A Tribute to the Swedish American Line
The White Viking Fleet
12 Years on the Internet

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Kungsholm 1966 - 1975
The happy ship with a happy crew

Pennant Of all the ships that sail the sea,
The ship for me is the Kungsholm,
More than just an ocean liner,
Not a ship is built that's finer...
The Kungsholm Song

There were 3 great ships named Kungsholm that were owned by SAL.

Original name: MS Kungsholm
Shipyard: John Brown & Co, Scotland
Year: 1966
Tons: 26,678
No of passengers: 750
Delivered to SAL: 1966
Sold: 1975
Sold to: Flagship Cruises Ltd
Renamed: 1978 Sea Princess (P&O Lines)
Today: The Scholar Ship

Poolside
A typical 1960's illustration of life at the poolside. As the average age of
the cruise members was 65, the picture is quite imaginative.

South America Cruise
Europe & Mediterranean Cruise
South Pacific Cruise

The Great Cruise Around South America, 1968, 44 days

Scandinavia, Europe, Mediterranean Fall Cruise, 1968, 40 days

A Cruise Adventure to the South Pacific, 1969, 93 days

The New MS Kungsholm is your "sunshine special" whisking you away to this land of beautiful springtime whose seasons are just the reverse of ours. First comes a call at the Panama Canal, connecting links between two vast oceans, a wonder of engineering skill with a stop at Bilboa. You will be basking in the sunshine on deck as your cruise ship follows the west coast to Callao for Lima, steeped in history and romance...

This is the cruise you won't want to miss, timed just right, in September when crowds begin to fade, the weather is lovely, and the lands visited are bathed in autumnal brilliance. You will spend 40 rewarding days, visiting ports of call, especially selected for their color, charm, romantic atmosphere, historic interest and shopping opportunities. It's a time for seasoned travelers who know when travel's best...

Ever since the days of Captain James Cook, who made the first excursion to the South Sea Islands, this area of the world has held a fascination for the adventure-minded. You, too, will discover a world that is not of this world as the magnificient New Kungsholm threads her way through these islands of enchantment and splendor, the fascinating lands of New Zealand, and on to the down-under continent of Australia...

Lounge Stateroom Stateroom

The world renowned artistic talents of Sweden's leading designers are shown to their best in the New Kungsholm's inviting lounges...

Every room aboard the New Kungsholm is air-conditioned and equipped with private bath or shower. There's music in every stateroom with a choice of programs. Notice the full size beds, the attractive draperies, the ample drawer space...

SAL used members of its own staff as models. The lady in this picture, Marlene Pekala, was a dance instructor, and the man at the phone was a cruise staff member from the SAL New York office.

The auditorium is an attractive room where you will enjoy movies, travel forums and lectures.

Photos of the Kungsholm's interior from Carl-Gustav Kruse's collection

Forward Lounge
Verandah Deck
Aft Cocktail Lounge
Verandah Deck
Forward Library
Verandah Deck
Aft Smoking Room
Verandah Deck
Dining Room
A-Deck
Aft Card Room
Verandah Deck
Entrance Hall and Purser's
Information Desk (windows closed)
Upper Deck
Outdoor Pool
Promenade Deck
Beauty Parlor
the heart of the Kungsholm
B-Deck

Still Looking Good
Intarsia
Stefanie in Germany has contributed this photo of the interior of the Mona Lisa, ex Victoria, ex Kungsholm of 1966. The Kungsholm's original artwork is still in place.

Örjan Slätte, Informationsofficer på MS Gripsholm, har lämnat följande upplysningar om konstverket:
Intarsian fanns redan i 1953 års Kungsholm och heter "Gestalter ochbyggnadsverk i Sveriges historia". Personerna sträcker sig ca tusen årtillbaka i tiden och geografin är upplagd så att man från vänster tillhöger kan läsa av Sverige från väster till öster. Konstnären hette Rudolf Blomberg.

Örjan Slätte, former Information Officer on the Gripsholm, has added these comments:
This intarsia was present on the Kungsholm of 1953. It is called "Figures and buildings in Swedish history". The characters go back about one thousand years, and the geographic presentation, from left to right, shows Sweden from the West Coast to the East. The artist's name was Rudolf Blomberg.


