A Little Bit Of Ship Banter: A Mid Ship Cinema Podcast

Episode 25: SOS SAVANNAH And Vintage Ship Updates!

In this edition of A Little Bit of Ship Banter, co-hosts Peter Knego and Dan Trachtenberg provide an essential update on some of the world's most beloved classic vessels. Our focus this episode includes:  NS Savannah: An in-depth look at the current efforts to preserve this historic icon in Baltimore.  SS United States: The latest updates regarding her current reefing status.  Retrospectives & News: We reflect on the SS Blue Lady at Alang (2006), the uncertain future of the MV Funchal, the latest on the MV Birger Jarl (Baltic Star), and more. Community Question: What is your most memorable cruise ship dining experience—for better or worse? Let us know in the comments below! Follow our journey: Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury [https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury]

Episode 24: Of Algorithms And Low Expectations

In this eight "A Little Bit Of Ship Banter" podcast with hosts Peter Knego and Dan Trachtenberg, those pesky YouTube algorithms are at the forefront as the two banter and yes, kvetch, about the frustrations and rewards of hosting a channel devoted to ocean liners and cruise ships in a realm inundated with influencers and AI.  Also discussed are the latest scenarios for the SS UNITED STATES, the NS SAVANNAH, the steamboat DELTA QUEEN, the preserved SS ROTTERDAM and much more, along with a tribute to the living legend of ocean liner historians, Bill Miller.  No holds barred, no "iconic" (except in one rare circumstance where the world actually means something) and no pandering of any kind...  #americantreasure #cruiseship #ssunitedstates #ssrotterdam #deltaqueen #billmiller #mroceanliner #johnmaxtonegraham #frankbraynard Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠]

Episode 23: S.S. ROTTERDAM 2026 Update and Full Tour

The audio companion to our YouTube video! Peter Knego has returned from a three night stay on board the SS ROTTERDAM with some good and some concerning news. In this 60 minute video, Knego's history with this favorite ship is documented in photos and video, from the first time he saw the SS ROTTERDAM (in 1975) to the ship's final cruise in 1997, which Knego experienced. Knego also interviews Klaas Krijnen of the S.S Rotterdam Foundation about the ship's current status and why it is such an important part of Dutch maritime heritage and culture. The final 20 minutes shows all pertinent details of the ship as she is today with an emphasis on her art and "New Dutch" design. #ssrotterdam [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ssrotterdam] #rotterdam [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/rotterdam] #hollandamericaline [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hollandamericaline] #oceanliner [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/oceanliner] Also on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUOLTylKa5U&t=1719s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUOLTylKa5U&t=1719s] Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠]

Episode 22: STAR PRINCESS First Impressions: What we hated, What we loved, and What we ate!

The audio companion to our YouTube video! Peter Knego spent a few hours on board Princess Cruises new 178,000 gross ton, 4,300 guest "Sphere Class" STAR PRINCESS during the ship's maiden call at Los Angeles. He had enough time to capture many of the ship's impressive deck areas as well as some disappointingly bland and generic interior spaces and capped it off with an epicurean dining experience in the acclaimed Makoto Ocean, all shared in this ten minute video. Curated by chef Makkoto Okuwa, Makoto Ocean is an exclusive to the Sphere Class SUN and STAR PRINCESS and the Japan-based DIAMOND and SAPPHIRE PRINCESS with a menu of Edome style sushi featuring tangy and spicy sauces. Music licensed from Artlist: "Go With The Flow" by Zac Nelson, "Elastic Vibe" by Ziv Moran, "In My Eyes" by Sailing Ship, "In Pulse" by Asaf Ayalon and "Away Again" by Campagna.#makotoocean [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/makotoocean] #starprincess [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/starprincess] #sphereclassship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sphereclassship] #princesscruises [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/princesscruises] #bigships [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/bigships] #edomesushi [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/edomesushi] #megacruiseship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/megacruiseship] Also on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noMdc6bDZMs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noMdc6bDZMs] Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠]

Episode 21: Scrapping ASTORIA, the former STOCKHOLM (April 2026 Update)

The audio companion to our YouTube video! Peter Knego has just returned from a pilgrimage to Gent to pay his final respects to the MV ASTORIA, which was built in 1948 as Swedish American Lines STOCKHOLM and is best known for her collision with and sinking of the ANDREA DORIA on July 25, 1956. The STOCKHOLM went on to a long career as the East German cruise ship VOLKERFREUNDSCHAFT and was ultimately rebuilt in Italy in 1993/4 as the ITALIA PRIMA. After numerous name changes, she last sailed as the ASTORIA for Cruise and Maritime Voyages, which shut down at the outset of Covid in 2020. Laid up in Rotterdam, she rotted away until 2025, when sold to Galloo Recycling and was towed to Ghent, arriving on July 4. The ship is partially demolished and largely stripped but sadly and unnecessarily, the shipbreaker has destroyed all of the ship's artwork, Murano glass fittings and furnishings, despite many attempts by several potential purchasers to buy these things. This footage shows the ship on March 30 from both sides of the Schelde River in the process of demolition, shows many of the items that have been destroyed (in archival footage) and also some of the other ships that are being broken up at Galloo, including one dating from 1915. #classicships [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/classicships] #scrapships [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/scrapships] #mvastoria [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mvastoria] #mvstockhom [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mvstockhom] #ssandreadoria [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ssandreadoria] #shipbreaking [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/shipbreaking] #shipbreakers [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/shipbreaker] Also on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLUSVs6NeRk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLUSVs6NeRk] Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠]