Events and Gatherings of the past.

Here is a look at.................

~ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008 ~

HISTORY OF THE CUNARD LINE
- ANTHONY COOKE -


Aquitania arriving in New York at sunset.

British author and publisher Anthony Cooke, on one of his regular visits from across The Pond, this time took us through the history of the Cunard Line. Starting with the Cunard family's involvement in one of the first transatlantic crossings by steamship some years before the inauguration of the new Cunard Line in 1840, he traced the line's ups and downs right up to the present day, placing the ships in the context of their times and of the competition they had to meet. Ranging from the original 9-knot 1,000-ton BRITANNIA to the present day QUEEN MARY 2 (148,000 tons) and QUEEN VICTORIA (and, of course, the beloved QE2), the illustrated talk included such hugely significant liners as the first MAURETANIA, the LUSITANIA, AQUITANIA, QUEEN MARY and QUEEN ELIZABETH - but also many other Cunard ships, some half-forgotten.


~ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008 ~

BILL MILLER AND TED SCULL
IN A TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN ELIZABETH 2


Long-time PONY Branch members Bill Miller and Ted Scull hosted a joint program celebrating the life and times of Queen Elizabeth 2 1969-2008. They reminisced about their numerous crossings and cruises over nearly 40 years, highlighting some of the most poignant moments aboard the beloved liner. As part of the program they showed their most treasured slides of the ship. Both have recently served as guest lecturers during the final westbound crossing October 10th -16th Southampton to New York. A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all.


~ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 ~
CRUISING THE MEDITERRANEAN ON THE SAGA ROSE

by Bob Allen



(Saga Rose photos by Theodore W. Scull)

We began the fall season with a presentation by Bob Allen about his recent cruise aboard one of the world's remaining classic ocean liners - the elegant SAGA ROSE, formerly the SAGAFJORD. Bob took us aboard one the few ships left from the transatlantic era that once sailed for Norwegian America Line from Oslo to New York. She then became a luxury cruise ship for the Cunard Line and now serves the upscale British cruise market for Saga Cruises, whose motto is "cruising done properly." We got an up-close look at the ship as well as ports en route from Barcelona to Venice, including the rarely visited Croatian town of Sibenik.


~ FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008 ~

THE HISTORY & EVOLUTION OF THE HURTIGRUTEN – NORWEGIAN COASTAL VOYAGE


Hans Rood, Vice President, Global Sales/Marketing for Hurtigruten, showcased the history and evolution of the line – known to many as the Norwegian Coastal Voyage – using still images and a PowerPoint presentation. It has been described by Lonely Planet as “The World’s Most Beautiful Voyage.” From its beginnings in 1893 as an express ship service between Trondheim and Hammerfest (expanding to Bergen-Kirkenes in 1898) along Norway’s stunningly scenic west coast, the Hurtigruten has acted as a lifeline to the residents of countless small villages. Today, the service continues and the company has expanded its reach into expedition cruising, with the 318-passenger MS Fram, venturing to some of the planet’s most remote destinations such as Antarctica, the Arctic’s Spitsbergen and Greenland, the last-named taking a unique place in the world as the focus of global warming.
Born and raised in The Netherlands, Mr. Rood earned a masters degree from the University of Amsterdam and an MBA from The New School/Parsons and is fluent in several languages. Working in the travel industry for more than 20 years, he has held executive management positions at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Royal Caribbean, Cunard/Seabourn, Holland America and Windstar Cruises.


~ FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008 ~


Aboard the Andrea Doria January 1953.

A MARITIME MEDLEY OF HISTORIC SLIDES
By Richard Faber
Dick Faber, long-time branch and board member, maritime memorabilia collector and dealer, showed us some of his historic slide collection. He began in the 1950s with scenes from his time in the U.S. Navy, including refueling the troopship General Patch at sea; a voyage south to the West Indies aboard Moore-McCormack’s pre-war Argentina and a return home on the Brazil; and shots of the Andrea Doria’s last eastbound voyage and her sinking off Nantucket in July 1956. In February 1962, we witnessed the S.S. France arriving New York on her maiden voyage and dramatic subsequent sequences of the French liner sailing from New York and Southampton. In 1971 we saw the burnt out Antilles a few months following a stranding and fire in the West Indies, and the show concluded with early photos of the Queen Mary docked at Long Beach.


~ FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008 ~


Oceanic and Royal Viking Sea
(Photograph Theodore W. Scull)

"GROWTH OF CRUISING"

Billy Lulack

Long time member Billy Lulack presented "Growth of Cruising". First, in words, Billy described what it was like to live on Manhattan's West-side. Growing up just one block away from the piers, Billy was a eyewitness to the decline of the transatlantic trade and the transformation to cruising. Then in a slide presentation , Billy showed us the cruise ships of the 1980's and reviewed the new building programs of cruise companies of that time period. Also other factors affecting the growth of cruising were examined, such as corporate buyouts, stock offerings, advertising and technology.



~ FRIDAY MARCH 28, 2008 ~

CHRISTENING AND MAIDEN VOYAGE OF CUNARD LINE'S QUEEN VICTORIA


Queen Victoria arrives in New York for the first time January 13, 2008.
(Photograph Howard Paulman)

David Hume, our branch chairman, presented a program about his first-hand experience sailing aboard Cunard's newest Queen.
On December 10, 2007 from Southampton's Mayflower Park, he viewed the Queen Victoria's naming ceremony. Then he embarked as a passenger on the maiden voyage, a ten-night cruise to ports fronting on the North Sea - Rotterdam, Oslo, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Bruges. We viewed the ship's period interiors and heard about the varied ports of call. At Rotterdam, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Victoria rendezvoused, the two greeting each other with long blasts of the ships' whistles.


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2008

On Leap Year Day, 90 attended a dual program on British passenger liners given by William H. Miller (illustrated power point), one of our charter members, and Des Kirkpatrick (personal reminiscences), who had worked aboard Royal Mail’s Andes and Furness Bermuda’s Ocean Monarch. In lieu of a gift, the branch made a donation in the name of recently deceased maritime historian Frank O. Braynard, to the Seamen’s Church Institute, a long-serving mission to seafarers in our port.


~ FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 - 6:00 PM ~

OCEAN LINER TWILIGHT 1968-1979

By Theodore W. Scull


The program's title is the name of Ted's new book that recounts tales of point-to-point ocean travel aboard both well-known and largely obscure ships. In a slide-illustrated lecture, Ted described several very different ship experiences, from a tropical trip to the island of Borneo aboard the quirky RAJAH BROOKE; a mail ship voyage via the S.A. VAAL en route to South Africa; a sea rescue witnessed from the QE2; a transatlantic crossing aborted by an engine room fire on the ORIANA; and the unexpected that occurred during a first lecture cruise aboard P&O's CANBERRA.

Signed copies of OCEAN LINER TWILIGHT were available for purchase.


OCEAN LINER BAZAAR
 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2007 – 10AM-2PM
 Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium
417 East 61st Street, New York City
(between First and York Avenues)

Enthusiastic collectors and commercial dealers of ocean liner memorabilia were exhibiting and selling ship models, books, brochures, deck plans, paintings, prints, posters, china, silverware, ashtrays, pins, medallions and more, both common and rare collectible items at all price levels from passenger lines and ships past and present.

