NYC Circle Line ships

Bluehawk · 08-13-2005, 22:00

Lady Blue and I went on the full magilla 3-hour boat tour around Manhattan Island today, which was a great thing to do.

The narrator guy said that the boat/ship/vessel we ourselves were on today was once a Coast Guard Cutter named something starting with a "P" which I cannot remember.

That thing did NOT give any appearance of being a former Coast Guard Cutter by any definition which I have in mind. However, it was rather a large vessel, a diesel, and elderly.

Did Circle Line ship company have anything to do with the US Coast Guard and/or Merchant Mariners?

ollie · 08-13-2005, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluehawk

Lady Blue and I went on the full magilla 3-hour boat tour around Manhattan Island today, which was a great thing to do.

The narrator guy said that the boat/ship/vessel we ourselves were on today was once a Coast Guard Cutter named something starting with a "P" which I cannot remember.

That thing did NOT give any appearance of being a former Coast Guard Cutter by any definition which I have in mind. However, it was rather a large vessel, a diesel, and elderly.

Did Circle Line ship company have anything to do with the US Coast Guard and/or Merchant Mariners?

Blue the Circle line bought a bunch of former 165 foot cutters from the government and converted them to the sight seeing tour boats you see today. Did you pass the ferry terminal on 38th street in the Hudson river. I cross the river every day to go to work there. my building is on 49th and Park.

"Circle Line Sightseeing at 42nd Street XVI and XI – formerly the “Nike” and the “Calypso,” respectively – were both Argo-class Coast Guard Cutters that patrolled the East Coast of the United States against enemy submarines. The official Coast Guard record has reports of both ships battling submarines and rescuing crew members of burning ships. The “Nike” was awarded one battle star for World War II service."

ollie

Bluehawk · 08-14-2005, 07:10

Bill,

The narrator, I remember now, said the name of our vessel had been
"Perseus"... and, if I am not mistaken, I think he said that Perseus had been awarded a citation too, but I can't recall what it was.

They must have done a GREAT amount of modifications to those ships for them to appear as they do now... I think I recall seeing four vessels in total there at the dock, all the same looking.

It would be wonderful to see what the Cutters looked like before the remodel jobs. Now I am really curious about that...

I think we were within about 10 blocks of your building!

On the way in through Jersey Thursday, I said to Lady Blue how fun it would be to see Tamaroa Bill... but I knew there wasn't time.

We're leaving this morning already, just here for my eldest daughter's 37th birthday...

ollie · 08-14-2005, 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluehawk

Bill,

The narrator, I remember now, said the name of our vessel had been
"Perseus"... and, if I am not mistaken, I think he said that Perseus had been awarded a citation too, but I can't recall what it was.

They must have done a GREAT amount of modifications to those ships for them to appear as they do now... I think I recall seeing four vessels in total there at the dock, all the same looking.

It would be wonderful to see what the Cutters looked like before the remodel jobs. Now I am really curious about that...

I think we were within about 10 blocks of your building!

On the way in through Jersey Thursday, I said to Lady Blue how fun it would be to see Tamaroa Bill... but I knew there wasn't time.

We're leaving this morning already, just here for my eldest daughter's 37th birthday...

Hope New Yorkers treated you ok. We are a decent bunch inspite of what most people think about us .

Ollie

sfga6970 · 08-14-2005, 08:29

New Yorkers really are a bunch of good people, even though we get a bad rap from the press. I hope that you had a good time here, it really is a wonderful city to visit. I've been on the Circle Line many times and it is an enjoyable ride. Most native New Yorkers only do trips like that when they are entertaining guests from out of State.

Did you get to visit the Intrepid? It's close to the Circle Line dock and is a fantastic military museum.

Woodmonkey · 08-14-2005, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollie

Hope New Yorkers treated you ok. We are a decent bunch inspite of what most people think about us .

Ollie

If you listened to the press, you would have thought (especially years ago) that New York was awash with crime and that New Yorkers would rather spit at you than help. I have never found that, or any more rudeness than in any other major city.

sfga6970 · 08-14-2005, 10:16

About two years ago, the family (Mum & Dad) of a friend of ours came here from Ireland to visit the city for the first time. Karen and I took them everywhere to see the sights. We were on top of the Empire State Building and I was pointing out different buildings and features of Manhattan to them. I am a history buff and know much of the history here and where important sites are located. As I was speaking to them, I got a question from behind me and noticed that there were about twenty people following us around and listening in to my "tour" of the city. It was a good feeling to help those visitors learn about the city that I am proud to be from.