A Little Bit Of Ship Banter: A Mid Ship Cinema Podcast

Peter Knego
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Bimonthly

Welcome to A Little Bit Of Ship Banter, a Mid Ship Cinema Podcast! This is a podcast about all things cruise ship and ocean liner, hosted by cruise ship journalist and historian Peter Knego and ocean liner aficionado Dan Trachtenberg. https://www.youtube.com/@midshipcinema https://www.midshipcentury.com https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 28: Zuckerberg's $300 Million LAUNCHPAD Mega Yacht Ignores Stranded Skiff?

    The audio companion to our YouTube video! I captured Mark Zuckerberg's shiny mega yacht LAUNCHPAD in Ketchikan last month from the MV RIVIERA. I was going to eventually post a short video about her and then today, received the news that the $300 million vessel refused a call for assistance from a stranded skiff, despite being the closest vessel. Fortunately, UnCruises' WILDERNESS LEGACY was also nearby to take the skiff under tow to a safe anchorage where it was given the necessary fuel to continue its journey. Not a good look for our Meta guy if this is the case but great for UnCruise, one of my favorite small ship cruise lines and the very best way to see Alaska. #uncruise #metayacht #launchpadyacht Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTQpSf2jIoU Follow our journey: Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

  2. 3d ago

    Episode 27: 13 Things I Hated About the S S NORWAY (Yes, I Go There!)

    The audio companion to our YouTube video! To be fair and honest, I am not one of those ocean liner sycophants who has only praise and love for the SS NORWAY. While I did love many things about her that are covered in the companion video, "The 13 Things I Loved About the SS NORWAY", she was a highly flawed ship that was increasingly downgraded as time marched on. NCL was cutting corners to keep her operating and doing anything they could to reap a return on the investment of having her in their fleet. After that hideous addition of two decks at Bremerhaven in 1990, the few remaining vestiges of her glorious SS FRANCE days were gradually being replaced with revenue-generating spaces. This video discusses those changes and more. Also on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6-D88Q355k Follow our journey: Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

  3. Jul 3

    Episode 26: 13 Things I Loved About the S S NORWAY

    Audio companion to the video on the MidShip Cinema YouTube channel! Peter Knego digs through many hours of original archival footage he took of the S.S. NORWAY (ex FRANCE) in the late 90s through 2000 to present this countdown of the thirteen things he loved about this historic and much lamented ship. Fans of the NORWAY, please chime in with your comments about what you liked most.  #ssnorway #oceanliner #norwegiancruiseline #ssfrance Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gpN8RSeJpfg?is=WTRYYGoklAiZspx4 Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠

  4. Jun 24

    Episode 25: SOS SAVANNAH And Vintage Ship Updates!

    In this edition of A Little Bit of Ship Banter, co-hosts Peter Knego and Dan Trachtenberg provide an essential update on some of the world's most beloved classic vessels. Our focus this episode includes:  NS Savannah: An in-depth look at the current efforts to preserve this historic icon in Baltimore.  SS United States: The latest updates regarding her current reefing status.  Retrospectives & News: We reflect on the SS Blue Lady at Alang (2006), the uncertain future of the MV Funchal, the latest on the MV Birger Jarl (Baltic Star), and more. Community Question: What is your most memorable cruise ship dining experience—for better or worse? Let us know in the comments below! Follow our journey: Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

  5. May 28

    Episode 24: Of Algorithms And Low Expectations

    In this eight "A Little Bit Of Ship Banter" podcast with hosts Peter Knego and Dan Trachtenberg, those pesky YouTube algorithms are at the forefront as the two banter and yes, kvetch, about the frustrations and rewards of hosting a channel devoted to ocean liners and cruise ships in a realm inundated with influencers and AI.  Also discussed are the latest scenarios for the SS UNITED STATES, the NS SAVANNAH, the steamboat DELTA QUEEN, the preserved SS ROTTERDAM and much more, along with a tribute to the living legend of ocean liner historians, Bill Miller.  No holds barred, no "iconic" (except in one rare circumstance where the world actually means something) and no pandering of any kind...  #americantreasure #cruiseship #ssunitedstates #ssrotterdam #deltaqueen #billmiller #mroceanliner #johnmaxtonegraham #frankbraynard Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠

