Orsova

poseidon9 · Apr 18, 2013

These vessels have a very nice stern design. It's sad all these vessels went to breakers due to the oil crisis of the 1970s. It would have been a good idea to keep at least one of these vessels as a floating hotel or something. In first class part one could have a hotel and in the tourist class section a hostel. One of the similar looking predecessors, ss Orion, served as a hotel in Hamburg in 1963. She looks very nice in old postcards, laying on Ueberseebruecke (overseas bridge) in middle of the port panorama of Hamburg. Anyway, very fine vessels and it must have been a great pleasure to travel on these boats.

Just one thing I never understood well is her name. Orsova is a port city on Danube in Romania. What's the connection with P&O / Orient Line except that the name starts with Or-?

cockerhoop · Apr 18, 2013

Its a shame these classics never got long service in the cruise industry
due to being scrapped before it took off

waiwera · Apr 18, 2013

Not sure - But think these "traditional liners" did not have a high proportion of private facility cabins? Virtually a must have for the modern cruise person. They would have been expensive to retrofit - although it was done to some vessels like the Southern Cross - which had a successful second life as a cruise ship.

Pat McCardle · Apr 18, 2013

What was the cargo capacity of these vessels? Surely the earnings off the cargoes could offset loses to the passenger numbers?

fred henderson · Apr 18, 2013

Orsova was scrapped in 1974. By that date the era of rebuilding old liners to meet the demands of the cruise market was almost over. It was too expensive to turn a sow's ear into a down market silk purse. In addition steam and all British crews were completely uneconomic.

northern · Apr 19, 2013

Orsova and running mates Orcades and Oronsay where lovley looking liners but as for cruising they were realy not suted. (1) they were built for the Australia Run and carried First and Tourist class passengers.(2) because they were two class First took most of the middle of the ship and Tourist were spread out over serveral decks aft the public rooms were as different leavels not realey suited to be cruise ships. Another was when they went on cruises you payed for either First or Tourist for your cruise. As for Southern Cross she was built as a One class liner with all her public rooms on the same deck mutch easer to convert for cruising. Orcades went to the brakers first and Orsova second to go Oronsay was the third to be brocken up bu out lasted Orcades and Orsova. Also P and O woud not sell there liners to another company.

KYRENIA · Apr 19, 2013

northern, hi. Although not ex Orient liners STRATHMORE became MARIANNA LATSIS 1963-9 and SRATHEDEN became HENRIETTA LATSIS 1964-9.
Cheers, John.

fred henderson · Apr 19, 2013

John S Latsis employed the two old Strath liners as pilgrim ships from South East Asia to Jeddah, so he was not in any way competing with P&O.

poseidon9 · Apr 19, 2013

The first class cabins had private facilities. The tourist class cabins didn't have them, but they seem to have been of quite large size according to deck plan. These vessels had two classes, but I think Himalaya had just one class (right?). In 1960s and 1970s not all passengers expected great amenities. There were conversions of traditional passenger vessels into cruise liners with all "cruise" cabins. The Greek companies carried out such conversions for instance. One thinks just many Chandris vessels, large or small, which were converted to modern cruising role. How about the engines, they probably needed quite a bit more fuel than modern engines? Perhaps that was the reason for the early scrappings?

northern · Apr 20, 2013

Fred Henderson is correct about the Strathmore and Stratheden they were sold on the understanding that they would not be used in compertition with P and O Liners. As for Himalaya being a One Class ship they also coverted the Orcades to one class as they were the 2 oldest liners in the fleet. They replaced the Strathmore and Stratheden which had been one class. The oldest liners in the P and O were always converted to one class. Some tourist class cabins had showers and facilities the only diffrence between First and Tourist was a greater selection of food in First, Less passenger noumbers and more deck space.

Orsova

poseidon9

cockerhoop

waiwera

Pat McCardle

fred henderson

northern

KYRENIA

fred henderson

poseidon9

northern

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