Part One – Handbook of American-flag passenger ships in 1955.

In 1955 America’s fleet of ocean-going passenger ships was fast diminishing. The year before, Alaska Steamship Lines had gone out of business with the loss of four passenger ships and the Bull Line serving Puerto Rico laid up their last passenger ship.  In examining cruise ship history in 1955, there were still 40 active American-flag ships with a total passenger lift of 12,168 passengers and directly employing 8112 officers and men.

Currently, there the Pride of America is the only ocean going passenger ship flying the American flag.  She was the first new U.S.-flagged cruise ship in nearly 50 years. She operates on a 7-Day Hawaii Cruise for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Here is part one of the passenger ships operating under the American flag in 1955:

African Endeavor (Farrell Lines) New York to South Africa
African Enterprise (Farrell Lines) New York to South Africa
Alcoa Cavalier (Alcoa Steamship Co.) New Orleans to the Caribbean
Alcoa Clipper (Alcoa Steamship Co.) New Orleans to the Caribbean
Alcoa Corsair (Alcoa Steamship Co.) New Orleans to the Caribbean
America (United States Lines) New York trans-Atlantic to UK and Europe
Ancon (Panama Canal Co.) New York to Panama Canal
Argentina (Moore-McCormick Lines) New York to West Indies, (East Coast) South America
Brazil (Moore-McCormick Lines) New York to West Indies, (East Coast) South America
Chiriqui (United Fruit Co.) New Orleans to Cuba and Guatemala