This was beautiful !! Employed by Chandris from 1968 for 25 years!! Worked in the financial part of this business. The Chandris brothers loved all their ships,all of them ending with IS. Ellinis, Australis,Patris, Britainis and Amerikanis all ships ending with is like the owners name CHANDRIS !!! Thank You for this XXXXX 💕
This is such a beautifully made tribute to the Britanis, which brought my girlfriend and I to Sydney as £10 Poms in November 1971. We stopped at Las Palmas, Cape Town, Fremantle and Melbourne before arriving in Sydney. I recently celebrated 50 years in Australia on Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 2 November 2021. I can always remember the day we first arrived at Fremantle because it was on the first Tuesday 2nd of November 1971 when many passengers were out on the deck looking for our first glimpse of Australia. WA has a flat coastline so many of us were tuning in our transistor radios, trying to pick up a radio station. We did - and the station was relaying the famous Melbourne Cup horse race 'live' from over east. So it is easy for me to remember our official arrival to Australia. We lived in Sydney for several months, then Canberra (where we eventually split up). I have now lived in Perth for many years. Australia is a wonderful country and I have certainly had my £10 worth! Thank you SS Britanis for the wonderful memories.
One of the last Great Liners. I’m glad I got to enjoy her. I have great memories being onboard on our cruise to Bermuda. At the time, she was known for having the Best Buffets. Gorgeous Ice sculptures, grand food displays at the Midnight Buffet, we Partied till dawn. Thanks for sharing this. Makes my heart glad to see her again.
@@georgemuir3481 Hi George, so did I as a 15 year old in 1974. Melbourne -> Sydney -> Wellington -> Tahiti -> Panama -> Curaçao -> Azores -> Southampton.
Glad she went down in one piece, instead of being broken up. Sailed on her last round trip Honolulu voyage as the Lurline. Wonderful ship, beautifully maintained.
I sailed on her as my first cruise in the 70s and 80s throughout the Caribbean. She took me to almost every island during my 6 cruises. Now 23 cruises later, I can still remember all the great things about her. I was privileged to have sat at the Captain's table more than once as my Mom became friends with Mrs. Chandris.
John this is a great tribute. What makes it so wonderful for me is that I worked on the Britanis for 3 years (1980-83) in the Caribbean and NY City. I have so many cherished and beautiful memories and still remain very good friends with some of those I worked with and spent time with. Should you ever wish to have a collection of more photos, I would love to share them. (and I saw some of the people I worked with in this tribute...wow!! special). Thank you for putting this together.
Great tribute. I felt sad at the end of this video, because the Britanis was my first cruise ship when I was still in my twenties. She was a wonderful ship, and I have great memories of her, her crew and fantastic sailing.
Excellent tribute! Myself and my family emigrated to Australia from the UK on the Britanis' maiden voyage in Feb1971 (so nice to see the newspaper article with a photo of her on that day!) As a 12 year old, it was 5 weeks of amazing excitement on board. It held a mix of migrants and full fare holiday makers. We went: Southampton via Las Palmas and Cape Town (where some passengers left) onto Freemantle then Adelaide and Sydney. Sailing into Sydney Harbour with the unfinished Opera House is such a vivid memory. I'm glad the old girl went to a watery grave - (and to steal someones quote:) Rust in Peace.
January 12 1974 the beginning of the cruise was a Life changing look at life. Britanis was a grand lady of the ocean but at the time of sailing we made many friends along the way. To our friends in Western Samoa those days were never forgotten but cherished. Thankyou for the memories.
Donald, my family and I were on that trip! We sailed from Sydney. The Britanis was absolutely glorious, and they looked after the children so well; we were welcome at most of the evening shows, and I still have the little doll in Greek dress that I was given at the fancy dress party. (I also learned the Greek alphabet on that cruise.) We loved the Pacific islands, especially Pago Pago. Glad you had an awesome time too.
I sailed on the SS. Britanis on a New Year cruise in 1981. I've got a picture of myself with my parents and sister like the one shown in minute 12:00. Very good memories! Thank you for sharing this video.
Great tribute. I worked on Britanis as an apprentice engineer, during my studies years, 1994 and I met my wife on that beautiful ship. I was on board during the last cruise around South America (55 days). I disembarked with my girlfriend (my wife now)on 30th October of 1994 on Miami, Sunday. So, many good memories. I love BRITANIS, it has a special place in my heart. And you know something? I do miss it.
