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THE S.S. UNITED STATES AT BREMERHAVEN:
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It was the end of the line, Bremerhaven Germany, the ship’s last port of call. The sailing schedule for 1954 shows the S.S. United States and S.S. America made a combined 22 docking at the German port. As part of its contract with the Federal Government, the United States Lines accorded first-class passage to military officers and their families traveling to and from Europe under official orders. For most of the kids, the ship would be their first experience onboard a luxury liner. Elaine Tweedy was 9 year old when she sailed to Bremerhaven in 1965. “The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were on board. I remember thinking that they looked normal. I expected her to wear some kind of tiara!”. She also loved the steps that led to the dinning room in first class. “I would pretend I was Shirley Temple and tap up and down them. (Of course, I wouldn’t let anyone see me doing this.)”.
As a young boy Bill Ashley still remembers the awe of first-class transatlantic travel. “It was an experience unlike any other, before or after”. Forty years later the memories are still vivid. “My mother found in an oyster while having supper in the first-class dining room. She still has that pearl as a treasured memento. Also the night we were dining when the ship’s captain stopped by to talk with my parents; and then he turned his attention to me and spent at least ten minutes talking to me about the ship. And the way they dressed for supper each night (military men in full dress uniforms, ladies were in formal evening gowns)”.
Modern, with sleek racing lines and tall red white and blue smoke stacks, the United States was to many Germans a symbol of the American way of life. Among her prominent passenger were German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, and the Viennese Boys Choir. For many immigrating from Europe the ship would also the first experience of their new life in America.
The last journey to Bremerhaven for the legendary liner was on November 2, 1969. Bill Ashley sums it up for those of us who were fortunate to have traveled on this proud legendary ocean liner. “I can’t help but think of how far we’ve advanced technologically since air travel became the dominant mode of travel, but in terms of civilized service, comfort, and attention to detail, nothing could compare with crossing the Atlantic on America’s finest superliner. It was, and is, an experience I’ll always treasure.”
LET’S SAVE THIS SHIP !
visit the SS united States Conservancy
I was a Royal Naval Airman stationed at Royal Naval Air Station Gosport in Hampshire UK. I was and had been for some two years on 705 Naval Air Squadron. The Royal Navies first Helicopter Squadron where we trained Pilots and Ground Crew on use and maintenance of Helicopters S51’s Dragonfly. I went to depart a S51 for another routine flight when the Pilot ( Being an old squadron hand I knew well ) beckoned me to with finger ” Here You ” I thought something was wrong but no, ” Get In Quick, Tokes ” So being a dutiful sailor I did as told. One in the Royal Navy obeys the order of an Officer ( Right or Wrong ) I jumped up into the back of the Chopper and checking around strapped myself in and put on the spare Headset & Throat Mike . “We have not long to see a site ” the pilot told me over the intercom.
Before I knew it we were airborne and heading South over the Airfield, across Stokes Bay into the Solent, a stretch of water between Hampshire (Portsmouth, Gosport and the Isle of Wight ) and there was a great sight. Up this stretch of water at Spit Head was the Liner SS. United States steaming towards Southampton Water. She was going like stink. Her upper super structure was sparkling with her funnels (Smoke Stacks) gleaming Red & White, her Hull black until half way down where the paint work had been worn away with her fast Atlantic Crossing. The paint was worn away and it was showing a Yellow / Greenish color (Color to those across the pond that can’t spell ) Wonderful sight and one that now at 73 years young will not forget. We flew and hovered over her in salute to a really great achievement. The Queens (Mary & Elizabeth) were great Liners so it took a great ship to beat their times.
Harold Tokins of Lincoln UK July 2005
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As a very small boy, in Southampton, I sat upon my Dads shoulders to witness the maiden arrival of the quite remarkable “UNITED STATES”. I remember very clearly the vast numbers of local folk who had turned out to join all of the dignitaries.
The bow of the ship had been stripped of paint following her high running speed. Paint technology and standards were far lower than those of today.
It was generally believed, in shipping circles in Southampton, that the ship had suffered near mortal engine damage by the high-speed runs achieved in her early crossing. Too much emphasis was placed on records without allowing the engines to bed in and all teething troubles to be erased.
A couple of hours before sailing her vast siren would sound out over Southampton calling her crew back from the brothels and bars. Prostitutes from London used to travel to Southampton by train to meet the ship and conduct their business all night in the local park!
She was and still is a wonderful engineering achievement that must not be allowed to fade and die and become another ” QUEEN MARY’, a faded version of her former self with plastic funnels and no guts.
Peter Lamb.
Southampton, U.K.
Bill Ashley writes
I crossed the Atlantic twice on the S.S. United States. Once in 1957 and again in 1960. My father was in the military, an officer, so we had the privilege of traveling first class. Even though I was only a young boy, I still remember the awe of transatlantic travel. It was an experience unlike any other, before or after. I also carry with me the vivid, but less pleasant memoirs of spending the first full two days in bed, terminally ill with seasickness. Once I made my miraculous recovery, I had a blast. I won’t bore you with my reminiscences.