A BOOK SIGNING AT THE BAZAAR
Author Ted Scull was on hand to sign copies of his newly published book
OCEAN LINER TWILIGHT 1968-1979

~ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2007 - 6:00 PM ~


~ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2007 - 6:00 PM ~

CRUISING ON THE TRAIL OF LEWIS & CLARK


Spirit of '98

Marge Dovman

A cozy little ship with a long-ago atmosphere – old rivers and wild, dramatic scenery – the historic Lewis & Clark Expedition – they all came together in Marge Dovman’s slide-illustrated talk about her cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers, following in the wake of those intrepid explorers. We also got a glimpse of small-ship cruising.
Marge, a not-quite-charter member, is Porthole editor and vice-chairman, and “way back when” was branch secretary. She was once a passionate freighter traveler and is still an avid ship photographer.


~ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 - 6:00 PM ~


The Seamen's Church Institute of New York:

The Seamen's Church Institute is the largest, most comprehensive mariners' agency in North America It addresses mariners' needs around the world providing Pastoral Care, Maritime Education, and Legal Assistance & Advocacy. Even as the world of commerce evolves, the personal challenges of mariners' lives remain unchanged since SCI's founding in 1834. There are three SCI facilities: New York City/Port Newark, Paducah, Kentucky and Houston, Texas.
Some Highlights of 2007 include:
• SCI Chaplains visited approximately 1200 ships, both passenger liners and cargo vessels, providing personal well-being to 22,000 seafarers in some capacity
• Its Maritime Educational Program Staff at SCI's two simulator facilities trained 447 mariners in over 2 dozen computerized simulations. Industry executive's credit SCI's training with reduced accidents and casualties, declining insurance costs, and improved protection of the marine environment.
• SCI's attorneys provided legal assistance regarding issues as abandonment, Homeland Security and denial of shore leave. 34 seafarers' legal assistance files, addressing a range of rights abuses have been opened.
SCI Trustee Woody Swain and John Gorman, SCI's Director of Development made a presentation that included a newly produced DVD highlighting how SCI makes a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of mariners each year.

"Origins of the Modern Cruise Ship"

Presented by Allan E. Jordan
FRIDAY, JUNE 29th 2007 - 6 PM



The 1960s brought about a revolution in cruising. While cruising and cruise ships had been a part of the passenger shipping scene since the early 1900s, only a handful of ships have ever been built solely for pleasure cruising. But as the great liners began their final fade to oblivion, a new generation of entrepreneurs was taking hold of the industry and changing it forever.
In a slide illustrated program, noted writer and historian Allan Jordan recalled the origins of the modern cruise ships in the 1960s and 1970s. The presentation looked at the contributions of the "founding fathers" of cruising, individuals like Knut Kloster and Edwin Stephens, and their new generation of purpose built cruise ships. Jordan recalled cruising from New York aboard such well-remembered ships as Flagship Cruises'
Sea Venture and the birth of Port of Miami with ships such as the NCL 'White Ships' the Sunward, Starward, Skywardand Southward and Royal Caribbean's Song of Norway class.
Allan Jordan is a frequent contributor to Cruise Travel magazine and as a regular guest lecturer aboard cruise ships of firms ranging from Crystal to Oceania, and Princess. He is also the author of numerous articles on the history and future of shipping and the author of Saluting The Aloha Spirit, which recalled the history of American Hawaii Cruises and the sister ships the Independence and the Constitution, as well as the recently published 40th anniversary of NCL.


OCEAN LINER BAZAAR
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2007

The Port of New York Branch of the World Ship Society sponsored an Ocean Liner Bazaar for members and friends
on Saturday, June 9, 2007 from 10:00 A.M. through 2:00 P.M. The bazaar was held at:
Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium
417 East 61st Street, New York City
(between First and York Avenues)

The semi-annual Ocean Liner Bazaar opened its doors at 10am on Saturday, June 9th at the Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium located on East 61st Street in the shadow of the Queensboro Bridge. While attendance was not as impressive as last December when record numbers came to browse, buy, trade and socialize, the dealers reported brisk sales by closing time. The next bazaar is scheduled for early December and a notice will go up as soon as the date is confirmed.


THREE SHIPS, AN OCEAN AND A SEA

J. Fred Rodriguez
Thursday, May 31st 2007 - 6 PM

The latter part of the 1960's and early 1970's saw a big change in the maritime industry. The transatlantic ships were in their twilight and full-time cruise ships were evolving. From our speaker's "moldy oldie archives", came a brief history of three ships, an ocean and a sea. The Yarmouth Castle caught fire between Miami and Nassau on November 13, 1965 and the Bahama Star, the main rescue ship, later became a casualty herself on the Pacific coast. The slide presentation finished off with the conversion and current views of the former Royal Mail Ship Queen Mary in Long Beach. Our former chairman and branch historian has boarded all three vessels and showed us some tantalizing views.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2007 ~ 6 PM


THE INCREDIBLE PANAMA CANAL

Program by John Maxtone-Graham

Inextricably inter-woven with ocean liners--indeed, with everything that floats--is Panama's miraculous canal. One of America's greatest engineering achievements, for nearly a century the pierced Panamanian isthmus has remained inescapable destination for countless ocean liners. Maritime historian John Maxtone-Graham, who spent part of this past winter transitting the Canal yet four additional times, discussed its history and construction as well as documenting several actual passages through the famed waterway.


FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2007 ~ 6 PM


ON THE WATERFRONT
PASSENGER SHIPS OF NEW YORK HARBOR

Program by Bill Miller

Fifty years ago, New York harbor was virtually ablaze with ships of all kinds and, in particular, the Hudson River waterfront was crowded with passenger ships. From United Fruit at the bottom end of West Street to Swedish American Line up at West 57th Street to Holland America Line over in Hoboken, the "cast" of liners was plentiful. Bill Miller, who began watching ships back in the 1950s, took us on a sentimental journey --- visiting the docks, the shipping lines and especially the great liners themselves.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2007


Sir Winston and Lady Churchill on Queen Mary

Famous People, Famous Ships

Program by Anthony Cooke

From Queen Victoria to Rita Hayworth and from Winston Churchill to Cary Grant, they all traveled by sea. Our regular visitor from London, maritime author and publisher Anthony Cooke, talked about some of the celebrities of previous eras and the often equally famous ships on which they sailed. His illustrated presentation included a varied cast ranging from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to Lena Horne
and such great liners as Normandie, Queen Mary, United States and Andrea Doria.

PROGRAM ON THE NORMANDIE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2007



Normandie arriving in New York circa 1938.
(Photograph Theodore W. Scull Collection)

COLOR AND BLACK & WHITE FILM FOOTAGE OF THE CGT LINER NORMANDIE

The grand French Line flagship Normandie had a glorious but all too short career. She entered service in May 1935 as the world's largest and fastest ocean liner but only sailed until September 1939 when war broke out in Europe. Laid up in New York, in February 1942, Normandie burned and capsized in New York harbor. Her remains were eventually towed away and scrapped.
Members and guests enjoyed a very special program of color and black and white film footage of this great liner - her maiden voyage, launching, the stylish life on board, arrival in New York, vintage scenes of New York during the late 1930's, and the Normandie's sad end on the West Side. PONY Branch member and webmaster John McFarlane provided and introduced the film from the French DVD format and James Zuckerman's masterful live translation of the French commentary brought the story to life.

