Floating Paradise Lost: SS BRITANIS, Part Two: 60th Anniversary Cruise 

A time where ships would look like ships insteaf of floating bungalows..

Wow. This was so awesome to watch, I remember her when she was still in service and seeing her a couple of times. Sadly I was too young to appreciate her at the time and thought her as a curious throwback to a day long gone. I didn't realize what a unique and fascinating piece of functional history she was.

I was on this cruise and it was a wonderful and memorable time. I was traveling alone and appreciated the hospitality afforded me by Peter, Kevin, Bill Miller, Fred Rodriguez, the Braynards and Tom Cassidy. Thanks for reminding me of that wonderful cruise Peter

Oh the memories! I grew Up onboard those Chandris Ships, (Britanis, Australis, Amerikanis, Victoria, Fiorita during the 70's and early 80's. My father served as the Ship's Chief Medical Officer. I did the UK-Australia 3 times and then the Cruises, Caribbean, Scandinavia the Baltics. Indonesia and Mediterranean.

Great video! Brings back a lot of memories, I miss this size ship, but I loved the scenes from the engine room. When I was a very young child I used to go on cruises with my grandparents and it was regular that they would allow us to go into the engine room and observe. Today that is absolutely unheard of.

Wonderful, simply wonderful. I wish that I had been there with you all. Your film reminds us of how splendid ships used to be with out the need to be enormous.

Thanks for the amazing footage. I enjoyed that. I remember thinking about that time how incredible a ship older than the Queen Mary was still sailing. Now I wish I would have been more scheming and cleaver and made it onboard.

Sailed to Australia on this vessel may 1974

Peter, THANK YOU for sharing this visual and spoken treasure chest of Britanis history! I'm grateful not only that so much was recorded and documented but that you generously make it available to the rest of to enjoy. There is so much maritime history here. I have a question for you: When Chandris retired the Britanis was it because she was simply no longer competetive with new ships and no longer cost-effective or was the Britanis at the point that she was finally wearing out---or was it some of both?

wooow I was Bartender İn SS Britanis at 1989 great to see again memory Thanks for share

Oh, Peter, this sets my heart a-flutter! Lovely, these old images, especially of certain people who were part of our lives. Thank you so much! Also, while waiting for my US visa, I worked o/b the ss NIEUW AMSTERDAM, ss STATENDAM, and the ss ROTTERDAM. These steam ship memories are precious, no matter what vessel.

Older liners are so sexy with their curves ready to take on the high seas. The SS France to me is the epitome of a beautiful liner. I was on the SS Rotterdam in ‘75. Another beautiful liner. And the Queen Mary is still my favourite to look at. We’ve been on the Norwegian Escape and Bliss in recent years. They have lots of amenities but are just floating boxy hotels at sea. Not stylish at all.

my Dad was a deck officer on the Lurline and sailed out of SF.

Anyone who doesn't appreciate that zoom in shot of the oil-canning on her stern doesn't truly love old liners.

As a Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserves, I was Officer in Charge (OIC) of SS Britanis when it was chartered by the US Navy in 1985-86 in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. The ship was used to house US Government personnel there to assist with the nearly 60,000 migrants from Cuba and Haiti that were housed at GITMO. There was a military crew aboard, mostly to make sure the ship could interface with the military supply systems and to take care of the berth assignments and issues of those staying aboard. The ship had Greek officers - Captain Papanikilou (I probably butchered the spelling) was the Master, and he had a crew of mixed nationalities, aside from the Greek officers, they were mostly Canadians, and from assorted South and Central American nations. The ship had lost its luster, but it was full of charm. The original teakwood bars were still there (not serving alcohol!), as were the art deco fixtures. The ship's steam plant was a walk back in time, but those engines worked wonderfully when we needed to get out of port for Hurricane evasion. My office was in the library back aft as depicted in the video. The bookcases were still there, but full of military files at the time. My stateroom was actually in the video as well. I was in the Lanai stateroom on the port side. Aside from the aged fixtures in the shower, I had no complaints at all. Even in the 100-degree heat, the A/C plant kept the ship nice and cool. For a navy history and general maritime buff like me, it was great to spend some time with the old girl. I was saddened to hear the news when she sank off of South Africa a few years later. Since then, I've sailed four continents on the most modern of cruise ships, and they were better in all measures... roominess, lighting, and modern conveniences - but none have had the ambiance and elegance of ships of that era.

I was fortunate enough to sail on Britanis, on my first cruise - in the 80s - to Bermuda. (It was also nice to get a glimpse of Kevin Anthony in this video. We worked together at 'another cruise line'.)

1:57 Another RMHS Britanis Horn

God, I love old ships

Great video, Peter. So the first ships I sailed on as a small child were the Lurline and Matsonia to/from Hawaii. That started my lifetime big love for the great liners which included sailings on the Queens Mary and Elizabeth, Caronia and many more "lesser" ships. In my teens I just HAD to sail on the Ellinis, Britanis, and Australis. Interestingly enough I found the Ellinis to be the most immaculate of the Chandris ships (sailed on her in 1974). It was all Matson save for the cabins added by Chandris. On the Britanis in 1980, it was also delightful and still to a large extent Matson..... I do believe that the Matson ships were just about the best proportioned smaller liners ever constructed and certainly their longevity proves this out. Wish I could have done the Homeric as well, but she burned before I had that opportunity.

