- The Last NORTH ATLANTIC Ocean Liners
- Last Ocean Liners to AFRICA & LATIN AMERICA
- To AUSTRALIA, FAR EAST & AROUND-the-WORLD
- SAILING SCHEDULES January to December 1966
- RANK & COMPARE the Last Ocean Liners
In the final decades of the ocean liner era, the 1950s and 1960s, the Cunard Steamship Company of Great Britain was by far the best known shipping line in the world. Cunard Line ships carried a third of all the North Atlantic passengers, and more than their share of the rich and famous. The company was most noted for its two legendary superliners, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, the largest passenger ships in the world. They were the ultimate expression of the art deco style at sea.
The ships were completed prior to World War II, but due to the pressing need for them as troop transports, they were not able to begin their tandem service until 1947. Then for two decades the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were extremely successful as the two most glamorous running mates on the high seas, earning great profits and worldwide acclaim for the Cunard Line.
British and other European royalty were frequent passengers in First class, along with Hollywood stars and millionaires. Businessmen, politicians, religious leaders and tourists mainly filled Cabin class, while budget tourists and students booked the Tourist class berths.
Generally, First class accommodations on the Queens spanned prime midship space on the higher decks, Cabin class was aft and Tourist class was forward. Aboard Queen Mary, the First class Verandah Grill occupied Sun Deck aft. Promenade Deck had the First class observation lounge, library, drawing room, shops, double-height main lounge, galleries and the aft Cabin class smoking room.
On Main Deck were the forward Tourist class Garden lounge and the aft Cabin class main lounge, bar, library and writing room. A-Deck included the Tourist class smoking room forward, while all three restaurants were on R-Deck and separate swimming baths for First and Cabin classes on E and F-Decks. Queen Elizabeth shared a similar layout.
Their precise schedule of five day crossings from New York to Cherbourg and Southampton was timed so that either the Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth departed New York every Wednesday, arriving in England on the following Monday. The ocean liners normally sailed westbound every Thursday, to arrive in New York on Tuesday in time for turnaround the next day.
"It's all part of Cunard's First Class mood as you cross the Atlantic to Europe. It's a holiday mood. A mood that lasts for five wonderful days, dispels cares, creates enchantment - the extra value which comes with every Cunard ticket. Getting there is half the fun ... go Cunard."
Just after the war, the Cunard Line conceived of their new Caronia as a large liner for the mostly untapped market of luxury cruising. While technically an ocean liner divided into First and Cabin classes, it would only operate a few crossings each year in the peak season. Every cabin had private bath or shower, and almost all were outside with two lower beds.
While cruising, Caronia roamed the world carrying only 600 privileged guests, drawing largely on the American millionaire class, the "mink and diamonds" set, on long voyages which varied very little from year to year. Painted in shades of green and known as the "Green Goddess", Caronia was like a British country estate gone to sea and enormously expensive to operate.
In the mid 1950s, Cunard Line ordered four new mid-sized ocean liners primarily for their U.K. to Canada services, offering weekly sailings from each side of the Atlantic.
In 1963 the first pair, Saxonia and Ivernia were renamed Carmania and Franconia. They were upgraded and made suitable for a dual role of crossing and cruising. Repainted in cruising green, they were given expansive Lido Decks, private facilities in every cabin and a North Atlantic liner style which recreated the past and promoted gracious living.
While not given the same makeovers, the second pair, Carinthia and Sylvania had attractive traditional interiors. Each class was afforded its own main lounge on the Promenade Deck and dining room below on the Restaurant Deck. Additionally there was a smoking room with bar for each class, plus a drawing room, library and additional lounge for First class and soda fountain for Tourist.
The company made the decision in 1964 that there was still sufficient demand for Atlantic crossings by sea, such that a new Cunard Line superliner was ordered, to be equally suited to both crossing and cruising. Entering service in 1969, the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 admirably fulfilled both roles for 35 years, extending Cunard Line's legacy into the 21st century. Then in 2004, the QE2 was replaced on the transatlantic run by the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner of all time, the Queen Mary 2. Cunard Line now occupies a niche in the contemporary cruise industry as the only company to operate regular line voyages.
Sample minimum one-way fares from New York to Southampton: First class $465; Cabin class $317; Tourist class $255; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.
Go to Cunard Line sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:
 Queen Mary Built: 1936 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Queen Elizabeth Built: 1940 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Caronia Built: 1948 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Carmania Built: 1954 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Franconia Built: 1955 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Carinthia Built: 1956 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Sylvania Built: 1957 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |