The Canberra

[Doc Vernon]

The following Link kindly supplied by John Duplock,for any here that may have served on this great Ship!
Tahnks John!
Appreciated!
Doc Vernon

The last time I saw Canberra (version #2) - YouTube

[Ivan Cloherty]

The best of British, brings a tear to the eyes, nice tribute

[Tony Morcom]

A very fitting tribute to a grand old lady of the sea. I never sailed on her but like many, I am sure, met up with her in various ports on my travels. I am copying this to our Video Forum so we have a permanent and easily accessible link for members in the future.

[Ivan Cloherty]

"Canberra" Only saw her once, my log shows we passed close by whilst serving on "Wandby" on 17th March 1962 in the Arabian Sea in apprx Lat 13 degrees North and 60 degrees East. We passed close to each other within a mile no doubt to give her passengers something to look at, she was homeward bound, we were on passage from Djibouti to Hong Kong on the start of our 20 month voyage, but of course we didn't realise it was going to be 20 months at that time.We were dumb enough to think it would be Hong Kong for discharge and west Oz for grain for UK.

Anyway she was a lovely sight and made you proud she was one of ours, even if those on board her no doubt thought we were just "tramp" men,(we were a very clean new tramp!) we dipped our ensign to her to which she responded. Those were the days

[Wagga]

When I was at the Indefatigable sea training school in North Wales, I imagined that I would get to serve on the Canberra.

I finished my training in 1969 and got issued with my kit for my first ship. The ship I had been allotted was.....the Canberra the incredible cruise liner that everyone aspired to sail on......but wait just a minute, read on....the second line read Star. The Canberra Star! Read it again Canberra Star of Blue Star Line. Oh well, you can't win them all!

Later, whilst in South America (possibly) and in port, I spied the Canberra from a long way off entering port. I was the first to recognise her, especially with her distinctive funnels. I remarked to the crew "look the Canberra!" to which one of them replied; "if that's the Canberra, then I'll eat my hat!"

As she graciously manoeuvered passed us to berth, I felt supremely smug.......but needless to say, the guy never ate his hat.

[Colin Hawken]

A very special Lady.She'll never be forgotten while any of us who knew her are still alive.

[happy daze john in oz]

When I look at her I realise that some of the modern day cruise ships are of a similar style. Not the floating blocks of appartmenst but some of the 70,000 or so ton ones.
But the saddest thing for me is to see the P&O logo, a logo from a time when P&O was a premium company. Now I see P&O Australia cruise ships and hear the complaints about how they now opperate and read some horriific stories from those who have cruised with them. Very few ever do a second one with them.

[Glenn Baker]

Fully concur with you on the mention of the P&O logo, even another Branch of the Company which was the New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd had far superior service and accomadation on ships such as the Rangitoto, Rangitane Ruahini, for a months voyage to and from the UK was classified as One class and was excellent, with the passenger population being only around 380 passengers far surpassed any of these floating Sardine cans which from day one only want you to spend your cash or credit cards on their poker machines and other services outside the normal mealtime hours.

its rather sad to see Icons such as P&O go the cheap and nasty way . Mind you even many of the passengers of todays ilk are a totally different kettle of fish.

A few years ago Manners and well dressed people were the go, especially at meal times on passenger ships. all the best Glenn

[Colin Hawken]

I don't think the P&O Ships out of Southampton are quite that bad. I know several people who cruise with them every year.They can't be that bad. Don't know about the ones in OZ though.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Colin
I wonder if its possibly the Crew on the Southampton ones that make the difference!
I think most of the other ones have most;y Asian Crew nowdays?? I stand corrected on that though!
Cheers