Magnificent, Peter!

Walking that deck looks reminiscent of those old black & white movies

This exact itinerary was my very first cruise,, I went solo and had a tiny cabin with only a sink,,, showers and toilets shared in female section,, earlier this documentary,,circa 1984. I appreciated the beautiful old ship.❤

oh ok it was recorded in 1992

Went roundtrip when I was ten to Hawaii from L.A. in 1968. Then she was the Lurline. She was beautifully maintained.

Congratulations on 1000 subs!

We sailed on this 1973. Uk to New Zealand. Pure magic.

Gosh I enjoyed this footage. I really enjoyed the commentary and the information about the history of certain furniture and the artwork on the bulkheads. I have a berthing plan for this ship dated September 1970 and it was great to follow the tour and have the plan come to life. We have a few pieces of Chandris items and a beautiful watercolour of RMMS Ellinis hanging in our bedroom. Bit odd considering I am a P&O man! Still have always admired Chandris Lines and it’s reiteration as Celebrity Cruises.

My wife and I were on the Britanis in March of 1993 on this exact same route. It was our first ever cruise and was a company sponsored trip through my employer. (Cabin U138) We really had No idea the history of the ship at the time but heard it was used as a transport ship during WW2. A few things we found unusual but sort of endearing about the ship was there were No 110V outlets in our cabin so my wife was required to go to a small room down the hall to use her curling iron or blow dryer. We also had two twin beds in our cabin and the two different washrooms as was mentioned in the video. As luck would have it while in Key West we ran aground and a tug boat was called to get us dislodged. From that point on we noticed a vibration which was quite noticeable especially in the lounge where they had a talent show that evening and the speakers were clearly shaking. We have a pretty good amount of video from that trip and we often look back with fond memories of our first cruise. Thanks for the video and history lesson. My wife saved all of our documents from the trip including a ship diagram, baggage tags, even a copy of our bar tab for the trip. Drinks were a lot cheaper back in 1993. Thanks again!!

I both wish and hope passenger ships return to this ships style one day

I actually sailed on this ship on July 4, 1993. It was a 5-night cruise out of Miami, with stops in Key West, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Cancún. It was my very first cruise ever! I had a great time with my friend, and we met some nice people onboard. Just recently I found out that my parents had also taken their only cruise in their lives on the Britanis, about a year or so before me. That was a sweet discovery. :-)

A beautiful video about a beautiful ship, thank you buddy ⭐️🇺🇸⭐️🇬🇧⭐️

Very interesting. I've never been onboard but my late brother worked on her in the 80s as shore excursions staff. Brought back some of his recollections of many crew parties and shenanigans! Thanks for sharing.

fantastic , a big thank you

My husband and I along with family sailed on the Britanis out of Philadelphia in the 1980’s at $425. For a five night cruise to Bermuda. We had a great time…she was definitely showing her age, and soot constantly fell from her stacks on the deck chairs. We took it in good stride and enjoyed her shows and food which were very good! She also had a problem with one of her screws and the back deck vibrated a great deal. We never forgot the fun we had on our very first cruise!

Sailed on this ship for our honeymoon in August of 1991. It was the only ship I could afford. This brought back memories!! Thanks.

I lived on this old girl in Guantanamo bay in 1995 during operation sea signal. JTF160. Had a great experience I was army enlisted and had two marine roommates. Great guys, had two navy females a few doors down. Was quite an experience living on an ocean liner co-ed for 6 months. Thanks for this and well done.

What a pleasure to watch

I am so glad to have found your site. I too love old ships and only sailed on the Orsova in 1969 and years later the QE2. I use to watch them dock in Vancouver. I guessing you have a lots more memories coming. Thank you.

Cruised on a 2 night cruise on the Britanis around 1975 between Melbourne, Australia and Sydney, Australia. I think the ship was continuing on you Britain on a liner voyage after that. I was around 10 years old. Also visited the Australis (sp) which was the former SS America when it came to Melbourne.

A cruise and an education. I love it!

Me encantan tus videos, creo que son la mejor muestra de lo que era navegar en esas hermosas naves. Soy un argentino que en 1981 con 8 años tomó el eugenio C desde Buenos Aires hasta Barcelona. Fue ahí cuando me di cuenta de la vida que tienen estas máquinas y desde entonces me dediqué a saber de todos los transatlánticos que pude y de todas las épocas. Pero lo mejor es saber que hay otros como yo. Gracias nuevamente por tus hermosas imágenes que sin duda ya son parte de la historia. Te saluda un argentino desde España

Yeah that carnival ship was scrapped and I think it was scrapped over the covid.

1:57

Past and present: harmony and ugliness

So did you go and hang out on Devole Street in Key West Or was it Franklin street?

Excellent in everyway. :) :) I enjoyed it. More than part one. Great job Peter.

Delightful dear Peter. So glad you recorded this.

Another classic peter. Just a incredible job. It felt like I was on board her

When was this recorded?

wot is a "gallab'fey"?