Waoooo... what a great memories!!! The SS BRITANIS was my first travel in a cruise ship whit my mom, dad and sister. The SS BITANIS set sail from La Guaira, Venezuela and goes to Puerto Rico, St. Tomas, Santo Domingo, Aruba and return to La Guaira on January 2, 1981. We recive a new year 1981 in this beautiful lady. She always be in my memories and my heart. Thanks a lot my dear SS BRINATIS...!! Congratulations .. it was a wonderful and lovely tribute!!!
What a charming tribute! My mother and father sailed back from Hawaii to California on the Matsonia and I always had a bit of difficulty tracing the history of the ship- now I understand why!. You've done lovely, professional work here. Bravo!
Good tribute. Sorry to say you missed out on the period she spent bringing migrants from Britain to Australia in the 70's. I traveled on her for 6 weeks in late 1971 and had Christmas on the ship before arriving in Australia in January. I have strong memories of my time on board, even though I was only 7 and a half. There are thousands of Australians who came across on the Britanis.
Wow!!!! That was amazing history I didn’t even know!! My husband and I were on the SS Brittanis when it was stationed in Miami and we were on that cruise when it caught fire and 23 crews cabins burned at the bottom of the ship. We have a really cool story to tell about that night when it apparently started happening at dinner time but no one knew. Our dinner couple that we were assigned to eat dinner with came knocking on our cabin door at 1 in the morning, knowing that our PA system didn’t work in our hallway. We came out and saw sparks coming out of an electrical panel and the front of the main hallway was full of smoke.... scary times! I am so glad this video was made
Thank you for this tribute to this grand old Lady of the seas. Worked on her several times.... Wonderful moments on a wonderful ship. Laying beneath the Sea Level in one piece - that is what this Lady deserves, instead of torn into pieces.
Well done John, wonderful tribute to a grand old lady, got her picture on my wall as well as the Ellinis and Australis, once again thank you for a lovely tribute 👍
Nice work,thank you.My great grandparents sailed on her from NZ to SF and islands on route in 1938,i have their photo album and a welcoming card that guests probably were given,[it has her name typed on it].A newspaper clipping back here in NZ where he had a talk to the local Rotaries on his return stated the food was fried with oil instead of dripping [animal fat] bit strange but one got used to it, and that dinner was an hour or longer affair and very nice.
She was my father's first ship going into the Merchant Marines in WWII in '43 and not long afterward he served on her sister ship the S.S. Mariposa and the original Lurline. How fortunate for those who were able to sail on her into her later years. I so appreciate your lovely tribute. Thank you so much!
Myself, my wife, and 3 children, set sail at midnight on 11/12 April 1974 fromSydney to Southampton, for a two year working holiday, via Wellington, Tahiti, Panama canal, Curaçao, and the Azores. The 12th of April was good Friday, so they left port before midnight so they would,nt have to pay overtime , consequently, half way to the UK they told us , or at least a lot of the passengers, that our luggage was still sitting in Sydney. They said they would send it on via the next ship, meanwhile you had to live with what you had in your cabin baggage. We enjoyed the trip anyway, I’ve got super8 movie footage of this trip that i keep thinking about putting on youtube, one day.
Sailed on her from Melbourne to Sydney, Wellington, Punta Arenas, Montevideo, Rio, Canary Islands, Lisbon and Southampton 1972. On board from Melbourne to England was the actor and teapot Frank Thring.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I had two 7 day cruises on the Briitanis in the fall of 77 and 78. She was a fun ship to cruise the Caribbean on. I have many pictures and many memories from those cruises. Thanks again.
A fitting end for her rather than being beached and torn apart for scrap We spent Xmas and new year on her on the way to Australia via Las Palmas , cape town ,Freemantle ,Melbourne them to Sydney I was in cabin 198bis and had the best time of my life great memories
Thanks so much for this loving tribute to an extraordinary liner and Matson Lines and their other fine cruise liners. At 73, I've never been on a cruise but I remember as a kid the Matson Lines and their liners...specifically the Lurline from advertisements in magazines. I tell you one thing, the new cruise ships are aesthetically pieces of monstrous hulking crap, seemingly built cheaply as possible for profit. The golden age of pleasure cruise liners died with the ending of these beautiful queens of the Pacific of Matson Lines. The ending statement of this video was indeed touching and beautiful
I Worked on this wonderful ship in the early nineties. I have nothing but great memories from those days.A tragic end for a wonderful lady of the seas.
I went on this magnificent ship at the end of August 1974 as a 9 year old. Still have the original brochures and daily leaflets from onboard. Happy memories.
