First cruise...wonderful ship...great people...sorry to learn it is at the bottom of the ocean.
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Marc
"The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."
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Hi,
I spent 4 months aboard the SS Brittanis when it was docked it Cuba to assist with Armed Forces operation. I didn't know that it was at the bottom of the ocean!! What happened to this ship? Any info would be appreciated as I would be interested in finding out what happened.
Thanks!
a group of six of us cruised on the Brittanis in 1988.our first cruise,and you always remember the first one.it embarked from Montego Bay,San Blas and Aruba.it was an older ship at that time,but clean and we had a ball.i have a lot of video from inside and outside the ship.a while back there was a cruise ship that only had a few crew members aboard.i remember from the news footage that all the crew was rescued by helicopter.i told my wife it looked like the Brittanis from the top deck and the X's on the smokestacks.the follow up was that it would cost a fortune to raise the ship from the bottom,but they never named the ship in the news clip.it may not have been ,but it sure looked like it.
Sailed this liner 4 times and loved every minute of it. The food and service was great and so affordable. I have sailed 50 something cruises and toured many kitchens aboard ships, but none was cleaner than the stainless steel kitchen on Britanis and when you consider her age...thats unreal. I purchased a VCR tape of the Britanis and have it in my library. Every time I play it... its like sailing the grat liner again. Just think, she cruised for 60 years.....no other ship will come close to that record. What a great history for a US built ship.
In 1988 my husband I took a 47 day cruise on the Britanis around South America round trip from either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, can't remember which but the cruise and ship were wonderful. We met friends with whom we corresponded for years. Hubby was born in Buenos Aires and had not been back in 30 years so that was special. The ship itself was old but comfortable and we have wonderful memories of the whole trip. Quite a few years later we sailed on the SS Amerikanis, also owned by Chandris,through the Baltic and Scandinavia--and it was the last cruise she made. Both are gone now but oh the memories. Joan Gresham
Gee, I can hardly believe the previous posters are talking about the same ship that 4 friends and I sailed on in early 1987! That first cruising experience nearly soured us all on ever cruising again. We sailed from Montego Bay with ports in Aruba, San Blas Islands, Cartagena and Panama City. Three of us had a suite (I think it was the *top* accomodation on the ship) and the other two had an outside cabin. We all thought the ship was drab and dirty, the common areas crowded, and there were a number of rude crew members. I particularly remember a rather bizarre incident involving the purser. The morning before disembarkation, I cashed a travelers check at the purser's office for tips the next day. Realizing that I didn't have enough smaller bills, I went back that afternoon to get some $5's; I handed the purser a $20 bill, and he looked at it and said the bill was counterfeit! I replied that if it was, he had given it to me that A.M., and therein ensued a nasty exchange between the two of us that eventually ended in his giving me the change I had requested. The only positive thing I remember about that first cruise was having fun in the casino - there were two casino workers (slot mechanics?) from The Netherlands who we enjoyed talking to every night, especially about other ships they'd worked on, etc. They let us know not to judge every ship by that one, which was a good thing, as I'm happy to say we took their advice and tried cruising again the next year and have continued virtually every year thereafter. No comparison to, for instance, Princess, Radisson, Cunard, RCL, Renaissance, Silverseas.
In my opinion, cruising is almost always a case of "you get what you pay for", and admittedly, the Brittanis was el cheapo - if she's indeed on the bottom of the sea, I see that as a fitting final resting place for her!
It was my first cruise and it was great. I was only 15 years old. I went with my Parents, brothers, two uncles & aunts, and two couples, friends of my parents
It was Great.
I met another Girl from Panama there, she was called Sarah. I remember we going all over the ship following the photographer, (can't remember the name) and one of the band members (no name either) that we had a crush on them. It was so much fun. Have great memories of it. It is sad to hear that she's at the bottom of the sea. When did this happened? what happened?
My wife sailed on the Brittanis in 1989 with her family and friends. Because the ship had been used during the war, it was quite old and spartan. Their programs were far below today's standards - especially their entertainment which was only one show per evening. My wife had the late seating and always missed the entertainment, as it was ending by the time they all got to the theater.
However, she said that the price was very reasonable for a five day cruise from Miami to Cozumel and back.
Manny
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Do you have any memories of the S.S. Brittanis you would like to share?
We sailed over to Australia Oct/Nov 1974, wonderful cruise although weather real bad. had to divert down past St Paul island never forget that isolated spot. Sounded ships horn in case of shipwrecked sailors. Anyone rember.
I cruised on Brittanis twice! Once in 1992 and the other about a year and half later. Both times were out of Miami to Nassau. First time it was my then wife and myself and the second time we took our daughter and her friend. I have been on many cruises and while each is different this was one of the smaller ships and the crew was very friendly and accomodating. Ironically my Dad had also sailed on this ship when it was formerly the SS Monterey. He took it to the Philippines to fight in WWII. This was definately the favorite of the smaller ships for me. I am saddened to hear of her demise but she had a longer career than most and touched many lives. So long Brittanis.
In October 1972 I sailed as a passenger with the S.S. Brittanis from Wellington NZ, Punta Arenas (Chili), Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Tenerife and finally Southampton. Nicest trip I ever made by boat. Too bad this ship sank off the coast of South Africa.
Last edited by Harry Solinger; July 30th, 2012 at 09:28 AM.
Hi I was a photographer on SS Britannis 1991, also did the 50day cruise around south america on board her that year, i would love to hear from anyone who might of shared the experience ?? best wishes Andy
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Chandrias S.S. Brittanis memories
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