OCEAN LINER BAZAAR
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2006

Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium


Enthusiastic collectors and commercial dealers of ocean liner memorabilia exhibited and sold ship models, brochures, deck plans, paintings, prints, posters, china, silverware, ashtrays, pins, medallions and more, both common and rare collectible items at all price levels from passenger lines and ships past and present. Several major dealers were Richard Faber, Mitchell Mart and Nautiques, and new this year, brochures and deck plans from the Frank O. Braynard Collection. A record number of visitors enjoyed this special occasion.

Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 6 PM

STEAMBOATS

Presented by KARL R. ZIMMERMANN



Karl Zimmermann presented, in a slide lecture, an expanded version of his new illustrated book for young readers -. Steamboats: The Story of Lakers, Ferries, and Majestic Paddle Steamers, to be published in early 2007. His photography was superb as we have seen earlier talks. The book and the talk began with an account of a wild ride across a stormy Lake Michigan on the S. T. Crapo, a coal-fired reciprocating steamer. It moved along to other bulk carriers on the Great Lakes; elegant sidewheelers on Switzerland's lakes and elsewhere, and additional excursion steamers as well; the Delta Queen and her Mississippi River sisters; and dependable ferries that crisscross rivers and sounds, carrying pedestrians, automobiles, and sometimes even railway cars. Though it may seem that scenes like this should have vanished long ago, the reality is that steamboats are still very much alive, plying the inland waters of the world.

Friday, October 27, 2006 at 6 PM


CROSSING AND CRUISING ON THE VETERAN LINERS QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 AND NORWAY

Presented by David Hume


David Hume, our current Branch Chairman, will take us aboard two of his favorite ships spanning two decades.
First, we will embark in the Queen Elizabeth 2 for a classic, fast five-day crossing from New York to Southampton in July 1980, and as a contrast, sample the Queen seven years later following her re-engining on a 10-day cruise from New York via Philadelphia to St. Maarten, Barbados and St. Thomas. To describe what it was like to sail with the S.S. Norway (the former SS France), now beached at Alang, India in preparation for scrapping, David will first take us on a November 1985 seven-day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas and the Caribbean followed by what was billed as her last transatlantic crossing in September 2001, from Miami via New York and Canadian ports to Scotland, Ireland, and France, ending in Southampton. Join us for an exciting evening of classic big ship travel.

Thursday, September 28, 2006


OCEAN LINER AND CRUISE SHIP INTERIORS

Bob Allen

The great ocean liners and cruise ships of the mid-20th Century are well known for their sleek lines, long graceful bows and towering funnels. Perhaps less well known are their interiors and tonight our speaker, Bob Allen, lead us on tours through some of the favorite ships he has visited or sailed on during the past 35 years.
Through artists' renderings, period brochure images and on-board slides, we saw how the steamship lines conveyed the environment that would envelop passengers during their transatlantic crossing, luxury Caribbean cruise or line voyage to Australia. We also had a look at how interiors reflected shoreside styles and national design influences, and how these spaces changed as the liners aged and took on new routes. We stepped aboard and witnessed the Art Deco splendor of the NIEUW AMSTERDAM, the sleek, efficient all-American CONSTITUTION, the aura of the midnight sun on the GRIPSHOLM, the intimate charm of the VICTORIA, the sophisticated beauty of the LEONARDO DA VINCI, the wide-open spaces of the CANBERRA, the dazzling chic of the FRANCE and more.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2006
HISTORIC FILMS OF NEW YORK HARBOR

Presented by Mitch Dakelman

Tonight's program presented a rare opportunity to view 16mm projected movie films from the collection of Mitch Dakelman of Highland Park, N.J. Over the years theatrical and television documentaries have been made depicting the activities of the New York City waterfront. These films, which include the titles NEW YORK WATER FRONT, THE BIG PORT, LION IN THE WATER, and THE NORTHEAST:
THE PORT OF NEW YORK, consist of activities long gone in the New York area including the unloading and loading of merchant ships, tugboats, big passenger ships and ferries, immigration, customs agents and many more. These films, produced between 1938 and 1964, have been rarely shown, and one LION IN THE WATER, depicts a tug boat in the harbor and a trip around Manhattan, circa 1952.
Mitch Dakelman has been a long time collector of 16mm films, including theatrically produced classic features and shorts, industrial subjects including transportation and steel making, communications, the New York World's Fairs of 1939 and 1964, moving images going back to the beginning of film making in the late 19th century and many more subjects! He is curator for the National Railway Historical Society's film collection and is responsible for the preservation and restoration of these old films that would have gone into oblivion.

OCEAN LINER BAZAAR
SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2006

The Port of New York Branch of the World Ship Society sponsored an Ocean Liner Bazaar for members and friends
on Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 10:00 A.M. through 2:00 P.M. The bazaar was held at:
Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium
417 East 61st Street, New York City
(between First and York avenues)
Dealers and collectors of ocean liner memorabilia offered for sale pins, pendants, prints, posters, paperweights, medallions, models, deck plans, brochures, china, silverware, ashtrays, key chains and many more rare and unique collectible items from passenger liners past and present.

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2006
 SHIPS OF THE HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Presented by J. Fred Rodriguez

Throughout its 133-year history Holland America Line has produced some of the best known passenger ships to ever sail the seven seas
Nieuw Amsterdam, Rotterdam Statendam names often repeated to maintain the continuity. As the transatlantic era wound down, the line made a remarkably smooth transition to cruising, and today based in Seattle and owned by Carnival Corporation,
the company operates 13 cruise ships to all parts of the globe.
Tonight's slide-illustrated program recalled these ships sailing in tropical waters or braving the sometimes stormy North Atlantic.
FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2006

FERRIES IN AND OUT OF ITALY
by Tom Rinaldi

The North Atlantic ferry is all but gone, and passenger shipping in New York Harbor is now a business of pleasure cruises rather than basic transportation. But in Italy, where fleets of ocean-going ferries still function like half-scale ocean liners, sea travel remains a fact of life and a necessary means of getting from point A to point B. Today these and other ferries can also offer an alternative holiday itinerary for ship enthusiasts. This talk focused on five overnight ferry routes linking the Italian mainland with other Mediterranean ports. Profiles were provided on the ports themselves and on some of the ships that serve them. This very interesting program was based upon Tom Rinaldi's voyages on these ferries in the summer of 2004.


FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2006

Singin', Sailin' and Dancin'
An entertainer's viewpoint of the entertainment world aboard the cruise ships.

By Hal Shane

Hal Shane, was our speaker. He is a "Modern Vaudevillian" and a 35-year veteran of the Broadway and concert stage. His presentation included a pictorial journey aboard Holland America's Noordam on her first cruise from New York to the Caribbean. He also talked about his experiences entertaining on this ship and included stories of 25 years of singing, dancing and sailing aboard ships of Cunard, Holland American, Crystal and others.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2006

A Comparison of the 1840, 1200-ton Britannia, Cunard's first transatlantic steamship,
with her latest sister, the 150,000-ton Queen Mary 2
 By Roxanne Almond


Our speaker, a past chairman, began with the excitement of the Queen Mary 2's inaugural arrival in New York, and then rolled back to Cunard's first ship, the Britannia, how she got built and the Boston arrival in 1840.
Charles Dickens, in his American Notes, has provided us with details of his 1842 crossing that are filled with humor while occupying a six- by twelve-square-foot cabin with a bed that he describes as a coffin-like slab attached to the wall.
Roxanne ended her program with the special evening in April 2004 when the Queen Mary 2
and her consort Queen Elizabeth 2 departed New York harbor together.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2006

PROGRAM ON FRED. OLSEN BY ANTHONY COOKE

Our speaker, Tony Cooke, introduced his program by saying that the name Fred. Olsen may be hardly known in America, but Olsens are one of the most important competitors in the British cruise market, quite apart from owning the historic Harland & Wolff company, ferry services around the Canary Islands and elsewhere, a fleet of oil rigs and tankers (including the world's largest) and much else. We saw slides of many of the Olsen ships, including the cruise fleet which has grown from one small ship, the Black Prince, to a fleet of four as of this spring. Particularly interesting were the bow ornaments that have decorated especially the North Sea fleet over these many decades.
Dating back over 150 years and still controlled by an extremely strong-minded Norwegian family, the Olsen group has a fascinating history and the family squabbles added some spice to the talk. Anthony Cooke has sailed many times on their characterful (and sometimes idiosyncratic) cruise ships and has often written about them. We all enjoyed his insightful look at a highly successful shipping company.