OMG I remember that back-up steering wheel that said Matsonia on it. Great video and great use of ELO, bit at the end is sad to see her like that sailed on a lot of newer and fancier ships but this was my favorite for the history.
Thank you for this tribute. I came across her while researching the incredible story of a Canadian nurse who served in WW2, she sailed with SS Santa Elena in Convoy KME-25A of November 1943 towards Italy which also SS Monterey was part of. "My" nurse is picked up by SS Monterey when Santa Elena is torpedoed.
Great job John. This brought back memories, as I sailed on her for my Honeymoon in 1991. I was sad to hear that she sunk, but maybe it's better than being cut up. Thanks.
Great video - I sailed on her in 1979 from Amsterdam to Genoa -14 days. There were about 10 other singles under age 30 (including myself). I still have the Chandris brochure and home movies I took
Wonderful to see her again I worked as a hairdresser onboard this ship and made forever memories I’ll never forget! Especially on formal evenings the baked Alaska making it’s way around the dining room to claps and cheers from all our guests and staff!
How wonderful, and sad, it was to watch this. My first cruise was on the Britanis in 1985, in an inside cabin with upper and lower bunks, and just a sink. The toilets and showers were down the hall. I have an incredible time visiting exotic ports. I am spoiled now sailing on Celebrity with a veranda cabin.
My mum was on the SS Monterey just after the war, she was going from Australia to America to be with an American soldier she met, but it didn't work out so she came back to Australia. I only just came across a postcard of it in one of my Mum's photo albums yesterday.
I remember when I first moved to Brandon, Florida in 1994 and my parents and I were looking for a good restaurant to eat at and we found the Seabreeze restaurant in Tampa in 1997. I will never forget seeing those two huge blue funnels with the gigantic white Xs on them for Fantasy Cruises. I fished there ALL the time. My buddy and I would spend hours and hours fishing there and I would always look up at the Britanis. I have been a maritime historian since I was 6 years old and that was 32 years ago, so I was always fascinated by this ship. When I was old enough I bought a nice boat and my friends and I would always travel all around the Britanis and the Bluenose fishing, but I always dreamed of getting to walk onboard the Britanis. It was always roped off with no trespassing posted everywhere. I didn't want to take anything, I just wanted to see her interiors. I left home back in 2000 and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania because I had gone through chemo and radiation treatments and I was deemed cancer free. I can't say that I'm glad that I left Florida and my whole immediate family (who all still live down there), but if I hadn't I wouldn't have met my wife. I'm just saying, seeing her beautiful past and reading comments of the people who got to enjoy her past personally, it always brings a tear to my eye when I see these images and videos. Shortly after I moved to Pittsburgh I looked up Britanis on Yahoo and found out that not only had she been sold to a scrapping firm in Turkey, but she had sunk during the tow around the African Horn. So sad, but still a much more fitting end for such a gloriously long-lived ship than to see her be torn apart by a cutting torch. For those of you who haven't seen how they barbariously cut apart once loved ships, check out how the Alang, India yard works and how they destroy ships that we all once loved. Look up the former SS France (SS Norway) which I saw in person in Miami and even steered our ship (Granduer of the Seas) past on the Eastern Caribbean. All of these once greatly loved ships just being sold as scrap and torn apart by money hungry thieves stealing love and cherished memories by the plate. Smh...
@@davidnewby3263 I remember going to the bar and having lemonade and crisps (they weren't too worried about kids in the bar), though they ran out of crisps towards the end of one long leg. I also clearly remember the school lessons, the cinema, and going in the swimming pool with the water sloshing back and forth. The crew put on a crossing-the-equator celebration too. Somewhere I still own a book my parents bought for me from the little shop on board. We travelled on her in 1972. What about you?
My family sailed on her in summer ‘88 - Key West and Cozumel/Cancun. I was in college and this was our last major family vacation before I finished college and married. Good times!
Thank you for this tribute video. I got to sail on her as the Britanis in 1992. Too bad she couldn't be saved but I'm glad she wasn't left to the torch cutters. Does anyone know if the art work and murals were on board when she went down or were they taken off before she started to sail to the scrapyard?
We had an incident with her in the summer of 79 or 80 when serving with the Norwegian Coast Guard. She had been cruising in the Arctic area and gotten a leak after navigating in ice. We was down at Bear Island conducting some tests and exercises on behalf of the Norwegian maritime authorities when we was requested by the Svalbard authorities to proceed to Longyearbyen as they had gotten in a vessel with a leak. We proceeded north. But the problem was not very serious and our Chief Engineer was able to suggest a solution that did work so the could proceed to. However we was treated to dinner and a show while waiting for the Chief Engineer.
