THE S.S. UNITED STATES AT BREMERHAVEN:
It was the end of the line, Bremerhaven Germany, the ship's last port of call. The sailing schedule for 1954 shows the S.S. United States and S.S. America made a combined 22 docking at the German port. As part of its contract with the Federal Government, the United States Lines accorded first-class passage to military officers and their families traveling to and from Europe under official orders. For most of the kids the ship would be their first experience on board a luxury liner. Elaine Tweedy was 9 year old when she sailed to Bremerhaven in 1965. "The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were on board. I remember thinking that they looked normal. I expected her to wear some kind of tiara!". She also loved the steps that led to the dinning room in first class. "I would pretend I was Shirley Temple and tap up and down them. (Of course, I wouldn't let anyone see me doing this.)".
As a young boy Bill Ashley still remembers the awe of first class transatlantic travel. "It was an experience unlike any other, before or after". Forty years latter the memories are still vivid. "My mother found in an oyster while having supper in the first class dining room. She still has that pearl as a treasured memento. Also the night we were dining when the ship’s captain stopped by to talk with my parents; and then he turned his attention to me and spent at least ten minutes talking to me about the ship. And the way they dressed for supper each night (military men in full dress uniforms, ladies were in formal evening gowns)".
Modern, with sleek racing lines and tall red white and blue smoke stacks, the United States was to many Germans a symbol of the American way of life. Among her prominent passenger were German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, and the Viennese Boys Choir. For many immigrating from Europe the ship would also the first experience of their new life in America.
The last journey to Bremerhaven for the legendary liner was on November 2, 1969. Bill Ashley sums it up for those of us who were fortunate to have traveled on this proud legendary ocean liner. "I can’t help but think of how far we’ve advanced technologically since air travel became the dominant mode of travel, but in terms of civilized service, comfort, and attention to detail, nothing could compare with crossing the Atlantic on America’s finest superliner. It was, and is, an experience I’ll always treasure."
Thanks to Helmut Adebahr for the pictures below. He lives in a village near Bremerhaven and is a great fan of ocean liners, especially the United States and the QE2.
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