see NCL doesnt own her. Thanks again Redlinekid2 ok, lets do something! Lets regester a domain name for a website, regester our company, go out to various events, streets, beaches, tourist attractions recruiting, go out to busineses for sponsors, speak to company and corporate manages stating the story and getting corporate sponsors, take donations, online donations, discuss with shipyards refit opportunities, and try to do this! If it all falls through we can keep running, return donations and pledge awareness about the ocean liners of old. So lets do it, first we need to regester a website and regester a company.
So tncruiseman, it looks like ur in. Lets do it. The time is now vocal! Talk to Lee Iacocca (email) but im going on holiday to Qualar Lumpor for a week, but ill try to get on as much as i can. Tncruiseman, we need to get this planed, i emailed the ss united stantes conservancy and they say they will be behind me and they are sending me deckplans ao i and us can review ideas. See! We can do it
Redlinekids recommendation to work with Robert Westover's group is the best approach over starting any new wesbites or additional fundraising efforts. Constant letter-writing to government officals cannot hurt, recommending a tax policy favoring the ship as a possibility, and also using her scrapping as slandering to our nation. Right now that probably wouldn't matter because Jimmy Carter and his cronies sold off the presidential yacht for pennies when he took office. Tax policy for this US flagged ship is the key to corporate involvment and Senators and Congressmen are where we need to start, especially with a few of them being fresh right now and wanting to make their mark.
Next Cruise: Carnival Fantasy 10-27-08
03/08 Carnival Fantasy 10-07 Carnival Holiday 03-07 Carnival Holiday 11-06 Carnival Triumph 03-06 CaribbeanPrincess 01-04 Carnival Victory 09-03 Carnival Destiny 05-03 Carnival Imagination 11-02 Carnival Imagination 01-02 RCCL Rhapsody of Seas 02-01 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 02-00 RCCL Empress of Seas 01-99 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 01-98 RCCL Majesty of Seas
thanks. e mail and lobby them and I shall do the same, can u possibly give me the email addresses of some of these people. Iv been emailing shipyards such as newport news and the conservancy. As we said before we will need to advertise at entertainement events and streets and random places, yes ill start emailing the US government when i get back. We need to register a company and do it carefully other wise will suffer like club france prestige did for unpropper regestration. The conservancy says thell support the project and give us help and advice.
I don't believe that NCL will do anything to the Big U. Why should they? There are no indications that NCL is planning to refit the Big U. It that was the case, then why isn't the SS Independence sailing for NCL?
And I will have to disagree why anyone who says that the Big U will not do very well as a hotel/museum/hotel academy. This is the only option that will work in the ships' favor.
If NCL wants the Big U to sail in unique destinations, that itinerary should be given to the MV Pride of America. The SS United States interiors can be rebuilt to match the elegance of the SS Nuiew Amsterdam of 1938, but with a 1940s-1950s twist. It can easily become a 5-Star hotel on the NYC Waterfront next to the USS Intrepid.
The Third Class accommodations could be used to serve the interests of the academy students. The Third Class Cabins can be converted to college dorms and the Third Class public areas could be recreated as a part of a residential college, with its dining halls as eating areas and study sections.
The First and Second Class areas could be rebuilt into ultra luxurious suites and public places that would be at the level of the SS Nuiew Amsterdam.
The crew/officers cabin and public place can be rebuilt to its former glory, as well as all of the bridge and navigational/communications equipment that reflect the 1950s cold war era.
$400 Million is more than enough to make this dream a reality. What's so hard about that?
If NCL is not willing to do that, then my suggestion is to influence a major corporation to take a chance at it. The same idea that went into saving the SS Rotterdam V (and maybe the SS Norway) can be applied to the SS United States.
A Museum, Hotel Academy, and 5-Star Art Deco Hotel. While its not possible to recreate the original interior decour, it's possibile to create a new style that was originally found onboard the SS Nuiew Amsterdam, along with the best that the Big U once had.
For those who longed for the style and elegance of the SS Nuiew Amsterdam, the SS United States is a prime canidate for that as its interiors are stripped. This idea can work. Lets have an email campaign to encourage the SS United States Foundation to organize a public/private partnership to buy and renovate the Big U into the maritime gem that was ment to be.
Dan Lague
Posts: 347 | Location: Florida | Registered: May 16, 2006
Dan: In my eyes, the biggest mystery is why NCL bought Independence and entered into purchase agreement on SSUS in the first place, and still continue to pay for their layup and storage. They haven't placed the ships for sale. Could the profit from a future sale to the scrappers be enough to justify the current daily expenses? One day the mystery will unfold, or a bad business plan will be exposed. Hoping for the first, not the latter.
