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Hi! Thanks for visiting my web site. Hope you enjoyed it... In order to leave message or comment, please click on "Comments" in the right upper corner and then scroll down to the bottom of the page... Witam! Dziekuje za odwiedzenie mojej strony internetowej. Mam nadzieje ze byla to interesujaca wizyta... Aby zostawic wiadomosc lub komentarz prosze kliknac na "Comments" w prawym gornym rogu, a potem zjechac do samego dolu... Author - Peter Grajda
265 Comments
John Van de Vegte
5/20/2009 10:19:33 am
Hello, I found the website very interesting and thorough. It brought back good memories as I travelled with my family from Montreal to Tilbury in 1978 and back to Montreal again in 1979. Regards, John
A.R.
4/18/2012 09:28:00 pm
Travelled from Montreal to Rotterdam & London on the Stefan Batory back in 1983. A fine ship indeed. Thanks for a very comprehensive and informative website.
c evans
5/22/2009 02:17:29 pm
I have been lucky enough to have enjoyed four sailings on the Stefan Batory. It seems when I was young we were always taking vehicles back and forth to England. In 1972 we took our Cortina and travelled to Spain. In 1976 my dad and I took our motorcycles to England and toured the country, I remember landing in Montreal I was exactly sixteen and a half years old when we set off to ride back to Victoria, B.C. We finally had our last voyage in I believe 1980 when my dad and I took our VW Camper van to England. Gas was so expensive at that time we bought bicycles and toured England and Wales. Only to drive the van back to Tilbury for the journey home, landing again in Montreal and driving back to Victoria. We met wonderful people on the ship, from passengers to waiters that would keep me giggling all thru our meals. I remember going under the bridge in Montreal and feeling like we were surely going to hit it, to the towns along the St Lawrence River, to this day I have only seen Quebec city from the river. On our first trip we saw an iceberg, I remember the captain making a comment about too many people on one side of the ship and my mother running to the other side to balance it out! Dad and I loved the rough weather we were never sick and got to enjoy everything. Dad and I once stood on the stern as the ship was going up and down like a rocking horse. One minute you could nearly touch the water and the next it was three stories below you. We were moved along quite promptly when the crew saw us. Every trip was an adventure, one of my dads best friends to this day is his cabin roomie from the last trip we took. Thank you for this wonderful site it brings back so many memories.
Dana V.
5/23/2009 03:24:09 am
I use to live in the Halifax, Nova Scotia area and remember seeing the Stefan Batory come in to port as a then cruise ship. Also I was a dockside the last time the ship visited Halifax and stood in the fog and mist watching the Batory slowly and proudly sail out and giving three blasts of her horn as a final farewell. It's a memory I shall always have. Thanks for keeping the Stefan Batory alive for us who have seen her.
Stanley
5/24/2009 01:10:53 am
Dear Peter, My father, Stanislaw Paulo (son of Senator Colonel Dr. Aleksander Paulo, advisor to Marshall Pilsudski) was 2nd engineer on the Stefan Batory when it took some of the gold from the England to Halifax Nova Scotia. My father told me some interesting information that you may like to add to the historical record. Gold and some of the Crown Jewels. In the Greenock / Gurock Scottish shipyards the Stefan Batory was specialy prepared for the mission: much unnecessay stuff was removed from the ship, then the shipyards were closed and the public were evacuated; enormous trucks arrived under heavy military guard; the gold was welded to the hull of the ship, taking care to ensure the ship remained in balance. Some of the crown jewels were also taken on that journey to Nova Scotia.
Tadeusz, AUSTRALIA
5/25/2009 02:30:46 pm
Your site is great, I really enjoyed it, thank you for your effort. My parents took Batory from Southampton to Gdynia after the War in 1948, I was curious how it might have been. I was in Montreal in 2005 on a short trip from the US. When I go there next time, I will remember to see the Alexandra pier. It must have been exciting to take Batory down the St. Lawrence and all the way to Poland, much more than squeezing now in the economy seat for many hours. I have a question (see the related text below): Do you know what kind of "new environmental regulations" were introduced by the US, why Stefan Batory could not satisfy these requirements, or be upgraded to do so? Kind regards, Tadeusz Melbourne, Australia "As a result, her 11th and last New York departure was on 17th March 1976 and because of new environmental regulations, she can no longer call at US ports."
Alan Williams
5/28/2009 02:02:10 am
I went on board 'Stefan' as she was called in the late 90's, a couple of times when she was laid up at off Chalkis Shipyard in Greece. On boarding the ship, it felt everyone had mysteriously dissapeared as we moved around the ship in pure darkness. The emergency generator only provided minimal lighting and power. The only sound in the engine room being the water lapping against the ship side, and a few drips of water. Very eerie and a touch scary too...well..have you seen film 'Ghostship' ? You could imagine the ER and pax areas once thriving. The wooden decor and panelling also must have looked very fine when in operation. It was clear that she was only ever heading to the scrapyard...as she did in 2000 shortly after I was on her. They just don't build them like that anymore.
Teresa
6/2/2009 10:02:58 am
Hi, my name is Teresa,I was on the ship in October 1962,at the time I was 13,with me was my mother 4 brothers and one sister.We arrived in Montreal on November 2nd 1962. The first three days were nice,the rest of the trip was very ruff,no one was going any were ,most people were sick. The captain said that it was the biggest storm he had experienced and for all of us to get on our keens and thank god that we made it.My poor Mother with 6 kids age 15 yrs -18 months.I remember the staff would bring saltine crackers and sauerkraut,that we could eat without getting sick .When we got to Montreal my father was there with a friend and a station wagon,and we drove for ten hrs. to Manchester CT. What about you? were you on the ship?Its so strange today something told me to find out about Batory,I was so surprised to find so much information. Thank you Happy sailing Teresa
joe
1/9/2012 07:52:00 pm
Teresa
monafelice
4/12/2012 05:23:28 am
Hi, Teresa! My husband (age 2 1/2) came to Montreal from Poland in late March 1962, arriving in Hartford/New Britain 4/2/62. As we just celebrated the 50th anniversary, we had some fun sharing stories about the boat and pulling out some old photo albums. I did not get to look at the rest of this website yet- I was anxious to answer you- it is a small world!!
Grazyna(Gracie Paszta now Omes Grazynkao@sbcglobal.net
4/13/2012 02:22:51 pm
My family and I came here on December 28, 1965 thru New York by way of Boston. I have been researching this for a long time. Why did we have green cards from Boston when we docked in New York. I remember that my parents woke my brother and I to show us the Statue of Liberty. Maybe it was Stasiu of Liberty.
JOHN SZUBA
3/9/2015 01:14:06 pm
Teresa i was in the same ship that you were on .I was 12 years old then and remember that storm,now i'm trying to find a web site to go to where i can find the guest list and maybe photos.It would be greatly appreciated
Hanna
4/13/2012 12:00:09 pm
Hello Teresa:
henia
10/31/2012 12:44:26 am
Hi Teresa. I too was on the ship at the same time you were. I have vague memories of how grand the ship was and how caring the staff was. I remember eating whipped cream for the first time and i could not get enough of it till i got sick. To this day I still cant eat whipped cream. I came across this website that has a lot of info on Batory and pictures. It is really a great article. http://www.poles.org/db/pol_museum/batory_ms/frame_ad02.html It is really worth looking at. The interior pictures bring back memories and and ad from 1962.
henia rogowska
10/31/2012 12:46:01 am
I too was on the ship at the same time you were. I have vague memories of how grand the ship was and how caring the staff was. I remember eating whipped cream for the first time and i could not get enough of it till i got sick. To this day I still cant eat whipped cream. I came across this website that has a lot of info on Batory and pictures. It is really a great article. http://www.poles.org/db/pol_museum/batory_ms/frame_ad02.html It is really worth looking at. The interior pictures bring back memories and and ad from 1962.
Henry G
6/4/2009 05:58:24 am
Dear Peter, I happened to have stumbled on your website about the Stefan Batory, and it brought back some lovely memories. My father was stationed at the German consulate in Detroit in the late 60's early 70's and he decided to take a ship back for home leave instead of flying for a change. I vaguely remember that we had a great time. Made even more poignant by the fact that my family and I are now going on a cruise next week through the Andaman Sea. Best regards, Henry Gaier MD
Zbigniew M. Sokolowski
6/5/2009 10:30:17 am
Gentlemen, how nice to see a web site devoted to the MS Stefan Batory! Although my family and I did not arrive to US on the Batory, I am, however, proud to say that I have been employed by Gdynia America Line, Inc. as general agent of POL from 1972 to 1985. Returned in 1992 thru 1999 when GAL went belly up a very sad day that was for all of us. I had the privilege to work on the Batory twice as the agents rep. in the late seventies while she was moored on NY's west side harbor, side by side to Russia¿s Maxim Gorki. Gorki at that time was a much newer vessel but the passengers, Brits, Germans as well as Pols disembarking from the Batory had nothing but praise for the crew in providing comfort, excellent service, and most of all the food they all claimed to be just superb. What a GREAT VESSEL She was!! A sad chapter has closed in the history of Polish Ocean Lines once when the Great TSS Stefan Batory was scrapped and the second when POL ceased to exist in the US. Z. M. Sokolowski zsokolowski@cox.net
Ryszard
6/16/2009 02:05:16 am
Plynelem Stefanem Batorym w pazdzierniku 73 roku do Montrealu byl to 50 rejs Stefana. Zona plynela w sierpniu 74 roku takze do Montrealu.Mamy wspaniale wspomnienia choc sie juz zatarly.Mialem wtedy 22 lata byly to piekne czasy. Ryszard z Michigan
Jan Kaczorowski
6/17/2009 12:57:02 pm
Witam Piotrze! Przypadkowo trafilem na twoja strone opisuj¹c¹ historie Stefka i troche PLO. W tej firmie przepracowa³em jako radiooficer na ró¿nych statkach ponad 15 lat. Na "Stefanie Batorym" odby³em 4 rejsy do Montrealu i kilka rejsów wycieczkowych do Danii i by³ego Leningradu w dawnym ZSRR. Z du¿ym sentymentem wspominam te rejsy. Mia³y one miejsce w 1979r. Na pewno bêdê do tej strony wraca³ jeszcze nie raz. Pozdrawiam Jan Kaczorowski
Irene
6/21/2009 12:59:24 am
My father was in the merchant navy with the "Polish Ocean Lines" and his last position was as the orderly in the "hospital" on the Batory, (one story is that he was transferred there after accidentally spilling some soup down the back of a "First Class" lady in the dining room). He talked of the trips to Argentina and other far off ports. He didn't talk as much about the convoys, but the stress of it took a toll on his nerves for the rest of his life. He eventually settled in Montreal, and every month he would visit his old friends on the Batory. My early childhood memories are of immigrants streaming off the ship on arrival with their huge bundles of luggage, and of the coloured streamers as she pulled out of port to head back to Gdynia. I was running around the ship freely while it was in port, while the adults talked over some zybrowka. Kazia, the hospitals siostra and Meicza, the shop keeper would often send me home with the big round blue box of a chocolate coated wafer (Wawel?). I enjoyed looking over your site!
sahra
6/25/2009 01:20:23 am
hi i was a very small passenger on the batory i think maybe 1974,i went with my mum and uncle albert aunt anne and two horrid cousins.our surnames being knight and murray respec.i know we docked at tilbury and we had a trunk to take on board,i must have been six we were cruising around the baltic states .the cabins having bunks..wow that was exciting,also the playroom had a roundabout that i was very sick on when we went over the skageraks.the tea bags having strings, the soups that i didnt really enjoy,everything seemed differant but exciting,we saw huge jellyfish in the water,the evenins were amazing,really funky cocktail sticks and lemonade in small bottles.i remember my mum buying lots and lots of bottles of vodka with grass in it,i shall never forget my time on board.after we would often stay at my uncles in gravesend and his house over looked tilbury high on a hill i would often try and look for the lovely ship but never see it.i wold love to see the ships list for my year
Stephen
6/25/2009 03:19:55 pm
Peter, I have just come across your website for the SS Stefan Batory - on which we sailed on or about August 7th from Montreal to Southampton in 1973. I haven't had time to go all through the website but know that we have some cinefilm of the voyage and also the odd photo or two - I'll ask my Mum but I think we may also have some menus and other odds and ends. I was really sad to read that she has been scrapped........ How lovely to see that you keep her name alive so well. Regards,
andrzej gorz
6/27/2009 01:24:35 am
baaardzo OK!
