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A Tribute to the Swedish American Line | ||||||||
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| Gripsholm 1957-1975 |
There were 2 great ships named Gripsholm
Read about the first Gripsholm, 1925-1954
Original name: | MS Gripsholm |
Shipyard: | Ansaldo, Genua, Italy |
Year: | 1957 |
Tons: | 23,215 |
No of passengers: | 778 |
Delivered to SAL: | 1957 |
Sold: | 1975 |
Sold to: | Karageorgis Lines. Pireaus |
Renamed: | Navarino, Regent Sea |
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Today: | Sank on July 12, 2001 |
A letter from the Gripsholm's maiden voyage in May, 1957
Memories from Gripsholm's last Atlantic crossing in 1975
Read about the Gripsholm's final voyage in 2001
Gripsholm of 1957 in Göteborg.
More than 800 works of art, to be placed in
cabins, lounges and crew areas,
were ordered by SAL for this ship.
In 1971 she was laid up in Göteborg for three
months to be
converted to
a pure cruise ship,
marking the end of the Gripsholm's Atlantic liner era.
Gripsholm at La Guaira, Venezuela during a Caribbean Cruise 1971.
Klas Ericson, son of Ship's Doctor Sten Ericson, who served on the Gripsholm
Klas Ericson has contributed three more photos, Photographer unknown.
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Gripsholm in Stockholm 1975.
Photo by Richard Jacob.
See a high resolution version of the above photo.
What is the person on deck contemplating?
This was Gripsholm's last visit to Stockholm.
Gripsholm 1966
Contributed by Carl-Gustaf Edhardt
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| This is the cover of the original specification book for the construction of the Gripsholm of 1957. It has 1,163 pages and covers everything about the ship in the minutest details. Records state that the official contract between the Swedish American Line and the Ansaldo shipyard in Genova was signed on September 15, 1954 and the ship's keel was laid down on May 10, 1955. The Gripsholm was launched on April 8, 1956 and was officially delivered to the SAL a year and two days later on April 10, 1957. Ironically nearly four months after the Gripsholm was launched the Andrea Doria- Stockholm collision occurred and in fact incomplete Gripsholm lay tied up at the same fitting out pier where the Doria herself had been fitted out. Dan Scott collection |
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Gripsholm leaving Göteborg, Views from the Älvsborgsbron bridge. |
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Gripsholm at anchor in Stockholm The 3 photos above have been contributed by Lasse Olsbrand, son of Gripsholm fireman Gunnar Olsbrand |
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Gripsholm in St Thomas, Virgin Islands, 1958.
Many thanks to Fred Claessen for this photo.
Gripsholm Tender
This fine photo was shot from Sun Deck on the Gripsholm
during the Around the World Cruise 1966.
Photographer: Assistant Deck Steward Carl-Gustaf Edhardt
The Cruise of the Year; The Greek Islands, Mediterranean and Black Sea 1968, 56 days.
A Sunshine Special to Africa, South America, the Amazon and the Para River 1968, 42 days.
Happy days are here when you cruise on the nine-story sea-going palace, Gripsholm, for the Gripsholm is a "Happy ship" with a happy crew. Gaiety abounds and fun is as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky. Sites of historic battles, haunts of poets, fabled homes of Greek gods, in a salubrious climate, are yours to enjoy from your home away from home, the Gripsholm...
The sun in all its radiance and warmth is your constant companion on this gala cruise to the lands of summer when it's winter time back home.
Bask in the sunshine on the spacious decks of the MS Gripsholm as she loafs her way to the balmy, flower bedecked Azores; explore with us the fascination of that mysterious, intriguing city of renown, Casablanca; revel in the beauty and charm of the Canary Islands...
A typical Upper Deck stateroom with all the conveniences of home, including bath and shower, completely air-conditioned, and a telephone for each room.
Snow-white linens and attractive furnishings are unobtrusive dining companions... and behind the scenes carefully trained chefs, anticipating keen appetites...
The interior photos below are contributed by David Chisling, Cruise Staff member: 
The Forward Smoking Room
| The Dining Room
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The Aft Bar
| The Aft Bar
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The Main Lounge
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These photos have been contributed by Per and Ola Bilén, son and grandson of Chie Purser Hugo Bilén. |
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Sun Deck
Contributed by CG Edhardt.
| World Cruise | |
 Around the World 1966 |  Shore program for the 1973 World Cruise. |
 Captain Henry Sölje with guests Around the World Cruise 1966 Contributed by Carl-Gustaf Edhardt (in white jacket in the background) | |
 World Cruise 1966 Contributed by Carl-Gustaf Edhardt | |
Observation made by Chicago Sun-Times
Travel Editor, Wade Franklin, February 6,1966.
The world cruise lasted 88 days.
Ingrid Bergman visited the Gripsholm in Hong Kong,
on the Around the World Cruise 1966.
From left: Lecturer Hans Ostelius, Chief Purser Curt Dawe,
Ingrid Bergman, and her husband Lars Schmidt.
Many thanks to Sven Fürst for this photo.
Hong Kong Dock Entry Card
Gripsholm in Hong Kong
Contributed by Carl-Gustaf Edhardt
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Photo contributed by Asst. Deck Steward Carl-Gustaf Edhardt, on the far left in white jacket Kent Roos, of Kristianstad, has identified Deck Steward Bo Skogsfors, from Reftele, Småland, and later Lund,
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Gripsholm in Honolulu
Contributed by Carl-Gustaf Edhardt
Gripsholm in the Panama Canal.
Gripsholm in the Panama Canal.
Gripsholm welcomed to Fiji on the South Pacific Cruise 1972. From The Fiji Times.
Gripsholm leaving Gothenburg, December 1961
Photo: Björn Wallde
Gripsholm leaving for the West Indies, 1961
Photo: Björn Wallde
See memories of Pier 97 here.
A Champ On Board
Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson won the World Heavy Weight Championship fight vs. Floyd Patterson at Yankee Stadium on June 26, 1959, New York time. Ingo and his fiancée Birgit Lundgren visited the Gripsholm at Pier 97. Johansson, a native son of Göteborg, said: "Being on board the Swedish American Line's beautiful ship is like feeling a breeze from my home town."
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Dinner Menu
Gripsholm Spring Adventure Cruise, Wednesday, April 20th, 1966 Page 2 Page 3 |
Gripsholm Tourist Class
Farewell Dinner Menu 1957 |
| This Information booklet was sent to the cruise members before the cruise. It contains clothing suggestions, shopping hints, addresses for forwarding mail, and much more... | 
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Memories of a Cruise to the North Cape, 1973. This book was sent to the Cruise members after the cruise, containing a list of passengers, the Cruise News, and Port Highlights.
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Luggage stickers.
Read about the first Gripsholm, 1925-1954
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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. |
More than 250 web pages developed and maintained by Lars Hemingstam ©1998-2023
Hasse Gustafsson and Tommy Stark have interviewed crew members and contributed many of the stories.
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