Midships: The most desirable portion of the ship, where (due to the center of gravity) there was the least amount of movement on long sea voyages. Most liners had their first class accommodation placed here.
Mid-Century: A term used to describe the modernist stylings of the post war world, when mankind looked toward future advancement and innovation.
Updated: December 17, 2011: Images of ex AUGUSTUS and more coming soon. All other ships have been moved to the BLUE LADY page (see "What's New").
NEW!!! 2012's desk calendar from Peter Knego features twelve images of passenger ships, captured during a busy year of travel in 2011. The vessels range from the former Italian Line AUGUSTUS to the sparkling, deluxe SILVER SPIRIT and the colossal ALLURE OF THE SEAS. The latest, largest additions to the Holland America and Princess fleets; a pair of pensive shots from the now classic CELEBRITY CENTURY in Alaska; Azamara Club Cruises' dashing AZAMARA JOURNEY surging through the Pacific off Cabo San Lucas; Disney's sleek DISNEY WONDER at anchor off Cabo; two heartbreaking but serene views of the PHILIPPINE (former AUGUSTUS) at the Indian breakers; the graceful WIND SURF waiting in the calm Croatian waters of Korcula and the classic FUNCHAL being refitted in Lisbon. It all ends on a melancholy but reflective note with the fully exposed-PHILIPPINE on the beach awaiting her demise, 60 years after her launch. The settings span from Alang to Alaska and Mexico to the Caribbean and Croatia. Click here for more information and to order Passemger Ships 2012.
Although there has been little activity on this page, things at MidShipCentury have been going at a quick clip behind the scenes. I've just returned from a bittersweet visit to Alang to document and rescue items from the former Italian Liner AUGUSTUS of 1952. This was one of the very last intact genuine ocean liners afloat and the idea of the ship having survived all these years only to be scrapped is an incredibly sad but probably inevitable event. AUGUSTUS was the epitome of style and grace and the precursor to the famed ANDREA DORIA. She was designed by Italy's finest marine architects and designers and many of her fittigs and some artwork were tucked away safely despite some ill-conceived redecorative efforts while the ship was a floating hotel in the Philippines. Two containers' worth of beautiful objects, chairs, etc. will be heading to California in the winter.
It's taken two years but the craftsmen at Off The Wall have finally reassembled the magnificent etched glass, maple and nickel wall from the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN's dual-purpose Empress Room. With etchings by Nan Elsan depicting musical instruments, this wall stood proudly around two swinging nickel and glass doors for 52 years and endured the ship's careers as EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, QUEEN ANNA MARIA, CARNVALE, FIESTA MARINA, OLYMPIC and THE TOPAZ. The panels/doors are consigned to Off The Wall, so please contact them if you have any questions: 323-930-1185 (and be sure to tell them you saw it here) or weirdstuff@earthlink.net.
We brought in the past New Year with breathtaking melamine panels by Emanuele Luzzati from the first class stairtower of the SS AUSONIA. The latest of many remarkable treasures to debut on MidShipCentury from the "Space Ship" HAMBURG are cloisonne-topped chrome tables from the Foyer and Alster Club (later Volga Bar) in vivid orange.
Now, you can follow MidShipCentury live on Twitter at @MidShipCentury
Please see "What's New" to the left of this page for all the details! Special highlights include the wonderful William Ware oil paintings from the SS OLYMPIA/MV REGAL EMPRESS. The Library Painting (see top) of St. Paul's (or is it Sacre Coeur?) is an iconic work that belongs in a museum or fine gallery. All of the Wares from the dining room are now sold but one from forward Upper Deck is still available on "What's New" to the left. Also posted a bio of this well known artist in the new Artist category. Bios of other masters coming soon. Much, much, much more to come -- I've already posted some "previews" on the MidShipCentury Facebook page (see below for link)!
To access Barry Vaudrin's "Cruising Authority" interview about my recent visit to Alang, taped on board the MV NORWEGIAN EPIC, please go to:
A separate page has been created, accessed from "What's New", for the images of BLUE LADY (ex NORWAY/FRANCE), TOPAZ (ex EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, QUEEN ANNA MARIA, CARNIVALE, FIESTA MARINA, OLYMPIC, THE TOPAZ), MAXIM M (ex HAMBURG, HANSEATIC, MAXIM GORKIY), REGAL EMPRESS (ex OLYMPIA, CARIBE, CARIBE I),OCEAN ODYSSEY (ex EROS, JASON) DALMACIJA and SALAMIS GLORY (ex ANNA NERY, CONSTELLATION, etc.), WINNER 5 (ex AUSONIA), MONT (ex VIKING JAHRE, etc.), MAESTRO (ex RENAISSANCE), ROYALE (ex CASTALIA), ANCONA (ex SVEA) and more at Alang.
From the usual blissful MidShipCentury timewarp
Peter Knego
Broken Hearts and Hulls (last updated June 2, 2011):
Images of PHILIPPINE (ex AUGUSTUS), CARIBO (ex CARIBOU), SMALLWOOD (ex JAMESOSEPH AND CLARA SMALLWOOD), TELEMARK (PRIDE OF TELEMARK) and Swedish-built WESTERN LIGHT coming soon...
For prior ships, please go to BLUE LADY And Other Passenger Ships At Alang Images in "What's New"
