Tag Archives: american steamships

Messageries Maritimes was a French merchant shipping company. It was originally created in 1851 as Messageries Nationales, later called Messageries impériales, and from 1871, Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes, casually known as “MesMar” or by its initials “MM”. Its rectangular house flag, with the letters MM on a white background and ... Read More »

Marlon Brando and Salvidor Dali enjoying after dinner coffee in the First Class Lounge of the SS United States. It’s Captain’s Dinner aboard the SS United States in 1956 in the First Class Dining Room.  And this is the one night Judy Garland left her stateroom. Pictured: Producer Sid Luff ... Read More »

Home Lines SS ATLANTIC… Le Cirque’s famous owner Sirio Maccioni started as a waiter “crossing the pond” aboard the Home Lines SS ATLANTIC. After achieving success, he sailed trans-Atlantic years later as a first class passenger aboard the Italian Line’s SS GIULIO CESARE. In June 2004 Maccioni published his biography, ... Read More »

The French passenger liner SS La Marseillaise is seen arriving in Marseillaise from Vietnam during the 1950s.  She was the largest and most luxurious ship operated by  by the steamship company Messageries Maritimes. La Marseillaise operated between France and the Far East. The elegant vessel was launched in 1944 in ... Read More »

Social History and Cruise History – The Grace Line ad in Holiday Magazine 1956 – Cruising was much different in the 1950s.  Looking at the photos, in comparison to today’s ships, you could say it was much more civilized. Cruise History – THE GRACE LINE – In the mid 1800s, ... Read More »

Liner History – The Grace Line Cruise History – THE GRACE LINE – In the mid 1800s, the Irish-born Grace brothers, William Russell and Michael, established a commercial and shipping business in Callao, the port of Lima, Peru. They prospered, especially in the exporting of guano from the Chincha Islands ... Read More »