Cruise Talk: Sail Away with Baker...

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Holland America Line will expand its presence in Europe with year-round operations for the first time, introducing a winter and early-spring program for the 2027–2028 season. The move positions the line to offer a broader range of itineraries beyond the traditional summer months, with Nieuw Statendam remaining in Europe throughout the winter and Zuiderdam adding two additional seasonal voyages...

Latest News...Princess Cruises has outlined its most extensive Europe program to date, announcing 291 departures across 150 itineraries for the 2028 season. Six ships will operate throughout Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and on transatlantic routes, marking the line’s largest-ever deployment in the region. The 2028 program, now open for booking, spans voyages from seven to 53 days and includes...

Latest News...Carnival Cruise Line has completed a major expansion of RelaxAway, its exclusive destination on Half Moon Cay, adding new beachfront space, upgraded amenities and improved access for guests. The enhancements were formally marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony as the line prepares to bring more ships to the private island. The project includes an extended stretch of white-sand beach, additional complimentary...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Sail Away with Baker...

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Sail Away with Baker...

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 08-19-2002 11:51 AM

Just found Baker's photo album chronicling his 1962/3 voyage on the MV Port Wyndham. The trip took Seven Months, Seven Days & Fourteen Hours and went from Rotterdam to New York then on to Australia /New Zealand and back home via the Mediterranean.

If you haven't seen it already, stop by for a look. Click Here to visit the album.

Great job Baker, thanks for sharing.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Britanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 2912

posted 08-19-2002 09:51 PM

Great photos! The Port Line always had such perfectly proportioned ships- does anyone know what happened to Port Wyndham? I would assume she was scapped long before my time.

Posts: 944 | From: Philadelphia, USA- former home of International Merchantile and Marine Co. | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-19-2002 09:58 PM

Scrapped in 1967.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Britanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 2912

posted 08-19-2002 10:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gohaze:Scrapped in 1967.

That's what I thought. Oh well, at least she did have a full career- many of her more famous contemporaries weren't so lucky.

Posts: 944 | From: Philadelphia, USA- former home of International Merchantile and Marine Co. | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Baker
First Class Passenger
Member # 1311

posted 08-19-2002 11:59 PM

Glad you enjoyed them,

I might dig up some more if enyone is interested in ancient history ?
I have to add I have changed somewhat since those days.... Thanks, B
'By the way thats NOT me in drag'...

Posts: 221 | From: Rosebud, by the Bay.Victoria, Australia | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 08-20-2002 09:11 PM

Joe - I have tried 4 times to bring up Baker's pictures and I keep getting the message "Page could not be displayed" Have you posted them on the Photo Gallery site? If so, under which category.
Thanks

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 08-20-2002 09:47 PM

I for one wouldn't mind seeing more... "Ancient history" of this type is quite scarce.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 08-20-2002 10:18 PM

Sympatico,

They are in Voyages Past. Not sure why the link is not working for you.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 08-20-2002 11:45 PM

Thanks Baker, my Dad worked for Port Line from 1945 to 54. I think it was seeing all his old pictures and listening to his stories that resulted in my own interest in liners and cargo ships of that era. Dad always says that Port Line were the cargo arm of Cunard (Although there were others of course.) and the ships appeared to meet the standard. Wooden decks and wood panelling through most of the accomodation was the norm on the ships Dad took me to visit. (Long after he left the sea of course!) Thanks again, Aussie.

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Baker
First Class Passenger
Member # 1311

posted 08-21-2002 10:59 PM

G,day Aussie 1,
Glad you enjoyed the photo's. What did your dad do onboard ship ??
The Port Wyndham was an old girl in 1962, and really was on her last legs yet she survived until 1967, she broke down several times, first day out leaving Rotterdam we broke down in the river when the engines stopped !!and we just drifted, the up river trafic was not amused. I had just left the near new Oriana to work in a galley that was normaly full of smoke and soot from the ancient ovens, I would walk in the door in my "whites" and come out looking like a member of the engineroom crew, all covered in soot. Added flavour to the food though.

She had been torpedoed just outside of Southampton in the war, Twice in the bow, she was towed stern first into port and saved. One of the old QM's always said, she was never the same since they "Blew orf they bloody wheelarse" with him in it I may add. Cheers B

Posts: 221 | From: Rosebud, by the Bay.Victoria, Australia | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 08-22-2002 05:41 AM

Baker, Dad was an engineer. He left the sea to settle down and start a family but ended up on commissioning trails of all sorts of British warships in the latter 1950's through his new job. His first ship was the Port Melbourne, an old timer dating from 1914. He also worked aboard the Port Halifax, Caroline and Nicholson. Thanks again sharing your memories and photos, Aussie.

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Aris
First Class Passenger
Member # 1718

posted 08-22-2002 03:16 PM

The story of Port Wyndham is available -along with the rest of the Port Line fleet- at:
http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/PORT6.htm

Here is her story:

PORT WYNDHAM (3) was built in 1935 by John Brown & Co. at Clydebank with a tonnage of 8580grt, a length of 494ft 6in, a beam of 65ft 2in and a service speed of 14 knots. The second sister of the Port Chalmers she was the company's final war casualty when on 11th April 1945 she was torpedoed twice by a German midget submarine off the outer Lade Buoy at Dungeness. Holed forward she was towed stern first into Southampton where we was given temporary repairs prior to permanent repairs being completed by her builder. The event does not appear in German records and it is thought that rather than being torpedoed she could have been holed by a British or rogue mine. She returned to service in September 1946 and operated until January 1967 when she was broken up at Osaka.

Aris

Posts: 82 | From: Athens, Greece | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

Baker
First Class Passenger
Member # 1311

posted 08-23-2002 01:09 AM

G,day Aussie 1,
What a small world, I was supposed to be the Baker on the Port Melbourne, a much newer ship than the Wyndham, but when I reported onboard, they had another Baker there, so after a week on the Melbourne, in the Royal Docks London I was transported to Rotterdam, where the Wyndham was, still in dry dock after repairs, no power, no food, not a great start..
Here is your dads old ship...cheers B

[ 08-23-2002: Message edited by: Baker ]

Posts: 221 | From: Rosebud, by the Bay.Victoria, Australia | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Colin
First Class Passenger
Member # 1676

posted 08-23-2002 05:01 AM

Baker, Aussie1, et al. Do any of you know of any sources of info. on the Donaldson Line?

My Grandfather, who died before I was born sailed with them. He was master of the Kastalia (and, I think, several other ships).

I've searched the web without much success. Any help would be much appreciated. Regards, Colin.

Posts: 283 | From: Inverness, Scotland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-23-2002 07:47 AM

Colin...have a look at www.theshipslist.com you'll find a complete list of all the Donaldson ships there.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...