I’ve always had a thing for ocean liners: the grandness, the relaxed mode of travel, the sheer awesomeness of a vehicle as big as building. Well, it looks like I’m not the only one. Ace Hotel, purveyors of well-designed, comfortable-cool, are taking to the seas.
They announced this month on April 1st that they’ve purchased the SS United States, the last US-flagged ocean liner. The 990-foot ship was first launched in 1952 and broke the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage, making the crossing from New York to Bishop Rock in the Scilly Isles, off the Cornish Coast, in a mere 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes. No other ocean liner ever bested her.
The crew at Ace haven’t released a lot of details yet, save to say that the ship will set sail in 2015, which must mean the refurbishment is well under way. I can’t imagine that it will be anything less amazing.
To get yourself in the high-seas spirit, check out the film of a 1967 transatlantic ocean liner crossing which we posted a while back.
Update:
Well, I was a little late to the pick up on the joke, but the Ace Hotel was April foolin’. Still a great idea, if you ask me.