George
6/28/2009 02:09:40 am
Hello Peter!! My name is George and I'm from Greece. I'm a shiplover and I found your site from Google when I was searching for details about the T/S STEFAN BATORY. I'm only 20 years old and I have a house at Avlis (nearby Chalkis) where the ship was laid up for 8 years with the name STEFAN. I remember the day when she arrived. I was only 7 years old and I was swimming at the beach of Avlis when I saw a big cruise ship arriving. From then I was going every weekend there fishing and seeing "the ship with the yellow funnel". Sudenly one day during 2000 I didn't find the liner there and I had no idea where she had gone. Three years later I learned from the net that she had been sold for scrap to Turkey and I was sorry. Unfortynatelly I didn't take any photo (despite I'm a photographer) because since then I was taking photos of ferries only. Congratulations for your site. Yours faithfully, George. 6/29/2009 07:47:49 am
Dzien dobry,
waldek/ gdynia
6/30/2009 11:48:08 pm
Dear Peter;Nice ; very interesting web -site. Particularly for me ; because family traditions. My grandfather was a steward aboard of both "BATORY" and "Stefan Batory". His conections with "BATORY" were commenced before second world war ; suspended for the war time ; resumed in 1947 than continoued until retired time - 1968. My father since 1947 Ship's Engineer Officer was employed continuously by Polish Ocean Lines - also with short episode aboard of Stefan Batory in the middle of 70's My personal contacts with both vessels were similar than contacts of other residents of GDYNIA. On the end of the years 60's , our national pride "BATORY" was berthed at Nabrze¿e Pomorskie (Basen Prezydenta} in Gdynia and served (unfortunately very shortly} as luxury hotel and restaurant until "Red Government" decided to scrap that national sybmbol. Finaly as you know BATORY was sold and carried out her last voyage to HONG KONG. The next Batory ; t/ss "STEFAN BATORY" was only a piece of shitt.No tradition , no soul , Short history. Nothing more to say about. Mentioned cpt Pszenny and C/Eng Berezecki were members of formerly existed communist establishment. Of course they were professionally o.k. but you have to know , that we had much more same and better specjalists ; not loyal to fucken red party. Forgive me above remarks. My contact with Stefan Batory was very short. In 1969 I was a student of Shipbuilding School called Conradinum (in Gdañsk) with training proogram in schipyards - also in Remontowa Gdañsk. Few times , together with another students I was aboard of rebuilded St.Batory. With above mentioned episodes our familly tradition is ended. Presently I'm C/Officer aboard of British Flag Lumber Carriers. Unfortunately Polish Flag - Ocean Going Vessels don't exist any more ( except some few - POLSTEAMERS). Polish Ocean Lines - former largest Company in Eastern EUROPE EXISTS ONLY ON THE PAPER . Our governments since 1989 made everything what possible to destroy polish shipping companies ; succes is comming soon. Best REGARDS Waldemar K.; Gdynia. 7/4/2009 06:36:55 am
The Polish Museum of America was organized in 1935. opened in 1937. In 1941 we obtained a large part of the Polish pavilion from the 1939 NY World's Fair. This includes ship models (various scales) of the Batory/Pilsudski, the Chrobry etc. We sould like to use the text on your web site for our displays. In addition, we have a GAL poster for Pilsudski which we are issuing as a postcard. also a postcard of the M/S "Polonia" as pat of the Polish Palestinian Line. Please e-mail back.Respectfully, Jan M. Lorys Director
susanne kluehspies
7/7/2009 05:42:35 am
I went to Montreal inSept. 1978 on this ship and back inMay 1979 .It was quite adventourous ,travelling with people who went to Canada mostly to emigate and start a new life in an unknown country.Quite a difference to the "fun-cruises"you mostly have.A loadful of wonderful memories!
Marcell, France
7/11/2009 11:59:56 am
I was able to go aboard the Stefan Batory (she was 'Stefan' only at the time) when she was laid in Chalkis, Greece in the late 90's. It was very sad to see her in that state where she was effectively a ghostly shell of her former self. You could imagine the grandeur of the wooden panelling and staircases when she was new. Very...very sad. Now scrapped I understand.
Peter C. Kohler
7/14/2009 12:06:47 pm
Pleased to see your site dedicated to one of my most beloved ships, the incomparable TS/S STEFAN BATORY. I had the pleasure of making five trips in her, including her first Norwegian fjords cruises and, most memorably, her final trans-Atlantic voyage in 1987. I flew to England and sailed from Tilbury to Montreal and then all the way back to Gdynia. I will always get a lump in my throat remembering the ceremonial lowering of the Polish ensign the last day on the North Atlantic. If there was ever a ship with a soul, she was STEFAN BATORY. Thanks for keeping her memory alive. 7/16/2009 02:29:27 am
Witold Zielinski
7/20/2009 02:38:41 pm
Woooow!!!!!!! Wiesz jestem pletwonurkiem,nurkuje u wybrzezy USA znam wszystkie chyba znane wraki u brzegu NJ i NY USA Na wiekszosci z nich bylem osobiscie i czytalem co tylko mozna na ich temat. Dzisiaj przekonalem sie ze nie wiem nic na temat naszej Polskiej Historii morza ,jestem pod wrazeniem naprawde,nigdy nie sadzilem zemoge byc tak zaskoczony swoja niewiedza. dzieki za lekcje historii. Witold Zielinski NJ-USA z przyjemnoscia nawiaze kontakt z wlascicielami tej strony zielinski@att.net jeszcze raz dzieki za lekcje historii,jestem pod wrazeniem Witek
Magdalena
8/21/2009 09:59:29 pm
Chętnie poczytałam o historii tego statku. Na stronę trafiłam w poszukiwaniu zdjęć z rejsów tego statku, ale nie mogę się "dokopać" :(
Jolanta Paprota
3/20/2012 02:14:19 am
Witaj Magdaleno , skoro Twoja mama pracowała w tych samych latach co ja to napewno sie znaliśmy , proszę przekaz jej ode mnie pozdrowienia .
nicole priscilla young
5/20/2013 02:23:17 am
Witam,Mona mama pracowala na starym I nowym Batory 1960 -1985, ja pracowalam ale nie na Batory ,na innych many imie Zosia Wojcik ,zmarla w grudniu 2012 ,miala 91 lat pozdrawiam..
Andreas R. Bayer
8/27/2009 08:17:38 pm
Every once in a while a stumble upon the material I have saved from my journey on TS/S Stefan Batory in June 1974 (Rotterdam - Montreal). I was 16 back then, traveling by myself for a highschool year in a small town near Edmonton, Alberta. I recall the most exciting days in my life on board this boat which came from a different world and yet was so unexpectedly beautiful. The crew was so attentive, so caring and the food was so good! I should have some pictures I tokk at the Captain's Dinner which I am willing to share.
Dean M.
10/27/2009 09:35:48 am
I have written a novel, set in 1939 and my characters travel on the Batory from New York to Gydynia in August 1939. My characters travel first class -- they have six of the first class rooms. I'm checking the technical details and realize that I've made some assumptions. What reference would you recommend so that I can see the deck plan; for example, where are the First Class cabins, dining room, lounge? On what decks are the gym, the Tourist class and third class? I don't know Polish and I learned about the Batory about three years ago -- so I know it's diesel and I can guess what the engine room looks like. Thank you for any help you can give. Dean, Denver, CO
Marek, T.O
11/12/2009 11:58:37 am
Czesc Piotrze, tez mieszkam w toronto i calkiem przypadkowo natrafilem na twoja strone internetowa. Moi dziadkowie ze strony mamy przyplyneli do Kanady na Batorym! Postanowilem wpisac sie do guest book bo lubie ludzi usmiechajacych sie tak jak ty na swojej fotografii, pozdrawiam Marek
Marcin
12/14/2009 04:04:45 am
Recently I started to be involved in maritime topics and I going to cruise at the next year throught Baltic Sea. Nowadays I live in England but I attend to come back to native Szczecin soon. 12/26/2009 05:10:07 am
I am looking for a person that I met on The S.S. Stefan Batory on its last voyage (i believe it to be the last before being replaced with the newer S.S. Stefan Batory) from Montreal to Poland in the year 1977 or 78.
Dave Cunningham
1/5/2010 06:12:58 am
I was on the Stephan in the 70,s with my family,we have greay memories the ship was great as were the staff we went from Tilbury and cruised all around including spending new year in Maderia. we crossed the bay of Biscai on what was the worst crossing ever (according to the captain) i,ll post pictures soon 10/23/2016 03:16:52 pm
I was on the stefan batory the same time as Dave Cunningham, I remember the fireworks sailing into Maderia at new year, the ship also stopped at Casablanca. Yes the crossing of biscay was terrible!
Geoffrey McNab
1/15/2010 10:20:22 pm
Nice to see the omprovements to the website. I loved this old girl and enjoyed many round trips from London to Gydnia in the 1980s. I was also privileged to be aboard for the very, very last sailing from London, Tilbury to Gydnia after a West Indies/Cuba cruise.
Jerry van Veldhoven
8/13/2015 05:51:56 pm
i get tears in my eyes from all the sympathetic and praising comments for the Stefan Batory and the wonderfull Polish hospitality...for 10 days it was a mini ideal world...airplanes are destructive for ecology but the great ships are our friends...forever
Joe Sturges
1/18/2010 05:39:23 am
any thanks for a great web-site about the good ship M/S Stefan Batory and her predecessors. My main interest has always been mid size transatlantic liners. Your site is well constructed and very easy to use. I travelled on the ship in 1959 as the Maasdam. Beautiful ship then. More beautiful when POL took her over. Can anyone tell me how to get a plastic model of the original Batory/Pilsudski? I would appreciate it very much. Thank you for a great siten!
Simon Beardsley
1/21/2010 07:07:06 am
Enjoyed your site and the memories. My family emigrated to Canada from London in 1974 aboard the Stephan Batory. I was 7 but remembered the ship vividly and always wondered what happened to her. I was sad (not suprised) she'd been scrapped. I remember going to breakfast during a rather violent North Atlantic storm. It was obvious the waiters were betting on whos tables were going to show up since the majority of passengers were seasick. I still have pictures of waves crashing over the bow during that storm.
Neil Richards
4/27/2014 03:07:15 am
Hi Simon,
SImon
10/1/2014 08:01:58 am
Our was earlier in the year (likely June or July) We traveled from Montreal to near Calgary and still had a summer to settle in to our new home before school started in September.
Neil Richards
4/27/2014 03:07:30 am
Hi Simon,
Neil Richards
4/27/2014 03:07:43 am
Hi Simon,
Neil Richards
4/27/2014 03:07:52 am
Hi Simon,
Neil Richards
4/27/2014 03:08:05 am
Hi Simon,
John McCrossan
3/29/2010 04:04:20 pm
The Lisa Kudrow segment on "Who Do You Think You Are" mentioned the Batory and that inspired me to search the web.
