I see lots of photos of the Rex but unfortunately not very many of the Conte di Savoia. I do hope that someone writes a huge book on the Conte di Savoia, maybe a companion book to the one on the Rex.

Anyone have any further info or pictures of the Conte Di Savoia?

Many thanx

Like the SS Rotterdam, I certainly hope someone forms a grassroots campaign to save that vessel before its too late. The plan for the ship's salvation is to have her undergo the same business strategy as the SS Rotterdam V and become a maritime attraction in Italy and link the ship to the Andrea Doria. That alone will bring out a lot of interests, since the Augustus is the LAST link to that ship. We can't afford to loose this important ship.

The Augustus ranks second next to the SS Norway, which I would love to see join the elite status of the Queen Mary and the SS Rotterdam as hotel/museum ships. I would be very satisfied to see that happen.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
From top to bottom:
VULCANIA, CONTE GRANDE, REX, CONTE DI SAVOIA, and GIULIO CESARE.

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The first one is listed as SATURNIA; is there any visible difference between the 2? Looking about the web one comes across the same images labelled with both names but on different sites.

A nice collection I thought.

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Originally posted by PamM:

The first one is listed as SATURNIA; is there any visible difference between the 2? Looking about the web one comes across the same images labelled with both names but on different sites.
Pam

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These ships are frequently mis-identified in photos--the basic external difference between them is the shape of their funnels. VULCANIA's funnel had a flat, level top, while the SATURNIA's funnel top sloped at a downward angle. (I always remember that the "SATURNIA slopes.")

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Originally posted by ConteDiSavoia:

I see lots of photos of the Rex but unfortunately not very many of the Conte di Savoia. I do hope that someone writes a huge book on the Conte di Savoia, maybe a companion book to the one on the Rex.

ConteDiSavoia

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I agree, it would be great if Maurizio Eliseo could produce a companion book to his superb book on REX. Meanwhile, one of the best books on CONTE DI SAVOIA is Frank Braynard's book, "Classic Ocean Liners Volume II, Rex & Conte di Savoia." He published it in 1994 and you can find it on the Internet at sources like abe.com. It contains numerous interior and exterior photos of both liners.

http://www.maritimematters.com/augustus1.html

It's quite interesting to discuss the evolution of the italian oceanliners of the past century, but one never knows how it really feels to experience them until they have actually been onboard to experience it first hand.

It's not too late to do so onboard the MV Augustus if the ship is returned to Italy at the pier that once docked the Andrea Doria.

Have the ship docked there as a museum and hotel for the visiting passengers/tourists.

[ 01-17-2007: Message edited by: Redlinekid2 ]

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Originally posted by Grant:
That Italian flair for attractive ship passenger vessel design even continued to the rebuilding of the ex Cunarder twins that became Fairsea and Fairwind. The curved front of the superstructure, large funnels with forward vent grills and the sweeping and curved detail in metal sheetwork all have that Italian touch seen in the vessels above.

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Originally posted by Redlinekid2:
No comments on the MV Augustus? I'm surprised that this ship is ignored. Why is that?

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The same approach was applied to the SS Rotterdam V and it was successful. If the grassroots campaign can link the MV Augustus to the Andrea Doria, that in itself would create a very strong interest to bring the ship back to Italy.

We can not afford to lose this very important vessel. Interest in Italy or New York City could work as well because there is a strong Italian population there as well. The key for the rescue of the MV Augustus is through the Andrea Doria. Create a Italian Line/Lost liners musuem offshore and have the MV Augustus docked alongside of it.

That would make a very powerful combination. A museum that could tell the history of the Italian Line and to have the only surviving oceanliner as a shining example would make the experience worthwhile.

It's not too late for the MV Augustus to join the SS Rotterdam is this regard. The only other ship that should follow suit is the SS Norway.

Both the SS Norway and the MV Augustus are the last of their kind. The former the only remaining vessel of the French Line and the latter the only surviving ship of the Italian Line.

If both ships are saved for this role, they would make excellent tourist destinations whenever a modern cruise ship docks to port at those places where the ships are. There needs to be a balance of the past and present among the cruise ships.

[ 01-18-2007: Message edited by: Redlinekid2 ]

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The Rex and Conte had to be two of the most beautiful liners from an external point of view I've ever seen. Of course, I WOULD like the Rex.

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Originally posted by Rotterdam 1959:

And you SHOULD love the Rex! Beautiful ship, I love her sister just as much. Rex, as I've stated in an earlier post the Rotterdam of 1959 was the first ship I ever sailed, but four years earlier the Leonardo Da Vinci became the first ship I ever went aboard. My folks took me out of school for the day just to go see her, she was sailing transatlantic from Boston. This made it REALLY special, since the passengers ranged from first class people on vacation, to former immigrants heading back to Italy for their first visit "home" in decades. Needless to say the atmosphere was electric, with the ships steam whistle bellowing and people yelling "I love you" and "I miss you already" in multiple languages, after all this was no cruise where they'd see their love ones just seven days later. In any case that day in Boston (it was the 15th of May 1975, I STILL REMEMBER!) began a love affair between Italian ships and I that continues to this day.

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I hear their service rivaled that of CGT - did it??

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...HAL was interrested to buy the burned out Conte and repair here fore the Rotterdam - New York trade. Altough it was possible to repair here, it was to expensif....

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That's fascinating Maasdam, I've never heard that before. It would have been very interesting to see what HAL would have done to her.

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...I hear their service rivaled that of CGT - did it...

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Rex I never had the opportunity to sale on an Italian Line vessel. Those who've told me about their Italian Line voyages tell me it was practically a religous experience!

[ 01-25-2007: Message edited by: Rotterdam 1959 ]