Funny, I was on this ship in the spring of 1993 as part of my high school's senior cruise. To think this thing was basically on its last legs when we boarded.
Thank you John for this video although I never sailed on her I did on her sister ship Ellinis which was a fantastic ship as well and its good to know that the Britanis is now resting at home in the sea where she belongs just a shame the Ellinis didnt cheat the scrappers as well
Hice un crucero por el Caribe en Agosto de 1982 a bordo de esta hermosa nave. Aún hoy tengo muy buenos recuerdos.... si más no recuerdo la ruta era San Juan, La Guaira, La Martinica , Barbados, Saint Marteen, Saint Thomas y San Juan
I saw her in 1983 at the America's Cup in Rhode Island when we lost the cup to the Aussies, somewhere I have a picture of her I think that I shot as we were heading into port after one of the races.....! Glad she decided to go down on her own terms!!
Its ironic that nearly every ship that needs to be towed to the scrappers suddenly develops a leak they can't stop or pump out. Or the tow line breaks and they all sink. I'm willing to bet in every case the owners had them insured for more than the scrap value or steel prices dropped while halfway there. Its bad enough these beautiful ships have to broken up, but at least other useful things can be made with the steel. Intensionally sinking them is just criminal.
Hi John. My grandparents from NZ travelled the world on Britanis. Recently going through old photos I discovered lots of old pics of onboard life and other memorabilia like detailed agents deck plans. Would love to pass these on to someone who would enjoy and share them. Chris at housewhisperers dot Co dot nz
good thing she mad it to the 21 century but even if she was saved she would have been scraped anyways. its so sad they are braking up old ships even in this century
Авто/Мото
This was beautiful !! Employed by Chandris from 1968 for 25 years!! Worked in the financial part of this business. The Chandris brothers loved all their ships,all of them ending with IS. Ellinis, Australis,Patris, Britainis and Amerikanis all ships ending with is like the owners name CHANDRIS !!! Thank You for this XXXXX 💕
and of course the Queen Frederika...is
This is such a beautifully made tribute to the Britanis, which brought my girlfriend and I to Sydney as £10 Poms in November 1971. We stopped at Las Palmas, Cape Town, Fremantle and Melbourne before arriving in Sydney. I recently celebrated 50 years in Australia on Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 2 November 2021. I can always remember the day we first arrived at Fremantle because it was on the first Tuesday 2nd of November 1971 when many passengers were out on the deck looking for our first glimpse of Australia. WA has a flat coastline so many of us were tuning in our transistor radios, trying to pick up a radio station. We did - and the station was relaying the famous Melbourne Cup horse race 'live' from over east. So it is easy for me to remember our official arrival to Australia. We lived in Sydney for several months, then Canberra (where we eventually split up). I have now lived in Perth for many years. Australia is a wonderful country and I have certainly had my £10 worth! Thank you SS Britanis for the wonderful memories.
One of the last Great Liners. I’m glad I got to enjoy her. I have great memories being onboard on our cruise to Bermuda. At the time, she was known for having the Best Buffets. Gorgeous Ice sculptures, grand food displays at the Midnight Buffet, we Partied till dawn. Thanks for sharing this. Makes my heart glad to see her again.
It's so sad! Today only plastic, Las Vegas style and boxes lines.
Congratulations on a wonderful tribute. It brought tears to my eyes. She was my home for 3 amazing years 1974-1977. Happy times!!
I sailed to uk from Melbourne on her as a 14 yr old heading home 1974
@@georgemuir3481 Hi George, so did I as a 15 year old in 1974. Melbourne -> Sydney -> Wellington -> Tahiti -> Panama -> Curaçao -> Azores -> Southampton.
Sailed t9 Australia may 1974 from Southampton, wonderful memories
Glad she went down in one piece, instead of being broken up. Sailed on her last round trip Honolulu voyage as the Lurline. Wonderful ship, beautifully maintained.
I sailed on her as my first cruise in the 70s and 80s throughout the Caribbean. She took me to almost every island during my 6 cruises. Now 23 cruises later, I can still remember all the great things about her. I was privileged to have sat at the Captain's table more than once as my Mom became friends with Mrs. Chandris.
John this is a great tribute. What makes it so wonderful for me is that I worked on the Britanis for 3 years (1980-83) in the Caribbean and NY City. I have so many cherished and beautiful memories and still remain very good friends with some of those I worked with and spent time with. Should you ever wish to have a collection of more photos, I would love to share them. (and I saw some of the people I worked with in this tribute...wow!! special). Thank you for putting this together.
