SS Independence SS Constitution: Great American Ocean Liners

Co-published with the Steamship Historical Society of America

They were two of the world’s most famous and innovative ocean liners. They were symbols of the might and ingenuity of American maritime design and construction. They were the biggest liners built in the USA in a decade. One of them even ranked for a time as the fastest merchant ship under the Stars & Stripes. They were the twin sisters SS Independence and SS Constitution.

This book tells their story, enhanced with over 100 photos and brochure covers from two of the worlds finest marine artists of the day, William Mueller and Donald Soltenberg.

Commissioned in 1951 by American Export Lines, the SS Independence and SS Constitution sailed the Atlantic between New York and the western Mediterranean for over fifteen years. They carried kings and presidents, movies stars and corporate moguls, tourists and immigrants. They were three-class ships: luxurious, upper-deck first class, comfortable, but less expensive cabin class, and, for the more budget-minded, tourist class. They were designed by the brilliant Henry Dreyfus, who believed in comfort combined with simplicity and who looked after every detail, from the funnel colors to match book covers.

The future of the great Atlantic liners of the 1950s and ’60s was prematurely cut short, however, by the airlines or more specifically the jet. Like others, American Export Lines had fewer and fewer passengers after 1958. The ships’ last struggling years are chronicled here as well. By 1969, both ships were out of work, laid up and for sale.

The scenic Hawaiian islands brought them second careers, however. Both were bought by American Hawaii Cruises and began cruise sailings from Honolulu in 1980. A new popularity and prestige surrounded them. The Constitution was finally decommissioned in 1995 and then, very sadly, sank two years later when on her way to Far Eastern scrap yards. The Independence sailed on until 2009.

A fascinating book about two of America’s most memorable ocean liners.