Comments on: The Life and Death of America’s Last Cruise Ship the SS Independence http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/ Retard Zone Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:56:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Gene Carter http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-7223 Gene Carter Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:08:14 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-7223 I need to clarify some of my comment. An Affair to Remember was shot aboard the Constitution. Bon Voyage was shot aboard the United States. The Big U is a ship I know well and have huge documentation on. The dining room scenes in Bon Voyage were filmed on a sound stage as were those of the ballroom. The Connie's scenes of the dining room where Grant and Kerr are trying to avoid one another to avoid creating a scandal are the scenes I am unsure of. Were they filmed on location in the Connie or not. I have no interior photos for comparison when they were sailing the south atlantic service. I need to clarify some of my comment.
An Affair to Remember was shot aboard the Constitution.
Bon Voyage was shot aboard the United States. The Big U is a ship I know well and have huge documentation on. The dining room scenes in Bon Voyage were filmed on a sound stage as were those of the ballroom.
The Connie’s scenes of the dining room where Grant and Kerr are trying to avoid one another to avoid creating a scandal are the scenes I am unsure of. Were they filmed on location in the Connie or not. I have no interior photos for comparison when they were sailing the south atlantic service.

]]> By: Gene Carter http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-7222 Gene Carter Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:59:48 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-7222 Both of these very fine ships, the Connie and Indy, were a remarkable contribution to the liners representing America in their hey day and were able to have some after life in the cruising industry. The lines of them were some of the finest produced on American ships and it was so fitting that Grace Kelly should have chosen them as her preferred means of travel to Monaco. The Constitution had some time as a film star, starring in An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in the 50s. Most of the shipboard scenes were actually filmed aboard ship whereas in "Bon Voyage", the Disney film with Fred MacMurry and Jane Wyman, some scenes were filmed on a sound stage and bear no resemblance to the interiors of the United States. I am un-clear as to whether the scenes in the first class dining room were filmed aboard ship or not. I have seen no photos of the interiors of the ships in their hey days so I have nothing for comparison. I do have some menus from their south atlantic crossing years and numerous postcards available in the onboard gift shop. Like the United States and the America, all ships that are from this country's days of post war greatness are not seen as being valuable real estate of the Land of Liberty. Congress can find money to fund any of the pork bills they want and raise their incomes but they turn a blind eye to saving this nation's history. It is a sad reality that America must rely on private funding for any venture that is worth saving our history as the visible meaning of why this nation was great at one time. But I suppose it is just another manifestation of the short life attitude the current generations have. I am happy that I grew up in a time of morals and accountability and had the opportunity to see our country produce some truly great ships as well as other great monuments. Both of these very fine ships, the Connie and Indy, were a remarkable contribution to the liners representing America in their hey day and were able to have some after life in the cruising industry. The lines of them were some of the finest produced on American ships and it was so fitting that Grace Kelly should have chosen them as her preferred means of travel to Monaco.

The Constitution had some time as a film star, starring in An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in the 50s. Most of the shipboard scenes were actually filmed aboard ship whereas in “Bon Voyage”, the Disney film with Fred MacMurry and Jane Wyman, some scenes were filmed on a sound stage and bear no resemblance to the interiors of the United States. I am un-clear as to whether the scenes in the first class dining room were filmed aboard ship or not. I have seen no photos of the interiors of the ships in their hey days so I have nothing for comparison.
I do have some menus from their south atlantic crossing years and numerous postcards available in the onboard gift shop.
Like the United States and the America, all ships that are from this country’s days of post war greatness are not seen as being valuable real estate of the Land of Liberty. Congress can find money to fund any of the pork bills they want and raise their incomes but they turn a blind eye to saving this nation’s history. It is a sad reality that America must rely on private funding for any venture that is worth saving our history as the visible meaning of why this nation was great at one time. But I suppose it is just another manifestation of the short life attitude the current generations have. I am happy that I grew up in a time of morals and accountability and had the opportunity to see our country produce some truly great ships as well as other great monuments.

]]> By: Bruce http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-7164 Bruce Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:41:13 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-7164 The Indy apparently broke in two after developing a leak off the coast of India in April or May, 2010. There are sad images of the once beautiful liner on the maritime matters site. The Indy apparently broke in two after developing a leak off the coast of India in April or May, 2010. There are sad images of the once beautiful liner on the maritime matters site.

