- The Last NORTH ATLANTIC Ocean Liners
- Last Ocean Liners to AFRICA & LATIN AMERICA
- To AUSTRALIA, FAR EAST & AROUND-the-WORLD
- SAILING SCHEDULES January to December 1966
- RANK & COMPARE the Last Ocean Liners
The Polish flagship Batory was requisitioned as a troop transport in World War II, resuming regular commercial service in 1947 when the Gdynia America Line was merged into the state-owned Polish Ocean Lines. It operated the transatlantic route from Gdynia, Copenhagen and Southampton to Halifax and New York, also offering off-season cruises from Gdynia.
Being a Polish vessel with ties to the Soviet Union, in January 1951 Batory was denied further permission to dock in New York. The ocean liner was refitted for a new route from Gdynia and Southampton via the Suez Canal to Karachi and Bombay.
In 1957, the Batory returned to transatlantic service for Gdynia America Line, but due to the political situation was rerouted to Quebec City and Montreal instead of New York. Despite the general decline of transatlantic travel by sea elsewhere, the ship remained very popular. Prices were affordable and there was no direct air service so the Poles found the route quite attractive. Other Europeans and Canadians appreciated the novelty of sailing on a "Communist" ocean liner.
First class passengers enjoyed a lounge and lido bar, while the much larger Tourist class were offered a main lounge, smoking room, bar and verandah. There were separate dining rooms for each class and a swimming pool and gym were shared.
In the mid 1960s there were plans to replace the aging Batory with a new 20,000 ton liner, but escalating costs forced Polish Ocean Lines to search for suitable second-hand tonnage. Holland-America Line's fine Maasdam of 1952 was obtained, entering service in 1969 as Stefan Batory and continuing the traditional Poland - Canada service until 1988.
Note: Schedules available here unfortunately do not include the cruises.
Go to Gdynia America Line sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:
 Batory Built: 1936 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |