Wonderful to see this. In 1959 I went to Jamaica aboard her later manifestation, The Italia, of Home Lines. It has spoiled me to want a vintage cruise ship...lol. Made in 1928, she was only 31 years old in '59. Jamaica back then was an adventure for a kid as well. So nice to see this... thank you :)
I can say with absolute certainty this is the ship that was sold by Swedish-American to Home Lines and became the Italia. I have quite a bit of memorabilia from this ship when she was both the Kungsholm (as you see her here, she was actually the second ship with this name) and as the Italia including deck plans, menus, post cards. When Home Lines sold her to Canaveral International and she was converted to a floating hotel in the Bahamas, my dad was in charge of developing the resort being built at the site where she was berthed. The "Imperial Bahama" (as she was re-named) was home for our family during the summer of 1964 when I was 11. Everything was intact from when she was a transatlantic liner. I'll never forget the incredible wood inlay and the Art Deco interiors. The ship smelled of varnish, shellac, oil and garlic. We'd go fishing in the day out on a deep sea boat and the chef would prepare our catch in some amazing Italian recipe. The orchestra actually learned to play some Beach Boys songs because we asked them to. Those decks were our playgrounds and that pool was so small compared to hotels we'd stayed in. My younger brother and I shared a cabin, it had an old style rug and dark wood, with a tiny sink and round porthole that opened with brass fittings. She was the first really big ship I'd ever been on and she kindled a lifelong love affair.
I wish there were a way for us to connect. I was a boy of 4 or 5 years of age, when in 1958 (+/-) I sailed Italia from NYC to Hamburg. I will never forget the experience. Do you have ANY info of the pier that Italia departed from in NYC?
This was a wonderful ship and I was only 11 when we cruised to Jamaica in 1959, as the Home Lines, "Italia". The food was marvelous and the vintage character of the ship has forever spoiled me in regards to cruise ships, LOL. I could write a book about the ship voyage and then the exploring Jamaica. It has long been obvious to me that this trip influenced my career in fine art and my work of New Orleans. I could see the Caribbean influence in that old city and it shows in my work. This was probably the best gift my parents ever gave to me... other than adopting me, of course, hahaha.
M/S Kungsholm was a passenger Ship. Swedish America Line (SAL) built in 1953 in the Netherlands. On November 24, 1953, she made her maiden voyage from Gothenburg to New York City to Pier 97
This ship was later purchased by the German Lloyd lines and renamed the MS Berlin. I sailed on her from NYC to Bremerhaven, Germany when I was A kid in 1958. It had a nice in door swimming pool
Respectfully, I think you are mistaken. The ship was bought by Home Lines after WWII, and was renamed "Italia". I was a passenger on that ship in 1957 or 1958 as a boy on a trip from NY to Hamburg/Bremerhaven Germany. See also here---> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Kungsholm_(1928)
Wow! Do you have any other films from these ships S/S Kungsholm and S/S Gripsholm ? I want everything :)! I am also extremely interested in films from oceanliners during the 20s. Do you know ?
Not sure why but when I see movie footage of liners instead of photographs I get much more of a sense of size and proportion. The Kungsholm was much larger than she seems to be in photos. Wonderful color footage of a wonderful liner. It may have been when was the Italia that she was called "hostess of the Atlantic". Classy title for a classy ship.
Judging by the large national colors displayed on the hull, it would appear this film may have been taken during the first year + of WW2 before the US became involved. Sweden was neutral so in theory the ship could cross the Atlantic into the neutral waters of the US. U boats at that time were far more careful than later on.
Very probably the winter of 1939-1940. As noted in an earlier comment the ship is clearly marked as a neutral vessel for submarines. I think the winter since that was the time frame when people tended to cruise to warmer places like Cuba. It is not likely that this was filmed much later than 1940 since after the fall of France the Atlantic war really heated up and most non war related maritime commerce stopped until 1945. It was just too dangerous.
I was a boy of maybe 4 or 5 years of age....and was on the "Italia" ( this ship under a different name), the year was maybe 1957 or 58. Departed NY on our way to Hamburg Germany. I have some home personal photos of the departure.....but I now LONG to get more detail, if someone here can help. What pier would Italia have used at that time ( pier 94?).... she was likely part of Home Lines then, and not with Swedish-America lines. But who knows? ...maybe the piers used were the same.... and hopefully they remained rather consistent in which piers were used, and not randomly assigned piers.
It would be an interesting thing to investigate and go back to see that pier. I went back to Freeport and Lucaya on Grand Bahama to recapture the sight of my magic summer aboard her. It wasn't too hard to find the wharf that my dad built, but nothing around it looks the same.
Typical medium sized liner of the 1920's. All the fittings of the highest order unlike the plastic crap of today. Cabins might be better on the new ships with generally more space but everything else is inferior and if you're on a great ship you don't want to spend a lot of time in your cabin anyway.
Hahah... I was wondering if it was German or one of the Allies. Still it is fun to see. In 1959 we went to Jamaica abord the Home Lines, MS Italia ( Same ship new name) but no U-Boats...LOL!
