A Fine Lady

Built in 1958 by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi, the S.S. Brasil was a luxury cruise liner featuring lounges, state rooms, cinema, and sun decks.

After operating under five different cruise-line banners, she changed her name in 1995 and began duty as a floating campus. The Steam Ship Universe Explorer became the setting for my summer Semester At Sea in 2003.

The next year during a refit in Hong Kong she was sold for scrap rather than address numerous needed repairs.

Looking back she was a very small and antiquated vessel but this ship became the backdrop of one of the greatest adventures I’ve ever been on. We became accustomed to shipboard life and came to enjoy the little quirks of our aging host campus.

From the library in the bow which pitched wildly when there were ocean waves, to upper deck cabins that creaked in the winds. The U shaped running track that couldn’t have stretched 100m and the sun deck fantail transitioned from peculiarities to expectations. The sun deck became our dining room, and the various lounges our classrooms. This old steam ship whose soot burned holes in our shirts became not only our haven for three months but the conduit to an amazing journey filled with inspiring vistas. Explorer really became our home.

Dimensions

Built: 1958
Tonnage: 14,208 GRT
Length: 574.5 Feet
Beam: 88.19 Feet
Draft: 27.25 Feet
Power: 35,000 SHP
Top Speed: 23 knots
Cruising Speed: 18 knots
Passenger Decks: 6
Capacity: 557 passengers
Wikipedia: SS Brazil

On Board

These are some photos I took of the ship while we waited in Vancouver for the rest of the students and faculty to arrive. As you can see there were a few amenities onboard. Sports deck, swimming pool, student union. The Navigator’s lounge was reserved for faculty and unavailable to students during the voyage. If we wanted to see off the bow, we had to look from up above on the observation deck. Out in the wind.

I was lodged on the Main Deck in the Port Aft section in a small two person room. As you can see I at least had a porthole which helps keep you aware of the time of day outside.

The staff did their best to keep us entertained while we were at sea. These are some pictures of the polar bear swim in the north Pacific. The pool was filled with sea water and brave souls ventured across the frigid span. We also had a ceremony for crossing the equator where you waded through the pool filled with fish guts and shaved your head. And there was also a Sea Olympics, Fear Factor, and Captain’s dinner to pass the time.

In Port

In some ports we anchored and tendered using the ships’ boats. However in most ports we docked at a pier. The boats were very utilitarian, they were our lifeboats, but they did lend an interesting perspective of the ship. Looking at your transport from a distance after several days trapped on board is mildly cathartic.