WORLD SHIP SOCIETY - PORT OF NEW YORK BRANCH
OCEAN LINER BAZAAR
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2005 - 10AM-2PM

Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium


Enthusiastic collectors and commercial dealers of ocean liner memorabilia exhibited and sold ship models, brochures, deck plans, paintings, prints, posters, china, silverware, ashtrays, pins, medallions and more, both common and rare collectible items at all price levels from passenger lines and ships past and present.
The annual event was open to the general public as well as members and was well attended.
Following the bazaar a holiday tea party was held for branch members.

40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION HELD ON BOARD M/V NORWEGIAN SPIRIT
On Saturday, November 19, 2005


(Norwegian Spirit artwork by Fred Rodriguez)

In December 1965, the World Ship Society’s Port of New York Branch was founded aboard the then brand new flagship of
Norwegian America Line, M/S Sagafjord. On Saturday, November 19th, over 180 members and guests celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the branch aboard the latest ship to call New York its year-round home, Norwegian Cruise Line’s
Norwegian Spirit. We were treated to a sumptuous multi-course luncheon and tour and also heard recollections from some long-time Society members.

Friday, October 28, 2005

Community Church
Assembly Room
40 East 35th Street
(Between Park and Madison Avenues)

SHIP WATCHING IN FAVORITE FOREIGN PORTS

Theodore W. Scull

The idea behind Ted Scull's slide-illustrated program Shipwatching in Favorite Foreign Ports came from watching ships from his favorite perch in Istanbul this past September. He began by recalling his first visits to the city that straddles Europe and Asia in the late 1960s and 1970s by showing the intensive activity involving coal-burning Bosphorus ferries, Mediterranean liners, cruise ships and freighters.
Then we went east to Hong Kong in the same period when liners still called and to Shanghai, which on visits in 1977, 1978 and 1979 revealed the most active river port in the world with junks, barges, Yangtze River steamers and coastal passenger and cargo ships all vying for space along the city's Huang Pu.
At Messina in Sicily between 1969 and 1986, we watched the graceful Italian State Railway ferries embarking and crossing the strait to Villa San Giovanni loaded with railway coaches, freight cars, vehicles and passengers and additionally saw some visiting cruise ships.
Then for a finale, we sailed into Southampton to recall the P&O, Orient, Union-Castle, Shaw Savill, Cunard, Elders & Fyffes liners and many others that fanned out on worldwide routes.
The portrayal of five distinctive ports revealed a great variety of shipping that we will never see again but in harbors that are still highly active with today's modern tonnage.

Friday, September 30, 2005

"THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY"
Presented by J. Fred Rodriguez

Last night's slide program - J. Fred Rodriguez presented a slide-illustrated history of the Staten Island from its origins in the early eighteenth century until the introduction of the three ferries in 2005. The talk was timed to the 100th anniversary of the ferry under municipal ownership in October of the year. The audience saw depictions and photos of the ferries through history, important events, the World Trade Center disaster as seen from the ferry, storm, fog, ice and snow scenes and a spectacular fireworks display in the Upper Bay accompanied by a dramatic musical background.

OCEAN LINER BAZAAR
AND
COLLECTORS PANEL DISCUSSION

Sponsored by the Port of New York Branch of the World Ship Society
Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 10:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium
417 East 61st Street in New York City
(between First and York Avenues)




The Port of New York Branch of the World Ship Society sponsored an Ocean Liner Bazaar on Saturday, June 18, 2005 in New York City. A group of 10 to 15 vendors offered for sale interesting and unique memorabilia from passenger ships past and present, including china, silverware, medallions, models, deck plans, pins, pendants, post cards, books, prints, posters, paperweights, brochures, ashtrays and key chains. The SS United States Conservancy was also on hand with a table.
A large crowd of maritime enthusiasts and collectors was on hand to enjoy the bazaar.

After the bazaar, the Branch held a refreshment and social hour, following which a panel of collectors discussed how they became interested in acquiring ocean liner ephemera and showed examples from their collections.

Friday, May 20, 2005

"Cruising from New York"

Presented by Allan E. Jordan


Contrary to current myths, long before Miami, jets and ships with ice skating rinks and rock walls, cruising was alive and well from the Port of New York. In the days when Miami was just a backwater, interspersed between the great liners on New York's Luxury Liner Row were the cruise ships.
In a slide illustrate program, noted writer and historian Allan Jordan recalled the heyday in cruising when the port of New York played host to the trend setting famous ships of the world. The presentation traced the boom years of the post-World War II era, New York's long decline as the modern Port of the Miami emerged and New York's coming resurgence in today's billion dollar leisure-time cruise industry.
From the earlier Caribbean cruises aboard ships such as the Manchuria, Jordan recalled cruising from New York aboard such well-remembered ships as the Resolute, the Kungsholm and the Carinthia in the 1920s and 1930s and then on to the pioneers of the 1950s and 1960s that included the Nassau, the Homeric, the Nieuw Amsterdam, the Leonardo da Vinci, the Victoria and the Oceanic.
Allan Jordan is known to many members of the World Ship Society as a frequent contributor to Cruise Travel magazine and as a regular guest lecturer aboard cruise ships of firms ranging from Crystal to Oceania, and Princess. He is also the author of numerous articles on the history and future of shipping and the author of "Saluting The Aloha Spirit", which recalled the history of American Hawaii Cruises and the sister ships the Independence and the Constitution.

Friday, April 29

"SAILING TO THE SUN: CRUISE HISTORY & FOLKLORE"

A Program
Presented by Bill Miller


SS Norway in May 1980.
(Photograph Theodore W. Scull)

Over 11 million travelers will take cruises from North American ports during this year.
It is, rather expectedly, the greatest number in history.
According to Bill Miller, it remains "the greatest vacation on earth." He should know --- he has made some 300 voyages.
He told us about the cruise industry --- its roots, its growth over the past 40 or so years and what is to come.

Friday, March 18, 2005

NORMANDIE

A Program
Presented by John Maxtone-Graham


John Maxtone-Graham has long been entranced with Normandie; glance at any of his books and you will find a chapter here and a chapter there about this quintessential liner. Now, he is undertaking an entire volume on his favorite liner, which will be published by Norton.
As a glimpse of this incredible vessel, John gave us a very interesting and wonderfully illustrated talk.