However, I’d like to share a few things that still stand out in my memory, even after 40+ years. Things such as the pearl my mother found in an oyster while having supper in the first class dining room. She still has that pearl as a treasured memento. Also the night we were dining when the ship’s captain stopped by to talk with my parents; and then he turned his attention to me and spent at least ten minutes talking to me about the ship. And the way they dressed for supper each night (military men in full dress uniforms, ladies were in formal evening gowns).
I can’t help but think of how far wev’e advanced technologically since air travel became the dominant mode of travel, but in terms of civilized service, comfort, and attention to detail, nothing could compare with crossing the Atlantic on America’s finest superliner. It was, and is, an experience I’ll always treasure
Bill Ashley. March 2003
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Thanks for the interesting site. I sailed from NY to Southampton in September 1963 on the S.S,U.S. I was newly married, a small-town girl from Oregon on her first adventure. We were moving to England for a year. The day before we sailed my baggage was stolen when we arrived in Brooklyn from a cross-country drive. I boarded with only images from movies of how people traveled, and a wardrobe now limited to one hastily purchased black wool suit, two blouses, some underwear, the cotton dress and high heels I had on when the theft occurred, and a new pair of tennis shoes. Fortunately the weather didn’t freeze me off the deck. We had a first-class stateroom even though we were ticketed in tourist. I had a distant relative with the company who recognized my name on the roster and did a last-minute upgrade. While it was a great surprise, and I did appreciate it, I had no idea what a luxury we received until our table-mates in the tourist class dining room visited our stateroom and, eyes bulging out, drug us to their much more modest quarters. Funny what floats back to memory now, nearly 40 years later. I commented to the waiter that the cream of chicken soup was good enough for dessert. He smilingly served me a second cup with my dessert. Late one evening we were having drinks and my glass was chipped. Suddenly I wanted to touch the bottom of the sea out there in the middle of the dark night. My fingerprints presumably sank along with the glass somewhere over the mid-ocean rift where I tossed it. Thanks for the memory boost.
MS KINNEY THIELE May 2001
My father was an officer in the Army and in 1969 when he was stationed to Germany our family traveled there on the SS America. It was it’s next the it’s last voyage. We left from New York. There were 300 passengers and 1,000 crewmen so we were very well attended to. It was very special my mom made friends with a couple who owned all the rides at Coney Island and their chauffeur was best friends with Jackie Kennedy’s chauffeur. They were on the executive level but they chose to dine on our level because they did not want to have to dress formal every meal and their table was next to ours in the dining room.
I just turned 6 when we immigrated to the US late December 1956. We encountered very rough seas once on the open Atlantic as one of the previous passengers notes and the ship had to reduce speed, apparently this was the one time she was behind schedule arriving in New York. During the heavy seas when the ship went down it was difficult to climb stairs and when she went up you received a boost, something I still remember. It seemed whenever I opened the door to our stateroom there was a steward there that patted me on the head.
Quite an experience crossing the Atlantic to our new home in the US and also very sad to see such a historic ship languishing on the Delaware River.
I sailed from New York to Portsmouth, to LeHavre in 1950 with my family. The SS America was a fast ship, lots of fun. I sailed in 1952, same route but on the SS United States. I have a picture of myself in the swimming pool, holding a buoy. The United States was bigger and faster. The entire crossing took a bit over four days. (Sailed back both times on the SS Independence, southern route, much more fun, outdoor swimming pool,etc. Food always good.
We traveled on the SS United States on Tuesday, February 2, 1954 to Havre, Southampton and Bremerhaven. We meeting by Dad and moving to Lakenheath Air Force Base. I was six, and my Mom and three other siblings were on board. Seasickness is remembered as well as the kindness of our cabin steward. I have the booklet from that trip
I was born in Landshut , Germany , in 1948 . At the age of 9 , my mother and I sailed on the SS UNITED STATES from Bremerhaven to New York . It was January of 1957 and the North Atlantic was not a good place to be .
We stopped at Southampton and I saw someone riding one of those old fashioned giant bicycles along the pier .
When we headed out into the open ocean it didn’t take long for the giant waves to start pushing the ship from side to side while the swells caused a rollercoaster motion .
Needless to say I was seasick for most of the voyage .
We had to secure everything in our cabin and the chairs in the dining rooms and lounges were tied backwards around the tables when not in use . Going up on deck was totally out of the question .
As an adult I spent a lot of time on boats and never got sick , not even queasy !! To this day I thank the old girl for my baptism by fire .
By the time we sailed into New York harbor I had recovered and was in total awe at the size of those skyscrapers and the cosmopolitan aura of my new home . Sixty-three years later I still remember it like it was yesterday .
