Historic rusting ocean liner could be restored to luxury
In her heyday, the SS United States was as famous as the Titanic. The grand ocean liner used to carry celebrities, royalty and heads of state across the Atlantic at record speeds. The 301-metre ship (30 metres longer than Titanic) made its maiden voyage in 1952 and sailed from New York to Southampton in three days, 10 hours and 42 minutes, a time that was not beaten until 1990.
Its glory days were short lived and by 1969 the ship had been decommissioned. It was a naval reserve vessel for around a decade, but remained sealed in her berth. She was then purchased by a succession of owners, all of whom had grand plans for restoration. The SS United States Conservancy stepped in to try and save the ship, but late last year the group revealed it could no longer afford the $60,000 a month to keep it docked in Philadelphia. It looked like one of the world’s great ocean liners was destined for the scrapyard.
Enter luxury line Crystal Cruises. CEO Edie Rodriguez saw the news that the conservancy was out of money and stepped in to resurrect the liner. Crystal operates a small fleet of ultra-luxurious, boutique ships and is currently expanding into river cruising and private jet tours. The line plans to restore the ship and convert it into a modern luxury vessel.
The first step is a comprehensive feasibility study to identify any structural issues or dangerous chemicals. Once the ship gets the all clear, Crystal will refurbish the ship to accommodate 800 guests in spacious suites that measure 350 square feet. Original areas of the ship will be recreated, like the Navajo Lounge and the Promenade.
It’s predicted that the refurbishment will cost at least $800 million and, if all goes to plan, it could be sailing again by early 2018.
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