’s life insurance policy, if someone has one. Our government should have recognized the importance of her 30-40 years ago to help restore her. Perhaps it could have been converted to a Navy fast support hospital ship. So with all that said, it is wonderful that there are at least documented films and photos of her, that we can watch and dream about her. May she rest in peace.
Great little video of a home movie on this iconic ship in all its glory.Wish they had filmed some interior shots.And so sad this historic and to this day speed record breaking (Blue Riband) legend is going to be towed to a watery grave unless by some miracle sense prevails and a rescuer arrives.!.
They really kept United States well maintain while she was in Service.
We need to come together as a nation pick up a paint brush and materials and restore our magnificent ship back to her 1952 glory and make her like the Queen Mary a hotel and Museum so future generations know what that magnificent ship is and what she stands for!!!!!!!We cant lose this grand ship to history it is bad enough we lost her sister ship the foarmer SS America now the SS American Star ship wreck!!!!
The fact that they showed the Golden Gate Bridge under construction just adds to the nostalgia.
I believe it was the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge has existed since the 30s. This film was recorded in 1964.
@@decifixthealmighty1762 Possibly, but I looked it up and it said that the Delaware Memorial Bridge was built in the 40s.
@@multisplace3783 So possibly the Walt Whitman bridge
Yeah.
Verrazzano-Narrows bridge, under construction 1959-1964, just after leaving port in New York.
These ocean liners are some of the most elegant objects every built. It's a shame that only two are left--the Swedish former MS Stockholm and the Soviet Aleksandr Pushkin, now the MV Astoria and MS Marco Polo, respectively. Only the former Soviet ship retains any of her exterior vintage class, however, with the Swedish ship having taken on a far more 'modern' appearance. They seem like two unlikely survivors of the era, one having been involved in one of history's most famous shipwrecks, the other having been built for a country that no longer exists. It's great that they're both still in service; it's a shame that SS United States is in the situation she's in.
Fast and luxurious, the median two together! What more could you ask for?
Sad this ship couldn't be saved and will become an artificial reef, but that's far better than being unceremoniously scrapped.
Truly hoping for a miracle, this ship is so worthy of preserving the hull and power plant. She is for a fact 'the best of the design era', in itself worthy of a worldwide effort from all the participants that were in the quest back in the day for that record breaking ship. A life-sized specimen, not a sliced off bow section. Here this one is still in such great condition structurally and even the power plant (though to keep it, it would never ferry passengers). Just as a static museum and marketable commercial space . . . . or just a dream.
I I was on the USS United States it was a very beautiful ship from Southampton England 1964 and it was a fantastic ship hope the ship will be restored
What a beauty, now I see why the water sand blasted the paint off the bow she was rockin' and rollin' through the sea!
Beautiful! When travel had class! Would have loved to have been on board! Still hoping for a better fate for this magnificent ship than being sunk as a reef. Wish it could have been moored beside a great companion, the Queen Mary! 😊
What a beauty she was, so elegant and classy. I drove by her last weekend driving out of Philly and it is always so sad seeing her rotting away. I hope Crystal Cruise line will be able to renovate her. She looks so far gone, that I am doubtful.
I would love to be able to just see Big U up close. The SS United States should be a Hotel/Museum restored and docked next to the Intrepid. I remember driving with my parents along the harbor in NYC and seeing a rusting ‘United States Lines’ wrought iron archway on a pier. I was 12? And it made me sad to see the neglect of such a part of history.
Our family sailed on Her in the spring of '59 from Germany to N.Y. via Plymouth England.
So sad. What a terrible ending for this lovely ship.
Wish I could have sailed on her. I bet the food on board was fantastic!
People still underestimate, how fast those things went
32kn around 38mph is quick... today, no one would be allowed to go on deck with a vessel moving that fast
The first part this film 2.49 to 3.00 was taken at Bermuda. The tender was the CHAUNCEY M DEPEW. The stock and pillory are still in St George's, Bermuda,
6:30 I wonder if the smaller ship next to the United States is her older running mate the America?
oceanliners andshipsonlineandothervideos I don’t know it’s hard to tell, but it could be the America judging by the design compared to the United States. She did do some cruises just before she was sold to Chandris in late 1964.
thinking "Hanseatic" maybe?
