OCEAN LINER SOCIETY
The Society for lovers of modern cruise ships, ferries, excursion boats, as well as the classic liners of old that transported people around the world before the advent of affordable jet aircraft travel.
- the world's fastest liner - Blue Riband holder from 1952 to 1968
- arguably the only current ocean liner. She does regular crossings and some cruises.
- the last year more people crossed by sea than by air.
- the world's fastest liner - Blue Riband holder from 1952 to 1968
ABOUT US
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The Ocean Liner Society is a non-profit organisation.
Our members celebrate the passenger ship in its many forms. Whether your interest is the liners of yesteryear, the cruise ships of today, or ferries and excursion boats , the society has something for all.
Members include employees of major shipping companies, authors and ship buffs, inveterate travellers and armchair sailors.
Members receive the superb quarterly magazine Sea Lines - 48 colour pages of detailed articles by noted maritime authors on ocean liners and cruises ships, plus all the latest passenger ship news. Your membership includes:
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4 issues of Sea Lines (worth the price alone!)
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Discount on back issues of Sea Lines
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Free entry to the annual Ship Show
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The opportunity to join group cruises and zoom meetings with other enthusiasts
Membership applications are accepted all year round. You can join online with PayPal (please use the button under the appropriate membership rate and include your postal address for the magazine mailing). Alternatively, you can download the membership form to post to us with a sterling cheque or with credit card details it can be scanned and returned. When renewing your membership by PayPal we used to ask you to put your membership number in the 'Add message', option on the PayPal checkout window - we seem to have lost that facility in a recent upgrade, so until we can find another way, an email to membership (below) to say you have done it would be handy.
Join us (or renew if you are an existing member) through PayPal: Membership costs are:
£23 for UK members
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£26 for European members
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£30 Worldwide members (outside Europe)
with magazine sent by airmail.
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If you you have an aversion to PayPal, email our Membership Secretary and we can negotiate alternative ways of joining. Email regarding membership issues:- oceanlinersociety.membership@gmail.com
TALKS
When we held 'in person' London talks, we suggested a donation to cover the room hire and equipment costs. If you enjoy our talks (through a Zoom license we have to pay for) please consider making an online donation through PayPal.
You can decide the amount of your donation yourself. If you don't like PayPal you can send a sterling cheque to Mayes House (address at bottom of the site).
Thank you.
Zoom Talks
- usually third Tuesday in the month @19.00 UK time
All paid-up members of the Ocean Liner Society now receive the meeting ID and password automatically, usually around a week before the meeting date provided that the Membership Secretary has their present, correct email address. The origin of the email containing the link will be ‘OLS Talks’ <ocean.liner.talks@gmail.com>.
We have received reports that email from this address might go to ‘junk’ until the recipient updates their contact directory to include it. If the message does not appear in your inbox, do check ‘junk’ or ‘spam’ before contacting David Trevor-Jones at the email address below.
Members wishing to withhold their email address from the membership register, non-members and guests or those having trouble with the link may still contact David at david.trevorjones@outlook.com meeting by meeting for a link, stating the required date in the subject line.
Any member with a prospective talk for our programme is most welcome to contact David Trevor-Jones to discuss their topic. For a help sheet on how to use the Meeting ID and password sent to members or how to get a one click hyperlink in the week before a talk, click the button below.
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Major Passenger Ferry Newbuilds from around the World
Richard Seville
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Richard Seville will present a selection of major ferries that have been delivered around the world since 2020. Suspend your preconceptions and come along to explore the latest in passenger ferries from both northern and southern Europe, as well as further afield as far as Japan. From Next generation Baltic cruise ferries, to luxurious high-capacity freight movers, Richard will introduce each ship, their operator and route, showing a variety of external and interior images to allow the audience to decide whether or not to seek out these ships in future.
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A Summer Miscellany:
Three or four shorter items from the archives
Tuesday 17th June 2025
The full programme and presenters are still to be finalised, but will appear here on the website. Check back as the programme develops.
Renaissance for Maasdam:
Reactivating a former Holland America Cruise Ship
Clément Mousset
Tuesday 15th July 2025
Have you ever dreamed of owning your own cruise ship? In this fascinating talk, repeated from last year’s Rotterdam conference in an augmented form, Clément tells the story of how he made his dream come true and founded a new French cruise line. He tells the rust and all story of the pitfalls in buying a second-hand ship and shares his joy as against the odds, Renaissance sailed under the French tricolore for the first time and he was able to sound her whistle to announce that CFC was in business.
Luxury Liner Row: Ocean Liners at New York
Tom Powderly
Tuesday 19th August 2025
Photographs of the line-ups of legendary liners occupying the Hudson piers through the twentieth century, yielding to cruise ships as the twenty-first dawned, are internationally known. In this talk Tom Powderly will cover the development of New York harbour to accommodate ever larger liners from the arrival of the Lusitania in 1907 through the Queens and up to the current cruise ships.