Friday, February 25, 2005

Rolling Down Rio

A Slide Lecture
Presented by Anthony Cooke


Blue Star Line's Paraguay Star in London's ROYAL DOCKS - June 1964.
(Photograph by Theodore W. Scull)

Tony Cooke, publisher of Carmania Press in the United Kingdom, presented his annual lecture.
This time on the very interesting subject of ships carrying passengers and cargo,
that traded between Europe and South America as well as United States ports and South America.
Some of the featured lines were Blue Star, Royal Mail, Hamburg Sud, Italia and Moore-McCormack.


Friday, January 28, 2005

CRUISE SHIPS and LINERS
at
PORT EVERGLADES
A Video Program
Presented by John McFarlane
Star Princess and Caribbean Princess
at Port Everglades January 2, 2005.

PONY Branch member and webmaster, John McFarlane, introduced and narrated
a video focusing on the cruise ships that call at Port Everglades in the “Sunshine State” of Florida.
The video, included sound, music and titles and covered the current cruise ship scene at that port.
We then traveled back in time to view color film from the 1970's when some classic liners made wintertime calls at Port Everglades.
France, Hanseatic, Queen Elizabeth 2 and Nieuw Amsterdam were among those ships shown in the final part of the video.
The finale of the video showed the 1968 arrival at and 1971 final departure from Port Everglades of R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth.

OCEAN LINER BAZAAR
Saturday, December 4, 2004

(Photograph courtesy of Ellen Meshnick)

Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium
417 East 61st Street, New York City
(between First and York Avenues)

With the early December weather beautifully cooperating - unlike last year when we had a near blizzard
- more than 150 ocean liner collectors and aficionados and a full auditorium of sellers traded,
bought, sold and socialized from the first bell at 10am to the closing at 2pm.

Early in 2005, we will announce the date for the next Ocean Liner Bazaar.




Thursday, November 18, 2004

 

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE OF QUEEN MARY 2

A Slide Illustrated Talk By

Second Officer Benjamin S. B. Lyons

Ben Lyons, who last spoke to us about his cadet year at sea, is now sailing as Second Officer for Cunard Line. His illustrated talk began with a December 2002 visit to Chantiers de l'Atlantique where the Queen Mary 2 was under construction and then jumped ahead a year when he joined the ship prior to its completion, the arrival in its homeport of Southampton, and the maiden voyage in January, 2004. Since then Ben has voyaged to South America, to Piraeus before the Olympic Games, Norwegian fjords and transatlantic numerous times. He spoke to us, having just disembarked from Queen Mary 2 in New York for a month's leave.

Friday October 29th 2004

WORLD JOURNEY VIEWED ON POSTCARDS BY MARINE ARTISTS

Peter Fleming

 

The postcard journey started in Liverpool, England and traveled eastward around the world terminating in New York City. 69 ports in 46 countries, including former colonies and protectorates, were viewed on artist rendering postcards. 86 ships from the 1890s to 1950s and belonging to 41 companies from ten countries were represented.

Peter Fleming, is a major collector of art postcards depicting ocean liners. He was making his third appearance and showed some beautiful examples from his archives. His audience enjoyed this evening of travel via maritime art.

Friday, October 1, 2004

~ Steamboats on the Hudson ~
From Active Service to Tangible Remains

Tom Rinaldi


Tom Rinaldi, one of our youngest members, completed a major research project to locate the remnants of Hudson River steamboats such as the Alexander Hamilton, Mary Powell, Albany and a replica of Robert Fulton's Clermont, cross-Hudson ferryboats Beacon, Brinkerhoff and Garrison and more.

He showed us slides of the boats in service and told us what happened to them and where he located their 'bones' many decades after they ceased operating. All enjoyed this fine program and enthusiastic lecture by Tom.

 

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2004

LUNCHEON AND TOUR - MV NORWEGIAN DAWN
This event was open to both Members and Non-members.

Saturday, September 11, 2004

A MEMBERS-ONLY CELEBRATION


A WALK THROUGH TOUR OF SS TOPAZ

Approxiamtely 60 PONY Branch members enjoyed a visit to this ship, one of the last classic steamships in passenger service. TOPAZ has had a storied career that includes service as a transatlantic liner, part-time cruise ship, full-time cruise ship, and missionary ship. She entered transatlantic service in 1956 as Canadian Pacific's EMPRESS OF BRITAIN and later sailed as Greek Line's QUEEN ANNA MARIA, Carnival's CARNIVALE and FIESTA MARINA, and Epirotiki's OLYMPIC. Now TOPAZ, she sails for the Japan-based PeaceBoat, an organization committed to peace, human rights, sustainable development and the environment. While much of her has been redecorated over the years, her layout is quite original and traces of her Canadian Pacific paneled, brass, and etched glass interiors abound. TOPAZ was at New York as PeaceBoat's representative to the 9/11 third anniversary commemoration. We were honored they have included us by inviting us aboard.

Friday, June 25, 2004

STEAMING TO ADVENTURE - MEMORABLE SEA JOURNEYS

BY THEODORE W. SCULL



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

(Above center) Swan Hellenic's ORPHEUS, Sharm el Sheik, Sinai, November 11, 1991.
(Lower left) Alaska Marine Highway's MATANUSKA January 9, 1980.
(lower right)East Africa Railway & Harbour's USOGA Lake Victoria, Bukoba, Tanganyika, August 1962.

Ted Scull, intrepid traveler with over four years at sea, took us on nearby and far-flung adventures by ocean liner, cruise ship, migrant carrier, lake steamer and ferry. Ships and destinations were P&0-Orient Lines' ORSOVA trans-Pacific to Australia, Alaska Marine Highway's MATANUSKA North to Alaska in January, HAL's ROTTERDAM to a year in London, E.A.R.&H's USOGA on Lake Victoria, North of Scotland's ST. CLAIR and ST. ROGNVALD to the Shetlands and Orkneys, Swan Hellenic's ORPHEUS to the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, and British India's DWARKA through the Persian Gulf into the Indian Ocean.

Friday, May 21, 2004

MARITIME FILMS
AND PHOTOGRAPHS IN VIDEO FORMAT

A program presented by John McFarlane


R. M. S. Sylvania the last of the four sisters.

Two videos were introduced and narrated; The program began with the showing of a video outling the construction and history of four Cunard Line sisterships built in the mid-1950's. Often referred to as the "Saxonia Sisters", they served in several trades and with several different lines including services to and from the Port of New York. The former Saxonia was scrapped in 1999 and earlier this year two more of these vessels ended their careers at the shipbreakers at Alang, India.


The second video, created and finished a few days before the program, began with the April 22 maiden arrival of QUEEN MARY 2 in New York harbor. This video also included scenes from the tandem sailing from New York of QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 and QUEEN MARY 2 on April 25 as well as views of the liners sailing across the Atlantic together.

The images were viewed using a video projector and included titles as well as music.

Friday, April 30, 2004
OUR MAN ABOARD QUEEN MARY 2



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Maritime historian John Maxtone-Graham attended the christening on January 8th and then sailed four days later on the maiden voyage of QM2. John shared his impressions and pictures about both Marys--the beloved 1930's namesake as well as the giant new liner--for his friends at the World Ship Society. He had with him a (limited) supply of the final trade-book edition of his Queen Mary 2 book for sale, inscribed and autographed. Additionally, some copies of his unique Cavalcade of Cunarders poster.
(Above photographs Theodore W. Scull collection.)

Friday, March 26, 2004

A TRIBUTE TO CHARTER MEMBER AND WORLD TRAVELER
VINCENT MESSINA

We celebrated the life of PONY Branch member Vincent Messina, who died in January 2003, with a slide illustrated show of some of his best ship photography, a live auction and sale of his collection of ship brochures, photographs, books and souvenirs, and tributes from long-time friends. Members of his family were in attendance.