It would be nice to have a plan with potential investors in place when/if the opportunity arises and your ideas certainly would be feasible.
Next Cruise: Carnival Fantasy 10-27-08
03/08 Carnival Fantasy 10-07 Carnival Holiday 03-07 Carnival Holiday 11-06 Carnival Triumph 03-06 CaribbeanPrincess 01-04 Carnival Victory 09-03 Carnival Destiny 05-03 Carnival Imagination 11-02 Carnival Imagination 01-02 RCCL Rhapsody of Seas 02-01 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 02-00 RCCL Empress of Seas 01-99 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 01-98 RCCL Majesty of Seas
I recall the United States languishing at the pier in Norfolk in the early 80's. What a sad sight it was. I could see it from the deck of my ship in the Navy base. I remember an auction they had where all the "stuff" was sold. 1984 I think it was. Anyway, a couple of years ago I bought some items on eBay. I have a life vest which is in great condition. I also have some water glasses and copies of some telegrams from the ship.
WOW! In the whole scheme of things, that message wasn't all that long ago! Technology is really amazing. I just wish I had had the opportunity to sail on this ship. I cannot imagine something that big going as fast as she could! My boat only cruises at 12 knots.
Next Cruise: Carnival Fantasy 10-27-08
03/08 Carnival Fantasy 10-07 Carnival Holiday 03-07 Carnival Holiday 11-06 Carnival Triumph 03-06 CaribbeanPrincess 01-04 Carnival Victory 09-03 Carnival Destiny 05-03 Carnival Imagination 11-02 Carnival Imagination 01-02 RCCL Rhapsody of Seas 02-01 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 02-00 RCCL Empress of Seas 01-99 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 01-98 RCCL Majesty of Seas
Originally posted by tncruiseman: WOW! In the whole scheme of things, that message wasn't all that long ago! Technology is really amazing. I just wish I had had the opportunity to sail on this ship. I cannot imagine something that big going as fast as she could! My boat only cruises at 12 knots.
Hard to beat steam turbines when you want speed in a big ship. As for technology - yeah, it is stunning to see how far we've come since 1968. I'm sitting here putting some files on a 2GB flashdrive that is the size of a house key. That amount of storage was unheard of in 1968, let alone the size.
I got to walk up to the SSUS at the pier once. Me and my buddies ran into a Polish seaman in a bar and gave him a ride to his cargo ship, which happened to be near the SSUS. I really wanted to board her and check things out, but obviously that was out of the question.
One theory floating around is that NCL acquired SSUS and Independence to establish a monopoly in the Hawaiian cruise market. By taking the only two US flagged hulls off the market, no one else could compete in the NCL America itineraries for at least as long as it would take to build a new US flagged vessel, which would be extremely unlikely, anyway.
If you buy into this theory, Independence was potentially a bigger threat to NCL America than SSUS, since Independence could be brought online much more quickly than SSUS. So to summarize, the theory is that NCL will hold on to the two ships indefinitely to keep them from being acquired by any potential competitor. The dockage and minimal maintenance would be a small price to pay to eliminate any threat of competition.
Who really knows what's really going on.
quote:
Originally posted by tncruiseman: Dan: In my eyes, the biggest mystery is why NCL bought Independence and entered into purchase agreement on SSUS in the first place, and still continue to pay for their layup and storage. They haven't placed the ships for sale. Could the profit from a future sale to the scrappers be enough to justify the current daily expenses? One day the mystery will unfold, or a bad business plan will be exposed. Hoping for the first, not the latter.
It would be nice to have a plan with potential investors in place when/if the opportunity arises and your ideas certainly would be feasible.
That theory is the only one that makes any sense for sure. Eliminating direct competition does have advantages.
Next Cruise: Carnival Fantasy 10-27-08
03/08 Carnival Fantasy 10-07 Carnival Holiday 03-07 Carnival Holiday 11-06 Carnival Triumph 03-06 CaribbeanPrincess 01-04 Carnival Victory 09-03 Carnival Destiny 05-03 Carnival Imagination 11-02 Carnival Imagination 01-02 RCCL Rhapsody of Seas 02-01 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 02-00 RCCL Empress of Seas 01-99 RCCL Sovereign of Seas 01-98 RCCL Majesty of Seas
Originally posted by scottyo: One theory floating around is that NCL acquired SSUS and Independence to establish a monopoly in the Hawaiian cruise market. By taking the only two US flagged hulls off the market, no one else could compete in the NCL America itineraries for at least as long as it would take to build a new US flagged vessel, which would be extremely unlikely, anyway.
