This year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of «Den Norske Amerikalinje». The line was established after a major collection of share capital from all walks of life in both Norway and the USA.
«Kristianiafjord» became the company's first ship and made its first voyage from Norway to the USA in the summer of 1913. Already in the fall of the same year, the sister ship «Bergensfjord» came into operation.
«The Norwegian American Line quickly became Norway's most important connection to the USA. The shipping company provided cleaning, bedding and food for the travelers, but they did not have access to showers, at least not in third class.
The heyday lasted until the 1950s, when airplanes began to take over passenger traffic across the Atlantic. Amerikalinjen's last two passenger ships were pure cruise ships and were named «M/S Sagafjord» from 1965 and «M/S Vistafjord» from 1973.
Although passenger traffic has long since ceased at «Den Norske Amerikalinje», the shipping company still exists. However, it has been changed to a freight shipping company and is now part of the «Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group».
List of ships of the Norwegian American Line
- DS «Kristianiafjord» 1913-1917
- DS «Bergensfjord» 1913-1946
- DS «Stavangerfjord» 1918-1964
- MS «Oslofjord» 1938-1940
- MS «Oslofjord» 1949-1969
- MS «Bergensfjord» 1956-1969
- MS «Sagafjord» 1965-1983
- MS «Vistafjord» 1973-1984