The Kungsholm's Four Tenders

Two of Kungsholm's original tenders are presently operating in the Cardiff Bay, under the ownership of The Cardiff Waterbus. A third tender, called Arklet, now works on Loch Lomond in Scotland. She ferries passengers between the Inversnaid Hotel and Inveruglas. Captain Ben Salter of the Cardiff Waterbus, reports that he has found the fourth, elusive tender. There is interesting information about the tenders' careers on the History page on the Cardiff Waterbus site.


Magellan certificate
Certificate given to the cruise members after passing through the Strait of Magellan on the cruise around South America.

Excellent site!
Don't miss a visit to Henrik Ljungström's and Daniel Othfors' excellent website
The Great Ocean Liners, where you can find lots of information about the SAL liners.


 

 

About SAL
SAL Timeline

Life as a
Crew Member
Passenger
Area

Benny Doverhagen
Seaman

Exchange and
Repatriation Ships
During WWII
Rune Dahlstrand
Gripsholm Barber
During WWII
Torkel Tistrand
Sea Personell Manager
Curt Dawe
Chief Purser
Carl-Gustav Kruse
Chief Purser
Hugo Billén
Chief Purser
Evert Eriksson
Chief Purser
Asko Salkola
Purser's Office
Stigbergskajen
Göteborg
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New York
The SAL Office in
New York
Hanna Owen
Singer
The Entertainers The Folk Dance
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C-G Quant
Chief Steward
Volker Roloff
Chief Steward
Franz Havranek Wine Steward Juan Martinez
Waiter
Lars Warlin
Assistant Waiter
Björn Wallde
Crew member
Tommy Stark
Crew member
Lois MacNeil
Stewardess
C-G Edhardt
Assistant
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Regardless of which ship we sailed on or which year - the memories we share are the same!

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Recommended Books

Updated Sep 7, 2009

Waterline - Images from the Golden Age of Cruising

John Graves

Örjan Slätte, ex Information Officer on the Gripsholm, recommends Waterline - Images from the Golden Age of Cruising by John Graves, published by the National Maritime Museum in London in 2004. It is based on photos by Marine Photo Service, which were acquired by the museum in 1996 The book features many photos from SAL cruises.

Buy at amazon.co.uk
 

Please note that the book's edition at Amazon.co.uk may not have the Kungsholm on the cover.

Örjan Slätte, Informationsofficer på Gripsholm, rekommenderar boken Waterline - Images from the Golden Ages of Cruising. Boken är utgiven år 2004 av National Maritime Museum i London som 1996 förvärvat Marine Photo Service (MPS) samlingar. Redan omslagsbilden föreställer Kungsholm 1953 med två vattenskidåkande ynglingar i fronten. MPS fanns i många rederier och där finns många mycket bra foton från SAL:s kryssningar. Våra fotografer var mycket yrkesskickliga med konstnärlig talang. Man kan förmoda att de tidvis kände för att fotografera annat än leende, välklädda pax med cocktailglas i hand. Fina miljöer från fartygens "omvärld".
Anser boken vara av god kvalité. 255 sidor, inkl. noter. Här i Göteborg hittade jag den i Haga i en butik som köper in restupplagor (remainders) och säljer till bra pris, ca 160 sek. "Böcker som vi gillar till pris som ni gillar": Bokrummet i Haga, Skolgatan 11, 413 02 GÖTEBORG, bokrummet, tfn 031-7010028. De har ett traditionellt antikvariat, Bokmalen, Haga Nygata 16.



Updated July7, 2008

MERCY SHIPS
by David Miller

Buy at amazon.co.uk
 

 


Mercy Ships

 

During World War 2 the Drottningholm and the Gripsholm were used as repatriation ships and made 33 voyages to exchange prisoners of war, diplomats, women and children, between the warfaring nations. David Miller has written a book about the exchange and repatriation voyages,with an emphasis on the British experience. It is loaded with facts about these voyages of mercy.

Read more about all the exchange and repatriation sailings during WWII here.


 

M/S Kungsholms inredning
Ett mästerverk i svensk
art deco

Anne Marie Ericsson

Första M/S Kungsholm, Amerikalinjens stora passagerarfartyg, byggdes på 1920-talet. Det gick mellan Göteborg och New York. Arkitekten Carl Bergsten fick uppdraget att hålla i den påkostade inredningen som skulle visa för världen vad svenska konstnärer kunde åstadkomma. Under andra världskriget togs fartyget i beslag av amerikanarna för att användas i trupptransporten till Europa. Inredningen revs då ner och förstördes. Anne-Marie Ericsson har letat i arkiv och museer efter beskrivningar, ritningar och gamla fotografier för att försöka rekonstruera denna makalösa uppvisning i svensk inredningskonst.
Köp boken här: Adlibris

 

Amerikabåtarna
Från emigranter till miljonärer

Christer Winberg

Christer Winberg, professor i historia vid Göteborgs universitet, har skrivit en bok om SAL som bygger på bevarat samtida material från Svenska Amerika Linien på Landsarkivet och Sjöfartsmuseet i Göteborg. Det omfattar exempelvis reserapporter, minnesberättelser och personligt färgade reseskildringar. Författaren har också samlat in eget material genom intervjuer med f.d. anställda.
Köp boken här: Adlibris

 

 

Andrea Dorias undergång
Britt-Marie Mattsson

I Andrea Dorias undergång berättar Britt-Marie Mattsson den fascinerande berättelsen om kollisionen, den heroiska räddningsaktionen och det rättsliga efterspelet till den mycket uppmärksammade olyckan - sin tids Titanic. Mattssons far var vid tiden för olyckan informationschef vid Svenska Amerika Linien. Britt-Marie Mattsson har träffat flera av de överlevande och intervjuat dem för denna bok. Hon har bland annat talat med vittnen som ger information som kan kasta nytt ljus över vad som egentligen orsakade den fruktansvärda kollisionen. Boken är rikligt illustrerad i svartvitt.
Köp boken här: Adlibris



SAL enthusiast Bob Zeschin has recommended
Kungsholm - Europa - Columbus C
by Nico Guns

A book about the Kungsholm of 1953.
Primarily Dutch text, but with English language insertions, captions and a full summary at the end of the book.


Journalist Per Fält has recommended
The Grand Cruise by Cecil Roberts, published in 1963. It tells the story of an Around The World Cruise on the Kungsholm of 1953. The book can from time to time be found on eBay.


"Såna" på Amerikabåtarna
Arne Nilsson

SAL har skildrats i böcker, dokumentär-filmer, journalfilmer och tidningsartiklar. Oftast är det glamouren som uppmärk-sammats men en grupp har alltid saknats i beskrivningarna: homosexuella män. Såna på Amerikabåtarna är en välskriven, lättläst och underhållande studie av en värld som gått i glömska.
Köp boken här: Adlibris


De Flytande Palatsen
The White Viking Fleet
Algot Mattsson

From the very inception of the line in 1915, the ships of the Line attracted much attention on both sidesof the Atlantic. Not only did they represent the bonds between the old country and the new, they also represented new concepts in service, decor, and furnishings as well as in art and handicraft. Published in 1987. This book can be found on Amazon.


 


Huset Broström
Algot Mattsson

Huset Broström för tankarna till Forsythesagan och Onedinlinjen. Inget svenskt företag har upplevt så stor dramatik som just Broströms. Detta är den dramtiska berättelsen "inifrån Huset", om det som skedde i det som syntes ske. Utgiven 1980.



Out of the Fog

Algot Mattsson

Out of the Fog is an American edition of a Swedish book by Algot Mattsson, who was the information officer for SAL, the owner of Stockholm, the ship that collided with Andrea Doria in 1956. The book describes the collision from the perspectives of both ships as well as the heroic rescue of hundreds. Testimony given at the hearing is also included as is a legal opinion by the American editors, one of whom was directly involved with the case.



Vägen mot Väster

Algot Mattsson

Detta är en berättelse om den dramatiska färden över Atlanten, från de hårda och riskfyllda överfarten med små lastskutor i mitten av 1800-talet, till lyxresorna med Amerikalinjens sista skepp. Utgiven 1982