The SS United States Books an important passenger In the spring of 1962, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy worked her charm on André Malraux, the French minister for cultural affairs. Her request, would the French be willing to send over the…
S.S. America and airport Duty Free.
Did you know that the America inspired the creation of airport Duty-Free shops? The idea originated with the Shannon, Ireland airport’s catering comptroller, Brendan O’ Regan, a proud gentleman, determined to show skeptics that the Irish could run…
Mad Men fly TWA
Mad Men When fictional characters travel by air their authors make airline reservations. In “Diamonds are Forever”, author Ian Fleming books secret agent James Bond (007) on a BOAC Boeing Stratocruiser. The slow portly Boeing all first-class flights were a…
The Radar Range –
An innovator with both food and equipment, United States Lines executive chef Otto Bismarck is credited with the introduction of the first microwave oven on an ocean liner. Introduced in 1947, the new cooking technology was derived from radar research…
Cruise ship or Ocean liner ? part 1
A cruise or a transatlantic Crossing, what’s the difference? Cruise ships are on flex time, ocean liners have schedules to meet Cruise ships sail around heavy weather, ocean liners sail into it. Cruise ships are their own destination. Ocean liners…
Airline of the stars
TWA became known as the ‘Airline of the Stars’ thanks to owner Howard Hughes connection with the film world. The airline frequently served as an outlet for both his ego and love of flying. Know to employees as “our father…
Horse racing.
In the field of ship horse racing, no one surpassed the naming creativity of John Lock, executive purser on S.S. United States. For the mock races in the ballroom Mr. Lock selected names such as Chilly, by Cold Wind…
The Shannon Airport Pit Stop
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Shannon Airport Ireland, Saturday March 29, 2014, during a refueling stop from Saudi Arabia to Paris. (Photo Credit U.S. State Department) Secretary of State John Kerry was recently spotted at the Shannon airport…
James Bond (007) and the Boeing Stratocruiser
James Bond (007) creator,Ian Fleming, had a flair for the good things in life including BOAC’s five star Monarch service across the Atlantic. The portly Boeing Stratocruiser took over 16 hours to reach New York from London, a leisurely voyage…
Dogs on board
With tips the kennel master made more on a voyage than the captain. Adding insult to injury, most of the complaints from dog owners wound up on the captains desk. A prominent socialite and her prize poodle boarded the United…
Stabilizers
“The only roll on this ship is on the breakfast table.” The quote is a ‘slight’ exaggeration by Captain Harry Manning in describing seagoing qualities of the new S.S. United States. All ships roll and pitch, it’s a natural reaction…