Category: Ships
Postcards & Penny Presses: How One New Jersey City Profited from the Morro Castle Disaster
The SS Morro Castle, flagship of the Ward Line, caught fire on September 8, 1934. The Coast Guard attempted to tow the stricken liner but was unsuccessful. The Morro Castle broke free. Onlookers ashore reportedly cheered when the tow line snapped, and the smoldering ship started drifting. She ultimately came to rest on the Jersey…
Tragedy, Mystery, and Exploitation: The Morro Castle Disaster at 90
A disaster was unfolding along the New Jersey coast in the early morning hours of September 8, 1934. The SS Morro Castle, flagship of the Ward Line, was burning out of control in the middle of a fierce storm. Spectators on land could see the orange glow clear as day. Only one SOS call had…
A Night on the Queen Mary
A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of staying aboard the grand old Queen Mary in Long Beach. It only made sense with our cruise on the Carnival Firenze leaving right next door at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal. I was particularly excited as it’d be my first time back aboard the Queen Mary…
SS United States: The World’s Largest Artificial Reef?
I honestly didn’t think I’d have to write a follow-up post quite so soon. Last week, I wrote about the SS United States and her current, desperate situation. The SS United States Conservancy was ordered by a federal judge in June to move the ship from her longtime pier in Philadelphia. This followed after a…
The Fate of the SS United States
We got back from Southern California the other day, and I’ll be writing some posts in the coming weeks related to the trip (in the meantime, check out the Instagram page for photos and videos). Today, though, I wanted to write about something that’s been on my mind for the last few months but have…
SS Leviathan: The Life and Death of an American Monster
Wednesday, July 4, 1923 was a dull, rainy day in New York. An American monster was about to set sail and there was excitement in the air. That fact that it was Independence Day only added to the occasion. An excited public had gathered to see the gigantic ship at Pier 86. A total of…
Ship of Secrets: The Titanic’s LGBTQ+ History
The Titanic is arguably the most famous ship in history. It seems that just about everyone knows the tragic story of the ship and her ill-fated maiden voyage. Books like Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember and the blockbuster film Titanic (1997) have certainly helped with this. But as Bill Paxton’s Brock Lovett said in…
Cruising Returns to Baltimore
In March, I wrote about the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and its potential impact on Baltimore’s cruise operations. The MV Dali (the ship that struck the bridge following power issues) has been finally removed, and cruising officially returned to Charm City on Saturday, May 25 with Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas embarking passengers…
The Four Chaplains and the Sinking of USAT Dorchester
During World War II, scores of ocean liners were converted into troop transports for the Allied war effort. Mighty ships like Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Aquitania were pressed into service along with more humble liners like Evangeline, Yarmouth, and Borinquen. These ships collectively transported millions of Allied servicemen and women to all theaters of…
From Cunard’s Storied History to the Future: The Queen Anne’s Maiden Voyage
It’s been said that there’s something really special about a Cunard Queen. Having worked aboard the legendary Queen Mary for over three years, I’m certainly inclined to agree! Today, Cunard’s newest ship, the Queen Anne sets sail from Southampton on her maiden voyage. She is the company’s 149th ship in it’s almost 185-year history. This…