SS Santa Paula
SS Santa Paula was a United States-flagged passenger and cargo liner built for Grace Line in 1958 that later became a Caribbean cruise ship and, after conversion, a land-based hotel in Kuwait.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
SS Santa Paula was a passenger-and-cargo ocean liner constructed for Grace Line's New York–Central America service and launched into an era when traditional liner operations were being challenged by air travel and changing shipping economics. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding in 1958 as the third Grace Line vessel to carry the name, she was designed as the larger sister of SS Santa Rosa, also commissioned to replace the company's earlier 1932 liners. Her construction represented a late investment in American-flagged ocean service: she was among the last ocean liners built for the United States flag. The vessel was notable for several contemporary design features. Her interiors used fire-resistant aluminum panels, and every passenger cabin had a private bathroom, an amenity that distinguished her from some comparable ships operating on the same routes. Pat Nixon, then the Second Lady of the United States, christened the ship. Santa Paula completed her maiden voyage from New York on October 11, 1958, one day after preparations for service had been completed. She initially operated in Grace Line's South American and Central American network, carrying both passengers and cargo. Grace Line withdrew from its South American route in the early 1960s, after which Santa Paula and Santa Rosa were assigned permanently to Caribbean cruising. One of the most significant episodes in the ship's service occurred on November 25, 1964. While returning to New York from the Caribbean, she answered a distress call following the collision of the Israeli passenger ship SS Shalom with the tanker MV Stolt Dagali. The tanker had suffered catastrophic damage to its stern, and Santa Paula rescued 25 of the 43 people aboard. After approximately eleven years of successful operation, Grace Line's shipping interests were sold to Prudential Lines, creating Prudential-Grace Lines. Despite strong passenger numbers, Santa Paula was withdrawn from active service in January 1971 and laid up at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Within the following year, Oceanic Sun Line acquired her with plans to convert her for cruise service. A proposed reconstruction at Piraeus, Greece, under the name Stella Polaris, did not proceed as intended, leaving the ship laid up again. In 1976 Marriott International purchased the vessel in partnership with four other companies for conversion into a permanently located hotel. The former liner was moved to Yugoslavia for reconstruction and subsequently taken to Kuwait City. In 1978 she arrived in Kuwait, where she was renamed Kuwait Marriott Hotel and installed in a specially constructed berth raised from the harbor bed. Conversion work was completed in 1980, when the hotel opened. The property was renamed Ramada al Salaam Hotel in 1989. The vessel's final chapter came during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990. The Ramada al Salaam was set on fire after the building was bombed or shelled and became a total loss. Machinery that survived the blaze was reportedly reused in the conversion of Santa Paula's sister ship, the former Santa Rosa, into a cruise vessel in 1991. The burned-out structure remained at its berth until 2002, when it was scrapped on site. Thus, the ship's working life moved through three distinct forms: American ocean liner, cruise-service candidate, and permanently berthed hotel.
History
SS Santa Paula was built by Newport News Shipbuilding for Grace Line and entered service in 1958. She was the third Grace Line ship to use the name, following an earlier vessel built in 1916 and a 1932 liner of the same name. The new ship was constructed together with her larger sister, SS Santa Rosa, to replace Grace Line's two 1932-built 9,100-ton passenger ships. Her design reflected the standards of the late 1950s: interiors incorporated fireproof aluminum panels, and all passenger cabins had private bathrooms. Pat Nixon christened the ship before its maiden voyage from New York on October 11, 1958. The vessel was intended for Grace Line's New York–Central America and South American network, operating as both a passenger ship and a cargo carrier. The route's commercial circumstances changed quickly. In the early 1960s Grace Line abandoned its South American service, and Santa Paula was transferred with Santa Rosa to permanent Caribbean cruise operations. The change gave the ship a new role at a time when conventional liner routes were increasingly affected by competition from air travel and shifting passenger preferences. On November 25, 1964, Santa Paula became involved in one of the most notable rescue operations in her career. While returning to New York from the Caribbean, she responded to an SOS following the collision between the Israeli passenger ship SS Shalom and tanker MV Stolt Dagali. The collision severed the tanker's stern section. Santa Paula reached the scene and rescued 25 of the 43 people aboard the tanker. After roughly eleven years of operation, Grace Line sold its shipping interests to Prudential Lines, creating Prudential-Grace Lines. Although Santa Paula reportedly continued to attract substantial passenger numbers, she was taken out of service in January 1971 and laid up at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Within a year, Oceanic Sun Line bought the ship for possible conversion into a cruise vessel. She was taken to Piraeus, Greece, where a proposed reconstruction under the name Stella Polaris was not completed, and she returned to lay-up status. Marriott International acquired the ship in 1976 in partnership with four other companies. The new plan was not to return her to the sea but to convert her into a hotel. Santa Paula was rebuilt in Yugoslavia and transported to Kuwait City, arriving in 1978. She was installed in a specially prepared berth raised from the harbor bed and renamed Kuwait Marriott Hotel. The conversion was completed in 1980, and the hotel opened to guests. In 1989 it was renamed Ramada al Salaam Hotel. The former liner was destroyed during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990. The hotel was bombed or shelled and then set on fire, making the structure a total loss. Some machinery that survived the fire was reused during the conversion of her sister ship, the former Santa Rosa, into a cruise ship in 1991. The remains of the Ramada al Salaam stayed at the berth until 2002, when they were scrapped on site. Santa Paula therefore passed through ocean-liner, cruise-conversion, and hotel phases before disappearing entirely.