]]> By: Andy http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-7149 Andy Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:49:29 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-7149 I was a 3rd engineer on board the Indy from 1986 to 1988. I have a lot of great memories. Very hard work for an engineer in those days. I am glad I was in my 20's. I was a 3rd engineer on board the Indy from 1986 to 1988. I have a lot of great memories. Very hard work for an engineer in those days. I am glad I was in my 20′s.

]]> By: Judie http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-6561 Judie Fri, 14 May 2010 23:56:49 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-6561 I worked for AHC for 6 years from 1985 to 91. I cruised on both the Indy and Connie more time than I can count and loved every minute, every little detail and quirk and never in my life will I have a job that was so awesome! It brings tears to my eyes to see what has become of this grand lady and her sister, the Connie. If only something could be done to save the Indy, even though the Connie is gone now. What an amazing piece of American history that is sadly rusting away on a sandbank. It should never have been this way, certainly no way for this ship to go out. I will never forget my times with these sisters and cherish my memories forever. I worked for AHC for 6 years from 1985 to 91. I cruised on both the Indy and Connie more time than I can count and loved every minute, every little detail and quirk and never in my life will I have a job that was so awesome! It brings tears to my eyes to see what has become of this grand lady and her sister, the Connie. If only something could be done to save the Indy, even though the Connie is gone now. What an amazing piece of American history that is sadly rusting away on a sandbank. It should never have been this way, certainly no way for this ship to go out. I will never forget my times with these sisters and cherish my memories forever.

]]> By: Dolores ERne http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-6500 Dolores ERne Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:36:48 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-6500 I would like to get in touch with Tom who wrote on oCT 18, 2008. He said that his dad was chief engineer on the Independence in the early 50's. My uncle served o board during that time and I wonder if he has any photos etc. Tom if you read this message. Please get in touch with me. I would like to get in touch with Tom who wrote on oCT 18, 2008. He said that his dad was chief engineer on the Independence in the early 50′s. My uncle served o board during that time and I wonder if he has any photos etc.
Tom if you read this message. Please get in touch with me.

]]> By: Dave Uk http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-6389 Dave Uk Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:33:39 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-6389 @SSTraveler Oh dear, they will have to pay them millions of dollars for the photo, or give them all of your blood !!! Its a photo, of a piece of American shipping history, it doesn't belong to anyone person. You are thinking cash!!!! @SSTraveler

Oh dear, they will have to pay them millions of dollars for the photo, or give them all of your blood !!!

Its a photo, of a piece of American shipping history, it doesn’t belong to anyone person. You are thinking cash!!!!

]]> By: Beavis Malone http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-6348 Beavis Malone Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:22:06 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-6348 @sstraveler no one cares except you, so shut it troll. anyways SS Independence will likely end up like SS American Star if they leave it on the sandbar were it sits right now. I read theres already been structural cracking resulting in a hull breach that they have welded a patch over. @sstraveler

no one cares except you, so shut it troll.

anyways

SS Independence will likely end up like SS American Star if they leave it on the sandbar were it sits right now. I read theres already been structural cracking resulting in a hull breach that they have welded a patch over.

]]> By: Scott Hardie http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-6199 Scott Hardie Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:06:40 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-6199 I also stayed on deck 5 as I believe it was where the movie theatre was. Again, good times and memories. I also stayed on deck 5 as I believe it was where the movie theatre was. Again, good times and memories.

]]> By: Scott Hardie http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-6198 Scott Hardie Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:02:36 +0000 http://retardzone.com/2008/03/03/the-life-and-death-of-americas-last-cruise-ship-the-ss-independence/#comment-6198 I sailed on her in Aug 1995. She was a time capsule in a way(clipper stern) and had a history to her that you don't see anymore. She was my first liner/cruise ship I travelled on, MS Veendam(sept 2001), MS Norwiegian Dawn(July 2006) and RMS Queen Mary 2(aug 2009) being the others. Sad to see goe this way. R.I.P. Indy. I sailed on her in Aug 1995. She was a time capsule in a way(clipper stern) and had a history to her that you don’t see anymore. She was my first liner/cruise ship I travelled on, MS Veendam(sept 2001), MS Norwiegian Dawn(July 2006) and RMS Queen Mary 2(aug 2009) being the others. Sad to see goe this way. R.I.P. Indy.

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