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Sailing under the Red ensign, 1959- 1990
(or how I got away with it for 30 years)
Captain Martin Scott
Tuesday 16th September 2025
Attendees who heard Martin Scott’s gripping account of the fire aboard MSY Windsong will be cancelling all other engagements for this evening. Martin enjoyed a career of 45 years in the merchant navy, 30 years as Captain and the final 12 years with Holland-America line in command of their Windstar fleet of modern sail assisted cruise vessels. Before that, though, he captained a diverse range of passenger and other ships in a distinguished and fascinating career.
The Art & Design of Matson's Post-War Liners
Wayne Yanda
Tuesday 21st October 2025
The Matson Line was famed in the USA, operating from the west coast most famously to Hawaii. Its post-war liners were striking internally and solid externally, built to the highest standards in US shipyards and sought after in the second-hand market as Matson closed its Pacific services. They became better known to European passengers as Chandris liners and later cruise ships. Wayne Yanda tells their stories.
SEA LINES MAGAZINE
is our 48 page quarterly publication posted to members. Contact the editor: ols.sealines@gmail.com
Click the button to download the back catalogue and order form (pdf). Recent issues are highlighted below:
ISSUE 118 - Spring 2025
The cover features the funnel of the new Saint Malo and a review of her maiden crossing shared with the Brittany Ferries Fan Group is documented by Richard Mayes. The lead article is by James Croall and sets in historical perspective the position Cunard Adventurer had in the development of the crusie ship after the era of the liners was over. The third main article charts the 42 year career of the Song of America over which time she sported many liveries and name changes.
ISSUE 117 - Winter 2025
The cover and first article is about Princess Cruises new Sun Princess heralding the 'Sphere' class of ship, LNG powered, 175,000gt and carrying 4,000 passengers - a new size and style of ship for the line. The second article records the 2024 society cruise on Celestyal Journey (formerly HAL Ryndam III). As the curtain comes down on the P&O Australia brand, David Robinson looks back at its history as the business is subsumed into Carnival Australia operations.
ISSUE 116 - AUTUMN/ FALL 2024
As the front cover suggests the main article is about Canadian Pacific ships and tells the story of the three ships named Empress of Britain by Faye Hammill and between them they were in service from 1906 to 2008. The new ship review features the fourth Cunard Queen that saw nine members of the Society take her late June 2024 cruise to Norway when she was juat a few weeks in service. Clive Harvey reviews a cruise up the eastern coast of South America in Azamara Persuit (formerly one of the eight ships named R1-8). Finally, there is a short report of a group excursion on the ss Shieldhall with one of our members (an officer cadet in real life) at the wheel.
ISSUE 115- SUMMER 2024
The summer issue features the new Carnival Celebration that is notable because it celebrates 50 years of the Carnival Brand. Clive Harvey completes the review of the postwar trio of Orient Line ships with an article on the 1948 Orcades, the first with a revolutionary arrangement of deck spaces and bridge location. The third main article is about a former Turkish ferry rebuilt as a luxurious small cruising vessel now plying Scottish waters and called Lord of the Highlands, registered in Inverness. There follows the usual article on the cruise ship and ferry news around the world, and news of the revised and relocated Ship Show on 16th November 2024 and group cruise ideas.
ISSUE 114 - SPRING 2024
The spring issue features the largest cruise ship in the world (at the time of writing) as Icon of the Seas debuts and our correspondent, Matthew, reviews this massive vessel with a gross tonnage not far off a quarter of a million grt. Another key article notes the conversion of the former HAL Maasdam and creation of a new operation called Compagnie Francaise de Croisières and the re-named an extensively refitted ship is called Renaissance. The first article in the magazine notes how small ships sometimes became yachts for the rich and famous and how the process continues (and sometimes stalls) with some smaller ships awaiting a new life with new owners.
ISSUE 113 - WINTER 2024
The cover picture shows the Finnsirius nosing into port and the article comments that she is about as far as a sterotypical ro-pax as one can get. The historical feature showcases the last Orient Line ship in the postwar rebuilding programme, the 1954 Orsova. The (reasonably) big new ship this time is 144,000gt Disney Wish, a ship that carries 4000 passengers in 1254 cabins and shows how the company has developed since the first pair arrived over 25 years ago. Finally there is a report on the Society cruise in late 2023 on Ambassador's Ambition that went to Belgian and French Christmas Markets. There is Porthole, talks schedule and cruise ideas to complete the edition together eis some upcoming live, in-person events.