- 2002
Scrapped on site
[1]The remains of the destroyed hotel were scrapped at the Kuwait berth.
- 1990
Destruction during the occupation of Kuwait
[1]The hotel was set on fire during the Iraqi occupation and became a total loss.
- 1989
Renamed Ramada al Salaam Hotel
[1]The Kuwait hotel operation was renamed Ramada al Salaam Hotel.
- 1980
Hotel opening
[1]The converted vessel opened as the Kuwait Marriott Hotel.
- 1978
Arrival in Kuwait
[1]The rebuilt ship arrived in Kuwait City and was installed in a purpose-built berth.
- 1976
Acquisition for hotel conversion
[1]Marriott International and four partner companies acquired the vessel for conversion into a permanently berthed hotel.
- 1972
Planned cruise conversion
[1]Oceanic Sun Line acquired the ship with plans to convert her for cruise service, but the proposed project at Piraeus did not proceed.
- 1971
Withdrawal from service
[1]The vessel was taken out of service and laid up at Hampton Roads, Virginia.
- 1964
Marine rescue after the Stolt Dagali collision
[1]Santa Paula answered the distress call after MV Stolt Dagali collided with SS Shalom and rescued 25 survivors.
- 1960
Transfer to Caribbean cruising
[1]After Grace Line abandoned its South American route, Santa Paula was assigned to Caribbean cruise operations.
Products and positioning
A late-generation American ocean liner combining passenger accommodation with cargo capacity, later repositioned as a Caribbean cruise vessel and ultimately as a permanently located waterfront hotel.
Passenger and cargo ocean liner · 1958
SS Santa Paula
The ship's original and principal role was as a Grace Line passenger-and-cargo liner serving New York, Central America, and South America. Built in 1958, she offered fire-resistant aluminum-panel interiors and private bathrooms in every cabin, features presented as notable for her period. She later operated in Caribbean cruise service after Grace Line withdrew from its South American route.
Planned cruise conversion · 1972
Stella Polaris
After Oceanic Sun Line acquired the laid-up vessel, it was taken to Piraeus for a proposed conversion into a cruise ship under the name Stella Polaris. The plan was not completed, and the ship remained laid up until a later hotel-conversion project.
Permanently berthed hotel · 1980
Kuwait Marriott Hotel
Following a major reconstruction in Yugoslavia, the former ocean liner was installed in a specially prepared berth in Kuwait City. The converted property opened in 1980 as the Kuwait Marriott Hotel, representing a shift from mobile maritime transport to fixed hospitality use.
Permanently berthed hotel · 1989
Ramada al Salaam Hotel
The hotel was renamed Ramada al Salaam Hotel in 1989. It operated under that name until it was burned during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990 and subsequently became a total loss.
Brand decisions
1976
Conversion from ship to hotelStrategyBackground
A return to conventional ocean service had not materialized after the proposed Stella Polaris conversion.
Action taken
Marriott International and four partner companies acquired the vessel for permanent hotel use.
Aftermath
After reconstruction, the vessel opened in Kuwait as the Kuwait Marriott Hotel in 1980.
1971
Withdrawal from active serviceStrategyBackground
After approximately eleven years of operation, and despite reported passenger demand, the ship was no longer retained in active service.
Action taken
Santa Paula was laid up at Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Aftermath
The ship was sold first for a proposed cruise conversion and later for transformation into a hotel.
1960
Shift from South American liner service to Caribbean cruisingStrategyBackground
Grace Line abandoned its South American route in the early 1960s, changing the commercial role of Santa Paula and her sister ship.
Action taken
The two vessels were assigned permanently to Caribbean cruise operations.
Aftermath
Santa Paula continued operating for several years before being withdrawn and laid up in 1971.
Sources1 sources
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