Great tribute. I felt sad at the end of this video, because the Britanis was my first cruise ship when I was still in my twenties. She was a wonderful ship, and I have great memories of her, her crew and fantastic sailing.
Beautiful video ,wonderful ship. Thanks for the memories dear old lady !!!!
I'm very proud of myself !!....Im one of the Filipino security officer there in S/S BRITTANIS 1988....MARCELO M. JAMLANG
Excellent! Excellent! I enjoyed your tribute of the lovely BRITANIS.
Thanks a lot.This ship brought us to Australia back in 1972 where we still reside.Happy memories of a wonderful travel and her captain Zoulias
From Southampton? September we sailed.
@@73Cortina Wel left S,thampton on 11.dec71.round the world trip.
I sailed on this lovely boat from Sydney to Southhampton in 1974. I was 8.
Excellent tribute! Myself and my family emigrated to Australia from the UK on the Britanis' maiden voyage in Feb1971 (so nice to see the newspaper article with a photo of her on that day!) As a 12 year old, it was 5 weeks of amazing excitement on board. It held a mix of migrants and full fare holiday makers. We went: Southampton via Las Palmas and Cape Town (where some passengers left) onto Freemantle then Adelaide and Sydney. Sailing into Sydney Harbour with the unfinished Opera House is such a vivid memory. I'm glad the old girl went to a watery grave - (and to steal someones quote:) Rust in Peace.
January 12 1974 the beginning of the cruise was a Life changing look at life. Britanis was a grand lady of the ocean but at the time of sailing we made many friends along the way. To our friends in Western Samoa those days were never forgotten but cherished. Thankyou for the memories.
Donald, my family and I were on that trip! We sailed from Sydney. The Britanis was absolutely glorious, and they looked after the children so well; we were welcome at most of the evening shows, and I still have the little doll in Greek dress that I was given at the fancy dress party. (I also learned the Greek alphabet on that cruise.) We loved the Pacific islands, especially Pago Pago. Glad you had an awesome time too.
I sailed on the SS. Britanis on a New Year cruise in 1981. I've got a picture of myself with my parents and sister like the one shown in minute 12:00. Very good memories! Thank you for sharing this video.
Outstanding video! Had the pleasure to sail on this magnificent ship out of Miami! Loved the working portholes!!
Great tribute. I worked on Britanis as an apprentice engineer, during my studies years, 1994 and I met my wife on that beautiful ship. I was on board during the last cruise around South America (55 days). I disembarked with my girlfriend (my wife now)on 30th October of 1994 on Miami, Sunday. So, many good memories. I love BRITANIS, it has a special place in my heart. And you know something? I do miss it.
Waoooo... what a great memories!!!
The SS BRITANIS was my first travel in a cruise ship whit my mom, dad and sister. The SS BITANIS set sail from La Guaira, Venezuela and goes to Puerto Rico, St. Tomas, Santo Domingo, Aruba and return to La Guaira on January 2, 1981. We recive a new year 1981 in this beautiful lady. She always be in my memories and my heart. Thanks a lot my dear SS BRINATIS...!! Congratulations .. it was a wonderful and lovely tribute!!!
What a charming tribute! My mother and father sailed back from Hawaii to California on the Matsonia and I always had a bit of difficulty tracing the history of the ship- now I understand why!. You've done lovely, professional work here. Bravo!
Good tribute. Sorry to say you missed out on the period she spent bringing migrants from Britain to Australia in the 70's. I traveled on her for 6 weeks in late 1971 and had Christmas on the ship before arriving in Australia in January. I have strong memories of my time on board, even though I was only 7 and a half. There are thousands of Australians who came across on the Britanis.
Thanks so much for this video. I worked as crew on this ship under Chandris for several years. It was wonderful to see her tribute!
Wow!!!! That was amazing history I didn’t even know!! My husband and I were on the SS Brittanis when it was stationed in Miami and we were on that cruise when it caught fire and 23 crews cabins burned at the bottom of the ship. We have a really cool story to tell about that night when it apparently started happening at dinner time but no one knew. Our dinner couple that we were assigned to eat dinner with came knocking on our cabin door at 1 in the morning, knowing that our PA system didn’t work in our hallway. We came out and saw sparks coming out of an electrical panel and the front of the main hallway was full of smoke.... scary times! I am so glad this video was made
Thank you for this tribute to this grand old Lady of the seas.
