For those who thought the France's look was ruined in this conversion you must know that she was nearly 20 years old and in dire need for a conversion or she would've been scrapped. As for that 1990 conversion i have to agree, those additional suites just made her look a little ugly but she still kept those beautiful curves and lines.
@Daniel De saint malo well true, if they weren't cheapskates they could've afforded a complete boiler overhaul or a new diesel plant conversion like Cunard Line did to the Q. E. 2.
Amazing video and very informative. I worked for the Norwegian bank that financed the conversion for the shipowner. Great trip down memory lane to see Knut U Kloster, the shipowner, who has sadly now passed away. Very fond memories of the whole "Norway" project
I have an SS norway crew shirt. I woked on a film crew that created a commercial for the ship. Sometimes in the late 80s early 90s. We spent a week filming in the ship. I fell in love with this vessel.
Great documentary, made by the ship yard it seems. I have an identical one on the rebuild of the Mikhail Lermontov in 1982 with the same man narrating!
The first time I sailed on her was my very first cruise as a teenager in March 1982 while on spring break from school. What an experience it was; I'll never forget it. Boy, has cruising changed. It used to be such a special, unique experience of a by gone era of class, sophistication and elegance. I miss her and wish she had been preserved as a floating hotel or such as many great ocean liners of the past have. After the onboard explosion that killed several crew members while docked in the Port of Miami early one Saturday morning, she laid in limbo for some time before she was eventually towed to Alang, India after being sold for scrap. She sailed under the name "Blue Lady" after being sold by Norwegian Cruise Lines before making her last voyage as the world's largest ocean liner. Soon after arrival in Alang, India she was dismantled and is now, no more than a memory. God bless all who worked and sailed on her from her beginning as the S.S. France in 1961 until her death over 40 years later, as the S.S. Norway.
I worked on there as a busboy in 1980 and again in 81. I went as a passenger quite a few times after graduating from The University of SC. She was a grand ship in her day!
Thank goodness we have the QM2. Hope she is never scrapped. But hotel after sea service. Already she is 22 yrs old. Only Atlantic worthy. Ocean Liner in service.
I am not sure that we who honor the art form of the ocean liner can ever do any better documentary work than this. The film quality made be enhanced, the sound may be improved...but the overall sophistication of this film imparts a special quality...just as did the great France and her able-bodied successor, the Norway.
Sailed on her in Sep 1994. I was part of a wedding group. On the first night we met a few crew members who took myself and the bride’s brothers for a tour of the crew area. It’s an interesting world in the crew area. It was one of the best cruises I have had.
Lunghezza 326 metri; la nave avuto due vite; prima era una nave transatlantico , in secondo decennio trasformazione in nave da crociera con la compagnia crocieristica norvegese
Such a shame the cruise company didn't upgrade/replace the clearlr out of date boilers which exploded killing eight crew members.....resulting in the ship's scrapping.
Birthplace of SS NORWAY is the same as SS FRANCE... that place is Saint Nazaire, France. Bremerhaven never meant anything to the grandest of dames that once plied the high seas. Period.
I have to disagree. Bremerhaven was the Place where the France / Norway got a new lease on life. So even though Bremerhaven wasn’t a regular port she sailed to, it probably was more important in the history of the ship than you would like to admit.
@@LetsFlyGuy You have a point. It's hard to dispute your opinion. As a Frenchman, I easily disqualify Bremerhaven, having left SS France maimed. One thing sure, SS France was doomed after 12 years of service plying the North Atlantic. I'm glad she kept sailing for another 3 decades, even if it meant undermining her stunning, sleek looks. She still had grandeur under ncl ownership
@@tiadaid Thank you for explaining. Not as familiar with the eras years as you. But, boy I sure don’t care for it. 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕or you either! Rude smart ass!
Sailed on Norway in 1985. I loved that ship!
For those who thought the France's look was ruined in this conversion you must know that she was nearly 20 years old and in dire need for a conversion or she would've been scrapped. As for that 1990 conversion i have to agree, those additional suites just made her look a little ugly but she still kept those beautiful curves and lines.
@Daniel De saint malo well true, if they weren't cheapskates they could've afforded a complete boiler overhaul or a new diesel plant conversion like Cunard Line did to the Q. E. 2.
Amazing video and very informative. I worked for the Norwegian bank that financed the conversion for the shipowner. Great trip down memory lane to see Knut U Kloster, the shipowner, who has sadly now passed away. Very fond memories of the whole "Norway" project
Ran slightly over budget, didn`t it?
Cruised on the SS Norway in 1987 for our Honeymoon. It was a great experience!!
I have an SS norway crew shirt. I woked on a film crew that created a commercial for the ship. Sometimes in the late 80s early 90s. We spent a week filming in the ship. I fell in love with this vessel.
Great documentary, made by the ship yard it seems. I have an identical one on the rebuild of the Mikhail Lermontov in 1982 with the same man narrating!
The first time I sailed on her was my very first cruise as a teenager in March 1982 while on spring break from school. What an experience it was; I'll never forget it.
Boy, has cruising changed. It used to be such a special, unique experience of a by gone era of class, sophistication and elegance.
