Omar Bennett
The SS Constitution was a passenger ship owned by American Export Lines. It was commissioned in 1951 and sailed on the New York-Genoa-Naples-Gibraltar route to Europe. The SS Constitution was featured in several episodes of the television situation comedy I Love Lucy and in the 1957 film An Affair to Remember. The ship was decommissioned in 1995 and, while under tow to be scrapped in 1997, sank 700 miles north of the Hawaiian Islands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the ship | SS Constitution |
| Owner | American Export Lines |
| Year of Commissioning | 1951 |
| Route | New York-Genoa-Naples-Gibraltar route to Europe |
| Passenger capacity | 1,000 passengers |
| Sister ship | SS Independence |
| Retirement | 1995 |
| Fate | Sank in 1997 while being towed to a scrapyard |
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What You'll Learn
SS Constitution was owned by American Export Lines
The SS Constitution was a passenger ship owned by American Export Lines. The SS Constitution and its sister ship, the SS Independence, were built by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts, for the American Export Lines. The SS Constitution was commissioned in 1951 and sailed on the New York-Genoa-Naples-Gibraltar route to Europe. It was designed to accommodate 1,000 passengers and was known for its luxurious accommodations, including Henry Dreyfuss-designed cabins, apartments, and "penthouses". The ship was also famous for its appearance in popular culture, including the 1957 film "An Affair to Remember" and several episodes of the television show "I Love Lucy".
Following its service on American Export's "Sunlane" cruises to Europe in the 1950s and 1960s, the SS Constitution sailed for American Hawaii Cruises in the 1980s and 1990s. As a U.S.-flagged ship with a U.S. crew, it was able to cruise the Hawaiian Islands without sailing to a foreign port. The SS Constitution was retired in 1995 and, unfortunately, fell into disrepair. In 1997, while being towed to a scrapyard, it sank about 700 nautical miles north of the Hawaiian Islands.
The SS Constitution was a symbol of American maritime design and construction in the post-World War II era. It represented a new kind of ship for a new kind of traveller, offering a more glamorous and informal experience compared to the intimidating pre-war ships of European lines. The ship was also a favourite of Grace Kelly, who travelled on it regularly, including on her way to Monaco for her royal wedding.
Overall, the SS Constitution had a rich history and played a significant role in both American maritime culture and popular entertainment before its unfortunate end in 1997.
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The ship was featured in the film 'An Affair to Remember'
The SS Constitution was a passenger ship owned by American Export Lines. It was commissioned in 1951 and sailed on the New York City-Genoa-Naples-Gibraltar route to Europe. The SS Constitution was featured in the 1957 film "An Affair to Remember", starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. The film also featured the pool on the Lido Deck of the ship. The SS Constitution played a prominent role in the film, as it was the setting for many of the scenes and helped to create the romantic and nostalgic tone of the film. The ship also carried Grace Kelly from New York to Europe, where she became a princess. The ship was a symbol of American maritime design and construction and was one of the world's most famous, popular, and innovative ocean liners following World War II. It was big, fast, and very comfortable.
In addition to its appearance in "An Affair to Remember", the SS Constitution was also featured in several episodes of the television sitcom "I Love Lucy", starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The ship played a notable role in the episode "Bon Voyage," which first aired on December 1, 1955. In this episode, Lucy Ricardo misses the sailing of the ship and has to be ferried by helicopter to catch up with it. The SS Constitution was also featured in other films and television shows, including the Naked City TV series and the Magnum, P.I. television series.
The SS Constitution had a long and illustrious career before it was retired in 1995. It sailed for American Hawaii Cruises and American Global Line for many years in the 1980s and 1990s. Unfortunately, while under tow to be scrapped in 1997, the ship sank about 700 nautical miles north of the Hawaiian Islands. The exact location of the wreck remains a mystery.
The fate of the SS Constitution serves as a reminder of the precarious nature of ocean liners and the importance of proper retirement and disposal procedures. Despite its unfortunate end, the SS Constitution lives on in cinematic history, particularly in the classic film "An Affair to Remember."