Worked on her several times.... Wonderful moments on a wonderful ship.
Laying beneath the Sea Level in one piece - that is what this Lady deserves, instead of torn into pieces.
Well done John, wonderful tribute to a grand old lady, got her picture on my wall as well as the Ellinis and Australis, once again thank you for a lovely tribute 👍
Nice work,thank you.My great grandparents sailed on her from NZ to SF and islands on route in 1938,i have their photo album and a welcoming card that guests probably were given,[it has her name typed on it].A newspaper clipping back here in NZ where he had a talk to the local Rotaries on his return stated the food was fried with oil instead of dripping [animal fat] bit strange but one got used to it, and that dinner was an hour or longer affair and very nice.
She was my father's first ship going into the Merchant Marines in WWII in '43 and not long afterward he served on her sister ship the S.S. Mariposa and the original Lurline. How fortunate for those who were able to sail on her into her later years. I so appreciate your lovely tribute. Thank you so much!
Myself, my wife, and 3 children, set sail at midnight on 11/12 April 1974 fromSydney to Southampton, for a two year working holiday, via Wellington, Tahiti, Panama canal, Curaçao, and the Azores. The 12th of April was good Friday, so they left port before midnight so they would,nt have to pay overtime , consequently, half way to the UK they told us , or at least a lot of the passengers, that our luggage was still sitting in Sydney. They said they would send it on via the next ship, meanwhile you had to live with what you had in your cabin baggage.
We enjoyed the trip anyway, I’ve got super8 movie footage of this trip that i keep thinking about putting on youtube, one day.
Hi Dicky, I was onboard with my family returning to the England when I was 15. Wonderful voyage.
Please upload the footage you mentioned.
Sailed on her from Melbourne to Sydney, Wellington, Punta Arenas, Montevideo, Rio, Canary Islands, Lisbon and Southampton 1972. On board from Melbourne to England was the actor and teapot Frank Thring.
That text at the end made me cry.
Great video!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I had two 7 day cruises on the Briitanis in the fall of 77 and 78. She was a fun ship to cruise the Caribbean on. I have many pictures and many memories from those cruises. Thanks again.
A fitting end for her
rather than being beached and torn apart for scrap
We spent Xmas and new year on her on the way to Australia
via Las Palmas , cape town ,Freemantle ,Melbourne them to Sydney
I was in cabin 198bis and had the best time of my life
great memories
Hello from Brazil! Fantastic moments with my family and friends in 1987 on a trip to Nassau ! Rest in peace Old Lady! She had a soul.
What gorgeous and luxury ship she was in so much historical changes. Thank you for posting. Enjoyed very much. I’m subbing.
Beautifully done, I imagine the party is still going on, biggest change though the guest list is now aquatic.
Sailed with the old Girl in the 80s on our first Cruse with my young family .....what a classy Lady she was ,Thank so much.
a brilliant tribute to a brilliant ship, I like many went to become an Australian on her in 1973
Me too. landed in Melbourne. later settled on the Gold Coast.
Thanks so much for this loving tribute to an extraordinary liner and Matson Lines and their other fine cruise liners. At 73, I've never been on a cruise but I remember as a kid the Matson Lines and their liners...specifically the Lurline from advertisements in magazines. I tell you one thing, the new cruise ships are aesthetically pieces of monstrous hulking crap, seemingly built cheaply as possible for profit. The golden age of pleasure cruise liners died with the ending of these beautiful queens of the Pacific of Matson Lines. The ending statement of this video was indeed touching and beautiful
So beautiful... I was on her in 86 to a cruise to Bermuda. Beautiful ship she was.
Beautiful tribute. Sailed the Britanis from San Juan in 1979. Great memories.
I Worked on this wonderful ship in the early nineties. I have nothing but great memories from those days.A tragic end for a wonderful lady of the seas.
I worked on her in 1974, master at arms and fitness instructor!
I went on this magnificent ship at the end of August 1974 as a 9 year old. Still have the original brochures and daily leaflets from onboard. Happy memories.
@@jackierichardson7520 Fond memories !! Now the old girl is at the botton of the sea, SAD, same place this world is going nowadays !!
I was passenger of Britanis twice! It was amazing. Still remember greek captain C. DERMATIS.
Panagiosaki was our captain in '92; he tried to hit on my mom and arranged for us to win a free cruise raffle.
I sailed on her last voyage from Honolulu to Los Angeles as the Lurline. A beautiful ship and memorable experience.
Thank you for a moving tribute to a great lady.