I miss her and wish she had been preserved as a floating hotel or such as many great ocean liners of the past have. After the onboard explosion that killed several crew members while docked in the Port of Miami early one Saturday morning, she laid in limbo for some time before she was eventually towed to Alang, India after being sold for scrap. She sailed under the name "Blue Lady" after being sold by Norwegian Cruise Lines before making her last voyage as the world's largest ocean liner. Soon after arrival in Alang, India she was dismantled and is now, no more than a memory. God bless all who worked and sailed on her from her beginning as the S.S. France in 1961 until her death over 40 years later, as the S.S. Norway.
Brilliant period documentary. I recall Norway visiting Southampton in 1980 in this format👍
My husband and I got married on the Norway. Love this ship.
She's no more , sadly :(
Well I hope your. Marriage sails on Longer than the norway did
I worked on there as a busboy in 1980 and again in 81. I went as a passenger quite a few times after graduating from The University of SC. She was a grand ship in her day!
Thank goodness we have the QM2. Hope she is never scrapped. But hotel after sea service. Already she is 22 yrs old. Only Atlantic worthy. Ocean Liner in service.
She will be scrapped, but hopefully not for many years to come
Superb!
That was wonderful.........how exciting to see that transformation.
A great documentary. I wish someone would find a good print of this and scan it. It would look so much better.
I was on this ship
Great job
I am not sure that we who honor the art form of the ocean liner can ever do any better documentary work than this. The film quality made be enhanced, the sound may be improved...but the overall sophistication of this film imparts a special quality...just as did the great France and her able-bodied successor, the Norway.
Spent one week onboard the SS Norway in the Caribbean, May 1992. As a Norwegian myself, I was very proud 😁
Beautiful
BEAUTIFUL GRACEFUL LINER'S " NORMANDIE AND SS FRANCE BRAVO ."
Sailed New York to Le Havre may 1974 on ss FRANCE..
I love the slip covers when she was laid up.
Whilst she went on to have a great second life as the Norway, it's still quite sad seeing her deck being pulled up at 8:51.
It wasn’t the last chapter of a 150 year old tradition of North Atlantic passenger shipping. It still continues to this day. 2020;as I write.
Yeh the QE2 was going strong during this period, 69-2008, now we have to QM2
@@thefowlyetti2 Exactly.
Sailed on her in Sep 1994. I was part of a wedding group. On the first night we met a few crew members who took myself and the bride’s brothers for a tour of the crew area. It’s an interesting world in the crew area. It was one of the best cruises I have had.
22:00 - the Music sounds like Christian Bruhn...
Not long after the introduction of the midnight buffet all the Americans gained 40 pounds or so.
im glad they gave her an new life. if not SS France would have died way earlier than how it is today
Hopefully one day an original print will be unearthed and perhaps a restored version can be released. Unless it was edited on video.
I enjoy it .....every much...i was on the ship
Magnifique France unique beauté
4:20 5 days not 6.
what is the song at the beginning?
5:20 OHH HELL NAWWWW
Lunghezza 326 metri; la nave avuto due vite; prima era una nave transatlantico , in secondo decennio trasformazione in nave da crociera con la compagnia crocieristica norvegese
And all these went for scrap in Alang...
we had that horrible 80's synthesized keyboard crap (mixed with a saxophone) played for our expo 86 promo films....so 80's!!! :0)
Sailed on the NORWAY 3 times m last of the truly grand sleek ships … never to be duplicated again .EVER !!! New ships are seriously
Ugly .
Sadly she is scraped
Such a shame the cruise company didn't upgrade/replace the clearlr out of date boilers which exploded killing eight crew members.....resulting in the ship's scrapping.
Comment ont ils faire ça dommage 😢😢
Lol everyone smoking in the meeting 🤮
Those were times, I would want it back
I agree it’s not pleasant.
D’une pureté le France
1 dollar for en hår klipp het framme nede i bauen, du kan ta i begge vegger
Norway minable ils ont défiguré 😢😢😢
Seul les paquebots Français étaient d’une élégance et d’une ligne pure
Birthplace of SS NORWAY is the same as SS FRANCE... that place is Saint Nazaire, France. Bremerhaven never meant anything to the grandest of dames that once plied the high seas. Period.
I have to disagree. Bremerhaven was the Place where the France / Norway got a new lease on life. So even though Bremerhaven wasn’t a regular port she sailed to, it probably was more important in the history of the ship than you would like to admit.
@@LetsFlyGuy You have a point. It's hard to dispute your opinion. As a Frenchman, I easily disqualify Bremerhaven, having left SS France maimed. One thing sure, SS France was doomed after 12 years of service plying the North Atlantic. I'm glad she kept sailing for another 3 decades, even if it meant undermining her stunning, sleek looks. She still had grandeur under ncl ownership
OMG! so obsolete! so tiny! so old... vintage video for oldies.
Simply horrible music, would have loved watching, but couldn’t!
It was during the synth era with Kraftwerk et al. What do you expect?
@@tiadaid Thank you for explaining. Not as familiar with the eras years as you. But, boy I sure don’t care for it. 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕or you either! Rude smart ass!