28 years after the last Polish Ocean Liner finished its service, some of the crew members met at a very special meeting. We had the pleasure to be one of the media partners of this event and we want to share those touching moments with you.
The history of TSS Stefan Batory as Polish ocean liner
The 153,4 m long ship was purchased in 1968 to replace a legendary transatlantic cruise ship – MS Batory, which served for Poland since 1936 and was confiscated during the II World War by the British War Office. After the ship was armed, it served as a battleship during the war. MS Batory was to end its service in 1969 what gave a need to purchase a new ocean liner, which was later known under the name TSS Stefan Batory.
The crew
TSS Stefan Batory was carrying 783 passengers, which back than required 331 crew members. 80 of them were ship operators (officers and mechanics) and 251 were working as hotel crew. The time passed and once united in working together at the ocean liner, lives of crew members went their separate ways. Some of crew members passed away, some live in very distant parts of the world, but around 50 of them met recently in the Emigration Museum in Gdynia, to spend some time together and share their memories.
More to come
The legend of TSS Stefan Batory is still burning in hearts of Polish people, citizens of Gdynia and many who traveled on this ship during their lifetime. The meeting was just the beginning of spreading the history and memories connected with the last Polish ocean liner. The Emigration Museum in Gdynia received many mementos from the gathered crew members and many were eager to pass precious items connected with the ship.
Janusz Drygalski, whose mother served at TSS Stefan Batory, who was almost brought up on the deck of the liner and later served in the hotel crew, one of the organizers of the crew meeting, summed up the event as successful. He also expressed hope that it will be possible to organize more annual gatherings for crew members and those connected with TSS Stefan Batory.