Click This Link For Photos of the Occasion.

The photographs were taken by Ellen Meshnick, PONY Branch Membership Secrteary.

Friday, February 27, 2004
Cruising Louisiana's Waterways Aboard the RIVER EXPLORER
Presented by Marjorie Dovman

The RIVER EXPLORER is a 730-foot, two-unit, three-deck hotel barge propelled by MISS NARI, a towboat lashed to the stern. The New Orleans-based cruises will explore Louisiana's Cajun and Creole County in the Atchafalaya Basin and the mighty Mississippi River as far downstream as Pilot Town and Mile O just in from the Gulf of Mexico.

Friday January 30, 2004
VOYAGING ON THE SEAS

A slide presentation by J. Fred Rodriguez.
The slide illustrated program covered the rise of the port of Miami as the world's number cruise ship terminal and the development of Royal Caribbean's ships into the innovative Voyage class. We then had a complete tour of this pace setting ship and heard about plans for the Ultra Voyager unit that will measure approximately 160,000 tons, or over 20,000 tons larger than the present class.

HOLIDAY PARTY
Saturday, December 13, 2003
Our Annual Holiday Party, for members and invited guests, was held at the Seaman's Church Institute, Lower Manhattan
near the South Street Seaport. Buffet was served at 3:30pm followed by the showing of the members' slide program at 4:30pm.

OCEAN LINER BAZAAR

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2003

The World Ship Society (Port of New York Branch) held an Ocean Liner Bazaar
on Saturday, December 6, 2003 between 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M.
The Bazaar was located at the Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium
at 421 East 61st Street between First and York Avenues, Manhattan.
The Bazaar was held even though the U.S. east coast was experiencing one of the biggest early season snowstorms ever. The snow cut into the participation of several vendors as well as effecting the general attendance. Those vendors who were able to exhibit stated that business was brisk. Participating vendors offered maritime memorabilia. Among the items for sale were ocean liner brochures, deck plans, paintings, prints, china, glassware, silverware, pins, books ,souvenirs and more.

Friday, November 21, 2003

"Liners in Motion - NYC"


(Photograph "Funnels" by Finn Tornquist)

PONY Branch member Finn Tornquist narrated and showed us New York City video footage of ships arriving and departing during the last 15 years. Some of the ships that were included in this program were: REGAL EMPRESS, SONG OF AMERICA, QUEEN OF BERMUDA (ex-BRASIL), DREAMWARD, HORIZON, NORDIC EMPRESS;
as well as some classics - OCEAN BREEZE, MERIDIAN, ISLAND BREEZE, PACIFIC PRINCESS,
REMBRANDT and NORWAY. We witnessed many early morning arrivals and afternoon sailings at the port including authentic maritime sounds as well as steam whistles and air horns.

Friday October 31, 2003

"Voyages, Part III"
A slide illustrated talk presented by Bill Miller
In November of last year, Bill Miller took us along on some of his cruises and other voyages in the 1980s and beyond.
In this program, Bill continued recalling his world travels. Some of the ships that he covered this time were: ASTOR, OCEAN ISLANDER, DELTA & MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, ROTTERDAM, VISTAFJORD, QE2 and PRINCESS MAHSURI.


Schermerhorn Row
(Photograph "Seaport" Magazine)

Friday, September 19, 2003

MEETING HELD AT THE SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM

The program consisted of several parts:
1) Introduction to the South Street Seaport Museum by President Peter Neill who will also host our visit, he was introduced by Ted Scull,
2) Fulton Street in the days of the sailing packets and as the heart of the Port of New York,
3) An excellent sunset tour of the Seaport Museum's ship and boat collection on the East River,
4) An advance look at the new galleries under construction in the Schermerhorn Row Buildings that will house new exhibits beginning in October.

Friday, June 27, 2003

ARCHIVAL MARITIME FILMS
AND PHOTOGRAPHS IN VIDEO FORMAT

A program presented by John McFarlane

Two videos were shown; the first was a tribute to S.S. UNITED STATES
and the second was a video prepared for the 150th Anniversary of Cunard Line in 1990.



SS UNITED STATES sails on her maiden voyage.

PONY Branch member John McFarlane, who is also our webmaster, began photographing ships in the port in the early 1950's. He showed and narrated two videos that included both archival photographs, color films and video images that he captured beginning in the 1950's and additional images continuing into recent years.


RMS QUEEN MARY sails from New York for the last time.

The images were viewed using a video projector and included titles as well as music. Among the subjects that were covered was the maiden voyage of SS UNITED STATES, her current status in Philadelphia and vintage films of Cunard liners including the famous RMS QUEEN MARY and RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.

 

Friday, May 30, 2003

Emigrant Liners - A Slide Illustrated Lecture by Anthony Cooke


CASTEL FELICE at Southampton.

Tony Cooke, publisher of Carmania Press and a London resident, returned for his annual talk, this time on emigrant ships. He included such liners as Italian Line's VULCANIA, P&O's HIMALAYA, Lloyd Triestino's
GALILEO GALILEI and Sitmar's CASTLE FELICE.
Our fellow enthusiasts from the Long Island Chapter of Steamship Historical Society joined us to welcome Tony and to allow him to enlighten and entertain us.

Sunday, May 25, 2003

M/V NORWEGIAN DAWN

Luncheon and Tour

The World Ship Society (Port of New York Branch) sponsored a luncheon and tour of the newest Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship at the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal. NORWEGIAN DAWN is the first year round passenger ship to be based at the Port of New York in many years. At 92,000 gross tons and capable of a speed of 25 knots, she is one of the largest and fastest ships in the world. About 150 members and guests enjoyed the day on this fine new cruise ship.

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 "Farewell Cruise to Bermuda"
May 4 to 10, 2003 called at Bermuda and Newport,RI.
An article will be posted on this cruise in the near future.

Friday, April 25, 2003

Ocean Liner Interiors Depicted in Art Postcards
A program presented by Peter Fleming

Steamship lines commissioned famous artists to paint ocean liner interiors, and these works of art resulted in full-size paintings and were often reduced in scale for use in company promotional materials such as brochures, deck plans, menus and post cards.



NYK Line - Trans-Pacific Verandah Cafe .

Peter Fleming, a well-reputed collector of art post cards, talked about the artists, the ships and the interiors, in his second slide illustrated lecture to the branch. An enjoyable program and an opportunity to view and hear about these rare images of ocean liner interiors of the past.

Friday, March 28, 2003

PASSENGER SHIPS ARRIVING AND DEPARTING
THE PORT OF NEW YORK - 1960s - 1990s

A program presenting the slide collection of the late Branch Member John Gillespie.
Narrated by Bill Miller with a Remembrance by John Gillespie's wife Alice Gillespie.

The late John Gillespie was an avid photographer and photographed liners
arriving and departing at the Port of New York starting in the 1960's up to the 1990's.
He was also a passenger on the final voyage of QUEEN ELIZABETH in October, 1968.
Prior to the slide presentation Bill Miller outlined details of his recent visit
to the shipyard in France where the QUEEN MARY 2, among other cruiseships, is being built.

Friday, February 28, 2003
MARITIME PHOTOGRAPHY
A program presented by J. Fred Rodriguez

Fred Rodriguez - charter PONY Branch member,
former chairman and present branch historian - is one of our prime photographers.
He discussed maritime photography and showed slides of many classic liners as examples.
Fred has just begun to try out digital photography as well and included that subject in his talk.
He also answered many audience questions.