Sailed to Australia may 1974 , wonder memories
OMG I remember that back-up steering wheel that said Matsonia on it. Great video and great use of ELO, bit at the end is sad to see her like that sailed on a lot of newer and fancier ships but this was my favorite for the history.
Thank you for this tribute. I came across her while researching the incredible story of a Canadian nurse who served in WW2, she sailed with SS Santa Elena in Convoy KME-25A of November 1943 towards Italy which also SS Monterey was part of. "My" nurse is picked up by SS Monterey when Santa Elena is torpedoed.
Great job John. This brought back memories, as I sailed on her for my Honeymoon in 1991. I was sad to hear that she sunk, but maybe it's better than being cut up. Thanks.
Wonderful video, thanks...
Great video - I sailed on her in 1979 from Amsterdam to Genoa -14 days. There were about 10 other singles under age 30 (including myself). I still have the Chandris brochure and home movies I took
Wonderful to see her again I worked as a hairdresser onboard this ship and made forever memories I’ll never forget! Especially on formal evenings the baked Alaska making it’s way around the dining room to claps and cheers from all our guests and staff!
I work on her, shore excursion 1987.
grate times!
i worked on this ship back in the 80s as a croupier casino dealer.
I was on the SS Britanis in 1994 and 1995 was a beautiful ship.
A splendid ocean liner died at seventy years old. What harmonious lines over and under the sea! Today only boxes ship.
I just found a picture of myself on the SS Britanis! Bahamas 1987. Thanks for the video.
How wonderful, and sad, it was to watch this. My first cruise was on the Britanis in 1985, in an inside cabin with upper and lower bunks, and just a sink. The toilets and showers were down the hall. I have an incredible time visiting exotic ports. I am spoiled now sailing on Celebrity with a veranda cabin.
My mum was on the SS Monterey just after the war, she was going from Australia to America to be with an American soldier she met, but it didn't work out so she came back to Australia. I only just came across a postcard of it in one of my Mum's photo albums yesterday.
I remember when I first moved to Brandon, Florida in 1994 and my parents and I were looking for a good restaurant to eat at and we found the Seabreeze restaurant in Tampa in 1997. I will never forget seeing those two huge blue funnels with the gigantic white Xs on them for Fantasy Cruises. I fished there ALL the time. My buddy and I would spend hours and hours fishing there and I would always look up at the Britanis. I have been a maritime historian since I was 6 years old and that was 32 years ago, so I was always fascinated by this ship. When I was old enough I bought a nice boat and my friends and I would always travel all around the Britanis and the Bluenose fishing, but I always dreamed of getting to walk onboard the Britanis. It was always roped off with no trespassing posted everywhere. I didn't want to take anything, I just wanted to see her interiors. I left home back in 2000 and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania because I had gone through chemo and radiation treatments and I was deemed cancer free. I can't say that I'm glad that I left Florida and my whole immediate family (who all still live down there), but if I hadn't I wouldn't have met my wife.
I'm just saying, seeing her beautiful past and reading comments of the people who got to enjoy her past personally, it always brings a tear to my eye when I see these images and videos. Shortly after I moved to Pittsburgh I looked up Britanis on Yahoo and found out that not only had she been sold to a scrapping firm in Turkey, but she had sunk during the tow around the African Horn. So sad, but still a much more fitting end for such a gloriously long-lived ship than to see her be torn apart by a cutting torch.
For those of you who haven't seen how they barbariously cut apart once loved ships, check out how the Alang, India yard works and how they destroy ships that we all once loved. Look up the former SS France (SS Norway) which I saw in person in Miami and even steered our ship (Granduer of the Seas) past on the Eastern Caribbean. All of these once greatly loved ships just being sold as scrap and torn apart by money hungry thieves stealing love and cherished memories by the plate. Smh...
great memorys from southampton arriving to sydney nov 1971, what a great ship.
I sailed on the SS _Britannis_ twice in the early 1970s - to England from New Zealand and back again. I have many memories of that great ship.
As a child I also sailed on this ship twice between Australia and England, have fond memories
@@davidnewby3263 I remember going to the bar and having lemonade and crisps (they weren't too worried about kids in the bar), though they ran out of crisps towards the end of one long leg. I also clearly remember the school lessons, the cinema, and going in the swimming pool with the water sloshing back and forth. The crew put on a crossing-the-equator celebration too. Somewhere I still own a book my parents bought for me from the little shop on board. We travelled on her in 1972. What about you?
So did I, March/April 1972 to NZ@@andysmith1996
This video was amazing. I am so glad I was able to spend a week on Britainis as a child.
