Friday, September 27, 2013

Swedish American Line final call in Lisbon

Back in 1975 when I got my first good camera, Swedish American Line was one of the very best companies in the top cruise market: their two handsome twin funneled liners GRIPSHOLM and KUNGSHOLM were doing their final cruises however.
The company closed passenger services in that sad year, when so many other Pax shipping names went busted, but I was lucky to photograph both ships in Lisbon on their final season.
The KUNGSHOLM last call in Lisbon under the Swedish flag was an overnight call on 31st May - 1st June 1975. The photograph was taken at the Rocha Passenger Terminal on the evening of 31st May. The next day I took her underway leaving port. It was the end for SAL, due to high costs and lack of flexibility on the part of Swedish crews and unions. Sold to Flagship Cruises the KUNGSHOLM later returned to Lisbon under the Liberia flag and also as SEA PRINCESS, VICTORIA, MONA LISA and OCEANIC II...
Running mate GRIPSHOLM only returned once more as the NAVARINO.
Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

1 comment:

paulorenato said...

como era lindo este navio na sua fase origial...