 

Friday, January 31, 2003
CRUISING UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG IN THE 21ST CENTURY


MS PATRIOT docked in Hawaii.

Ted Scull took us on eight celebratory and bitter sweet voyages
starting with the ocean-going SS INDEPENDENCE and MS PATRIOT in Hawaii;
then coastal cruising aboard the AMERICAN EAGLE in New England,
the GRANDE MARINER plying the Intracoastal Waterway, and the graceful SPIRIT OF '98 North to Alaska;
and finally inland river journeys with the CAPE MAY LIGHT along the St. Lawrence River and Seaway,
the riverboat COLUMBIA QUEEN in the Pacific Northwest, and the
national landmark DELTA QUEEN on the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

HOLIDAY PARTY
The December 7, 2002 meeting was our Annual Holiday Party at the Seaman's Church Institute, Lower Manhattan
near the South Street Seaport. Buffet was at 3:30pm followed by members' slide program at 4:30pm.
Our Slidemaster was once again former Branch Chairman Landon Brown and a good time was had by all.

Friday, November 22, 2002

"Voyages, Part II"
A slide illustrated talk by Bill Miller
In October of last year, Bill Miller took us along on some of his cruises and other voyages in the 1960s and '70s.
We left off with the maiden cruise to New York of P&O's ORIANA in August '79.
This time, we continued on, sharing in Bill's trips in the 1980s and beyond.
We "traveled" on such ships as the NORWAY, CANBERRA, QE2, ROTTERDAM, FAIRSTAR, AUSONIA and ACHILLE LAURO.
We visited China and the Baltic, Alaska and the South Pacific, and ports such as Sydney and Southampton, Shanghai and Santorini.

Friday, October 25, 2002

"ARANUI -The 'Great Road' to the Marquesas"
A slide illustrated talk by Vincent Messina, the PONY Branch's Great Wanderer.
The remote Marquesas, the islands that inspired Paul Gauguin and Herman Melville, lie well beyond the better known parts of French Polynesia - Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora. Until the 1960's they were a true colonial backwater. Then in 1984, a regular passenger-cargo liner service was established, and today the ARANUI II continues the tradition of bringing supplies and intrepid, adventurous passengers.
Our speaker described a recent cruise that he took to these islands and mentioned some of the other ships that have traded there.

Friday, September 27, 2002

THE FOUR STACKERS (1897-1950) - KAISER WILHELM DER GROSSE TO AQUITANIA

Richard Morse, our long-serving branch treasurer, talked about the history of these magnificent four-funnel ships, and gave us a look at their interiors and provided his own anecdotes, including a personal visit to Cunard's AQUITANIA in 1939.

More than 20 PONY Branch members gathered for the
ship watching afternoon at Port Imperial, Weehawken, NJ

On Saturday afternoon September 14, 2002 the Branch held an informal gathering:
"An Afternoon of Ship Watching" - when five ships were docked at the NYC Passenger Ship Terminal.
The ships at the terminal on September 14 were CARNIVAL TRIUMPH, GOLDEN PRINCESS, HORIZON, and ZENITH. The classic ALBATROS (ex-SYLVANIA/FAIRWIND/DAWN PRINCESS) was in port overnight and readily viewable from Port Imperial. She had arrived at 3pm just as we were assembling. Three of the cruise ships sailed between 4:30 and 5:15pm. A special photographic permit was obtained for this group and Ted Scull was on hand to give a short talk on the future plans for the ferry service and the development of the West Shore.
The sun stayed with us and a fine time was had by all.

Friday June 28, 2002

PROGRAM

STEAMBOATS ON EUROPE'S INLAND WATERS
Presented by Karl Zimmermann

Europe's canals and lakes still host a surprising array of steamboats, former steamboats, and -- on Switzerland's Lac Leman -- once and future steamboats. We joined Karl Zimmermann first for a four-day journey on the trim Wilhelm Tham built in 1912, across Sweden's "Blue Ribbon", the Gota Canal, which since 1832 has linked Stockholm with Goteborg, the country's major seaport. Then, after a glimpse of the fleet of historic steamboats that still serve Stockholm, we moved on to Switzerland and the graceful paddle steamers that ply the Zurichsee, the Thunersee, the Brienzersee, the Vierwaldstattersee, and Lac Leman. These swanlike vessels, some a century old, are fully functional, workaday survivors from a more leisurely age. Those attending this presentation surely enjoyed this look at a different aspect of matters maritime.

SATURDAY JUNE 1, 2002
NEW YORK HARBOR CRUISE

The cruise included a visit to the Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler where a wine and cheese reception was held. The itinerary took us down the Hudson River and then up the East River through Hell Gate to Fort Schuyler. Along the way we visited Erie Basin, Buttermilk Channel, and Newtown Creek. We sailed alongside the historic fireboat JOHN J HARVEY engaged in a water display. Near the end of the harbor cruise we sailed passed the departing cruie ships ZENITH, HORIZON and the new PRINSENDAM.
All of this was narrated by Ted Scull.

Friday May 31, 2002
PROGRAM
"THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY"

Branch historian J.Fred Rodriquez presented a program on the Staten Island Ferry.

Friday April 26, 2002

PROGRAM
CRUISING TO BERMUDA ABOARD PACIFIC PRINCESS
Presented by Roxanne Almond

Roxanne took us on her latest ship adventure, a cruise to Bermuda on the PACIFIC PRINCESS from Boston in October 2001. Her talk was as comprehensive as it could possibly be on the ship, her cruise and especially on Bermuda's history and sights. In Roxanne's view, the only way to go to Bermuda is by ship, and the only ship to go on is the PACIFIC PRINCESS, which is "just right" for the purpose. Showing us photographically around the ship, Roxanne felt that everything on board whetted the appetite for Bermuda, and that the beauty of the islands and the sea had been brought aboard. The next PONY Branch group cruise is on this ship in August 2002.

Friday, March 22, 2002

PROGRAM

A BLACK SEA TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE CRUISE ABOARD THE M.V. MARCO POLO
A slide illustrated talk by Nelson Arnstein.

Nelson Arnstein, who brought us the sensational two-projector program on "The Making of the Titanic", a terrific talk about the feature film and its set, returned with an entirely new subject. His talk began with a brief background on the ship as the Soviet liner ALEXANDR PUSHKIN, then onto his Eastern Mediterranean-Black sea cruise, with calls at Piraeus (Athens), ports in the Peloponnesus, then Mykonos, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Yalta, Odessa, and Istanbul. We also saw this made-over ship's interiors - public spaces and engine room, and lastly viewed his professional shots of the total eclipse itself.

February 22, 2002

PROGRAM
Ted Scull - "Voyaging No More:
Not -Too-Distant Ocean Liner and cruise Ship Sailings"
Past PONY Chairman, author and travel writer, Ted Scull, took us, via his slide presentation, on several memorable liner voyages as well as cruises aboard liners and cruiseships of the not too distant past. Some of the well known vessels included were ORIANA (1960), SEA PRINCESS (KUNGSHOLM 1965), STEFAN BATORY (MAASDAM 1952) and the much loved BRITANIS (MONTEREY 1932).