Lola Drach
4/10/2010 04:20:17 am
In Nov. 1959 my family sailed to Quebec City from Gdynia, Poland.
Halina Michalik
2/3/2016 12:58:40 pm
i believe i was on that ss Batory, we left Gdynia in late October and arrived in Quebec City Nov.9th 1959, i came with my parents, brother & sister, my mom was very sick the whole trip, since we were young kids as long as we stayed inside, we were ok, i remember the waves washing over the sides, but as a kid i enjoyed it. i remember docking in Quebec City where we had to go through a medical and than we were allowed to walk around by the ship in Quebec City, the next morning we docked in Montreal where we got off, passed immigration than on to the train station and the over night train to Toronto, where my uncle picked us up. We lived from there in the Port Credit area (Mississauga, Ont. now) till i got married. would love to get in touch with some of the people who were on the ship at the same time.
Anne-Marie
4/14/2010 06:55:27 am
My family travelled from Montreal to England on the Stefan Batory in the summer of 1980. I was 14 and the ship seemed the lap of luxury to me, especially the multi-course meals.
Gerhard Schmid
4/21/2010 07:09:13 pm
Sailing out of Rotterdam, stormy conditions on the atlantic, watching mysterious icebergs drifting by - and then, of course the landing at Montreal. What a joy to remember our sailing to Canada!
HD BROOMFIELD
4/29/2010 07:02:52 pm
Good day, I immigrated to Canada on the SB in 1975 I landed in Montreal on the 7/8 November with my Land Rover and then drove to the West. I have to prove I arrived as my citizenship card has been lost. Could I get a copy of the passanger list. They will not accept my Canadian passport as proof of citizenship but will accept a ticket or the like. Thank YOU. HD Broomfield
Doug Muir
5/11/2010 03:18:30 pm
I am looking for a Spring 1972 voyage date when I came back to Canada after 5 years in UK. Anyone traveling on the Stefan Batory around that time that can give me an arrival date in Montreal? Like many young people in the 60's I went traveling and sailed from Vancouver via Panama to Southampton on a P&O boat more than twice the tonnage of the Batory. However, the food on the Stefan Batory was fantastic and despite a fairly roung crossing, it was a great trip. If anyone was on one of the voyages from May to July 1972 I would like to know the arrival date in Montreal
monafelice
4/12/2012 05:45:19 am
My husband's family arrived in Montreal 4/1/62, and then on to Hartford 4/2/62. Close- but not exactly the dates you are looking for!
Finn Larsen
5/14/2010 04:20:19 am
It was great to see this web site. Our family consisted my myself, my older brother my mother and father plus our samoyed dog immigrtaed in October 1959 and arrived in Montreal. the memories just came back when i saw the pictures of the interior. I was 4 1/2 at te time and I remember going seeing my parents dance at night with my child care from the ship. every room is like i remembered it. Thank you for bringing this back to me.
Amanda
6/14/2010 01:45:41 am
We grew up in England and 4 days after we got married, we boarded the Stefan Batory at Tilbury Docks on August 4, 1976 for our transatlantic honeymoon and new life in Canada! After a very rough crossing, we passed numerous icebergs, we arrived in pouring rain at Montreal Docks on August 13, 1976. We have many good memories of our trip, and we also still have all of the documentation from that crossing (menu's, etc) and we still have steamer trunk that we painted "Cabin 182" Stefan Batory" on it all those years ago! We have crossed the atlantic many times since, but none as memorable as the Stefan Batory! It was good to come across this website - thank you!
Shawn Hooker
1/4/2014 12:28:48 pm
Hi Amanda. I think we may have been on that same crossing. Our family came back from England about that time. If you have the time and curiosity, could you see if we are on the passenger list? Thanks, Shawn.
Jozef
6/25/2010 11:10:28 am
I traveled on Batory in october/ november 1962 from Gdynia to Montreal I remember the ferocious storm in the middle of the Atlantic. I regret I did not buy the photographs of the storm the ship photographer had on display. If any one who was on that trip has some pictures I would love to get copies. my e mail is kreksik@roadrunner.com
Paul
6/30/2010 06:47:03 am
I was led to this site by Google after watching a TV programme on the age of liners. I was 12 years old when our family emigrated from the UK to Canada in May 1970. Although I and my sister are back in England my parents and brother are still in Montreal. Looking at the interior pictures brought back memories.
Frank Sabadin
7/16/2010 10:11:50 am
I rememberd traveling from Gdynia as a 11 yrs old boy to New York in 1948 it was a wonderful cruise.
Kari Niemeläinen
8/21/2010 01:03:50 am
Hi. When we moved back from Cananda to Finland in 1971, we sailed with TSS Stefan Batory from Montreal to Copenhagen, Denmark. Saw my first icebergs on that stormy October voyage.
stasia
8/22/2010 01:49:30 am
Przyplynelam to Montreal in September 1972. Trip was very memmorable. I was only 19 years of age and have done the trip alone. It was very scary at times, but I survived and have been living in Toronto since then without any family. Still reminisce about that tip. I really enjoy reading about other people's adventure on Batory. I will never forget it and thank you for providing this page.
st
9/3/2010 03:15:34 am
hi 10/2/2010 04:19:19 pm
T spent September 1962 travelling BATORY from Gdynia to Montreal as a 15 years old Jewish teenager from Wroclaw, accompanying his immigrant family to the United States. The tri was exciting in the Baltic as we visited Kopenhagen and Southhampton. Then came the North Atlantic crossing! My mother and I were seasick in our respective bunks, moaning with every lurch of the ship. The father and my little brother appeared to enjoy themselves on the decks, visiting friends, dining out, playing table tennis, and other activities. I start feeling better once we've entered St. Lawrence River. After disembarking in Montreal, we were picked up by our relatives from Philadelphia who drove us through Albany border checkpoint until we arrived in Philadelphia.
Teresa Maria Tsochlas (nee Winkler)
10/2/2010 07:54:22 pm
I was amazed to find this website! I have never travelled on the Batory, but my Father was an officer in the Polish Navy before the 2nd World War and right through the war. He served at various times on the 'Pilsudski', the 'Chrobry', and his last tour of duty was on the 'Batory' both as deck officer and, I believe, Captain for a short time near the end of the war. He was actually responsible for its refitting at the end of the war. This was done in Belgium, as, for the purposes of the war effort, all the beautiful interiors had been removed and kept in safety while the ship was used for transportation of troops and necessary supplies from USA to UK. I am of course referring to the original 'Batory". My Father spent the entire war on these Atlantic convoys, and was on another ship lying near the 'Chrobry' when it was bombed and sunk. 10/12/2010 09:43:42 am
Great for having this website , ceep it up. We whhere on the Stefan Batory from Rotterdam September 10 to Montreal september 16 1970.Wonderfull trip!
Alva David
10/19/2010 10:39:56 pm
My husband left Bombay in or around 1954/55 and sailed to Southampton on the Batory. He apparently went via Suez Canal and called at Gibralter. He is now in his 80's but would be very grateful if you have any information about the ship doing a trip to India in or around that time. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your wonderful website and have printed it for my husband to read. Thank you.
Tracey R
1/21/2012 06:57:25 am
Hi Alva, I am doing my family tree and was asking how my dad got from Karachi to Southampton. My mother remembered it was on the Batory. I have a picture of him standing on the deck. It was around the same year/s that your husband travelled. Interesting to think they might have crossed each other's path.
Genavieve
11/13/2010 09:54:21 pm
I came to Montreal in November 1970. If anyone knows the exact date of the arrival, please email me gigi5150@comcast.net. I would gladly contact people that were on that voyage.
Edward Kiec
11/24/2010 07:03:58 pm
My mother and I crossed the Atlantic from Gdynia to Montreal in September of 1962. We were going to get reunited with our relatives in Toronto, Ontario. I remember my mother giving the last of her Polish currency to her cousin as we said goodbye. This was an exciting trip for a 9 year old boy going overseas. We stopped in Copenhagen were we visited a museum and my mother made me look away when we were viewing the statue of David. After all; this was 1962 and I was only nine. A few days later as we were proceeding in the Atlantic Ocean; I was standing at the stern of the boat admiring the wake that the ship had created, when I noticed that my wrist watch stopped working. There was only one thing to do; throw the watch overboard and have memories that my watch will be at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. A day or two before we arrived in Montreal, I remember the ship had the Captain’s Ball. My mother attended the Ball and left me with a handful of coupon vouchers (that’s how you paid for drinks and other things on the ship) to fend for myself. I ended up at a bar at the top level of the ship and asked the bartender for a drink. This was the first time that I tasted Coke-Cola. The night had a moon that shimmered in the boat’s wake. After 40 odd years; it is good to put it down on paper for others to read.
Roy Masson
12/3/2010 09:52:46 am
My wife and I sailed on the Stefan Batory from Montreal to Tilbury in May 1987. She was a wonderful old liner and in excellent condition with all the wood and brass kept shining .Acording to the crew it was the smoothest crossing in 17yrs. The food was good also the entertainment and the crew.It was sad to hear that she had been scrapped as she was the last of the liners that regularly crossed the north atlantic (the end of an era) Westill have several souviners of our trip including a full bottle of Vodka.It brings back many memories looking through the website.
Malgorzata Kelly
1/11/2011 05:28:46 am
Witam serdecznie, wspaniala stronka - jestem corka jednego z marynarzy pracujacych na TSS Stefan Batory - poszukuje kogokolwiek kto bylby w stanie udostepnic mi film: Prywatne Zycie Krola - moj tata ma wielki sentyment do tego filmu, ja jednak przez moja glupote pozyczylam komus jego film a ten 'ktos' go wykasowal - prosze sobie wyobrazic jak moj tata byl zawiedziony... dlatego z calego serca pragne naprawic moj blad i szukam tego filmu wszedzie. Bede dozgonnie wdzieczna za jego udostepnienie - wszelkie informacje prosze przeslac na: margaret.kelly1976@sky.com 1/14/2011 06:22:44 am
I traveled to montreal from tilbery in may 1980 with my mother to visit relatives in canada. We had a fantastic time on the stephan batory and made many friends, I even kept in touch with some of the crew members. Its was a wonderfull liner. We also travel back from montreal to tilbery to return home
Diane Donlon
1/27/2011 06:01:33 am
Wonderful Website and does it ever bring back memories! U travellled in November 1972 from Montreal to Southampton and what a wonderful journey it was. Mostly Polish people going back to Poland and by the time the journey ended in Southampton for me everyone was eating the wonderful Polish food and enjoying the frozen vodka. And we mixed and danced all night. I was looking forward to the open Atlantic after leaving Newfoundland but alas I didn't leave my cabin for 3 days. But I got lots of attention. The crew were wonderful as were the other passengers. When we arrived in Southampton I was delayed a couple of hours as they could only find one of my steamship trunks. The other one they found in the hold going to Poland. They retreived it for me but a year later when I returned to Canada by plane and had my 2 trunks shipped that one was missing never to be seen again. So I was meant to lose it. Please get in touch with me if anyone was on the November 1972 voyage from Montreal to Europe. illustrious@sympatico.ca
Christine Jabar
2/7/2011 12:12:15 pm
I travelled on the Stefan Batory with my sister and Mum from England (Tilbury?) to Montreal I think in the summer of 1973. We thought it was a fantastic trip! Our poor Mum didn't think so as she was seasick. We hung around with a group of kids (about our age) who I believe were mostly American. We had the British version of Monopoly which they thought was the greatest thing. I remember seeing icebergs and it turned quite cool. I was sad to learn that it had been scrapped. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who travelled on the Stefan Batory around the same time. skyhawk41x@aol.com
Marcin z Sopotu
2/8/2011 01:53:31 am
Piotrze, dzieki za super stronke internetowa. Wszystko jest niezwykle ciekawe, zaprezentowane prosto i przejzyscie w powiazaniu z pokrewna do scisle morskiej tematyka; port w Gdyni i jego architektura, artysci na pokladzie naszych transatlantykow, polityczne wydarzenia (historia kpt Cwiklinskiego!!) itd. Jednak dla mnie twoja strona internetowa przywoluje przede wszystkim wiele wspanialych wspomnien, kiedy to podrozowalem na Stefku jako mlody chlopak razem ze swoim ojcem. Pozdrawiam serdecznie i dzieki! Marcin
Dorota
2/9/2011 02:08:16 am
My family and I immigrated from Poland in May, 1965. I was only 9 months old at the time, so I don't have any memories of the crossing. My older brothers and sisters, however, would tell me tales of how wonderful the ship was. Thanks for putting the site together, very nicely done!
christine hart
2/10/2011 01:31:57 pm
I emmigrated to Canada from Tilbury to Montreal in 1971. Back then I didn't appreciate the history of the ship as much as I do now but I treasure the memories. It was a wonderful experience. Mostly Polish people and a few young travellers like myself from various countries. I remember some of them. Andy, Margaret, Clive, Dave, Willy and his wife. We eventually all lost touch. I often wonder where all these people are now and would love to hear from them.
