[Doh! Just realized I posted this in the wrong forum -- apologies.]

[ 02-24-2004: Message edited by: jsea ]

In the US, ships are almost always preceeded by the definite article (in other words "the"). Sometimes naval ships are preceeeded by "USS," but, not always.

I remember in radio announcements or Newsreels during WWII, for example, in which it was said "The 'Yorktown' was sunk," or, sometimes "The 'USS Yorktown' was sunk."

The Brits, on the other hand were just as likely to say "'Ark Royal' was sunk" without using "the."

This practice was most noticible to me during the Falklands conflict, in which a US announcer might speak of "The Canberra" and BBC announcer of "Canberra." Also with "the QE2" vs "QE2" etc.

The authorship of cable TV WWII documentaries about naval matters, made on both sides of the Atlantic, can often be identified, as if the accents were not enough, by the use or non-use of "the." (in reference to ships, of course.)

And then there is "France." "Le France" was the ship, "La France" is the country.

Go figure. Everybody appropriately confused?

Good!

[ 02-26-2004: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

I think there are many people here who do use "THE" in front of a ship's name. However, being in the industry I know that most cruise people DO NOT do this...

It would be like talking about your kids as "The Stephen" or "The Cloris"...

I, for one never use the article in front of the ships name. I mean we never refer to the THE Queen Elizabeth II when refering to HRH...why should we do the same for Queen Elizabeth 2?

I wonder if the word THE snuck into the vocabulary so that people could impress one another by sailing aboard a superlative..."I just had the most incredible crossing in THE Normandie" - like there was more than one - but only one that everyone knew...

I see it as being something like "I visited some great friends in Monaco" OR "I visited some great friends while in (or on) Queen Mary 2".

Compare:

The Island Princess

vs.

the Island Princess

[ 02-26-2004: Message edited by: CGT ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by CGT:
There is nothing wrong with using the word "the" in the headline on the Princess Patter. The problem, and it appears that people have failed to grasp this, is that the word "the" has been capitalized. It should not be, and that is what I was talking about.

---

Considering the fact that the whole headline is in upper case, your objection doesn't hold much water. Are you suggesting that it ought to read: "WELCOME ABOARD tHE ISLAND PRINCESS"? That would look extremely silly.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CGT:
No, it should have been "Welcome aboard the Island Princess."

You, silly!

---

I think that would look better, but it's really a matter of typographical style rather than grammar.

As far as the use or non-use of the definite article is concerned, the British often drop it in situations that North Americans don't, and vice versa. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard the following line booming from the "Tannoy" (as the British are wont to say when referring to the public address system): "Will all persons not sailing tonight in Queen Elizabeth 2 please make their way to the gangway...."

quote:

---

Originally posted by sslewis:
A similar confusion occured with Victoria, rebuilt from Dunnotar Castle in 1959.
When the ship was commercialised in the US, she was known as The Victoria....
ssLewis

---

Later in Victoria's career, Chandris officially renamed and registered her as "The Victoria". I guess in some peoples eyes that made her The The Victoria.

In 1975 my wife and I were booked for a cruise on the "Victoria." It encountered a bankruptcy and a stranded crew in New York. Our travel agent booked us on the "Nordic Prince," and, months later, got our money back. We would have prefered the "Victoria," which was known to be a classic ship in her own right and which had a loyal US following at that time. "Nordic Prince" was so-so, but generally turned us off Caribbean Cruising except on a classic ship.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cambodge:
Victoria - no "the" in the 1970s!

In 1975 my wife and I were booked for a cruise on the "Victoria." It encountered a bankruptcy and a stranded crew in New York.

---

Chandris acquired Victoria in November 1975. The name change to "The Victoria" was made in 1977.

At the time of the name change, the former Lloyd Triestino liner Victoria was still in service with Adriatica (but not for long) in waters that Chandris planned to use their Victoria. The name change was made to eliminate possible confusion between the two vessels in the European market and also to indicate to the US market that Chandris' Victoria was the ship that Americans were familiar with.

As it turned out, Adriatica's Victoria was ordered out of service by the Italian government in 1977 but Chandris elected to retain the "The" in the name of their Victoria.

In early 1978 Adriatica's Victoria was bought by the "Youth with a Mission" organization and renamed Anastasis, a name she still carries today.

Brian

[ 03-01-2004: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

So you see it's not always obvious whether to use an article or not.