Anniversary of SS Michelangelo Maiden Arrival in New York City – May 20, 1965
(Above photograph courtesy of Simone Bandini.)
PORT SALUTES THE MICHELANGELO, NEW PRIDE OF ITALY’S OCEAN FLEET
(From The New York Times, May 21, 1965) (Excerpt)
The Michelangelo yesterday brought in 1,503 passengers in three classes and was manned by 720 in her crew. In passenger accommodations, she can take 1,775 travelers, although normal capacity will be about 1,600. Capt. Mario Crepaz, the ship’s master, brought his ship into her berth at Pier 90 at 10:18 A.M. The Michelangelo cost $45 million, and she will be followed in late July by a sister ship, the Raffaello. Her two massive smokestacks – topped by tremen flat ailerons, like airplane wings, and surrounded by an open criss-cross structure – reminded harbor veterans of the famous basket-weave top-hammer of the battleship of yore. To some observers, they are not pretty. But to Capt. Mario Crepaz, they are superbly utilitarian. They send gases and any residue from the real smokestacks inside the cage structure up into the air at high speed – away from the decks. “They work perfectly,” said Captain Crepaz.
10,000 CROWD PIER OF MICHELANGELO
(From The New York Times, May 28, 1965) (Excerpt)
A crowd of about 10,000 persons jammed the upper level of Pier 90 on the Hudson River yesterday to see the new Italian Line luxury liner Michelangelo before she left on her first eastbound crossing. The crush of the crowd trying to board by several gangways got so heavy at times that passengers about to embark had difficulty in reaching the embarkation booths to be checked aboard. Ten social functions, including a gala charity dinner, were attended by about 5,000 guests aboard the vessel in the last week. In addition, the Michelangelo played host to 14,000 visitors during a public inspection on Sunday.