Frank V Effenberger
2/23/2011 06:18:36 am
My wife Inge (Larsen) age 7 sailed on the Batory from Denmark to Hoboken, NJ in 1939 while the Germans invaded Poland. I have a group foto of passengers and crew members.
Janet
3/7/2011 04:54:22 am
I travelled on the Stefan Batory in June 1978 from Montreal to London. Shared one of the round dining room tables with other unattached people. Great trip.
Brad
3/9/2011 09:13:11 am
In May of 1973 my brother(13)and I(14) with our grandparents sailed from Montreal to Copenhagen. Being early in the summer season there was only one other teenager on board. Seeing the interior pictures brought back a lot of memories. We returned to Canada from Rotterdam in August of the same summer. I recall several families immigrating to Canada from England on that trip. As cold as the water was, at least there was water in the pool on the return trip.
Tim
3/11/2011 12:26:35 am
My American wife and I travelled on the Stefan Batory when I emigrated from the UK to America in 1978. I remember one passenger a lovely little old English lady sailed with us,she had booked a return passage to visit her sister who lived in Montreal and hadn't seen for 20 or so years, unfortunately she didn't realise the ship sailed back to the UK the same day so she could only visit with her sister for the day (very sad)
janko k, dublin
3/19/2011 11:07:54 pm
thanks for an amazing site peter, i've fund the history of ms batory and her homeport gdynia very interesting, the idea of creating the museum of polish emigration in the old sea passenger terminal in gdynia is just great, i'm sure many folks around the world can contribute to it, greetings from dublin, jankokoc@hotmail.com
Eve
4/4/2011 08:38:46 am
Does anybody have any memories travelling/immigrating on the batory in 1962? The ship landed in Montreal in October 1962. My parents immigrated from Poland and my mother was pregnant with me. I would like information on the details of the boat and people's experiences. Thank-you Eve (fulcrum_sells@hotmail.com)
Haemish Kane
4/13/2011 07:52:15 am
August 1955 Bombay to Southampon. My family and myself (age 16)emigrated to England on the M.S. Batory. It was a wonderful voyage.
David Colley
4/27/2011 03:51:05 am
I remember taking my then girlfriend Kerry to Tilbury Docks,Essex for the trip to Montreal in April 1971.The Docks were rather shabby then and undeveloped and I wondered what she as a young girl was letting herself in for.Anyway she returned by air eventually from Canada a year later ,we got married and as they say the rest is history.She often relates about the stormy crossing and hence we haven't done many cruises since.Lovely to find such a website and recall the experience
Daniel
4/30/2011 08:18:43 am
Some of my first memories are of sailing on the Batory, emigrating from England to Canada with my mother and my three young siblings. I would love to hear from anyone who was also aboard that sailing in November 1972 (I believe). We sailed through a severe storm (hurricane?) and at one point the ship leaned over dramatically. The piano sheered off its bolts and crashed through the glass doors and people piled up (mainly crew as most passengers were keeping to their cabins). I still remember the smell of the dining room, and seeing crew standing knee-deep in a stairwell bailing out water. As a three year old I found it all very exciting, blissfully unconcerned! 5/2/2011 06:37:02 am
Szukajac wiadomosci na temat Muzeum Emigracji trafilam na Pana strone. Bardzo dziekuje za wspaniale przedstawienie naszego miasta. Moj maz nie plywal na Stefanie Batorym ale prowadzil przebudowe ze statku Mazdam. Nastepne 15lat spedzil na statkach PZM. Obecnie od 30 lat mieszkamy w USA, maz nigdy nie przerwal swojej wiezi z morzem i Gdynia, upamietnia to na swoich obrazach. Pozdrawiam serdecznie, Barbara-sarba@sarba.com
Maria L.
5/4/2011 09:49:20 pm
Hi Peter,
Gordon W
5/5/2011 07:57:49 am
Wow what a nice site. Our family was on two sailings from Holland to Montreal. Both times we drove across Canada to Vancouver. I was born in Canada but my European parents packed up and went back home to the old country a few times but we always came back to Canada via this ship. I was 5 on the last sailing we did in '77 but remember a lot about the trip...sea sickness, friendly crew, kid friendly areas, the theater, eating areas...nice to have pictures to rekindle those long dormant memories! :) 7/7/2016 02:52:43 pm
Hi,Gordon, 5/5/2011 10:03:47 pm
Currently, more than 30 years living in the U.S., my husband never interrupted his bond with the sea and Gdynia, commemorates this in his paintings. Yours sincerely, Barbara-sarba@sarba.com
helga l.
5/23/2011 12:46:33 am
i have sailed on stefan batory from montreal to southampton in november 1971. it was the last passage before the river freezes arriving in southampton 16 or 19 november. rough weather and wonder if anybody has been
Jan Dabrowski
6/22/2011 12:01:43 am
I traveled on Stefan Batory with my sister when we immigrated to Canada on Sept. 26, 1969 from Gdynia to Montreal.
John Varga
6/26/2011 01:11:16 am
Hello
Kevin Marvelli
6/29/2011 05:18:12 am
Thanks for the memories. My family took the Stefan Batory from Montreal to Southampton (and back) when we did a year abroad. For a family of six in 1977 it was cheaper than flying. I have such vivid memories of the trans-Atlantic crossings...especially the return trip in July of 1978 when we hit a terrific storm. Still love crusing to this day! We sailed on the Stefan Batory from Montreal to Rotterdam in Sept. 1980. What a great voyage thanks to the wonderful people we met, Elizabeth, Sabine, Michael, Gerry, Michal, Nella. We partied till the the wee hours of the morning (danced to 'Gloria')and never made it to breakfast. However, we more than made up for it at lunch and dinner. Great food! But the Black Russians were even better. After all these years we are still in touch with some of these party animals. Great memories. Great Site, My mother Made the long voyage from Poland in 1965 on the Batory I was 6 and remember the trip well. We ran into a storm half way into the trip and all I can recall is everyone on deck, lifeboats ready and praying that we survive. (we did) Also remember the great dining room with a mirrored wall that we watched people walk into because it was so clean.
Barbara
7/25/2018 04:22:12 pm
I traveled on Stefan Batory with my Mom in 1965 from Gdynia to Montreal then a train to NYC I was 11 years old early spring wish I had some photos.Remember so well.o
Richard Wilford
9/10/2011 09:11:15 am
I emigrated to Canada from England in September 1963. I travelled on the M/S Batory, arriving in Montreal. It was my first and only trans Atlantic journey by ship and it was quite an experience. She was quite small and we hit some nasty weather so I spent a couple of days quite ill, not having any sea legs!
Eugeniusz Kulas
1/2/2019 05:33:05 pm
I was 15 years old when my family left Poland and arrived in Quebec on 14 th October 1963??? I think?.it seems like we went Gdańsk ... to maybe England and on to Canada ... I was sick most of the time.. if I remember... seas where very ruff... reading all posts it’s been great..
Sylvester Jarota
4/7/2019 04:34:17 pm
I can over at about the same exact time my mom dad brother did and me I was 3years old Munro was7 my sister was6 I remember everyone getting sick but me I had a sailor outfit on and getting help for my sick older family#thats why I don't get sea sick on fishing trips while all me friends have to lay down. I think the trip was 10 14 days. But I got picks when we left Poland and arrived at Canada. Then we worked our way to N. Y.
tarwid
9/11/2011 02:58:39 am
pracowalem na Stefanie Batorym w drugiej
Marian, Polska
10/25/2011 06:47:25 am
Od 2 do 25 października 1971 roku odbyłam praktykę pływającą jako student elektroniki Politechniki Gdańskiej na statku Stefan Batory. Oprócz mnie byli koledzy: jeden z wydziału budowy okrętów i drugi z wydziału elektrycznego.
Jolanta Paprota
11/2/2011 12:41:25 pm
Dziekuje bardzo za te strone , czytajac az lezka zakrecila mi sie w oku. Pracowalam na Stefanie Batorym 5 lat jako stewardesa i to byly najpiekniejsze lata w mojej karierze marynarskiej. Przesympatyczni ludzie , bylismy jedna wielka rodziną i jak musielismy sie pozegnac z naszym "Stefkiem" to niebyloby osoby ktorej by nie pekalo serce . Teraz mieszkajac ponad 21 lat w Miami widzac statki pasazerskie w porcie zawsze serce bije mi mocniej , bo nigdy nie zapomne naszych podrozy na Stefanie Batorym. Pozdrawiam wszystkich ktorzy pracowali ze mna w latach 80 tych.
gabriel paslawski
2/28/2012 04:07:06 am
czesc jola ! mam nadzieje ze mnie jeszcze pamietasz, gdzie cie tam wynioslo ?, czy wiesz co sie dzieje z jola grzebien ? nie wiem na razie jak to dziala ,wiec tyle na teraz . pozdrawiam gabriel sopot
Jolanta Paprota
3/20/2012 01:05:31 am
Witaj Gabrys , kupę lat ....jak miło , ze napisałeś .
gabriel paslawski
3/20/2012 09:14:01 pm
jola ! jak milo ze odpisalas lecz ja nie moge nic wyslac z mojego komputera na podany przez ciebie mail. po wpisaniu jego wyzuca mi info ze bledny adres .Jolinha@ comcast.net wyslij cos na moj to moze reply przejdzie do ciebie a poki co goraco pozdrawiam i czekam na ciebie na razie wirtualnie pa pa. gabriel z sopotu
gabriel paslawski
3/20/2012 09:18:39 pm
gab120454@op.pl podaje adres mojego maila
Jolanta
3/20/2012 10:29:57 pm
Gabrys mój adres jest
Janina Nestorowicz
11/9/2011 12:14:30 am
Plynelismy statkiem "Stefan Batory " w listopadzie 1972 r.na nowe zycie w USA. To byl wspanialy 10 dniowy rejs Gdynia -Montreal. Bylo tam kilka rodzin polskich z obu stron oceanu. Bylismy zachwyceni czytelnia wylozona bursztynem.