I saw my grandfather off on this ship when I was a kid ...being on deck terrified me, so far above the water!
Still wasting away in Philadelphia. It can be seen off the Walt Whitman bridge..
I think an episode of cold case was filmed there?
th-cam.com/video/ak-rp0uyiUE/w-d-xo.html
With an Ikea & a Best Buy facing her. I live in Philly, soooooooo... :'(
I was 8 when i was on the ship I only remember how it rolled even in moderate seas.I remember putting an orange on the floor of our cabin and watching it roll from one end to the other.
Had my Dad who was an Air Force Doctor chosen to serve in England and Germany instead of Columbus Ohio, my family would have sailed over on this great ship. What a missed opportunity.
Amazing that IN 1964 they had an ocean liner in 1964 that goes faster than anything they have today. Where we have computers today that go Millions of times faster than the computers then, now the ocean liners go 30% SLOWER ... :(
Yeah it's pathetic 🙄 but except for Queen Mary 2 they're not ocean liners but cruise ships, don't need great speed. Don't get me wrong, I sailed on SSUS and several others , and I think today's ships are just floating Walmarts ( or cesspools) 🤮
this is the world renowned turtle race.
Well Done.
The Big U. was and is an extremely sophisticated super liner who is at the very apex of centuries of martime engineering design. She has destroyer lines (Gibbs & Cox built DD's) and a pwr. plant to match her size. One would do well to read "A man and his ship" which is al about super amature naval designer WFG struggle to get the impossible done. Namely to capture the worlds engineering lead for the USA. The Big U is the living embodiment of this and therefore is a National Treasure, Gift, and Legacy. It should therefore be saved, refuirbished, and be returned to some benifical service, no matter what the cost. She could serve as both a hospital ship (ala the Hope )and an excellent training platform for an entire new generation of engineers. The USN has done this many times in recalling vet's to teach the skills needed to man the New Jersey class BB's. This would most certainly be money well spent as compared to the wastefull billions being spent by NASA.
Out of all the money wasted by our government NASA would definitely not be on that list. I love ships, and I'm ready to be relaxing on one looking out my cahin window at stars, nebulas and colonized planets.
I've been on a few of today's cruises and I hope u don't mind being "Sold" from one end to the other.. Cruise ships of today are largely 3-world based and un-regulated., and if you innocently encounter any diifculties..it's a them vs. you and there the house!!! Sadly the behaviors that in the past that would never be tolerated exist enormously today. I find Holland-America to be the closest thing so far to "Old School Civilized" crusing ..right down to the wood-varnished deck chairs, tough no-nonsence Dutch Officers, and Java/Sumatra Crew. ie tradition....but even their owned by Big C. I would expect the same of Cunard but have never sailed w/ that legend!! If all else fails u can return to stargazing...and wish u were there!!!
Horroratio Neilsen
She should be restored to her original working condition and operated part time as a museum, floating event hall, and/or hotel; the other half of the time she should be operated properly as a retro ocean liner.
2:26 Music "Aquarela do Brasil, composition of Ary Barroso. This is a brasilian classic Music of MPB. Congratulations.Muito bom o vídeo. Vendo agora em 2018. Seria muito bom ver o S.S United States novamente a singrar os mares e quem sabe até visitar o Brasil numa romântica e nostálgica viagem de Cruzeiro. Mesmo faltando-lhe o requinte e o luxo do passado, ainda é um belo navio.
Good times. Sad to think what became of this once great ship but ultimately all things eventually pass. That is the way of things...
Mike Hawk It wouldn't have to be for the ship if people today wouldn't let it waste away like this.
Sure a beautiful ship. It is sad that she was built at the end of the age of the ocean liner.