January 25, 2002

PROGRAM
Anthony Cooke - "Vanished Fleets".
Our annual speaker from London and Publisher/Owner of Carmania Press, Tony talked about some of the passenger lines and ships which have disappeared in recent years. We had a nostalgic look at the AUSTRALIS(ex- SS AMERICA) to the INDEPENDENCE, by way of CANBERRA, COSTA RIVIERA, LEONID SOBINOV and ACHILLE LAURO, among others.

HOLIDAY PARTY
The December 8, 2001 meeting was our Annual Christmas Party at the Seaman's Church Institute, Lower Manhattan
near the South Street Seaport. Buffet was at 3:30pm followed by members' slide program at 4:30pm. A good time was had by all.

The November 16, 2001 meeting featured W. Bradford Hatry whose topic was:

CRUISING TO CUBA ... 2001 STYLE

Brad Hatry, former Chairman of the PONY Branch, presented a very interesting slide program and talked about his week's cruise aboard VALTUR PRIMA, the former Swedish American liner STOCKHOLM (1948). The ports of call included two days at Havana, Cuba as well as western Caribbean ports. The ship had also sailed under the name of VOLKERFREUNDSCHAFT, which means 'International Friendship', when she was part of the fleet of the former East German-flag Deutsche Seereeeri. The presentation included aspects of the history of the ship as well as her current service and interior layout. The audience was also intrigued by the rare glimpses of contemporary Havana.

The October 26, 2001 meeting featured William H. Miller who's topic was:

"VOYAGES: SOME SHIPBOARD RECOLLECTIONS"

October brought us one of our best-known and most accomplished members, Bill Miller, discussing his early cruise experiences, a talk delivered with his usual enthusiasm and accompanied by his always superb photography. Bill took us from his first cruise, up the Hudson to Albany on the ALEXANDER HAMILTON, through the short cruises he enjoyed during the 60's, and then on into the 70's as he branched out into longer and more exotic cruises, including a couple of forays by freighter.

The September 28, 2001 meeting featured J.Fred Rodriguez who's topic was:

"TURNING A SHIP AROUND IN THE PORT OF NEW YORK"

September provided us with something a little different from the usual slide show. Branch historian Fred Rodriguez devised an audience-participation quiz of sorts that both entertained us and demonstrated the numerous people and the amazing amount of detail involved in getting a ship from here to there and back again. Each audience member was given a couple of index cards identifying their holder as some person relevant to that procedure. As Fred went through his presentation, he tossed out questions to each officer, baggage handler or whoever, who was expected to answer. Some actually did, others were overcome by shyness. And a good time was had by all.

The June 29, 2001 meeting featured former PONY Branch Chairman David Powers who's topic was:

"THE FLAGSHIPS OF FREEPORT"

David Powers visited Freeport this past spring and had the chance to photograph some of the laid up liners - REMBRANDT (ex-ROTTERDAM), the BIG RED BOAT (ex-OCEANIC), BIG RED BOAT II (ex-EUGENIO C/EUGENIO COSTA/EDINBURGH CASTLE) and BIG RED BOAT III (ex-TRANSVAAL CASTLE/S.A.VAAL/FESTIVALE/ISLAND BREEZE). David was able to go aboard REMBRANDT and he gave us a fascinating interior tour, emphasizing how well she looks, how well everything is looked after, but also how dust from the outside has filtered in to coat all the furnishings. In addition he talked about DOLPHIN IV (ex-ZION) and the now departed REGENT SUN (ex-SHALOM), and as the branch is cruising aboard REGAL EMPRESS this summer, to Freeport no less, some of this ships' background as OLYMPIA and CARIBE I.

The May 18, 2001 meeting featured PONY Brancher Finn Tornquist who's topic was:

"THE STEAMSHIPS OF NORWAY'S SOUTHERN COAST"

Finn Tornquist grew up in the southern Norwegian port city of Kristiansand in the era before a well developed road system and significant private car ownership. The south coast services linked towns along the deeply indented coast between Oslo in the east and Bergen in the west. The ships were quite small but full of character, and our speaker related tales of the then big events of seeing friends and family arrive and sail as well as making a few of his own trips as a youngster. By the 1960s the ships were gone, though a few lingered on elsewhere or in a preserved static state, while the west coast service known as the Hurtigruten, still thrives.

The April 27, 2001 meeting featured our guest Allan Jordan who's topic was:

"GOING CRUISING"

Allan Jordan, using excellent color reproductions from shipping brochures, showed us what cruising was like in the past, well before it became a mass market pastime. We saw illustrations of cabins and suites, public rooms, dining rooms, promenades and deck spaces. Some of the examples showed how grand it all was and some how primitive the accommodations were by todays standards. Air conditioning and stabilizers were not yet the norm, so one was left with the impression that cruising was indeed different, reserved mostly for those with high incomes, stylish and a bit of an adventure. To complete the story, we saw the development of the modern cruise ship from the late 1960s onward.

The March 30, 2001 meeting had J. Fred Rodriguez present us with:

"THE VERA CRUZ GOES NORTH"

In 1980 a relatively new company, Bahama Cruise Lines, went into the cruise business with seven-day cruises between New York and Montreal, using the former Zim Lines ship THEODOR HERZL, renamed VERA CRUZ. Not quite 500 feet in length, and under a rather young captain, Jens Thorn, she called at such ports as New Bedford, Sydney, Quebec and Montreal as well as visiting the Gaspe Peninsula and Saguenay River.

Charter member, past chairman and current historian J. Fred Rodriguez lectured on board during seven cruises between 1980 and 1983. At the March meeting he brought a show of slides and sounds from one of the smallest passenger ships to sail during the 1980's.

The February 23, 2001 meeting brought us Edward Dunbaugh giving a presentation:

AMERICAN PASSENGER STEAMSHIPS
On The Atlantic Coast in 1931

We all know that the period between 1907 and 1939 was the great era of ocean liners. This period was also the great era of American coastal steamships. There were large overnight steamers from Boston to various ports in Maine or Nova Scotia. Overnight steamers also ran out of New York to Albany and various other landings along the Hudson. Several large liners sailed regularly out of New York for ports farther south: the Porto Rico Line ran to San Juan, the Ward Line to Havana and the Panama Line to Cristobal.

This talk was limited to vessels serving ports on the East Coast of the United States no farther south than Miami. The concentration was on the onernight lines of the Long Island Sound and the Chesapeake Bay.

Our speaker, a historian with a personal interest in coastal steamers, focused on the year 1931. This was the last year that new vessels were built for the coastal lines. All but a few of these vessels still in service as late as 1941 were taken for war service. After the war, virtually none returned.

The January 26, 2001 meeting featured Anthony Cooke lecturing on:

PASSENGER SHIPS OLD AND NEW:
From Long Beach to St. Nazaire

Anthony Cooke, British ship buff and writer, publisher and seller of ocean liner books, crossed the pond once again to address us on our favorite topic. And again our fellow ship lovers from the Steamship Historical Society's Long Island Chapter joined us for the occasion.

Inspired by visits to QUEEN MARY and the French shipyard where many of today's cruise ships are mass-produced, Anthony Cooke's talk ranged over the changes that have taken place in passenger ships over the past 70 years. Many favorite ships were mentioned.....and, of course, some not-so-well-known ones.

December 9, 2000...... MEMBERS' SLIDE AFTERNOON AND HOLIDAY PARTY held at the Seamen's Church Institute. This annual, well attended event was again a great success with a number of members presenting slide presentations. Click here for some views of the event.......photos by William Lulack.

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