Kasia ze Szczecina
11/18/2011 06:55:39 am
Natrafiłam na tę stronę przypadkiem i bardzo się ucieszyłam, bowiem przypomniały mi się wspaniałe 5 tygodni spędzone na "Stefku" w listopadzie 1986 roku podczas wycieczki na południe do Dakaru. Miałam wówczas 22 lata i była to dla mnie niezapomniana wielka przygoda, którą wspominam do dziś. A na balu kapitańskim miałam zaszczyt zatańczyć z "pierwszym po Bogu" czyli kpt. Bieliczem. Ta wycieczka rozbudziła we mnie chęć podróżowania i od tamtej właśnie pory to robię. Dziękuję za tę stronę!!
Peter Siemicki
12/2/2011 01:17:29 am
Thank you very much for developing this website. I travelled on TSS Stefan Batory with my father Wiktor, in September 1982. It was a voyage to reunite with family, to start a new life in Canada and a one that I will never forget. I’m very glad that my father decided for ocean over air travel as it was a great transition to a new life for me. I learned a great deal and was exposed to a lot of new things. Your website has brought back many memories especially the fact that the North Sea is one of the roughest in the world. Once again - thank you.
Ann
2/9/2012 03:17:25 pm
When I was 16 my parents and I went from Montreal to London on the Stefan Batory. We took the ship to Tilbury as we were going to spend two years travelling around Europe and we were taking a small camper van with us. Anyone wanting to transport a vehicle on the Batory had to go with it. It was a very interesting trip. First some of the crew left the ship to stay and seek aslym in Montreal due to Marshall Law in Poland at the time.
Lech Kwasinski
8/25/2012 05:48:04 am
I like more comments about crew member who jumped overboard .
Jerry van Veldhoven
12/24/2014 02:45:54 am
Condolences
marc
2/25/2012 02:24:53 am
hi peter, thanks for writting down about the concordia disaster, my nephew from denmark was onboard too, he cant stop talking about it, you made a great website, i like it a lot, cheers marc amsterdam holland
Andrew Floyd
3/10/2012 05:28:06 am
I sailed on the Batory from Tilbury to Montreal in September 1980. My parents moved to canada and took me away from my home in England. The memories of the Batory will always with me - it was a once in a lifetime experience sailing on an ocean liner. It was such a great experience.
Jolanta P
3/21/2012 09:33:07 am
Romana G - Tokyo
3/23/2012 06:37:28 am
Przeczytalam z zainteresowaniem Pana relacje z katastrofy Concordii.
Maryann Kaczor
4/7/2012 11:12:58 am
I have enjoyed reading these stories. My father Stanislaw M.Kaczor traveled on the ship in 1961 with his mother, sister, and 2 older brothers. He traveled from Gdynia and arrived in Montreal, between June-July of 1961. He was a teen-ager then. His family then settled in Buffalo, New York. His father arrived before them. Thank you again!!
Jill Kneller
4/15/2012 09:43:13 am
I travelled to Britain and back to Canada with my mother and brother in 1958. What an adventure for an 11 year old! The sea was very rough and remember eating mostly ham and tomatoes. Met some great people that I wrote to for some time.
dawn critchley
4/16/2012 02:16:41 am
can any one tell me why this liner was refused entry into the USA harbour all i have discovered was a political incident. i have a postcard with the tss stefan batory stamp mark on it and what i would describe as a leather cover with a 4" medal but i am unsure why this would have been made other than at the time these items were sold on the liner at the time. waiting in anticipation thanks
A.R.
4/18/2012 09:32:35 pm
In 1983 I travelled from Montreal to Rotterdam & London on the Stefan Batory. My first time on a trans-Atlantic vessel. Very fine ship. It was very interesting to read of the vessel's history and her subsequent fate.
Agnieszka
4/20/2012 06:43:16 am
Mialam to szczescie plynac Stefanem Batorym z Montrealu do Gdyni jesienia 87,byl to przedostatni rejs.Mam wspaniale wspomnienia,poznalam super ludzi,balowalismy do bialego rana, wspaniala kuchnia, przezylam sztorm 8 w skali Bofforta na pelnym Oceanie; myslalam wtedy ze umre i wiele innych fantastycznych i niezapomnianych chwil,mozna by pisac i pisac;takiego rejsu sie nigdy nie zapomni;a mialam wtedy 23lata.Hm to byly czasy.
Walter Molyneaux
4/22/2012 04:04:20 am
As a teenager I worked for Captain Jan Cwiklinski at the Carvel Ice Cream Stand in Clifton New Jersey. He was part mentor, father and very much Captain "John". He spoke, read and wrote seven languages and could chew me out for the dumb mistakes in each language. I knew that he had to leave his family in Poland and wanted so much to have them with him in the U.S. If any of his family sees this post I would love to hear from them.
Peter - the website author
4/22/2012 11:21:57 am
Dear Walter, please let me know your email address and I will contact you with the captain Cwiklinski's family. All live in Poland, but Im sure they will be very happy to get in touch with you... Regards from Toronto
Walter Molyneaux
4/22/2012 03:27:17 pm
Thank you for the prompt reply. i may be contacted at:
Donna(Bugaj) Lewandowski
12/29/2015 05:38:04 pm
This was my 50th anniversary on the trip from Poland to Boston on 12/28/1965. Can you direct me to where I can find a manifest for this trip. There were 2 other families we know that traveled with us that we are friendly with and we would love to see this. Thanks
Zuza - Warszawa
4/26/2012 11:14:37 am
Piotr, wspaniala strona. Dzieki! Bardzo duzo w ostatnim czasie mowlo sie o Titanicu jako ze 100 rocznica katastrofy i zatoniecia. Czytajac historie o Stefanie Batorym i jego rejsach przez Atlantyk zastanawialam sie jak trasa naszego Stefana Batorego miala sie do trasy Titanica. Czy byla taka sama? 7/22/2012 02:44:02 pm
Witaj Zuza. Dzieki za zainteresowanie i mile slowa. Oto odpowiedz na twoje ciekawe pytanie: 5/13/2012 03:38:25 am
Bardzo ciekawa strona. Z ochotą zamieściłem w treści swojej strony (www.naszagdynia.com) link do niniejszej strony. Pozdrawiam. Marek
Jolanta Paprota
5/15/2012 02:21:16 am
To bardzo dobry pomysł Marku , moze dzieki Tobie odnajdzie sie ktos jeszcze z naszej załogi i nie tylko , pozdrawiam i dziekuje....
Alfred Maione
5/25/2012 04:50:48 am
What a wonderful stroll down memory lane. In 1977 I spent a year travelling in Europe and North Africa. What started out as a means of transportration from Montreal to Rotterdam trurned out to be one of the highlights of my year. I left port in Oct 1977 and enjoyed every second of my passage. Hello to Ute Reiter if you are out there
Halczak Stanislaw
7/3/2012 05:00:01 am
Wspaniala strona, żal że statek nie ma następcy. Mialem szczęście plynąć z montrealu do gdyni 1976r
Maria P.
7/17/2012 09:07:39 am
Hi I seen you story about the Costa Concordia. My daughter and I were also on that ship. 7/18/2012 07:19:59 pm
I haven�t checked in here for some time as I thought it was finding boring, but the last couple of posts are great quality so I guess I�ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 7/19/2012 08:41:50 am
Witaj,
Jurek from Szczecin, Poland
7/25/2012 12:15:45 pm
Peter, pozdrawiam z wakacyjnego Szczecina! Lecac na urlop do Polski, w samolocie z Toronto do Warszawy czytalem torontonska gazete GAZETA i znalazlem tam twoj wywiad z kapitanem Baranowskim ktorego poznalem prawie 20 lat temu jako nastoletni chlopak, uczestnik jego Szkoly pod Zaglami na Pogorii. To byly czasy, nie do zapomnienia! Teraz trafilem na twoja strone internetowa o Batorym i przegladam ja z zaciekawieniem. Fajnie ze ktos taki jak ty mieszka w Toronto, w ktorym razem z zona i dwojka pociech mieszkam takze i ja. Jeszcze raz pozdrawiam i dzieki za ozywienie wspomnien. Ahoj, Jurek
Zenon M - Polska (zen53@wp.pl)
8/7/2012 08:54:46 am
Witam
Niels Lundgreen Knagh
8/14/2012 02:48:08 pm
Canada 1962
Kathryn Johnson nee Bridge
8/22/2012 08:38:37 am
I was a child of 7 I was crossing with my Mother, Father and brother from London to start a new life in Canada. I remember singing Hot Cross buns in front of the audience and recieving a rather large box of chocolates for my efforts. I loved travelling on the ship, the staff were so freindly to me, mind you I was a little redhead with the most startling blue eyes. We landed in Quebec on October 13, 1970, after leaving from London. I was wondering if you tell me Peter when we would have left London. I am trying to find out my families very secretive past and connecting dates so far has been very helpful. Any help you could give would be lovely. Cheers Peter and all the best Kathy
richard urycki
9/2/2012 06:34:23 am
I'm writing a travel narrative for my kids from my vagabond days in Europe and Africa, and it seems i've found the ship i sailed on from london to quebec in late november 1975. i wish it was possible to travel affordably as I used to be able to...without all the unnecessary extras offered on cruises. I still remember the kind Polish lady who checked on me for three days as I was terribly seasick. And the beautiful handmade crafts in the gift shop which I couldn't purchase because I was almost broke and still had to hitch a ride to my sister's place in Connecticut. Nevertheless, a rewarding experience.
alicja
9/4/2012 12:30:41 am
w drugiej polowie pazdziernika 1983 wyruszylismy batorym z gdyni.po dwoch tygodniach doplynelismy do montrealu.mam kilka fotografii. mielismy kabine dwuosobowa.mialam wtedy 29 lat,a moja corka 7. pamietam naszego stewarda,waldemar bulka.posilki przy tym samym stole z dwiema paniami,jedna z nich wiozla recznie malowane nakrycie stolowe dla corki...piekny rejs...burza...wspomnienia,gdy ogladam te fotki.mieszkam w michigan,usa.
Danuta Kruszewska
9/29/2012 07:11:42 am
I sailed on the M/S Batory in 1964. I was 10 years old. It was a rough spring crossing. I remember the ballroom, the dining service and the exquisite menus. I think there was place to gamble for adults. I ate my first banana on board. I was a bit shocked to see adults put their feet up on a coffee table. I think at that time, in Poland it was considered very rude. My parents were immigrating to the United States with their four daughters. We left Gdynia on March 23 and arrived in Quebec on April 4, 1964. The St Lawrence Seaway was frozen near Montreal at that time of the year, so we took one train to Montreal and a second train from Montreal to Bridgeport, Connecticut. If it were possible to sail a Polish liner now, I would do it again. I am looking for passenger lists from that 1964 trip. Does anyone know where I can find such information?
Bogdan Radzikowski
2/1/2013 05:39:24 am
I was 8 years old an on that ship at the same time. My family was immigrating to Canada, Toronto. There was My Father, Mother and brother. Of us all My mother and I are the only ones left alive. It was nice to read your story, all I remember is being sick most of the way across. Thanks for the memory.
Danuta Kruszewska
4/4/2014 11:24:09 am
I posted that comment about two years ago, and promptly forgot about it. Today, April 4, 2014, marks the 50th anniversary of the end of our voyage on the M/S Batory, so I am feeling a bit nostalgic. Bogdan, did your family take any pictures during that 1964 trip? Since posting that comment in 2012, my family has received a Christmas menu from the 1967 or 1968 Batory voyage. I'm sill trying to find the passenger list.
Danuta Kruszewska
4/4/2014 11:24:34 am
I posted that comment about two years ago, and promptly forgot about it. Today, April 4, 2014, marks the 50th anniversary of the end of our voyage on the M/S Batory, so I am feeling a bit nostalgic. Bogdan, did your family take any pictures during that 1964 trip? Since posting that comment in 2012, my family has received a Christmas menu from the 1967 or 1968 Batory voyage. I'm sill trying to find the passenger list.