ISSUE 102 - SPRING 2021
This issue features two different cruise reports on voyages around Cuba in recent years and the front cover shows Celestyal Crystal at Maria la Gorda. The other Cuba report is on the short-lived fathom operation using P&O's Adonia. History fans are treated to the first part of the story, by Clive Harvey, of the ss President Roosevelt. This first part covers the story from starting the ship's career as the troop transport General W. P. Richardson (AP-118) then as LaGuardia on service to the Mediterranean and finally as Leilani on a tourist class service to Hawaii. The second part will be published in a future edition when the American President Line took her over.
ISSUE 112 - AUTUMN /FALL 2023
The cover picture of the 1912 built Wilhelm Than on the Göta Canal heralds a most interesting article by William Mayes about a passage he made on the vessel in May 2023. There is a four page article about the Sagafjord that ended her days as Saga Rose before falling foul of the SOLAS changes in 2010. The new ship this issue is the luxury end of the MSC operation with the first of their fleet under the Explora banner. Albert Schoonderbeek completes the story of the six Statendams and Jacques Letard records the movement in St Nazaire from dry dock to fitting out berth of the almost complete Celebrity Ascent. Porthole, talks schedule and cruise ideas complete the edition.
ISSUE 111 - SUMMER 2023
The cover shows (part of the) new MSC World Europa in Genoa and the main 12 page article reviews the ship. Michael Gallagher explores some of the forays into the American market by Cunard with various associates. Our Chairman and Editor samples the unlikely named Margaritaville at Sea Paradise which has a cocktail theme. She started life as Costa Classica (1991). There follows a detailed history of the interiors of Holland America Line's six Statendams This issue deals with the first three. The book review is on the Olympic Titanic Britannic: the anatomy and evolution of the Olympic class by Simon Mills.
ISSUE 110 - SPRING 2023
The cover is a give-away that the feature article is about the Havila ships that have taken some of the slots on the coastal service in Norway, once the preserve of the Hurtigruten brand. There follows the second part of the Oranje story when this Dutch liner became the Angelina Lauro. A report on the OLS group cruise on Ambassador's Ambience in December 2022 follows and then there is the second part of the round-up of Covid 19 casualties. This time it is the ones that took on new roles and new names after leaving their pre-pandemic employment. The book review is on Lusitania to QE2 - The Great Clyde-Built Ships by Bruce Peter
ISSUE 109 - WINTER 2023
This issue features the new Norwegian Prima with an article by Matthew Sudders followed by a report about Clive Harvey's experience of being catapulted into the role of on-board speaker (with added razor wire through the Red Sea) on part of what turned out to be Boudicca's final voyage. The historical article this time is the first part of a two-part account of the career of Oranje that became Angelina Lauro. There is run down of the casualties of the Covid pandemic listing the data on ships that went to the breakers. There is the usual 'Through the Porthole' with the recent ship news.
ISSUE 108 - AUTUMN 2022
The cover shows the new guise of the ship that once served remote islands in the South Atlantic. It has been re-purposed to carry electric racing cars, their teams and other passengers in considerable luxury. Our correspondent experienced a very short initial voyage and reports on the metamorphosis. There is an article about the Mercy Ships, particularly the introduction of Global Mercy. Anthony Cooke writes about four Israeli ships of state and what they became. There is a short report on the Society's Canberra Day in July and the usual news heard 'Through the Porthole'.
Ship Show & group cruises
Most years we host a Ship Show. When it is possible to get a group booking together a party will go to sea.
​SHIP SHOW
Each year we hold a show where traders in ocean liner books, models, paintings, artefacts and memorabilia gather. We found a new venue for 2024 at the Alton Community Centre, Amery Street, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1HN. We had very positive feedback and we have booked it again for the 2025 event - same place, same weekend. Save the date of Saturday 15th November 2025.
OLS GROUP CRUISE - 2026
Nominated overseas cruise in 2026 - Artania
As briefly mentioned in From the Bridge in SL118, for our overseas group cruise we have, again, chosen a ship that is operating in the German language market. Following the 2025 cruise on board Mein Schiff Relax, we are returning to Phoenix Reisen and the Artania.
Artania was delivered by the Wärtsilä Helsinki shipyard in 1984 to P&O as the Royal Princess, the first true newbuild for the small Princess Cruises fleet. Following 20 years with Princess Cruises, she moved within the Carnival group to P&O Cruises in 2005, becoming Artemis. She was sold in 2009 to MS Artania Shipping, but chartered back by P&O until 2011, at which time she underwent a major refit and was renamed Artania for service with Phoenix Reisen. She has subsequently been re-engined and had several major refits, two of which included the addition of extra balconies. All cabins are outside, with either a window or a balcony. Dining is single open seating.
