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Maritime Historian
P&O
Cruises England
SS
Canberra
When I decided to add a page to ssMaritime
featuring the Canberra, I realised that there where many excellent websites
detailing her history. Thus, this feature is based on one of my experiences
sailing on this fine ship. The brief voyage report hereunder is the result of a
cruise sector on Canberra’s 1996 Round the World Voyage. I trust you will
enjoy these pages that include several photo pages. It is my sincere hope that
looking back at this great liner will provide you with many happy memories, be
it as a past passenger, crewmember, or one of countless thousands who admired
her whilst she was in port.
Photograph
by
Above is a unique photograph of Canberra
departing New York on July 4 1979, during “Operation
Sail” held at that time. As part of the celebration, all participating
ocean liners in port departed at the same time and sailed in procession down
the Hudson River and out to sea. Other ships included Holland America’s
ss Rotterdam and Home Lines Oceanic.
As my taxi approached the wharf, memories
flooded back to the day I first saw the mighty Canberra arrive in Wellington
New Zealand in 1961 whilst on her maiden voyage. Being just sixteen years old
she seemed a massive ship, towering high into the sky. Now, in 1996, she still
looked a big ship, but she is considered small compared to the super cruise
ships sailing the waves these days. With her long sleek lines, she certainly
looked graceful, unlike the cruise ships of today, which look more like
floating apartment blocks. Externally Canberra looked as grand and modern as
she did back the day I first saw her. My excitement grew, as I was ready to
board. After an efficient and courteous embarkation procedure, I crossed the
gangplank and stepped once more on this great liner. Upon entering I received
the familiar friendly greeting from a familiar P&O officer and soon a
steward showed me to my cabin. Soon, my cabin steward Casy introduced himself
and immediately I found his friendliness and efficiency
A fine
view looking aft to her superstructure & bridge
(Photo
Soon, I was exploring a very different
Canberra from the one I remembered when she first arrived in Wellington in 1961
and I was happy to find her in such great shape.
Having been given a major refurbishment after
her brave Tour of Duty in the Falklands, she became a fine modern cruise ship.
Public rooms were superbly furnished and decorated. Since my first sailing on
her some 35 years ago lounges and public spaced had changed greatly, except for
the celebrated Cricketers Tavern.
Meridian Lounge and Bar
The quietly glamorous Meridian Lounge forward
on Promenade Deck proudly boasts a grand piano in the centre of the lounge.
Centre forward the famed marble staircase reached up to the fabulous Crows Nest
three decks up on Games deck. This staircase is the forerunner of the modern
atriums found on most modern cruise ships.
Forward of the Meridian Lounge is the superbly
Century Bar with its fine wood clad walls. This bar featured two of the best
barmen I have encountered in many years. Both
Ocean Room
The Ocean Room (ex
Cricketers Tavern
Just aft on the port side is the ever-popular
Cricketers Tavern. This room to my delight was mostly unchanged from the day
she was built, retaining that much loved feeling. The only obvious change being
the lush leather upholstery.
Neptune’s
Nightclub
Aft, on Promenade Deck, the old Peacock Room
had become
Alice Springs Lounge
One deck up, aft on B Deck is the Alice
Springs Lounge and Bar. Floor to ceiling windows face out to one of the ships
three swimming pools. This room has a casual atmosphere, whilst providing fine
ocean views over the stern. The rest of this deck is occupied with
accommodations.
Cinema
Amidships is the Cinema,
which is unaltered from the day she was built except for seating having been
recovered with new fabrics. The cinema was also used for lectures and Church
services, etc.
Crow’s
Nest
The most forward Lounge on Games Deck is Crows
Nest. This room features sweeping forward and side windows, affording splendid
views of the bow. This room is the shining crown of SS Canberra. Fittings in
this room, as in all public rooms were superbly maintained, and featured many
plants as well as fresh flowers.
Located between Crow’s Nest and the
Bonito Club, is the Stadium Theatre (one a sports deck) where
the ships regular production show are featured. Sadly views were restricted
somewhat from various vantage points due to the posts scattered around the room.
Bonito Club
Adjoining the original first class Swimming
Pool, is the memorable Bonito Night Club, a room full of charm featuring that
much talked about “sprung dance floor.” With tables set with white
linen tablecloths and fine china, morning coffee is served daily, both in the
Bonito Club and the Ocean Lounge,.
Pool
Amidships is the multi level decks that
surround the original First Class Swimming Pool, with a Bar located forward
Port side. One of the great joys in the morning, whilst lazing away in the sun
a steward in a perfectly white jacket would come around and offer an ice cream.
Island Room
One Deck up, on Games deck we find Island
Room, which is a favourite with many, especially early in the morning as tea,
coffee and pastries are available before Breakfast. On the starboard side of
the room is a bar. At night, the room turns into a lively Disco.