Wonderful to see this. In 1959 I went to Jamaica aboard her later manifestation, The Italia, of Home Lines. It has spoiled me to want a vintage cruise ship...lol. Made in 1928, she was only 31 years old in '59. Jamaica back then was an adventure for a kid as well. So nice to see this... thank you :)
I can say with absolute certainty this is the ship that was sold by Swedish-American to Home Lines and became the Italia. I have quite a bit of memorabilia from this ship when she was both the Kungsholm (as you see her here, she was actually the second ship with this name) and as the Italia including deck plans, menus, post cards. When Home Lines sold her to Canaveral International and she was converted to a floating hotel in the Bahamas, my dad was in charge of developing the resort being built at the site where she was berthed. The "Imperial Bahama" (as she was re-named) was home for our family during the summer of 1964 when I was 11. Everything was intact from when she was a transatlantic liner. I'll never forget the incredible wood inlay and the Art Deco interiors. The ship smelled of varnish, shellac, oil and garlic. We'd go fishing in the day out on a deep sea boat and the chef would prepare our catch in some amazing Italian recipe. The orchestra actually learned to play some Beach Boys songs because we asked them to. Those decks were our playgrounds and that pool was so small compared to hotels we'd stayed in. My younger brother and I shared a cabin, it had an old style rug and dark wood, with a tiny sink and round porthole that opened with brass fittings. She was the first really big ship I'd ever been on and she kindled a lifelong love affair.
I wish there were a way for us to connect. I was a boy of 4 or 5 years of age, when in 1958 (+/-) I sailed Italia from NYC to Hamburg. I will never forget the experience. Do you have ANY info of the pier that Italia departed from in NYC?
This was a wonderful ship and I was only 11 when we cruised to Jamaica in 1959, as the Home Lines, "Italia". The food was marvelous and the vintage character of the ship has forever spoiled me in regards to cruise ships, LOL. I could write a book about the ship voyage and then the exploring Jamaica. It has long been obvious to me that this trip influenced my career in fine art and my work of New Orleans. I could see the Caribbean influence in that old city and it shows in my work. This was probably the best gift my parents ever gave to me... other than adopting me, of course, hahaha.
M/S Kungsholm was a passenger Ship. Swedish America Line (SAL) built in 1953 in the Netherlands. On November 24, 1953, she made her maiden voyage from Gothenburg to New York City to Pier 97
Oh, that must have been Kungsholm 3 then. I thought the smoke stacks looked different.
great old' footage, thanks for sharing!
Actually, it was the Gripsholm from the Swedish line that Was purchased by the German Lloyd Lines and renamed the MS Berlin.
Glad you enjoyed it. You must be the first person to actually see it!
This ship was later purchased by the German Lloyd lines and renamed the MS Berlin. I sailed on her from NYC to Bremerhaven, Germany when I was
A kid in 1958. It had a nice in door swimming pool
Respectfully, I think you are mistaken. The ship was bought by Home Lines after WWII, and was renamed "Italia". I was a passenger on that ship in 1957 or 1958 as a boy on a trip from NY to Hamburg/Bremerhaven Germany. See also here---> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Kungsholm_(1928)
That's very interesting. Thanks for the confirmation!
Wow!
Do you have any other films from these ships S/S Kungsholm and S/S Gripsholm ?
I want everything :)!
I am also extremely interested in films from oceanliners during the 20s.
Do you know ?
This was actually a motor vessel and not a steamship.
Not sure why but when I see movie footage of liners instead of photographs I get much more of a sense of size and proportion. The Kungsholm was much larger than she seems to be in photos. Wonderful color footage of a wonderful liner. It may have been when was the Italia that she was called "hostess of the Atlantic". Classy title for a classy ship.
Judging by the large national colors displayed on the hull, it would appear this film may have been taken during the first year + of WW2 before the US became involved. Sweden was neutral so in theory the ship could cross the Atlantic into the neutral waters of the US. U boats at that time were far more careful than later on.
The two cars at :20 appear to be a 1939 Packard (closest) and a 1940 General Motors product, probably a Chevrolet.
Great video!!
Very probably the winter of 1939-1940. As noted in an earlier comment the ship is clearly marked as a neutral vessel for submarines. I think the winter since that was the time frame when people tended to cruise to warmer places like Cuba. It is not likely that this was filmed much later than 1940 since after the fall of France the Atlantic war really heated up and most non war related maritime commerce stopped until 1945. It was just too dangerous.
I was a boy of maybe 4 or 5 years of age....and was on the "Italia" ( this ship under a different name), the year was maybe 1957 or 58. Departed NY on our way to Hamburg Germany. I have some home personal photos of the departure.....but I now LONG to get more detail, if someone here can help. What pier would Italia have used at that time ( pier 94?).... she was likely part of Home Lines then, and not with Swedish-America lines. But who knows? ...maybe the piers used were the same.... and hopefully they remained rather consistent in which piers were used, and not randomly assigned piers.
It would be an interesting thing to investigate and go back to see that pier. I went back to Freeport and Lucaya on Grand Bahama to recapture the sight of my magic summer aboard her. It wasn't too hard to find the wharf that my dad built, but nothing around it looks the same.
Yup, it's shipgeek.com!
I'd rather sail on a ship that size than the behemoths out on the sea now.
Kungsholm scrapped?
Yes....after renamed the Italia and further ownership--> scrapped in Spain 1965--> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Kungsholm_(1928)
Typical medium sized liner of the 1920's. All the fittings of the highest order unlike the plastic crap of today. Cabins might be better on the new ships with generally more space but everything else is inferior and if you're on a great ship you don't want to spend a lot of time in your cabin anyway.
Did you see the quick shot of the U-Boat? Yikes!
+SovereignBlade Is that what it was? LOL, no.
+SovereignBlade Sharp eye, there, matey! Can't say for sure it's a German U-boat but it certainly is a fleet-type oceangoing sub.
Hahah... I was wondering if it was German or one of the Allies. Still it is fun to see. In 1959 we went to Jamaica abord the Home Lines, MS Italia ( Same ship new name) but no U-Boats...LOL!
The Kungsholm was built in early 50s. This videos seems to be in late 50s.
There wouldn't have been any u-boats at that time.