This photo shows TSS THE TOPAZ berthed at New York's Pier 92 on 6 July 2006, dressed overall. She was built in 1956 as EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, one of the last three ocean liners built for Canadian Pacific. In 1965 she went to Greek Line as QUEEN ANNA MARIA, then in 1975 to Carnival as CARNIVALE, in 1993 to short-lived Carnival subsidiary FiestaMarina Cruises as FIESTAMARINA, in 1994 to Epirotiki Cruises as OLYMPIC, and finally to her current owners, Topaz International Cruises (owned by Capt. Paris Katsoufis) as THE TOPAZ in 1997. From 1997 through 2003 she was chartered to Thomson Cruises, and since 2003 she has been chartered to the Peaceboat Organization of Japan (http://www.peaceboat.org). In 2006 the 32,327 GT turbine steamer celebrates her 50th anniversary. She is now the last survivor of the Canadian Pacific fleet and the last remaining liner built for North Atlantic service to Canada. THE TOPAZ will sail for Peaceboat at least until 2008, but faces mandatory retirement in 2010 due to SOLAS regulations. Now, please join me and the members of the World Ship Society Port of New York Branch (http://www.worldshipny.com) for a tour of this wonderful vessel!

This photo shows TSS THE TOPAZ berthed at New York's Pier 92 on 6 July 2006, dressed overall. She was built in 1956 as EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, one of the last three ocean liners built for Canadian Pacific. In 1965 she went to Greek Line as QUEEN ANNA MARIA, then in 1975 to Carnival as CARNIVALE, in 1993 to short-lived Carnival subsidiary FiestaMarina Cruises as FIESTAMARINA, in 1994 to Epirotiki Cruises as OLYMPIC, and finally to her current owners, Topaz International Cruises (owned by Capt. Paris Katsoufis) as THE TOPAZ in 1997. From 1997 through 2003 she was chartered to Thomson Cruises, and since 2003 she has been chartered to the Peaceboat Organization of Japan (http://www.peaceboat.org). In 2006 the 32,327 GT turbine steamer celebrates her 50th anniversary. She is now the last survivor of the Canadian Pacific fleet and the last remaining liner built for North Atlantic service to Canada. THE TOPAZ will sail for Peaceboat at least until 2008, but faces mandatory retirement in 2010 due to SOLAS regulations. Now, please join me and the members of the World Ship Society Port of New York Branch (http://www.worldshipny.com) for a tour of this wonderful vessel!