After Four Years of Restoration, World War II Victory Ship Prepares to Sail for First Time with Passengers.

The SS American Victory, a ship of the famous Victory Class built during World War II, will set sail on Saturday, September 20, 2003 for her first cruise with passengers after more than four years of restoration and reactivation work.

World War II Era SS American Victory Prepares to Sail for the First Time with Passengers

TAMPA, FL (PRWEB) September, 2003 -- The SS American Victory, a ship of the famous Victory Class built during World War II, will set sail on Saturday, September 20, 2003 for her first cruise with passengers after more than four years of restoration and reactivation work.

The 'Shakedown Cruise, with up to 800 passengers and crew, will depart at 9 AM for the seven-hour cruise from the ships berth adjacent to The Florida Aquarium in Tampas Channelside District. Parking is available in the Florida Aquarium Parking Lot and the Port Authority Parking Garage.

Tickets cost $125 per person and includes a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon snack, entertainment, ship tours, memorial services, great views of Tampa Bay, vintage aircraft flyovers and much more. Tickets are available for purchase by calling (813) 223-7999 and are sold on a first-come first-served basis. The Dining Yacht Starship is providing ticket services for the cruise. Detailed cruise information is available by visiting the ships website or by calling the Shakedown Cruise Hotline (813) 514-4206.

The SS American Victory will traverse Lower Tampa Bay and return to her berth at 4 PM.

The American Victory, a ship of the famous Victory Class of merchant cargo vessel, was built in May, 1945 and served during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, carrying military cargo, ammunition and supplies to GIs serving in those wars. Following World War II, ser carried foodstuffs, clothing and manufacturing machinery to the war-ravaged countries of Europe under the auspices of the Marshall Plan.

The Victory Ship, Inc., the not-for-profit group formed to acquire, restore and operate the American Victory as a maritime museum and cruising ship, brought the ship to Tampa in September 1999 and has raised more than $3.7 million in cash and in-kind donations to restore the vessel and ready her for the Relive History Cruises.

This is a momentous waypoint for us, said Captain John C. Timmel, President and Founder of the group. The support of the general public, the maritime community and our dedicated volunteers has got us to this point and were excited at the prospect of making good on our promise to provide Tampa Bay with a truly unique maritime experience."

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