Danuta Kruszewska
4/4/2014 11:27:02 am
I posted that comment about two years ago, and promptly forgot about it. Today, April 4, 2014, marks the 50th anniversary of the end of our voyage on the M/S Batory, so I am feeling a bit nostalgic. Bogdan, did your family take any pictures during that 1964 trip? Since posting that comment in 2012, my family has received a Christmas menu from the 1967 or 1968 Batory voyage. I'm sill trying to find the passenger list.
Henia Rogowska
10/30/2012 05:07:14 am
I was ten years old when we immigrated to the US on the ship Batory. We arrived in Montreal on Nov 2nd 1962. I vaguely remember the storm we came upon but Ive since heard that it was very bad. I remember the staff evacuating us onto the deck in the dark with our life vests on and being sprayed by the sea water . Ive also heard that Batory lost contact with Poland for a few hours and all of our relatives were very worried. I remember being very sick for most of voyage and not being able to hold food down. The only thing that helped was apples. Our caretaker was very caring and worried about us and kept on bringing food to our cabin.
Steven Alikakos
11/5/2012 11:25:31 am
What a fantastic site! I too travelled on the ship, on the first eastward trip of 1982 from Montreal to Rotterdam. It was a crazy time as the QE2 had just cancelled it's trip from NY to London (because of the Falkland War - which this great site reminded me) and people were flying in at the last minute from NY to catch this early passage to Europe.
Jerry van Veldhoven
12/24/2014 02:49:59 am
Max. nr. of passengers was 750
Paul
2/3/2013 08:36:15 am
Hello ,
Eugene kulas
1/2/2019 05:39:31 pm
I came about two months later...arrived in Canada on 14 th October 1963..( I was 15 years old at the time)
Mark - Canada
2/11/2013 10:28:47 pm
Hello Peter,
Mark Brophy
2/14/2013 09:58:29 pm
Finally, after days of listing on a disabled Carnival cruise ship Triumph without electricity and working toilets, thousands of passengers finished disembarking early Friday morning at the Port of Mobile.
Peter G.
2/22/2013 09:52:34 am
Well, the common sense dictates that these cruise ships should have backup of generators that could at least produce enough power to make the water system for sanitation purposes work well as this seems to be the major problem for all passengers. Its interesting why they don’t have that?
Arne Backhouse
3/4/2013 01:24:14 pm
October 1973, Southampton to Montreal. Emigrated to Canada with my sister, Mom and Dad. (we then drove to Edmonton!) I was 12 and swore I never wanted to go on a sea again due to a wicked storm just off Newfoundland. Other than that had a great time on the crossing. This site brought back a flood of memories. Very unexpected find. Thank you.
tony p
3/8/2013 02:40:04 am
i traveled on the stefan batery from may 10 to19 in 1970 from rotterdam to montreal i would love to see apassengerlist from that voyage
Zbigniew
4/5/2013 11:37:33 am
Strona ciekawa. Jednego nie rozumie, jak mozna falszowac wizerunek najbardziej znanego Polskiego transatlantyka M/s BATORY. Skad sie wzielo malowanie lini podwodnej na CZERWONO.Stara pocztowka GALowska przedstawia prawidlowy kolor jasno zielony. Pocztowka ta wielkosci formatu A4 byla wykonana ze zmieniona nazwa dla M/s Pilsudski. Moi rodzice wykonali kilkanascie modeli M/s Catory, Wszystkie z linia podwodna ZIELONA. Gora burty czarna, z tym ze jeden model dla Zwiazku marynarzy i portowcow w Gdansku Brzeznie Byl w malowani kompanii Indyjskiej w kolorze jasno szarym. Wiele razy widzialem z bliska M/s Batory , i kilka krotnie bylem na jego pokladzie., gdy byl Hotelem przy skwerze Kosciuszki. Prosze nie Wprowadzajcie w blad mlodziezy i Historii tego wspanialego Transatlantyka. Zbigniew
Piotr G - autor niniejszej strony internetowej
4/19/2013 08:20:20 am
Drogi Panie Zbyszku,
Zbigniew
5/8/2013 10:47:20 am
Drogi panie Piotrze. Panska strona o Polskich transatlantykach, nie ma sobie rownych, z tego co poznalem na komputerze, jest najlepsza. Piszac nie wprowadzajcie w blad mlodziezy, mialem na mysli tych od ktorych otrzymal pan Batorego wlasnie w tych czerwonych barwach. i tak na stronie modelarstwa kartonowego pewien wykonawca chwali sie swoja przerobka. Jesli utrzyma pan na swojej stronie ten falszywy wizeronek ,moze dla wielu okazac sie prawda, Tak jak pan opublikowal na swoich stronach , za panem pojda inni. Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe opublikowalo zdjecie ORP Orzel w porcie przedstawiajace jakis inny okret podwodny, publikowana jest tablica zkiosku Orla z pomazanym tekstem i podanym napisem blednym 12 liniowym, gdy na tablicy byl napis 13 liniowy. Wiekszosc znawcow tematu powtarza te bledy. Mie mialem zamiaru pana obrazac, Powtarzan jesy to jebna z najlepszych stron Marynistycznych, Jesli moje uwagi przekonaly pana, nalezaloby zmienic na prawidlowe kolory . Tym bardziej ze roznica miedzy Pilsudskim a Batorym wynosila 10 centymetrow. i kilka nic nie zmaczacyvh poprawek. Pozdrawian, Zbigniew
lucy
6/22/2013 04:30:02 am
Peter, it’s a great website. I’m the second generation of the Polish-German immigrants to Canada, always searching for the family history and its roots. My folks came in to Canada onboard of the old Batory and they still have lots of memories related to it. Once again, thanks for the awesome website; keep up the good work! BTW don’t worry about those who while doing nothing, love to complain about others and give orders only. They can be a true pain in the a** (it’s in relation to the previous post). Best to you. Lucy(Lucyna) Nova Scotia
Stefanie
7/28/2013 03:19:07 am
Looking for passenger(s) on Batory from Gdynia to Montreal on July 10, 1964 arriving July 20, 1964.
Anna Trzaska
9/23/2013 01:35:46 am
My husband, Stefan, was born on M/S Stefan Batory in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on March 25, 1963. 12/13/2013 10:31:12 pm
Szanowny Panie, 12/15/2013 08:31:35 am
Szanowny Panie, pracował Pan na statku 'Stefan Batory' jako oficer rozrywkowy. Ja natomiast badam dzieje polskich dyskotek i dejaystwa. Na 'Batorym" była słynna pośród nas deejayów dyskoteka w której grywali jeno uprzywilejowani i obudowani stosownymi kontaktami deejaye. Przygotowuje ksiazkowe opracowanie o historii polskich dyskotek, w tym dyskoteki na pokladzie Stefana Batorego. Czy mogę posłać Panu parę pytań na temat tej dyskoteki i grających w niej deejayów? Czy posiada Pan jakoweś fotografie z tej dyskoteki? Wszelkie dodatkowe informacje beda bardzo cenne. Prosze o kontakt. yahu pawul
Gordon Westbroek
12/19/2013 09:51:25 am
Just wanted to thank you for this website. My family took this boat twice from the Netherlands to Montreal in Canada. First trip I believe was in 1971...2nd with me as a 5 year old was 1977. I will try to locate pictures as I know we have them and submit.
Szczepan Kusibab
12/25/2013 04:48:55 pm
Szanowny Panie Piotrze,
Piotr G - autor niniejszej strony internetowej
12/26/2013 05:05:57 am
Panie Szczepanie, bardzo dziekuje za cieple slowa odnosnie tej strony internetowej. To milo uslyszec, ze przywoluje ona w pamieci wielu osob znaczace wspomnienia i zyciowe doswiadczenia... Niestety, co do Pana pytania, to nie mam pojecia gdzie moznabyloby znalezc obecnie wydruki list pasazerskich z rejsow naszych transatlantykow. Wydaje mi sie byc logicznym, ze jakies informacje na ten temat powiny byc w Polskich Liniach Oceanicznych. Na pewno w ich biurze w Gdyni sa jakies archiwa... Pozdrawiam serdecznie; P.
Ilona Beatycka
1/16/2014 09:52:42 pm
Witam serdecznie
Pat Howard
1/22/2014 02:45:20 am
I have such wonderful memories of the Stephan Batory! In 1978, I travelled with two other girls to England on the ship, departing from Montreal. In our mid-twenties, this was a huge adventure, we were off to back pack across Europe and the cruise was the first leg of our trip. We met wonderful people from many parts of the world and I have fun memories of parties in the crew's quarters with lots of vodka! My friend spoke Russian and so could communicate a little. We loved every minute of that trip, I spite of the rock hard beds and starched towels in very tiny little cabins. What a great ship she was!
Judith Christiannson
2/22/2014 10:05:16 am
I travelled the Stefan Batory with two friends May 1972. What wonderful memories I have. We travelled from Quebec City to South Hampton. I am wondering if it is possible to get the guest list. I am particularly looking for someone called Stanley that was going back to Poland. I was 22 at the time. Unfortunately we lost contact. Thanks
Judith Christianson (Judy Gaucher )
2/23/2014 07:28:39 am
Oops I got my dates wrong. It was spring of 1974. We travelled from Quebec City to South Hampton to partake in a backpacking and working holiday in Europe and British Isles. What a glorious voyage it was on the Stefan Batory!!! I was 23. The food was so so delicious. Our last dinner the waiters put on a special show for us with their trays. It was spectacular!!! We made a point of going for breakfast on our last day. We had first massages which were very relaxing. Yes the cocktails were a bargain so we spent a lot of time in the lounges and ballroom. and met a lot of fun people. Went to Movies. We had a very bad storm for about 3 days. I remember the ropes ....People were just sleeping on the deck with their bags and very seasick. I did okay taffy seemed to help me.. I know their was 8 portals broken. ............I became very good friends with Stanley.He had been in New York going back to Poland. I remember him singing Color my World by Chicago. I remember he had a friend translating for us. He invited me to Poland. Unfortunately I could not make out his writing. on his address.. I even took it to a consulate in England. It was very sad that I lost contact with him. I did stay in England for about six months but had to go back to Canada when my father passed away..I am wondering if I am able to get a passenger list. It woud also be great to hear from anyone else that was on that cruise
Krystyna B
3/14/2014 10:13:04 am
Hello, I was 4 and a half years old when I sailed on the Stefan Batory. My parents, my brother, and I left Germany ( Bremerhaven ) in January of 1951 and arrived in New York City the same month. UNRA (United Nations Organization) was responsible for the transport I imagine. We were Polish refugees from Wildflecken, Germany. 4/15/2014 08:06:58 pm
Nie przypominam sobie, żebym wyraził zgodę na umieszczenie na tej stronie zdjęcia mojego autorstwa przedstawiającego gdyński Dworzec Morski.
Piotr G - autor niniejszej strony internetowej
4/16/2014 12:32:35 am
Panie Zbyszku, 4/16/2014 07:12:58 am
Skoro w jakiś sposób znalazł Pan to zdjęcie - a jestem przekonany, że u mnie na stronie (gdzie istnieje zakładka "kontakt") można było po prostu zapytać. Proszę o usunięcie tego zdjęcia.