3 days and no hours and minutes, New York to Southampton! On the NEW United States!
Can somebody explain to me what's going on with the turtles?
Turtle races were a popular activity back in the day.
@@shipgeek7579Wow good to know, the reason for asking Is because i live in Philly an I see this liner almost everyday can't fathom too see it go.
That is when ships captians actually navigated on paper unlike today where the captain just follows a line on a computer screen, lol
Yes, but the test to get a Captain’s license still requires the ability to plot a course on a chart, with 90% accuracy. We still have our parallel rules and dividers!
What's the difference they still used navigation but in different forms.
Just discovered that we had this ocean liner half hour ago, I'd never heard of it...and I'm 62... For some reason I'm really upset this is rusting away in Philadelphia. The SS UNITED STATES! SS UNITED STATES!!!!!! 😦😤😟
😩
Great times in tha 50s. America felt invincible. Crome was thick and the women were straight !
You got something against gay women?
You got something against lesbians?
Give the cost of one Artemis mission to restore the S.S. United States and she'd regain her luster!
SSunitedstatesconservany what is the name of this songs
Lovely to see this marvellous ship as she was supposed to be with happy people on board, instead of slowly dying alone and few care about her any more. I think its DISGUSTING that the US government havent come forward to do a full restoration of a ship named after their own country😡. She has been gutted out to such a poor condition that its DOUBLED the cost to refit her now as even basic things like FLOORS need replacing let alone all the fixtures and fittings 😕
I would pay anything to cruise on that ship if she was returned to duty!
3:35 why is he holding a TURTLE>?
I have a passenger list and a menu-from Dec. 13, 1952. Anyone interested?
What you gonna try to sell it for a couple grand or something?
So sad , I hope this ship is saved for America history.
With that "Artemis" makeover, we could improve the turbines and have her do 50 knots! Possibly, with new metals, she could be even lighter!
How (to whom) do I send the photos?
BACK IN HE HEYDAY!
Sad to see her go.
They are St. George's , Bermuda at 2:56 - 3:10.
It won't be long before you can visit her, for a small fee, by diving to her after she is sunk to form a new reef. She could not be saved, but as a reef is better then scrapping, don't you think?
Curious... she sliced 10+ hours off of the Queen Mary's speed record, but it would be uneconomical to run that fast on every voyage. I read somewhere that she 'settled' in to a more economic cruising speed of 30 knots for the rest of her career. If a discerning traveler had to chose between Queen Mary or the Big U, would speed really be a factor? A travel agent couldn't exactly say 'Take the Big U you'll get to Europe 10 hours faster!'
Verrazano Narrows bridge under construction at 2:20.
This ship was a famous ship so it had alot of people but it was more famous than other ships...
Celebrities and even presidents sailed on this ship...
The interior had alot of rooms...
Too bad this ship is now docked at
a port,rotting over the years and getting closer to it's death...
Luckily there is a company that owns the liner and is raising funds to make the ship the popular floating hotel it was
0:44 Another SS United States Horn??? (Sounds Likes RMS Queen Elizabeth)
Ouvindo a música Aguarela Do Brasil 🇧🇷
Sorry to report I made a BIG mistake, yesterday: THE PHOTOS I MENTIONED WERE TAKEN ABOARD SS "AMERICA" , NOT SS "UNITED STATES". Sadly, the former magnificent ocean was utterly destroyed during a storm
Yann Saunders Thanks for the update. I’m sure the Conservancy would still be interested.
And no computers! No GPS, how did they find St. Croix?
Maps.
She is gone, not forgotten, there’s more second chances, all the life we lived is in the bottom of the ocean. All the history we made is underwater now, good bye First Lady!
SOS SAVE OUR SHIP!!!!!!!
The demographics then were outstanding!
Slow the introductory text down!
There were so many grand ships of that era. They hold their place of respect in history. I think it’s unfair, however, to criticize the ships of today. They are also beautiful in their own right and are built more for what vacationers want to do today. Would you want to spend a week on a ship where the big highlights are shuffleboard and bridge?
WHAT YOU GOING TO DO WHEN "BIG" IS THE TALK? TALK TO ELON! ELON DOES BIG!
YOU KNOW WHO I MEAN. . . . . ELON MUSK. ❤❤❤
Title is completely wrong for this video. This was not a cruise nor was the SS United States a cruise ship. It is an ocean liner that was used to transport passengers who embarked from one port and disembarked at another port. Cruise ships do not transport. They are for pleasure.
The title is absolutely correct! While the SS United States was, indeed, an ocean liner and not a purpose-built cruise ship, she did a few cruise itineraries during her 17 year career. The home movies shown here, by former ship's purser Jim Green, were taken aboard a 1964 cruise (not a crossing) to the West Indies.
shipgeek sorry I wasn’t meaning to be confrontational. I just get defensive about maritime and nautical topics because so many people don’t know the history of the great ocean liners that came before the jet age. These are beautiful ships that need to be preserved. It’s living history.
@@nathanpgraf I absolutely agree, and I'm always quick to point out the difference between crossing and cruising to the uninitiated. Just wanted to set the record straight that the voyage in these home movies is actually a cruise aboard an ocean liner!
ah...the Glory days. I wish it were possible to go back and show people how LBJ's Great Society would turn out.
it because of his "Great Society" that we don't have the glory days anymore.
The whole concept of slow but luxurious traveling by ship died when large jet airliner travel became affordable and fashionable. Hard to see how the cost of restoration, making it operational, and profitable nowadays could ever happen.
Well cruise ships are still popular. People will restore it cause it's a nice memory not for profit.
Update on the SS United States October 5th 2024
The ship has been sold for 1 million dollars to OKALOOSA county Florida and its done deal. It will be prepared in Newport news shipping dock and then towed to Florida for sinking November 1st 2024. All paid for by OKALOOSA county Florida. I know about this because I volunteer to help save the ship. But there's nothing more I can do. Sorry to you all. Its done deal.
Good memories. This ship is not coming back to service. Let it go. Period.
They'll all dead now except for the little kids. They had a wonderful life though!
Yeah if they restore her to glory they better return her to cruise service instead of making her a hotel or mall if they put into cruise service they can make a fortune of money with her am I right
+Adam Chancellor Not burning 1,000 gallons of fuel oil per mile. They'd have to
repower her as a diesel trawler that would go 12 kph, a fate worse than death
for the mighty SS United States. MY God if there's a "Conservancy" what exactly
are they conserving? A gutted, rusty hulk tied to a dock corroding away.
+GooglFascists What's your problem? Do you have a personal vendetta against this ship?
I would love to see her sailing, as a steamer, but that is probably not feasable. Just don't strip her of all her engines and machinery like they did to the QM. That was a perfectly steam able vessel, she steamed in and then was gutted to best suit her new needs. I don't know why you have such a problem with oil GooglFacists, diesels use just as much, just in a different manner. Restore her as a hotel without gutting the spaces and completely reconfiguring. If she sailed cruises I would ride her in a heartbeat before I rode any diesel cruise ship. With the SS Norway gone no large steam liners are running. With the nations name it would be a huge pride symbol, and I would think many people from the United States would ride a ship called the SS United States when heading to a foreign country, as tourists always announce they are an American.
+Jacob Woods she would be beautiful if they could make her go full steam ahead. but unfortunately at this point her engines are so badly gone. They couldn't hold the pressure. Plus she used tons of fuel. it was very expensive. I want to se her restored and new engines installed so she could sail again. my grandparents met onboard. My granny still has the big yellow hat she wore on her deck. She was going full speed and the wind blew her hat to my grandfather's feet. That's so romantic. He is dead now. When she heard she was getting restored. She promised to sail on her and wear her yellow hat.
Adam Chancellor i agree that she sould sail again but if not at least bring her back to Newport Virginia where she was built
;P