- 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
Swedish American Line, or "Svenska Amerika Linien", specialized mainly in tourism rather than emigration, carrying wealthy Swedes wanting to visit the U.S.A. and prosperous Swedish-Americans wanting to visit the old country. As well, their ocean liners operated cruises in the off-season, usually to the Caribbean and South America but also to the Mediteranean, North Cape and Baltic and around-the-world.
Gripsholm, built in Italy, was a fine-looking motorship of moderate speed. All public rooms were on Veranda Deck, with each class having a lounge, veranda, smoking room, library and card room. First class space was forward and the Tourist class midship to aft. There were indoor and outdoor swimming pools and all First class staterooms and all but about 20 in Tourist class had private facilities.
The superb Kungsholm was built in the 1960s as an improved running mate. Slightly larger, faster and built almost exclusively for all year one-class cruising, Kungsholm public rooms were spread over Veranda and Promenade Decks and there were indoor and outdoor pools. Almost all staterooms had two lower beds and optional folding upper, although unlike Gripsholm, there were some inside cabins.
In transatlantic service, Kungsholm normally crossed from New York to Copenhagen in 8 days, arriving in Gothenburg the same evening. Gripsholm required an extra half-day, so would typically arrive in Copenhagen in the evening and Gothenburg the next morning. In cruise service, Gripsholm's capacity was limited to 440 and Kungsholm's to only 405 passengers.
"Carefree days await when you cruise on the nine-story, sea-going palace, GRIPSHOLM, for this lovely vessel is a happy ship with a happy crew. Your very first sight of this gleaming white cruise ship will delight you - and you will leave everyday cares behind the very moment you cross her gangway."
Sample minimum one-way fares from New York to Gothenburg: First class $370; Tourist class $245; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.
Go to Swedish American Line sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:
 Gripsholm Built: 1957 by Ansaldo SpA, Sestri Ponente, Italy Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Kungsholm Built: 1966 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |