SS Oceanic (1965)

SS "Oceanic" is a cruise ship owned and operated by Pullmantur Cruises. She was built in 1965 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy for Home Lines. Between 1985 and 2000 she sailed for Premier Cruise Lines under the names "Starship Oceanic" and "Big Red Boat I", before being sold to Pullmantur Cruises and reverted to her original name.

Career with Home Lines

The "Oceanic" was the first newbuild to be built for Home Lines. Planned in the twilight years of the age of the ocean liner, the ship was built as one of the first dual-purpose passenger liners. She had many features that are commonplace in cruise ships today, like an engines-aft design, balcony suites, and a midships swimming pool with a "Magradome", a retractable roof over the pool. Originally she was planned to sail from North American ports like New York City and Montreal to Europe during the spring and summer, and Caribbean cruises in the winter. However, the increasing popularity of the jet airliner and an agreement with German Atlantic Line made Home Lines abandon liner service, and when delivered in 1965 the Oceanic was placed on cruise service out of New York, seven-day cruises to Nassau during the summer and longer cruises to the Caribbean during the winter. The ship was incorrectly marketed as the first purpose-built cruise ships in the world in Home Lines' promotional material. The Oceanic gained much popularity, and during the following years Home Lines was established as one of the leading cruise lines in the world.

Career with Premier Cruises

The Oceanic was sold to Premier Cruises in 1986, renamed "StarShip Oceanic" and was initially placed on three and four-day cruises from Port Canaveral to Nassau. This cruise could be combined with a stay at Walt Disney World. Later during her career with Premier Cruises she was often marketed as "The Big Red Boat", and in 2000 she was renamed "Big Red Boat I", with no change to her itenaries.

When Premier folded in the fall of 2000, the ship was detained by port authorities and then laid up. Premier Cruises was forced to put the ship up for sale.

Career with Pullmantur Cruises

The ship was purchased by the Spanish-owned Pullmantur Cruises Cruises in late 2000. Her hull was painted white and she reverted back to her original name, beginning service with Pullmantur in May 2001. She is currently used on cruises around the Mediterranean with Barcelona as the starting port.

Links

* [http://www.ssmaritime.com/oceanic.htm Brief History of SS Oceanic]
*sv icon [http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/oceanic_1965.htm T/S Oceanic (1965)] at "Fakta om Fartyg" sv icon
* [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/OceanicPCs.html Oceanic - Big Red Boat 1] at [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/ Simplon Postcards]