Piotr G - autor niniejszej strony internetowej
4/16/2014 10:45:02 am
Zgodnie z powyzszym zadaniem fotografia Panskiego autorstwa zostala usunieta.
aldona richter, wroclaw
4/24/2014 01:39:53 pm
witam serdecznie, wlasnie przeczytalam powyzszy wpis 'fotografika' zbigniewa-piotra-piotrowskiego z zadaniem usuniecia fotografii jego autorstwa przedstawiajacej dw morski w gdyni z tego website.. o moj boze kochany, co za ceregiele ludzie robia?!!! a coz to byla za niezwykle wypracowana artystycznie i cenna fotografia ze fotografik piotrowski tak bardzo domagal sie jej usuniecia? czy mozna to jego fotograficzne dzielo gdzies jeszcze zobaczyc? zalosne jest ze my polacy jestesmy tacy mali-malency w dawaniu i bezinteresownosci.. gratuluje pieknego i ciekawego website, moja babcia wyemigrowala do anglii na pilsudskim w 1938 roku. mam menu z tego rejsu i broszure. moge wyslac scan -aldona
Neil Richards
4/25/2014 10:46:01 pm
Hi Peter,
Peter G - author of this website
4/27/2014 03:08:38 am
Hi Neil,
Neil Richards
4/27/2014 03:30:00 am
Hi Peter,
T. Jasinski
4/29/2014 04:47:26 am
My Father, Ireneusz Jasinski came to New York on the Batory, in July 1936. It was a brand new ship at that time. I have his passport, stamped "July 22, 1936, Gdyni do New Yorku". Also the Batory Menu for last dinner on the ship before arriving in New York and a Post Card from the ship. I regret not seeing or traveling on this great Polish ship before it's end. 5/5/2014 02:43:24 am
Sadly, I appear to be the only person who has responded that sailed in the Spring of 1975. I was emigrating to Canada from Wales. In Tilbury I looked over the side rail at my parents waving to me from far below.
Judith Christianson
5/16/2014 03:20:24 am
Hi Peter, Unfortunately I missed the reunion of the Stefan Batory. I was thinking how wonderful that would be to have another reunion. What are your thoughts on that. I do not know what it would all involve......but count me in. I hope you are having a nice spring. Blessings JUdith
Jim
7/14/2014 01:31:38 pm
Peter, So glad to have found your sites. I was writing some content for our local paper about our daughter who is very involved with Mystic Seaport Museum's "38th Voyage of the Charles W. Morgan". On my wife's side, Katharine is descended from Richard Henry Dana, author of "Two Years before the Mast" and Captains Marshall and Peabody of the "Black Ball Line". Then I remembered that on my side, my Grandmother's cousin was Captain of the Batory. Bopcha was a Pszenny, so apparently Jerzy was that cousin! Growing up on a hardscrabble dairy farm in upstate New York, we knew he was an important man, but now I know some of his ship's proud history!
Joan Stein
7/28/2014 01:04:46 pm
Anyone travel on July 1965 and do you know if the ship docked on the 18th or 19th and does anyone remember a young girl called Helena
roman
7/31/2014 01:53:54 am
panie piotrze stworzyl pan wspaniala strone internetowa. czytalem i ogladalem wszystkie fotografie z wielkim zaciekawieniem, mnostwo informacji, kawal polskiej historii. w polowie lat 80 mielismy z zona wracac z montrealu do polski wlasnie na stefanie batorym, ale ostatecznie zdecydowalismy sie na samolot i morskiej przygody nie bylo. ale statek w pamieci zostal. z wielka uwaga przeczytalem takze pana wspomnienia z rejsu i katastrofy statku concordia, co za przezycie !! wspaniale ze udalo sie panu wyjsc z tego calo. pozdrawiam serdecznie z holandii roman brick
ewelina m-c
8/1/2014 06:59:12 am
Witam, szukam informacji o kolizji z górą lodową Batorego. W spisach mozna znaleźć informację: April 23, 1967 Batory Off Newfoundland, probably on Southampton - Montreal run M/V BATORY hit a berg None 7'N hole 15'N below water line 8/5/2014 05:33:43 am
Saild oct/nov 1974 from Rotterdam-London to Montreal.
Mark Bednarowski
8/22/2014 01:53:15 am
Well, this is certainly a surprise to find a website dedicated to a ship I travelled on so long ago. It was the summer of 1977. My mother and I did a double crossing of the Atlantic from Montreal to Gdynia. I was only twelve at the time. (I actually celebrated my birthday on board the ship. The first officer presented me with a document signed by the captain while at the dinner table. It was unexpected and felt like a big deal, especially for a kid at that age.) But travelling across the Atlantic for 12 days at a stretch was a miserably long time for someone who was still a bit young to appreciate the voyage. It was more catered for adults and expectedly so. There wasn't much for a boy to do on the ship and the view of the Atlantic was invariably the same - water in every direction as far as the eye could see. I remember returning up the St.Lawrence toward Montreal at night. The moon was full and a stunning blood red. It was followed the next day with a tremendous heat wave and ominous thunderclouds that were a hazy blue colour. Another reason I remember this is because it was the day Elvis died. (Aug 16 1977) It wasn't exactly like the 'Love Boat', but I am still glad to say I had the experience. After all, it was my first time away from Canada.
eva ziomko ca.
8/31/2014 12:49:39 am
Co za historia z tymi skarbami wawelskimi! 'Voyage 1940' czytalam z ogromnym zainteresowniem. My aunt opowiadala mi kiedys o tym, bo mieszkala w Quebec City i sprawa byla znana. A historia love affair polskiej piosenkarki Ordon z kapitanem bardzo romantyczno. Piosenka 'Love forgives all' is beautiful. Thank you for this website
Halina Michalik Jarvis
9/1/2014 06:09:53 am
I came to Canada on the SS Batory, we sailed out of Gdynia in October 1959 and arrived in Quebec City in November 1959, than on to Montreal on November 10th, 1959. I came with my father, mother, sister & brother. I am trying to find a passenger list and also I would like to visit Montreal & Quebec city in a few weeks to see where the ship docked When I went back Poland in 1994, we went to Gdynia I wanted to see from where we sailed, but it was raining so hard my uncle had trouble finding the ship yards. I was a child coming over, the captain told us it was the best crossing at that time of the year, have never seen so much food and fruit as they had on the ship, the best part was the final night when they turn down the lights and dessert was brought out on ice sculpture which were adorn with lights. I would like to get in touch with people that were on that crossing,.
Adam Mohammed
9/18/2014 01:15:08 am
Hi Peter,
Gail O'Donnell
10/21/2014 11:11:12 am
I came to Canada on this ship with my mother and brother. I do have a photo of us at the dining table with a Polish man.Wish I knew his name. I was only 2 at the time, my brother was 9 , so he remembers more than I do. I still have my Canadian Immigration Identification Card with the stamp of Gdynia-America Line m/s Batory dated September 19th,1958 Quebec.
Peter Grzelak
10/27/2014 06:17:51 am
WoW, I arrived in America in 1965 aboard this ship I believe we landed at Boston Harbor. Interesting to see and show my kids. I remember part of the trip and how we sailed into a storm, all people on deck with life vests waiting near life boat stations in case we had to abandon ship. I believe it was m/s Batory, If you have other sites or links I would love to explore them. Any idea of passenger lists or other items would be appreciated.
Jill Kneller
12/7/2014 08:12:57 am
Would like to hear from anyone that was on the Batory in June or August of 1958.
Jerry van Veldhoven
12/24/2014 03:07:29 am
I crossed the Atlantic 3X with the Stefan Batory '76, '77 and '79...Rotterdam to Montreal & back...great memories...this is what all cruising experiences should be like: not too big, not too polished, cultural experience, excellent quality, friendly staff, casual rapport with crew, old world feel...i remember windows on promenade deck breaking from rough seas...window hatches closed on one side in the dining room...lights going out after dinner...screaming ladies...and then the waiters came out of the kitchen with ice sculptures on top of which desserts with candles...accompanied to live music...a fantasy experience...only on the Stefan Batory...i even remember the name of the doctor...Dr. Mlikodai...and i met a famous Polish writer travelling back to the old country...and also an old Dutch man travelling back to Holland for his last life chapter...he had a shoe box in his hand...when i asked him what was in the box he said "Japie"...and he showed me his beloved dead parrot in the box...very sad
Joanna D
1/9/2015 06:48:04 pm
I traveled on this ship in September 1987 as a 13 year old with my mother. We disembarked in Oslo and left Poland behind. There was a boy, around my age, on the ship (one of the officer's son) and we used to play together and roam the ship.
Ewa Florczyk
1/13/2015 12:11:29 am
Dziekuje serdecznie za powrot wspomnieniami do statku ktory byl symbolem polskosci, dumy narodowej, luksusu oraz droga do wolnosci...
Janine
1/21/2015 09:33:36 am
Robert F
1/25/2015 11:38:50 am
HELLO THANK YOU FOR THE WEB SITE FOR THE STEPHAN BATTORY
W M Wachniewski
7/13/2015 11:49:28 pm
Recently two excellent books were published on our very first newbuildings for the trans-atlantic trade, mvv PILSUDSKI & BATORY. One is a typical chronicle, and another presents many peppery stories from the decks of "Batory", like embarkation of stowaways by crew members, love affairs, abandoning the ship by her captain etc. Thus the old and good "Batory" enters the valuable elite of liners with tormented life. I myself, having found a rather superficial sketch on our liners in a newspaper, prepared my own story of our team of liners (also in English). How to submit it to you?
Jerry van Veldhoven
7/14/2015 01:51:27 am
If it is possible i would like to receive the story...jerryv@casema.nl
Jerry van Veldhoven
7/14/2015 01:48:43 am
i crossed the Atlantic 3X on the Stefan Batory...first time in '76 from Montreal to Rotterdam and back with my mother and brother. And the last time in may or june '79 when i came to live in Holland permanently. It was a wonderfull ship...not too big and not too small. The Polish charm and hospitality were super. I have many great memories of those 10 days on each crossing. There were also Love Boat situations with people falling in love with eachother. For young people it was adventure and had all the ingredients for romance...dancing and music every night, great service, nice bars, fantastic view (starry skies), and 10 days together. The ship had an Old World feel...not hip and polished but more familiar and trustworthy like an old friend. I played trumpet together with a guitarist at the talent show. For this we received an official Stefan Batory business card album. I enjoyed the up and down motion while standing under the shower. The many thick layers of white paint gave an indication of her age and here and there you could even discover the original name of her Dutch heritage: Maasdam. Stefan Batory, i started missing you when i stepped from your deck. And i still miss you. You were a lovely lady of the seas. May you keep sailing in the memories of your crew and guests.
Karen Mortimer
8/13/2015 06:49:04 am
Thank you so much for helping me relive childhood memories. My family and I travelled on board in April 1968 from Southampton to Montreal. My sister and I have been trawling the site and have many happy memories about our 8 day trip. We were told at the time that it was one of the roughest crossings ever and my mother was confined to her cabin the whole voyage. We were emigrating to Canada but after only 4 months we were back home in England! I learned my one and only Polish word which has stuck with me for the last 45 years. I'd really like to get my hands on the passenger list which includes our names - have you any idea where I might start looking please? Thank you again
Agata & Henry. Baltimore USA
8/29/2015 08:17:32 am
Panie Piotrze, razem z mezem z wielka ciekawoscia przegladalismy pana web site o polskich transatlantykach Batorych. zgromadzil pan tu wiele bardzo ciekawych i zroznicowanych informacji ktore wlasnie dzieki temu zroznicowaniu oddaja wpelni historie tych dwoch statkow i atmosfere panujaca na pokladach. Sa tu informacje nie tylko czysto techniczne i fakty historyczne, ale takze wiele ciekawych fotografii, anegdot, wspomnien, nawiazan do znanych ludzi podrozujacych na Batorych. Chcialabym szczegolnie podziekowac za wzmianke o postaci pana Jana Wojewodki, polskiego impresaria z Chicago. Od swojej babci slyszalam o nim wiele dobrego ale nigdzie nie moglam natrafic na jego fotografie. Thank you so much! Moj maz chce teraz zobaczyc Gdynie i Muzeum Emigracji:))) A&H
Roy Masson
10/13/2015 08:12:30 pm
Like so many others I have fond memories of sailing on the Stefan Batory. My wife and I sailed from Montreal to Tilbury in May 1987 it was a wonderful voyage, the crew were extremely friendly and there were quite a few caricatures among the passengers. I still have most of the Menus and many photos of that trip. She was a handsome and well cared for ship.