If you buy into this theory, Independence was potentially a bigger threat to NCL America than SSUS, since Independence could be brought online much more quickly than SSUS. So to summarize, the theory is that NCL will hold on to the two ships indefinitely to keep them from being acquired by any potential competitor. The dockage and minimal maintenance would be a small price to pay to eliminate any threat of competition.
NCL bought the SS Independence in a public auction, where every one who wanted could submit a public bid. No other cruisr line did, no other cruise line wanted her.
While it's true no other cruise line can use her because NCL owns her, my point is no other cruise line wanted her at the time. If other cruise lines wanted to buy her seriously, they could make NCL an offer they can't refuse. But they haven't.
The SS US was also bought, or leased, too. Other cruise lines could have offered more for her too. They could have offered decades ago, and haven't.
NCL has plans for both ships, although I have no idea what they are.
Originally posted by Redlinekid2: If NCL wants the Big U to sail in unique destinations, that itinerary should be given to the MV Pride of America. The SS United States interiors can be rebuilt to match the elegance of the SS Nuiew Amsterdam of 1938, but with a 1940s-1950s twist. It can easily become a 5-Star hotel on the NYC Waterfront next to the USS Intrepid. $400 Million is more than enough to make this dream a reality. What's so hard about that? This idea can work. Lets have an email campaign to encourage the SS United States Foundation to organize a public/private partnership to buy and renovate the Big U into the maritime gem that was meant to be.
The Pride of America can't legally do the exclusive cruise itineraries that a refurbished SSUS can. The loophole that allows it to sail under the American flag specifically states it must sail mainly in Hawaii (more than half a year). Although the hull was started in an American shipyard, it was stretched and completed in Germany. The loophole that allows it to sail around Hawaii under the American flag, also prevents it from sailing to other locales; including the Gulf of Mexico (including American ports), the Caribbean Sea, Mexico, and Alaska. That eliminates many exclusive itineraries, but not all.
Whereas I agree the SSUS will make a fine hotel, it would be expensive to maintain as a hotel, much like the Queen Mary is for Long Beach. It would also mean major modifications will be made to her to allow her to fill so many different roles, that much of her charm will be lost doing so. As I argued before, New York City already has plenty of hotel rooms, and building a new hotel will be far cheaper than restoring the SSUS for that purpose. I still believe the best thing that can happen for the SSUS is for NCL to refurbish her into a cruise ship.
Ron, I feel that the Big U would be better off as a floating 5-Star hotel and hotel academy, that could be a unit of Cornell University's Hotel School. That in itself would make the ship a viable business venture.
I no longer see the Big U sailing. NCL might as well had used the SS Independence and retreived the SS Monterrey(before it was scrapped) for that role. I can't see why it's too expensive to use the Big U as a hotel like the Queen Mary. I see a lot of money these days going into crazy projects that will never see a return on its investment. And restoring the Big U is considered crazy as a hotel?
We'll see what happens.
Dan Lague
Posts: 347 | Location: Florida | Registered: May 16, 2006
I feel a viable option for the SS United States is accomidation for the 2012 or 2016 olympic games and this could be an inscentive and when her duty is over she could become a hotel or cruise ship or something viable. She might even get sponsored by the olympic comittee.
Originally posted by Redlinekid2: Ron, I feel that the Big U would be better off as a floating 5-Star hotel and hotel academy, that could be a unit of Cornell University's Hotel School. That in itself would make the ship a viable business venture.
I no longer see the Big U sailing. NCL might as well had used the SS Independence and retreived the SS Monterrey(before it was scrapped) for that role. I can't see why it's too expensive to use the Big U as a hotel like the Queen Mary. I see a lot of money these days going into crazy projects that will never see a return on its investment. And restoring the Big U is considered crazy as a hotel?
We'll see what happens.
I'm not in disagreement, a hotel/casino remodeling is a possibility. It's just that I prefer seeing her sailing around the world to exotic locations as a cruise ship better.
If you check out the Queen Mary's history as a stationary hotel-museum, you'll discover much local "goverment" (City of Long Beach) money sunk into her over the years, and very little "private" money. The reason much of the Queen Mary's interiors was removed was to make space for a museum, which was the reason the City of Long Beach bought her in the first place, and the sources for her funding. The hotel and convention center add ons were secondary reasons. Maybe if the hotel operations was the primary goal, it would look more attractive to private investors. But I doubt it. I don't think any university can find "private" funding for refurbishing a ship because a ship requires so much upkeep. A building on land is much cheaper to build and maintain.
I feel a viable option for the SS United States is accomidation for the 2012 or 2016 olympic games and this could be an inscentive and when her duty is over she could become a hotel or cruise ship or something viable. She might even get sponsored by the olympic comittee.