With ample seating both inside and on the
adjoining glass enclosed areas, Buffets are served for both breakfast and
lunch, as well as the occasional lunchtime BBQ’s.
Forward of the Island Room on the Port side is
the Children’s Play Room, which offered the young ones with a fine cruise
experience, whilst meeting many new friends. Aft is the Lido Pool, overlooking
the stern.
Dinning Rooms
Both the Pacific and the Atlantic Restaurants
have retained much of its original look, with the exception of new soft furnishings
and new light fittings. Both Restaurants are decorative and inviting. Food is
always a highlight of any ocean voyage, and Canberra certainly did not let us
down. Food was of a high standard, with ample choice for all tastes, including
vegetarian meals. Although Buffet Breakfasts and Lunches being available in the
Island Room on Games Deck, the dinning rooms offer a fully served hot breakfast
and a four course lunch. One of my personal favourites is the daily Curry
option, which is accompanied a variety of fresh condiments. However, Dinner is
always the highlight of the day. It can feature up to seven courses, and has a
variety of options, being ample to satisfy the largest, and the most discerning
The Atlantic Restaurant was
originally the Tourist Class dinning room
That’s
Entertainment
Entertainment on board is vast and has
something to please even the fussiest. Here is an example of a single
night’s programme. A Classical performance or a Cabaret would be featured
in the Ocean Lounge, whilst a vibrant production show such as the “Abba
Gold Show” would be presented in the Neptune Lounge. Those who desired a
quieter evening with a drink would head for the Meridian Lounge and Century Bar
were the ships pianist would play the grand piano. Each evening prior dinner, a
pianist would also play pre-dinner music in Crows Nest. During the World
Voyage, entertainers would board in different ports, ensuring a variety of
musicians during the 80-day voyage. During our voyage a brilliant Harpist
boarded, who played soothing tunes. Each evening a number of bands played in
various of lounges, providing music for all tastes. For those who enjoyed
dancing the night away, headed for the Disco in the Island Room, which offered
a great time for all and no one left disappointed! One of my highlights onboard
was the Stadium Theatre Company's production of shortened production of
“Les Miserables,” which just happens to be my favourite show. it
was a pleasure to experience on the night before arriving home in
Later Addition: In 2005 I enjoyed a delightful
cruise on the MV Oriana from Brisbane to Southampton, then in 2007 sailed on MV Aurora from San Francisco
to and in 2008 on Oriana again from Brisbane to Southampton, but via South
Africa, although these voyages were good I did find that the quality of the
entertainment has declined somewhat, even between what were enjoyed on Canberra
and on these two new ships. I really feel that the American Carnival Corp is
tightening the purse a lot, as well as there is so much marketing now on board
all their ships, always getting more and more dollars out of you in one way or
another, not like it was in the delightful uncomplicated days when we sailed on
ships like the SS Canberra and SS Oriana!
A delightful addition and a memory of the good
old days of the SS Canberra: Early in July I received an email from the First
Class Dining Room steward
Back row – left, 1.
Photograph
provided and owned by
Asst
Head Waiters information was provided in Oct 2011 by the Asst Head Waiter in the
Tourist Class Restaurant, Geoff Cook who shared a cabin
with Noel Coward
In Conclusion
Sadly on Friday October 10, 1997, at 2100hrs,
under the command of my good friend
Thus the great SS Canberra is now long gone,
but, there are countless thousands who will live with the wonderful memories of
days spent on this Grand Dame of P&O. We need to realise that ship designs
change, just like cars, fashions and home designs! Even though the modern
cruise ship, do not have the long sleek elegant lines of the Canberra, many do
have an interior charm of their own. Of the many modern cruise ships, I firmly
believe that the new 1995 built MV Oriana II and also the MV Aurora, but not as
much, stand out from most other cruise ships in the modern days (the Holland
America Line ships are the exception as the are simply the very best of all!),
as the MV Oriana seems to continue very much the style of the SS Canberra as
well as her namesake the SS Oriana!
Having said all the aforementioned, P&O
Cruises remains relatively British and passengers still receive a good cruise
experience of a good standard. Since the demise of the
Images below are of Canberra’s final
arrival in
Canberra Sydney Heads
- 23 February 1997
Canberra returning from her
“Farewell Cruise” in Southampton
30 September 1997
General
Specifications
Overall Length … 820’
Beam … 102’
Draught … 32’6”
Gross registered Tonnage … 44,807 tons
Service Speed … 27.5 knots
Propulsion … Turbo-electric
– twin screw
Number of Decks … 9
Passenger capacity … 2,238 total
(556
First class)
(1,716
Tourist class)
1,641
whilst cruising
Crew … 960
800
whilst cruising
Cargo capacity … 150,00cu ft
Go to
… Part One: Images
of Canberra’s public Rooms as built
Part Two: Further
photographs of venues mentioned in the report above
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Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
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