Empress of England - Ocean Monarch

 

 

 

The Empress of England was built in 1957 by Vickers-Armstrongs of Newcastle, following sister Empress of Britain into service by one year. Initially intended to run Liverpool-Quebec & Montreal in summer, and Liverpool-Saint John in winter, she soon began to spend winters on Caribbean cruising from New York. As time passed, more of her time was spent cruising as air travel hit the Atlantic market. Initial passenger capacity was 160 First Class and 898 Tourist Class on liner service, but less on cruising.

 

It is easy to tell the two sisters apart, since the Empress of Britain has windows spaced 2-2-2 on the boat deck each side under the bridge wings, whereas on Empress of England they are spaced 2-1-2. The third ship, Empress of Canada was quite distinct, with a different funnel top and more superstructure forward of the bridge.

 

In 1970 she was sold to Shaw Savill, who had ambitious plans to increase their cruising market. The project was doomed almost from the start, as the conversion work at Cammell Laird stretched to over a year. She reappeared eventually in October 1971 as the Ocean Monarch. She operated only until 1975, when she was sold for scrap. This page shows company and commercial postcards under both owners.

 

Empress of England details: 25500 Gross Tons, Length: 640ft, 1050 Passengers (650 on cruising), Speed 20 knots, Engines: Steam turbines, twin screw.

 

Ocean Monarch details: 25971 Gross Tons, 1372 Passengers

 

 

Sections on this Page:-

Empress of England - Postcards 1957-1970

Ocean Monarch - Postcards 1970-1975

Ocean Monarch - Cruise Brochure for 1971

 

Associated Pages:-

Canadian Pacific Postcards

Shaw-Savill Postcards

Carnival Postcards

Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates

Simplon Postcards - Home Page

 

 

 

 

 

Empress of England

(Canadian Pacific: 1957-70)

 

 

Canadian Pacific official colour art card of Empress of England.

 

Canadian Pacific Line sepia official card of Empress of England.

 

The same Canadian Pacific Line official card, issued in monochrome.

 

Valentine's commercial card of Empress of England (s/n RR150).

 

Unidentified commercial card of Empress of England at Liverpool Pier Head (s/n 11464).

 

Valentine's commercial card of Empress of England at Liverpool Pier Head, with the White Star Britannic behind (s/n L6938).

 

Canadian Pacific colour official card of Empress of England (s/n P51342 - printed in Canada)

 

Canadian Pacific colour official card of Empress of England (printed in England)

 

Canadian Pacific colour official card of the indoor pool on Empress of England.

 

An interesting Orr, Pollock (Greenock) card of Empress of England off Gourock in the River Clyde in 1963, with MacBrayne's Lochfyne in the foreground.

 

Canadian Pacific colour official card of Empress of England (printed in England)

 

Photographic postcard of Empress of England.

 

Photographic postcard of Empress of England.

 

Photographic postcard of Empress of England.

 

Canadian Pacific colour official card of Empress of England in the short-lived later livery (printed in England). The card was posted from Montreal to Suffolk in July 1969 with the message:- "The ship was packed with people, about 150 small children and 147 cars - one hardly notices the sea. Very lucky to have met the sister in law of a young English doctor specialising in maternity. I believe there was a bridge session yesterday but I missed it, but there are very good films and a library. The ship does cruises in the winter - all one class. Very complicated finding one's way around."

 

Photographic postcard of Empress of England.

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Monarch

(Shaw Savill: 1971-75)

 

Shaw Savill monochrome official card of Ocean Monarch (described as 24467 tons). She made a few cruises for Shaw Savill before rebuilding - this photo does not have the additional superstructure aft added at Cammell Lairds. I suspect it may just be a retouched Canadian Pacific photo however.

 

Shaw Savill monochrome official card of Ocean Monarch (described as 26000 tons). Note the additional superstructure aft.

 

Shaw Savill colour official card of Ocean Monarch. Considering her brief career, Ocean Monarch was well covered with official postcards. This one has unusual rounded corners.

 

J.Arthur Dixon card of Ocean Monarch (described as 26000 tons). (s/n L6/SP.3358)

 

Postcard of Ocean Monarch at Sydney.

Scan: John E Hoskin.

 

Enlarged image from the postcard above of Ocean Monarch.

Scan: John E Hoskin.

 

Ramsey Postcards serial number 126 of Ocean Monarch.

 

 

 

 

 

Shaw Savill Cruise Brochure - 1971

 

Small images from the 1971 Shaw Savill cruise brochure - the only year when all three ships Northern Star, Ocean Monarch and Southern Cross were in service together after the rebuilding of Ocean Monarch. Southern Cross was withdrawn at the end of this season, although I doubt that many people expected her to continue cruise for more than 30 years longer. Larger images of these and other pages are available on: Shaw Savill - Page 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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