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The ship was retired in 1995
The SS Constitution was a passenger ship owned by American Export Lines. She was commissioned in 1951 and sailed on the New York-Genoa-Naples-Gibraltar route to Europe. The Constitution was a sister ship to the SS Independence. Both ships were symbols of American maritime design and construction in the post-World War II era. They were big, fast, and very comfortable.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the SS Constitution was featured in several episodes of the television situation comedy "I Love Lucy," as well as in the 1957 film "An Affair to Remember." Former President Harry S. Truman and his wife Bess sailed back to New York from Europe on the Constitution in the summer of 1958.
However, as transatlantic jet travel replaced steamship passenger liners in the 1960s, business declined, and the SS Constitution was sold to a Taiwanese company. This company continued to operate cruises in Hawaii throughout the 1980s.
Finally, in 1995, the SS Constitution was retired from the American Hawaii Cruises fleet. By 1997, the ship had fallen into disrepair at a dock in Hawaii. While being towed to a scrapyard in 1997, the SS Constitution sank north of the Hawaiian Islands.
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SS Constitution sailed from New York to Europe
The SS Constitution was a transatlantic passenger liner that sailed from New York to Europe in the 1950s. It was built by American Export Lines and operated alongside its sister ship, the SS Independence. The Constitution offered a luxurious means of travel for up to 1,000 passengers between New York and Naples, Italy, with a stop in Southern France. This route was marketed as the "Sunlane" journey.
The SS Constitution gained fame through its appearance in popular media, including the 1957 film "An Affair to Remember," starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. It also featured in two episodes of the TV series "I Love Lucy," where Lucy and Ricky Ricardo made the passage to Europe. In addition to celebrities, the ship carried notable passengers such as former President Harry S. Truman and his wife, Bess, who sailed back to New York from Europe in the summer of 1958.
The SS Constitution served as a means of travel for American tourists visiting Europe and also carried Europeans back to New York. It was part of the American Hawaii Cruises fleet but was retired in 1995 due to high running costs and renovation needs. By 1997, it had fallen into disrepair, and its parts were used on other ships.
The SS Constitution is distinct from other ships named "Constitution," including one that sailed from England to Australia in 1851 and another that sailed between Bremen, Germany, and New York in the 1820s and 1830s.
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The ship was sold to a Taiwanese company
The SS Constitution was a passenger ship owned by American Export Lines. She was commissioned in 1951 and sailed on the New York-Genoa-Naples-Gibraltar route to Europe. The SS Constitution was featured in several episodes of the situation comedy "I Love Lucy" starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, starting with episode 140, "Bon Voyage," which first aired on December 1, 1955. The ship was also featured in the 1957 film "An Affair to Remember" starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Former President Harry S. Truman and his wife Bess sailed back to New York from Europe on the SS Constitution in the summer of 1958.
As transatlantic jet travel replaced steamship passenger liners in the 1960s, business declined and the SS Constitution was sold to a Taiwanese company that continued to operate cruises in Hawaii throughout the 1980s. The SS Constitution was retired from the American Hawaii Cruises fleet in 1995 and had fallen into disrepair by 1997. While being towed to a scrapyard, the ship started taking on water and eventually sank 700 nautical miles north of the Hawaiian Islands.
The SS Constitution was one of the world's most famous, popular, and innovative ocean liners, along with her sister ship, the SS Independence. They were symbols of American maritime design and construction, known for their size, speed, and comfort. Both ships were built by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts, for the American Export Lines to operate on the US Mediterranean service. The SS Constitution could accommodate 1,000 passengers and was designed to accommodate 5,000 soldiers during wartime. It offered luxurious accommodations, including Henry Dreyfuss-designed cabins, apartments, and "penthouses," as well as elegant public rooms and bars decorated with old tattoo designs and collections of ships in bottles.
The sale of the SS Constitution to the Taiwanese company allowed the ship to continue operating cruises in Hawaii throughout the 1980s, even as steamship passenger liners were being replaced by transatlantic jet travel. The new owners likely saw value in the ship's famous name and its patriotic connotations, as well as the opportunity to capitalize on the declining business of steamship passenger liners. Unfortunately, by 1997, the ship had fallen into disrepair, and despite efforts to tow it to a scrapyard, the SS Constitution sank north of Hawaii.
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Frequently asked questions
The SS Constitution was owned by American Export Lines.
The SS Constitution was retired in 1995.
While being towed to a scrapyard in 1997, the SS Constitution sank north of Hawaii.
Yes, Grace Kelly travelled on the SS Constitution regularly after becoming Princess Grace of Monaco.
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