My dad worked on this ship as a cruise ship. He loved working there.
My family sailed on her in summer ‘88 - Key
West and Cozumel/Cancun. I was in college and this was our last major family vacation before I finished college and married. Good times!
Thank you for this tribute video. I got to sail on her as the Britanis in 1992. Too bad she couldn't be saved but I'm glad she wasn't left to the torch cutters. Does anyone know if the art work and murals were on board when she went down or were they taken off before she started to sail to the scrapyard?
I have a picture of myself there in 1992; that is the auxiliary steering wheel, directly behind the main one.
We had an incident with her in the summer of 79 or 80 when serving with the Norwegian Coast Guard. She had been cruising in the Arctic area and gotten a leak after navigating in ice. We was down at Bear Island conducting some tests and exercises on behalf of the Norwegian maritime authorities when we was requested by the Svalbard authorities to proceed to Longyearbyen as they had gotten in a vessel with a leak. We proceeded north. But the problem was not very serious and our Chief Engineer was able to suggest a solution that did work so the could proceed to. However we was treated to dinner and a show while waiting for the Chief Engineer.
Was on it. Went to South America on it from San Juan.
Funny, I was on this ship in the spring of 1993 as part of my high school's senior cruise. To think this thing was basically on its last legs when we boarded.
Thank you John for this video although I never sailed on her I did on her sister ship Ellinis which was a fantastic ship as well and its good to know that the Britanis is now resting at home in the sea where she belongs just a shame the Ellinis didnt cheat the scrappers as well
Is there any footage of the wreck ?
I sailed with her from Rotterdam to Sydney and back. I was 6 years old.
Also was everything still aboard when she sank and if not was anything preserved as far as fittings or items ?
it is a heartache to see such a beautiful ship ended in her final moment
Hice un crucero por el Caribe en Agosto de 1982 a bordo de esta hermosa nave. Aún hoy tengo muy buenos recuerdos.... si más no recuerdo la ruta era San Juan, La Guaira, La Martinica , Barbados, Saint Marteen, Saint Thomas y San Juan
I saw her in 1983 at the America's Cup in Rhode Island when we lost the cup to the Aussies, somewhere I have a picture of her I think that I shot as we were heading into port after one of the races.....! Glad she decided to go down on her own terms!!
oh wow my grandpa was on this ship on 1994 I found the paperwork he had this seemed like it was fun on there
I had my 15th birthday aboard, in December 1971 . . .
They weren't going to take her. She fought back in the end and, in a way, she won.
it's quite sad to see things left to rot. on another note, whats the music between 13:10 - 15:58?
idk
My wife and I were on this ship for our honeymoon.
britanis exellent ship forever 1931 _2019
Its ironic that nearly every ship that needs to be towed to the scrappers suddenly develops a leak they can't stop or pump out. Or the tow line breaks and they all sink. I'm willing to bet in every case the owners had them insured for more than the scrap value or steel prices dropped while halfway there. Its bad enough these beautiful ships have to broken up, but at least other useful things can be made with the steel. Intensionally sinking them is just criminal.
Same thing happened to RMS Caronia and SS Constitution under tow ... I traveled on both as a very young kid
I work on This in 1985 as a bartender
saya dulu cadet engine pertama dari indonesia thn 1990....I'll always remember this ship
For more information, do a web search for RHMS Britanis. Photos of her sinking can be found here. ssmaritime.com/britanis.htm
Wow Yes fond childhood memories Melbourne to Southhampton
Gosh. She had a very long successful life
Grandes recuerdos trabaje ahí
I sailed with her many times. I always wondered how much you tip the Whipper?
It's like she offed herself rather than get broke up ... wow 😢
1994- 1995 as an Apprentice
That's how he lives his life. Better than ending up as scrap metal. Britanis did not die, lives ..
The Britanis and her two sisters were built by Bethlehem Steel in Quincy, Massachusetts, just South of Boston. They were not built in California.
Hi John. My grandparents from NZ travelled the world on Britanis. Recently going through old photos I discovered lots of old pics of onboard life and other memorabilia like detailed agents deck plans. Would love to pass these on to someone who would enjoy and share them. Chris at housewhisperers dot Co dot nz
Ben met dat schip naar new zealand gevaren.
I sailed on her in 1972 as child immigrant to New Zealand
Is there any pictures of the wreck of the Britanis.
None that I'm aware of.
good thing she mad it to the 21 century but even if she was saved she would have been scraped anyways.
its so sad they are braking up old ships even in this century