The cruise that we have selected sails from Bremerhaven on 2 June 2026, and is an eight-night itinerary calling at the Norwegian ports of Eidfjord, Måløy, Geiranger, Ålesund, Nordfjordeid and Bergen. There should be a decent amount of scenic fjord cruising, too.
Prices start at €1,499 per person for double occupancy of a two-bed cabin. There are a limited number of cabins available for single use, but these sell quite quickly. At the time of writing there were eight confirmed bookings.
We have enjoyed group cruises with Phoenix Reisen in the past: Maxim Gorkiy in 2008, Deutschland in 2017 and Amera in 2019. Some of us have also travelled on Amadea, Artania and Albatros in recent years. The overall product is good, made more interesting by the diverse range of ships operated.
Bookings should be made directly with Phoenix Reisen (through the website – phoenixreisen.com) or with a travel agent if they are able to book German ships. Please let us know when you have booked (use ols.sealines@gmail.com) and we will try to co-ordinate the group.
We hope to see some of you there.
OUR MISSION
Sea Lines Magazine - Talks - Ship Show - Group Cruises
For some people there is a fascination with the glamour of the days when ships with tall, raked smoke stacks were the only way to cross to the Americas. One in particular that had a 5-day career in 1912 holds a spell for many. Some museums and shipping magazines have a small area devoted to this fascinating and absorbing aspect of shipping. How often does the student or browser enthralled by the passenger ship have to deal with naval vessels and coastal craft, barges and navigation instruments? This Society is for those who want to go straight to the heart of passenger ship story - and that includes ferries and excursion boats.
Some people develop romantic interests in the mail services to far-flung colonies, the regular services that linked countries and whole empires together. Some remember cargo liners that also carried passengers. Many members develop their interest in ships after working at sea. Older members will remember taking holidays on liners taking time off from voyages and doing summer cruises in the 1960s. Indeed, cruising and how it is changing is a key interest to hundreds of our members. The Society is for those interested in all passenger carrying vessels - from the age of sail right through to the present and what lies ahead.
The name of the Ocean Liner Society suggests a focus on ships that undertook line voyages, how they changed into cruising ships. There is only one ship in the world now that can be regarded as an Ocean Liner as the Queen Mary 2 regularly crosses the Atlantic Ocean to a timetable. Whilst these are not forgotten, and there is usually one article in each magazine about the liners of old, the Society is also reviewing new cruise ships as they come into service as well as other vessels that carry passengers on canals, lakes and inland waterways. Of course, the ships that run 'line voyages' (that is transportation to a timetable) are the ferries that are still the key transportation method for those where water gets in the way of getting to a destination. Based in Britain, the Society has links with learned and knowledgeable writers, researchers and has members all over the world. Whether you are fascinated the liners of old or the vessels carrying passengers and vehicles today through to cruise or adventure ships .... the Society has something for you.
Some want to get more out of cruise holidays or have a passion for other aspects of shipping (such as the celebrities or people who sailed to a new life in them) the Society can help you develop your interest.
The passenger ship is a developing invention, now embracing more sustainable technology. They have changed from an uncomfortable but necessary form of transportation to a highly developed leisure vehicle - almost a resort that moves at night. We are in exciting times as new tonnage is now being delivered which now outstrips the superlative statistics of the "golden age" some 90 years ago, but perhaps not as beautiful.
Please note: we do not employ seagoing staff and we regret we do not have the resources to undertake research into voyages and ship history for you.
GET IN TOUCH
To contact us, if you prefer paper, use one of the addresses below (the Windsor address is quicker - the other covers the event of recipients changing). If you prefer email for contacting us, use the most appropriate from the following options:
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For inquiries about joining or renewal updating your email or refreshing ship visit preferences use: oceanlinersociety.membership@gmail.com
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For magazine comment or editorial matters: ols.sealines@gmail.com
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For Zoom links, see the 'Talks' section above or ocean.liner.talks@gmail.com
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To contact the Secretary or Ship Show enquiries: ocean.liner.secretary@gmail.com
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Postal address: Ocean Liner Society, Mayes House, Vansittart Estate, Windsor, SL4 1SE.
or our forwarding service at: The Ocean Liner Society, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3XX, United Kingdom
We also have a Facebook group (link below), but we hope you will join the Society for full benefits and Sea Lines.
At the smaller end of the shipping spectrum, there is the preserved paddle steamer Waverley. She started her 2024 season in Scotland, worked her way down the West Coast to the Bristol Channel, then back to Glasgow for August and then via the south west and south coast through September visiting the south east and London in the late summer / early autumn. We will leave the link here despite the season being over to think about 2025. For those not contemplating a full cruise, the experience of this delightful little ship, the last sea-going paddle steamer, is well worth the effort to book a trip. A click on the image of Waverley here will take you to the web site about the ship and from there you can think about excursions on this characterful vessel.
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