1906 – 1931 / Also known as Empress of Scotland (I) / Entering service as the largest ship in the world, the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria focused on size and comfort rather than speed. Sailing in HAPAG livery for eight years, the ship was transferred to Canadian-Pacific after World War I but was done in by fire in late 1930.
film footage
26 posts
1907 – 1915 / The first of Cunard’s two stunning greyhounds, the Lusitania’s life was tragically cut short during World War I, when she was torpedoed and sunk with great loss of life.
1907 – 1934 / The legendary Mauretania saw an amazing career during peace as well as war, and held the Blue Riband for more than 20 years. She became one of the most famous Cunard ships of all time.
1911 – 1935 / The first and most prosperous of White Star Line’s amazing trio, the Olympic would serve in both peace and war, eventually earning the nickname ‘Old Reliable’.
1913 – 1938 / Also known as Berengaria / The first of Germany’s great pre-war trio, their defeat in World War I saw the ship transferred to Cunard ownership and given a new name. She flew the British flag for the rest of her career, and was sold to Jarrow shipbreakers in 1938.
1914 – 1950 / A unique vessel in the Cunard fleet, the Aquitania was commissioned as a larger but slightly slower companion to the Mauretania and Lusitania. She enjoyed a long, profitable career and saw military service in two world wars.
1915 – 1916 / The third and largest of the Olympic-class trio, the Britannic would unfortunately never carry a single paying passenger. While serving as a hospital ship during World War I, she was sunk in the Mediterranean.
1921 – 1947 / Another CGT masterpiece, the Paris followed the company line in offering comfort and amenities rather than speed. Unfortunately, she suffered fires two times in her life, the second of which led to her capsizing in port shortly before World War II.
1922 – 1940 / Also known as Bismarck / Originally built as the final and largest ship of HAPAG’s pre-WWI trio, she never saw service as a German ship. Awarded to White Star after the war, she became their flagship Majestic.
1927 – 1959 / Ushering in a new era, Île de France catapulted to stardom when she introduced Art Deco on the North Atlantic in 1927. Showcasing all the best France had to offer, she was a ship of state in every sense of the word.