  6. May 17

    Episode 23: S.S. ROTTERDAM 2026 Update and Full Tour

    The audio companion to our YouTube video! Peter Knego has returned from a three night stay on board the SS ROTTERDAM with some good and some concerning news. In this 60 minute video, Knego's history with this favorite ship is documented in photos and video, from the first time he saw the SS ROTTERDAM (in 1975) to the ship's final cruise in 1997, which Knego experienced. Knego also interviews Klaas Krijnen of the S.S Rotterdam Foundation about the ship's current status and why it is such an important part of Dutch maritime heritage and culture. The final 20 minutes shows all pertinent details of the ship as she is today with an emphasis on her art and "New Dutch" design. #ssrotterdam #rotterdam #hollandamericaline #oceanliner Also on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUOLTylKa5U&t=1719s Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠⁠

  7. May 15

    Episode 22: STAR PRINCESS First Impressions: What we hated, What we loved, and What we ate!

    The audio companion to our YouTube video! Peter Knego spent a few hours on board Princess Cruises new 178,000 gross ton, 4,300 guest "Sphere Class" STAR PRINCESS during the ship's maiden call at Los Angeles. He had enough time to capture many of the ship's impressive deck areas as well as some disappointingly bland and generic interior spaces and capped it off with an epicurean dining experience in the acclaimed Makoto Ocean, all shared in this ten minute video. Curated by chef Makkoto Okuwa, Makoto Ocean is an exclusive to the Sphere Class SUN and STAR PRINCESS and the Japan-based DIAMOND and SAPPHIRE PRINCESS with a menu of Edome style sushi featuring tangy and spicy sauces. Music licensed from Artlist: "Go With The Flow" by Zac Nelson, "Elastic Vibe" by Ziv Moran, "In My Eyes" by Sailing Ship, "In Pulse" by Asaf Ayalon and "Away Again" by Campagna.#makotoocean #starprincess #sphereclassship #princesscruises #bigships #edomesushi #megacruiseship Also on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noMdc6bDZMs Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠⁠

  8. May 15

    Episode 21: Scrapping ASTORIA, the former STOCKHOLM (April 2026 Update)

    The audio companion to our YouTube video! Peter Knego has just returned from a pilgrimage to Gent to pay his final respects to the MV ASTORIA, which was built in 1948 as Swedish American Lines STOCKHOLM and is best known for her collision with and sinking of the ANDREA DORIA on July 25, 1956. The STOCKHOLM went on to a long career as the East German cruise ship VOLKERFREUNDSCHAFT and was ultimately rebuilt in Italy in 1993/4 as the ITALIA PRIMA. After numerous name changes, she last sailed as the ASTORIA for Cruise and Maritime Voyages, which shut down at the outset of Covid in 2020. Laid up in Rotterdam, she rotted away until 2025, when sold to Galloo Recycling and was towed to Ghent, arriving on July 4. The ship is partially demolished and largely stripped but sadly and unnecessarily, the shipbreaker has destroyed all of the ship's artwork, Murano glass fittings and furnishings, despite many attempts by several potential purchasers to buy these things. This footage shows the ship on March 30 from both sides of the Schelde River in the process of demolition, shows many of the items that have been destroyed (in archival footage) and also some of the other ships that are being broken up at Galloo, including one dating from 1915. #classicships #scrapships #mvastoria #mvstockhom #ssandreadoria #shipbreaking #shipbreakers Also on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLUSVs6NeRk Follow us on all our socials and YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠

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About

Welcome to A Little Bit Of Ship Banter, a Mid Ship Cinema Podcast! This is a podcast about all things cruise ship and ocean liner, hosted by cruise ship journalist and historian Peter Knego and ocean liner aficionado Dan Trachtenberg. https://www.youtube.com/@midshipcinema https://www.midshipcentury.com https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

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