At the time of this writing the former SS France is being scrapped at Alang, the notorious scrappers' beach in India where so many historic, and not so historic, ships have met their fate. Built in 1961 for the late CGT, or the French Line, the ship was put out of business by air travel. In 1978 she became the Norway of Norwegian Cruise Line. At 1031 feet, she was the longest liner until before the millennium. This is a terrible historic loss, for this site, equate to the demo of the Chrysler building beacuse it was 'too old.' I will post some pics of her in her prime, and beached in India once I find some, or you can if you like.

pix, link? anytihing???

Too bad they can't do a big refurb on her.

Here's some photos I found at this great website devoted to the France.

1962-74 SS France
http://i18.tinypic.com/2qjgjnk.jpg
http://i10.tinypic.com/47vbr6f.jpg
http://i18.tinypic.com/2nqgx36.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/2q9j5fl.jpg
1980- SS Norway
http://i14.tinypic.com/3y86cnc.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/2cgiz4y.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/2medfti.jpg
http://i11.tinypic.com/42no76h.jpg
http://i18.tinypic.com/3zstq3t.jpg
1998
http://i18.tinypic.com/4gpcyon.jpg

The website with heaps of pics - http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/CGT_France1962_PCs.html

what a shame - such an elegant looking big ship. truth is that her facilities could not match the amazing delights on offer aboard modern cruise ships and it would be hugely expensive to bring her up to date. It would be nice if she could preserved in some way but it would cost so much to maintain her and where would she be berthed? - there's not many places that are large enough to spare room for a 1000 foot long liner on a permanent basis.

In the long run every great ship/liner will be broken up. It's just a shame she will not go out with more dignity.

I saw her in 2002 as she followed our Royal Caribbean ship to St. Thomas and Saint Maarten. It was clear how impractical she was for the job, as her deeper hull forced her to anchor far away from the islands, using muster ships to shuttle passengers to and from.

:grouphug:

Luckily not all ships from that era are for scrap.

The Rotterdam

http://www.ssrotterdam.net/
http://www.derotterdam.com/?taal=en

It was a fiasco from day one. Granted, a beautiful fiasco, but heavily subsidised by the french gov., meaning peoples taxes, to have a barely functioning operation, for people who could largely afford being on the France.
The saga's been going for too long, scrap it already!

Yeah ok Limey how about we scrap the QE2 bet you wouldn't like that! Anyway, sorry I totally forgot that I started this, what with the holidays and all. Check out pics of the France's demise and other older liners at maritimematters.com

Yeah ok Limey how about we scrap the QE2 bet you wouldn't like that!

I couldn't care less.
It's a fact that the ex norway cost us a packet! that's a major reason why it had to go.