The S.S Nomadic is about 1/4th the size of Titanic but don’t let that influence your impression of this beauty. Though she was created in 1911 to act as a tender to Titanic, unlike the heavier and mightier vessel… the S.S Nomadic enjoyed an illustrious career spanning almost 67 years. Because the S.S Nomadic used to carry only first and second class passengers, the interiors of the ship have some of the exact luxury White Star fittings that Titanic boasted of.
Many anecdotes, interesting pieces of trivia and stories surround the tender ship; all of which are beautifully represented in her interiors. Visiting the S.S Nomadic is a good way of learning about the shipbuilding heritage of Belfast and in fact about all aspects of shipbuilding right from designing to restoration.
History
Apart from its famous connection to Titanic or the fact that the S.S Nomadic carried 247 passengers from Cherbourg Harbor to Titanic for her tragic first voyage, there is a lot more about S.S Nomadic. This ship served for many years as a tender ship for both Cunard and White Star Lines and in various periods of time, she acted as a patrol boat, minelayer and troop transport in her 67-year-old career.
The S.S Nomadic has played ancillary roles in both world wars and after her retirement in 1968, she spent many decades as a top-notch entertainment venue on the Seine. The venue operator went bankrupt in 2002 and Nomadic sat decaying in Le Havre till the Govt of North Ireland stepped in and rescued her.
It’s rather a clever move of the Belfast Govt to re-install her in the same dock where she was originally fitted out. For it was in yard 422 of Belfast shipyards (again the same yard as Titanic) here that Thomas Andrews (the same designer who created Titanic) fitted her out and Harland and Wolff’s builders created her around 1910.
After her rescue and restoration in 2010, S.S Nomadic has been hosting historical exhibitions and shows though the tours only started after 2013. Not only does the S.S Nomadic enrich the experience of fans of Titanic as it traces the journey of passengers but the tender ship offers a voyage into its long and illustrious marine career and that’s a superlative experience in itself.
Things to See and Do
Remember that S.S Nomadic is an above-average tender vessel that was originally built to carry passengers who were to travel in luxury liners like Olympic and Titanic. Therefore, the Nomadic had more luxury fittings than other tenders and she possesses cushioned benches, water fountains decked with porcelain and embellished joinery.
She also had different bathrooms for different genders and a buffet bar. Some of the fittings inside are very interesting like the original Thomas Crapper toilets and sinks. So when you are visiting the Nomadic make good use of your camera to take umpteen photographs of the way luxury used to be defined in the era of the White Star Line giants.
The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and there are some like Pierre (first-class barman) who are literary walking treasures of history. There is always a different theme of the day at S.S Nomadic and kids and adults can dress up as members of the nobility/ crew/ pirates or whatever the idea for the day is. Not only is a trip to the S.S Nomadic worthwhile because of its connection to the Titanic and status as the last surviving White Star Vessel but this intact boat lets visitors learn first hand about the glorious days of transatlantic travel.
All the different roles of the S.S Nomadic like its mine sweeping era, its contribution in the World Wars, escaping the Germans, carrying the army and resuing thousands of folks from Cherbourg Harbour; most of these were daring tasks that S.S Nomadic performed with valour.
Its escapades are detailed with pictures, news clippings, interactive presentations etc. Nomadic went on to play the role of an entertainment hub on the Seine when she donned the role of a floating Japanese Restaurant and a nightclub; snapshots of this journey are also shares inside the exhibition space.
There are highlighted stories of famous passengers who travelled on the S.S Nomadic during her stints as a carrier vessel. It is interesting to know how and when James Cameron and Jhon Landau (makers of movie Titanic), Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Jhonny Weismuller, Dorothy Gibson, Marie Curie and even Charlie Chaplin had actually used this ship!!
Then again, there are stories about famous people transported to Titanic by S.S Nomadic for the disastrous journey. Different accounts of survivors like socialite and philanthropist Margaret Brown (later known as unsinkable Molly Brown) and victims like Benjamin Guggenheim (American mining tycoon) are put up inside and they make for interesting reads.
The lower deck of the Nomadic is where the real action happens. Visitors can touch the steel and peer closely at the rivets while listening to the story of Nomadic’s construction. A lot of games, interactive quizzes and puzzles (aimed both at kids and adults) are present in this section. You can opt to steer the ship, dress up as crew or mock build a ship and there are even prizes and certificates on offer. Statistics, trivia and an account of the restoration of Nomadic along with her move from Paris to Belfast is also displayed vividly.
The overflow space for third-class passengers in the S.S Nomadic now houses an interesting theme called ‘Nomadic Reflections’. Here there are audio, video and print accounts of many people who were associated with the ship during her long journey. There are messages from the H&W engineer, accounts from the crew and also from the project team who restored the ship.
A walk along the flying bridge deck (featured in the movie Titanic) culminating in a ‘Jack and Rose’ photograph at the bow of the ship are must-do activities here (pretend as if it is the Titanic and not its sister ship). The beautiful views of Belfast Harbour and Hamilton Dock are the icing on the cake while the chance to steer the ship wheel is the cherry on top!