With air travel one could never experience anything like that and that’s sad .
I left NY on March 13th 1969 to Bremerhaven
with my Mother, I was 16 years old, I still have a passenger list. Never forget this time.
Bernd Groß
I was a young bride from the Netherlands when my new husband, an American, and I sailed from South Hampton England to New York in December 1956. My husband had already booked this trip in the early spring of 1956 for himself alone. . By the time we had found each other and decided on our marriage, there was no single cabin available for either of us. Both of us shared a third class cabin with three other guests. It was a strange honeymoon! We encountered quite a storm in the Atlantic with waves the size of an apartment house. Many guests, including my husband, and even crew members were seasick. The dining room was ed, but I showed up and I ate. Our emergency evacuation drill brought us in contact with privileged first class guests who had to mingle with the “ordinary” folks. Our arrival after five days sailing, very early in the morning, in New York harbor, as the winter sun was just rising and while passing Miss Liberty, took my breath away. We disembarked on the bustling West Side and I fell in love with New York City and I like to think it was mutual. I never changed my mind – now 3 children and 11 grandchildren and so far 13 great grands later, I think I am a lucky former traveler on that great ship
My parents and I sailed Tourist Class from New York to, I think Amsterdam on the SS United States in the summer of 1965. I figured out how to enter the 1st Class scheduled timing for the little indoor pool area, by going up and down all kinds of stairs and halls. That was the best part of the trip for me. Also a spot for children to hang out, listen to music and dance with other kids. Love those memories! My parents have both passed already, and as I have been going through photo albums I came across their Passenger Fares booklet and found that we stayed on Deck B in room 127, and they paid $780.00. So going to keep this. I used to have a deck of cards with a photo of this ship on the back sides.
I was almost six years old when we left Southampton on the United States with my mom and dad and younger brother in June of 1956. On June 30 I turned six and recall releasing balloons from the deck to celebrate the occasion. We must have arrived in New York in July. I’m hunting for the passenger records to see if I can find our names.
My dad was a Foreign Service Officer. My mom was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my brother. I was 8 years old. We traveled from New York (most likely) to Bremerhaven (probably, as our ultimate destination was Copenhagen) in January 1955.
I remember being told it was the ship’s maiden voyage, but from what I’ve read recently, I think it was not. I’ve searched online for information about the January 1955 sailing but have not found anything.
I was told that we passed through a hurricane north of Scotland and my mother stayed in the room the whole time. I remember walking to the dining room holding onto the railings and, one time, vomiting before getting to the dining room. In the dining room the tablecloths were wet so the dishes would not slide off the tables. I remember having a paper model of the ship. My brother was born February 7 in Copenhagen.
I’ve been living in Philadelphia since 2016 and have seen the ship here. I look forward to the day when it is restored and would love to visit it at that time.
I left Bremerhaven on December 9th 1964 to New York. Took 5 Days. What a Trip.
My husband and I lived in Frankfurt for 3 years. After he got out of the military we traveled throughout Europe for 6 months. We decided to take the last Atlantic crossing of the SS United States, leaving from Hamburg, stopping in South Hampton, and then on to New York. It was early November and the sea was very rough. We were in cabin class, but we were able to move in and out of all the different classes, enjoying entertainment and meeting people from all over the world. Our dining was luxurious, but unfortunately, I was the last member eating at our huge table by the 2nd evening, as I recall. Staff rushed into our room in the middle of the night, shutting the portholes, as a rush of gushing water splashed into our room. People were sick everywhere, my husband included. I took some dramamine, drank beer, and read each day in the bar! We were kept offshore when reaching the coast as the storm was wicked and I remember the waves swelling to great heights. It was a memorable six days. We were young and everything was exciting. Today, 50 years later I look back with a smile at an experience of a lifetime.
Hello.
From page 268 of the BIG Ship by Frank Braynard, ” With the November 9 cruise canceled it became obvious that the October 25 th departure (1969) from Bremerhaven would be the ship’s last voyage.”
Info on the Last voyage from New York to Bremerhaven Germany in 1969
My Mother, Sister and Brother were on the last voyage from New York to Bremerhaven Germany 5O years ago on the SS United States.
My sister is going to have a day in Bremerhaven to celebrate the date when she left the SS United States ship to live in Germany.
She is not sure of the exact when the ship docked in Bremerhaven in November.
My sister thinks it was on the 6th of November 1969.
Also is there a way to get the passenger list of the last voyage from New York to Bermerhaven.
Or who I can contact to get that info??
I sailed on the this beautiful ship from Bremerhaven to New York, leaving my home for new adventures in a foreign country. My father- in-law met me in Manhattan upon arrival. That was the end of April, 1968.
I can’t remember the year because I was young, but I do have some memories of when my family and I went to Germany on the SS America. It was between 1968 and 1972.
I went to Germany on the SS America In the 1960s