Cruise Journalist and Historian – Peter Knego. (Yes! The “K” is pronounced)
Photo by Rob Di Stefano 2010.
Born in Los Angeles, CA, Peter’s interest in passenger ships started in 1973 when he was assigned to research the LUSITANIA for an American History course. In early 1974, he began visiting and photographing nearly every liner and cruise ship that came to Los Angeles, beginning with P&O’s SS ARCADIA, and continues to do so to this day.
While he was at UCLA, Peter took his first “serious” cruises, beginning in 1980 with American Hawaii’s newly-rechristened SS OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE. Every year thereafter, he made it a point to sail in an elderly passenger ship until the early 1990s, when he furthered his mission to seek out and document every “forgotten” liner left in the world.
In 1992, Peter traveled to Greece to visit the forlorn and soon to be lost former SS AMERICA. Further travels included a 14 night voyage aboard ACHILLE LAURO just a few weeks before she was destroyed by fire; trips to the Ukraine to document the former Cunard twins LEONID SOBINOV and FEDOR SHALYAPIN; an extended “tour” of the Far East to cover aging liners in Japan and China; a visit to the US Reserve Fleet in VA to document the nuclear ship SAVANNAH; a special expedition to the Philippines to see the former Italian liner MV AUGUSTUS; and back to China for the former ANCERVILLE and ORIANA.
Peter Knego at Alang in February of 2004. Photo copyright Martin Cox 2004.
His travels include trips to all seven continents on board or in search of passenger ships and visits to Alang, India on seven different occasions (thus far) to witness the dismantling of many important liners. These excursions led to the purchase of a huge amount of fittings and art (much of it available at www.midshipcentury.com) from many beloved ships and the production of a series of video projects beginning with ON THE ROAD TO ALANG. In the meantime, his THE WORLD’s PASSENGER FLEET series is up to nine volumes with at least two follow ups scheduled. For ordering and more information, please see the video page on MidShipCentury.
With the SS AUSONIA at Corfu in 2004. Photo by Mike Masino.
Knego has contributed countless photographs and articles to U.S. based TRAVEL WEEKLY, CRUISE TRAVEL and PORTHOLE magazines as well as U.K.-based SHIPS MONTHLY and SEA LINES.
He has been quoted by many publications, ranging from THE NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY to a wide variety of maritime industry trades such as SEA TRADE INSIDER, TRADEWINDS and more.
His photos are featured in scores of shipping books and his video footage has been used in a number of television documentaries. Knego, himself, appeared in a 2010 episode of The History Channel’s LIFE WITHOUT PEOPLE series.
Peter has lectured ashore and on board a number of cruise ships and ocean liners, including Holland America’s ROTTERDAM (1959), P&O’s CANBERRA and VICTORIA, NCL’s NORWAY, Premier Cruises’ REMBRANDT, Louis Cruises LOUIS MAJESTY, Voyages of Discovery’s DISCOVERY, Saga Holidays’ SAGA ROSE, Cruise and Maritime’s MARCO POLO and, of course, the original QUEEN MARY in Long Beach.
Here is a recent interview courtesy of Cruising Authority’s Barry Vaudrin, filmed on board NORWEGIAN EPIC in July 2010:
Peter Knego discusses his most recent visit to Alang in 2010 and the NORWEGIAN EPIC.
As Contributing Editor to MaritimeMatters.com, a good deal of Knego’s work can be seen in text, video clips and photographs on the website.
Contact him at: 805-529-1905 (California)
