The Universe, Australis, First Cruises & Queen Elizabeth's Last

First Cruise

Victor S. has done over 50 cruises, 40 of them with Cunard. But he told me, “My very first cruise was as a student on a ‘floating university,’ the Universe. It was in the mid 1970s and we went completely around the world in 85 days. The ship was operated by an American university, but owned by the Chinese [the Orient Overseas Lines]. I had never been to all the ports and that was an education in itself!”

(PS: The Universe was the former Atlantic of American Export Lines.)

Universe, formerly Atlantic of American Export Lines, operated as a floating university. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection. — *Universe*, formerly *Atlantic* of American Export Lines, operated as a floating university. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection.

West Side

Martin S. worked in midtown Manhattan in the 1960s. He told me: “Sometimes I’d wander over to the piers, to see the great liners. What sights they were! I especially remember the great size, the towering stance, of the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, United States and the France. To me, they were immaculate creations of steel, rivets, sheer design!”

Queen Elizabeth alongside the pier during her transatlantic service. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection. — *Queen Elizabeth* alongside the pier during her transatlantic service. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection.

LIVES OF THE LINERS: Rangitata & Rangitiki

They were large passenger-cargo liners, deriving their income from both some 600 passengers and freight carried in seven holds. Along with regular passengers including the occasional tourists, they carried British manufactured goods on the outward sailings and returned with large amounts of meat and wool.

Rangitata of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection. — *Rangitata* of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection.

Built on the Clyde, the Rangitata of 1929 and her two sisters belonged to the New Zealand Shipping Company and flew the British flag. Used on the long-haul run via Panama between London, Auckland and Wellington, it had 33 years of service before being scrapped in 1962.

New Zealand Shipping Company advertisement featuring Rangitata. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection. — New Zealand Shipping Company advertisement featuring *Rangitata*. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection.

Another First Cruise

Marian told me: “My very first cruise was on the OceanBreeze [the former Southern Cross, dating from 1955]. I didn’t think I’d like cruising – or being on a ship. But I did! It was fun, restful, relaxing. Now, I am on my 35^th cruise and going around the world on the Queen Mary 2.”

Ocean Breeze at Nassau alongside Carnival Triumph. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection. — *Ocean Breeze* at Nassau alongside Carnival Triumph. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection.

In the Mailbox

Had a recent inquiry from a couple over in the UK. They had emigrated from Southampton to Melbourne on the Chandris liner Australis back in 1970. It was a lifetime change. But as it turned out, they did not like living in Australia and returned to their home (near Bournemouth) in 1973 and coincidentally onboard the Australis. Simply, they were asking: “What ever happened to the Australis?”

Australis of Chandris Lines during her transoceanic service. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection. — *Australis* of Chandris Lines during her transoceanic service. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection.

Another Inquiry

A neighbor reported that he and his family went home to their native Italy in 1959. They’d sailed over from New York to Naples on the Italian Line’s Augustus. The neighbor remembered little about the ship itself except that the family was seasick for most of the voyage. They canceled the return crossing on the Italian Line and flew instead.

Augustus of the Italian Line at sea. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection. — *Augustus* of the Italian Line at sea. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection.

Sad Sight

Fellow passenger Robert E. was living in Hong Kong in the early 1970s and told me: “It was a very sad day when the former Queen Elizabeth burned in the harbor. A great loss of a great ship! I remember seeing it, in the early 60s, at Southampton. Such a beautiful looking ship! To me, the Queen Elizabeth had the most perfect proportions. I took a boat out to the wreckage [in Hong Kong harbor] and all but cried.”