Once you exit the ship and stroll along the dockside you will notice a series of graphic boards and interactive panels telling the story of the shipbuilding in Belfast and the history of Hamilton dock. You can also peep inside the pumphouse; it is now a gift shop where you can buy nautical souvenirs and S.S Nomadic themed keepsakes.
Visitors can explore the luxurious first-class passenger areas as well as the cramped crew spaces and feel the contrast!! The lamp room and other areas of the ship are also open to exploration.
Do check the weather updates before you go to visit the S.S Nomadic. If it is very windy and damp then you won’t be allowed on the deck for safety reasons and that is a serious ‘dampener’.
Additional Activities
Whether you are visiting the S.S Nomadic as a part of the Titanic experience or as a standalone visit then there will be a bunch of activities for you to engage in. There is a dress-up activity after which you can get our pictures taken on the boat. Then there is a trail map hunt for kids and they even get a certificate after it’s done. Keep an eye on the official website of the ship to know about the latest events.
For students, there are independent/ collaborative learning experiences that are fun as well as educational. More information about these can be had by emailing [email protected].
S.S. Nomadic can also be hired for weddings and special events.
Open Hours
From January to March the S.S Nomadic is open from Monday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. In April, May and December the S.S. Nomadic is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In June the S. Nomadic is open from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. while in July and August the timings are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday. In July and August, the weekdays are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. while weekends have extended closing timings (8 p.m.).
In October too, weekdays have different timings (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) than weekends (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). November and December see a lot less tourist traffic so opening hours are the leanest (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
S.S Nomadic frequently hosts events and so opening hours are prone to change… the best place to stay updated on these changes is to check their feed on Facebook and Twitter.
It usually takes 40 minutes to an hour to thoroughly explore the boat. Half an hour is the minimum time that you should spare if you are coming to visit this historic tender ship. Visit at the beginning of the opening hours to avoid the rush.
Tickets & Tours
Taking the joint Titanic experience which includes a visit to the Titanic museum and S.S Nomadic is a very popular choice. You can book this ticket from the Viator website page here.
If you do not manage to see the S.S Nomadic on the same day as the Titanic Museum then you can always do it on different days.
You can buy entry tickets to SS Nomadic from the official website of S.S Nomadic. Indicative prices per ticket for adults is 7 pounds while for children (5 to 16) it is 5 pounds. Children below age 4 can get in for free. If you are going as a family (2 adults and up to 3 kids) take the family ticket for 20 pounds.
How to Reach
You can take a train to the Titanic Quarter from the Great Victoria/ Central Station via the Bangor or Portadown route. From the train station Titanic Quarter, the SS Nomadic is a short walk away. If you are heading here from the Belfast City Center then take Bus 26 and it will drop you on the opposite side of the road of the Dry Dock outside the Belfast Met building.
If you are a ‘long walk’ lover then take a longish stroll along the edge of the town (the river runs along and there is a pedestrian route) and keep an eye out for the Odyssey Pavillion building. You will reach the S.S Nomadic from the city centre in about 40 minutes.
Address: Hamilton Dock Queens Road
Hamilton Dock, Belfast BT3 9DT
Phone:+44 28 9076 6386
Guests with mobility issues should consider that while the onboard lift will give good access to all the levels of the vessel, there are some areas like the crew quarters at the ship’s bow which are not accessible. The dockside is also lined by cobblestone that’s not very wheelchair friendly.
Nearby Attractions
If you have purchased the combi ticket of Titanic Belfast and S.S Nomadic from Viator then you have probably been through the Titanic museum experience before. On the contrary, it is always better to visit the S.S Nomadic first as she is the carrier vessel that brought many famous passengers to Titanic for that ill-fated journey.
As a natural continuation of the S.S. Nomadic visit and the Titanic Museum visit, consider strolling through the historic Hamilton Dock (dated 1864) that is now listed as a historic scheduled monument. It is interesting to note that it was Harland and Wolff shipbuilders who pressurised the town council to construct this dock and that’s how shipbuilding on Queens island prospered and ultimately giants like Olympic and Titanic were built.
Hamilton Dock was used for repair, maintenance of vessels till the 1990s and it was restored after a period of disrepair in 2009 … the same time when S.S nomadic was restored. Another related attraction around here is the former Harland and Wolff office that is now the Titanic Hotel Belfast.
Belfast is home to a lot of stunning modern constructs and one of them ‘the Samson and Goliath’ is near the S.S Nomadic. Also, check out the ‘Big Fish’ sculpture that celebrates the return of fish to the Lagan River.
Nearby Eateries
Some great places for a casual meal near the S.S Nomadic are the Dock (known for its soups) and the Paper Cup (known for its hot coffee, sandwiches and Irish casual food). The Linen Lounge or the Wolff Grill at Queen’s Road is where you should go for a proper meal.
Hickson’s Point on the Olympic Way serves great wine and pizza. Drawing Office Two (also on Queen’s road) will impress you with its décor. For dinner Thyme (part of Queens Road Premier Inn) is recommended… you need to reserve in advance.
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.