Michael Broughton
11/26/2015 03:20:39 pm
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. We moved back to Canada in '76 on the Stefan Batory, on a wild ride into Hurricane Candice (a rare North Atlantic named storm, one of only seven hurricanes to ever form north of the 40th parallel). For a kid, it was like living on a roller coaster! But through it all, the staff were wonderful and I have only fond memories of that voyage.
Arlene Oost
2/2/2016 04:36:38 am
My father emigrated from the Netherlands on the Massdam. He landed in New York on May 10, 1954. If anyone knows anything about this voyage or has any pictures...it would be so great1
Lisa Flunt
2/25/2016 02:45:50 pm
My Mother Anna Flunt came to America on the Stefan Batory from Poland to New York in 1971. She passed away June, 10th, 2015 and I will always remember how much of a wonderful time that she would always reminisce on how much fun she had dancing on her two week trip. I carry her memories dear to my heart♥♥
Ron - Canada
3/6/2016 06:18:32 am
Adam Mohammed
3/10/2016 11:07:21 am
buenos dias Peter, 3/25/2016 05:45:00 pm
I came to Canada on this ship in November of 1981 , this is where my passion for travel started . 5/10/2016 01:36:32 pm
Bardzo dziękuję za umożliwienie udziału w dyskusji. Zawsze byłam pod wrażeniem takich przeżyć...
John Kelly
5/12/2016 02:45:12 pm
Hi all, 5/20/2016 06:32:31 pm
Dear Piotr, wlasnie dzisiaj czytalam w nowojorskim Nowym Dzienniku twoj archiwalny wywiad z legendarnym Feliksem Konarskim, autorem piesni Czerwone Maki na Monte Cassino, ktory jak sie okazuje byl takze swego czasu pasazerem na MS BATORY
J.Windt-Tamminga
6/27/2016 11:01:06 am
I left Holland with the stefan batory in april 1977.I had een dutch passport my 3 j old son trafeled with me he had a canadian passport.We arrived in Montreal 25 april 1977.I was a returning resident.I came back to Holland in 1984 with the stefan batory.I still have the ticket and the passengers list from the last trip.But my old
Rob, Calgary Canada
8/8/2016 07:37:05 am
Nicely done, fascinating site!
Yves F
8/20/2016 06:45:08 am
Please note that the Polish treasures that were shipped to Canada on the Batory were safeguarded during the war in the Quebec Museum in Quebec City. Unlike the British gold they were not sent to Ottawa. There was an agreement between the Quebec government and the Polish government. Under the pressure of the Polish government in exile the Quebec government refused after the war to return the treasures to the Communist government. While Canada recognized the communist government and embassies were opened there was no exchange of ambassadors due to the feud over the return of treasures The treasures were only released to Poland by Quebec in 1956. The two countries then proceeded with an exchange of ambassadors and full diplomatic relations were established. The treasures (including the Szczerbiec) are now in the Wawel castle in Krakow.
Kuba
11/25/2016 10:39:34 am
Przypłynąłem do Montrealu przedostatnim rejsem. Trochę było widać już że trzymał się dzięki niezliczonym pokładom farby. Ale i tak było super.
Cliff Oswald
12/14/2016 05:02:54 am
Can anyone tell me what year it was, around 1982 when, during the crossing to Montreal, we were forced to take the Southern route because of icebergs and we caught the tail end of a Hurricane
Yves F.
12/14/2016 06:12:05 am
Hi Cliff !
Lina-Maria
1/15/2017 11:05:46 am
co za wspanialy website.. trafilam tu za posrednictwem linku sluchowiska PROGRAM NOCNY o porwaniu samolotu lufthansy. pracowalam kiedys jako stewardesa w airfrance, wiec temat mnie bardzo interesowal. ostatecznie znalazlam sie na website o batorym, ktory przegladalam razem z kuzynem. plynal on kiedys na batorym do londynu. dzieki za tak wiele bardzo ciekawych informacji, fotografii i powrot do wspomnien
Martin, Canada
2/11/2017 12:28:20 pm
Exceptionaly wonderful website - history of the ship, photos, entertainment. Everything is there! Thanks for bringing back so many great memories. I sailed on SB from Tilbury to Montreal in 1985.
justin jones
6/22/2017 10:44:42 am
I have a friend who's family immigrated on the MS Batory. I also have a couple of nice souvenirs from the ship. One is a ladies silk scarf with a picture of the ship and the name of the line in one corner, the other is a record album with the ship on the cover for a group called the Wesolowski Accordian Ensemble. If would like photos of the two items, I would be happy to email the photos so you can use them on your site if you wish.
robert fraser
7/10/2017 09:59:24 pm
its great to find this site and see the ship again I had the fantastic trip of eny 16yr old who was nuts about boats and ships could ever have making the crossing from montreal to Southampton in the early fall of 1978 with my father my new stepmother step sister and step brother I often think about that time and how we were treated so well by the crew each day of the voyage sad trips like it are no longer as my own two boys I am sure would love it and to see the st lawrence and coast of Canada and the atlantic ocean I would do it all over again so a big thank you to her entire crew but sorry about the toilet rolls down the decks on the last night towards Southampton it was me and my step brother ...lol
Stuart Bernard
7/30/2017 08:31:33 am
Hey Peter , I sailed twice as a child on the Stefan Battory . Once when we immigrated to Canada from England. We sailed from Tilburg Docks June 2nd 1974 & arrived in Montreal June 9th . The second time was in , I think was October 1978 ,Montreal back to Tilbury . My father didn't like to fly & sailed three times on the Stefan Battory once by himself . It was great , the good & staff were top class all the way . Great times.
Johanna
11/10/2017 09:32:19 am
I traveled onboard Batory in December 1966 from Copenhagen, Denmark to NY, I think, however, I’m not sure about this and have done some research to find out, but no luck so far. We immigrated to Ontario, Canada, but I don’t think the ship took us any further than NY. The trip lasted two weeks. We stayed in a small cabin all four of us. I remember there was a pool onboard as well as a cinema. I have one photo from that trip taken by the house photographer at a carnival for the kids onboard.
Thomas Rupp
12/6/2017 06:59:18 pm
I am interested in building a model of the MS Batory. Can anyone tell me tell me what type of davits the ship originally had? The photos on this site are the best I've seen but I am looking for more details.
George J Ziemba
12/7/2017 09:29:14 pm
In 1951 my father, mother and I immigrated to America on the Stefan Batory. One of my earliest memories is my father setting me on the railing and then jokingly going oops with a little push. It frightened me enough to imprint it even though I was only four. I still have the 4 X 4 wicker basket that transported our few possessions.
Jacek
12/11/2017 10:19:32 am
Prosze o poprawienie nierzetelnej informacji o statku Aleksander Puszkin.To nie on zatonal kolo Nowej Zelandii w lutym 1986 r tylko jego blizniak Michail Lermontow.Obciach to czytac
Peter G. - autor
12/22/2017 08:21:49 pm
Poprawiac zadnych informacji o zatonieciu Lermontowa nie trzeba, jako ze wszystkie informacje sa podane prawidlowo. Przy czytaniu tekstu radzilbym zwracac uwage na interpunkcje i akapity, ktore sa znaczaca czescia przekazu pisanego... Gdy czyta sie bezmyslnie, bez zwracania uwagi na powyzsze "kropki, przecinki itd" sa takie rezultaty jak sa... I to jest wlasnie prawdziwy OBCIACH ze sa tacy, ktorzy czytaja tak bardzo bezmyslnie i pobieznie, a potem innych winia za bledne informacje, zaklamania czy jakies inne przekrety... Ej, Ludzie Ludzie! 1/24/2018 04:42:34 pm
Szanowny Panie.
Rob S - Alberta, Canada
1/28/2018 12:39:01 pm
Hi Peter:
Catharine Avary Dunlap
1/30/2018 11:06:56 am
My family and I took the Stefan Batory from Rotterdam to Montreal back in 1980 when we moved back to the States after living in Switzerland for 10 years. I was 14, my sister 13 and my brother was 16. We had our Volvo station wagon and my brother's 1944 Willis Jeep on board. We also had our Saint Bernard dog. If I remember correctly the kennels were on the top deck and we were responsible for feeding and walking the dogs and of course cleaning up after them! Our dining steward would give us leftovers to take to her (the dog) as she was not eating and we were worried about her. I learned how to play gin rummy with some other young passengers. I wish I could remember their names! I know that I was sea sick for part of the time and that I was reading Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind" during the trip. Landed on this site while looking around and googled the ship name out of curiosity. Love reading the other stories!
Matt L.
2/15/2018 03:08:31 pm
Dear Peter,
mark Antony Gilder
4/9/2018 04:57:46 pm
great site. My family emmigrated in 1970 to Canada/Montreal and the on to Toronto where I just moved back to on Summerhill last year.
Christina Gutt
5/5/2018 08:49:19 am
Całkiem przypadkowo trafiłam na stronę o Batorym. Co za radość mnie spotkała!
Christina Gutt
5/5/2018 09:25:32 am
CIAG DALSZY
Piotr G. - autor
5/5/2018 03:17:27 pm
Droga Pani Christino,
Christina Gutt
7/26/2018 06:47:40 am
I unsubscribed in error. Sorry. Please reinstate me.
Wojciech Wachniewski
8/1/2018 02:45:06 am
Hej/Hi,
Wojciech Wachniewski
8/1/2018 03:13:04 am
The 'Batory' was not alone.
Christina Gutt
8/1/2018 11:24:22 am
Mr. Wojciech,
theo
11/22/2018 05:00:35 pm
i did sail on april 1976 from Rotterdam to Montreal great trip cheers theo verwijst
John - Oxfordshire, UK
1/30/2019 08:08:42 am
Hi Peter, For reasons unknown I happened to remember the name of the ship Stefan Batory this morning. I received a post card of the ship from my then best friend at school one Derek in about 1975 as he set off with his family for a new life in Canada. Sadly I have long ago lost the post card. I seem to remember he left from Tilbury, in the east end of London.
Joseph Bielecki
3/25/2019 04:22:24 pm
My parents, sister and two brothers immigrated to america on this ship in 1972. My mother just recently told me about the ship, the ships name and things they did including one of my brothers celebrating his 6th birthday onboard.
Dzień dobry Panu,
Christina Gutt
4/2/2019 12:35:25 pm
I just received word from Poland that Captain Jerzy Pszenny, long-time Master of the Batory and the Stefan Batory has died. May this distinguished gentleman rest in peace.
Marek
4/3/2019 07:28:26 am
Czy jest jeszcze ktos z nami z grupy wspoltowarzyszy podrozy przybylych w marcu 1975 roku do Nowego Jorku na statku Stefan Batory rejsem z Gdyni przez Hamburg oraz London-Tilbury.
Marek (in English)
4/3/2019 07:29:26 am
Is there anyone with us from the group of travel companions who arrived in New York on March 1975, by Stefan Batory, a cruise from Gdynia through Hamburg and London Tilbury.
Lil
4/10/2019 04:30:44 pm
I am trying to locate my grandmother who came to United States on this boat from Poland 1935. Her name was Anna Borkowski. Can you help? Leave a Reply. |
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