The Last Ocean Liners

Shaw Savill Line

Southern Cross / Northern Star

 

To the ship profiles

The Shaw Savill & Albion Company built two quite advanced one class ocean liners for continuous around-the-world service. Voyages were approximately 75 days, from Southampton to Australia and New Zealand outward via South Africa and return via Panama or in reverse order.

Southern Cross was a remarkable ship for her time, with significant innovative features. She was the first major liner with funnel and engines aft, which created substantial midship passenger space, the first passenger ship that carried no cargo (except stores) and the first major modern liner with all tourist class accommodations.

The slightly larger Northern Star followed a few years later, though with less attractive interior finishing of formica and linoleum and suffering somewhat from mechanical troubles. She sailed eastbound while her fleet mate sailed westbound, with each ship completing four voyages per year.

Both the Southern Cross and Northern Star had similar accommodation layouts. There was a large open Sports deck and a Sun deck with outdoor pool. The Lounge Deck offered a forward lounge, writing room, library, smoking room, two-deck cinema lounge and a tavern. There were forward and aft restaurants and a proper wrap around Promenade Deck. The most comfortable staterooms had two lower beds, but the majority had upper and lower berths for two or four without private facilities, and some had six berths.

"Perhaps you just want to sail on and on, with fresh horizons each dawn and a new port to look forward to. Shaw Savill Round-the-World voyages are for you."

---

Sample minimum one-way fares from Southampton to Cape Town: One class $269; from Southampton to Sydney: One class $530; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.

Continue to the ships below ...

---

---

Go to Shaw Savill Line sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:

Southern Cross Shaw Savill Line Built: 1955 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, N Ireland Gross tons: 20204 Length: 604ft (184m) Width: 78ft (24m) Draft: 25ft (8m) Speed: 20kn Power: 20000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 1100 One-class End of service: Laid up 1971; sold 1973 as Calypso then Azure Seas then OceanBreeze; scrapped 2003 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Northern Star Shaw Savill Line Built: 1962 by Vickers-Armstrongs, Southampton, England Gross tons: 24731 Length: 650ft (198m) Width: 83ft (25m) Draft: 26ft (8m) Speed: 20kn Power: 22000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 1437 One-class End of service: Scrapped 1974 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.