The Conservancy's second Maritime Legacy Cruise, organized and supported by The Pollin Group, was a great success. An enthusiastic group from around the country - hailing from 16 different states - enjoyed traveling aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway to Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine, along with St John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. The trip combined relaxation and recreation with fascinating presentations, film screenings, and fantastic stories from former passengers and crewmembers. It also served as another opportunity for supporters to strengthen wonderful friendships, and it generated a renewed commitment to the cause of saving America’s Flagship - the SS United States.
We are profoundly grateful to Jim Pollin and the entire team at The Pollin Group, especially Denise Jordan, for supporting this fabulous program, and especially to Jim for his incredible generosity. CLICK HERE to watch Jim’s special pre-cruise announcement, made from the SS United States’ propeller at Pier 76.
During the cruise, SS United States and ocean liner history games were a big hit. Conservancy Advisory Council member Alan Stover prepared trivia quizzes, word scrambles, and word searches, using his detailed plans of the America’s Flagship. The crowd favorite was a dice game in which historic ocean liners competed for the Blue Riband. The RMS Mauretania triumphed!
Former SS United States crewmembers and passengers shared hilarious, poignant, and gripping memories of their experiences aboard the Big U. Among those to address the crowd was Deborah Toogood-Oliver, who was only three months old during the maiden westbound voyage of the SS United States. CLICK HERE to watch Deborah’s “Maiden Voyage Reflection.”
The Conservancy also paid a special tribute to Larry Driscoll, maritime author, educator, and longstanding member of the Conservancy's Advisory Council, who passed away on August 4, 2022. Merchant Mariner Timothy Forgione read excerpts from Larry's book, "The Last Great Race." Timothy was the winning bidder of Larry's book at the Conservancy's Hampton Roads Chapter's auction this past April.
Conor Finnegan, the Conservancy's Southeast US Chapter Co-Chair, enthralled the group with a fascinating presentation comparing the lives, achievements, and dreams of Walt Disney and the SS United States' designer, William Francis Gibbs. We will be offering this riveting talk to the Conservancy’s full membership via Zoom this fall. Conservancy President Susan Gibbs and Preservation and Outreach Associate Alaina Noland also offered presentations on the Conservancy’s programs, exhibitions, future plans, and insights into the day-to-day efforts of the organization committed to saving America’s Flagship. A special screening of “Lady in Waiting”, the award-winning documentary film produced by Mark Perry and directed by Bob Radler, was shown. A highlight was hearing John Green’s reflections on his parents, the late crewmember Jim Green and his wife, Frieda, who met aboard the Big U and were featured in the film.
Besides relishing in the company of other ocean liner enthusiasts, legacy cruise participants enjoyed exploring various ports-of-call in New England and Canada, a region steeped in rich maritime history.
The cruise concluded with a festive cocktail party and celebration of the Big U's enduring legacy, with guests and Conservancy staff fully embracing fashion from the 50’s at our final group gathering. We look forward to future events and once again, thank the Pollin Group for their continued support.
