1870 – 1956 / Also known as Victoria / With a remarkable longevity, the Cunarder Parthia would see almost nine decades of service in various guises.
world war II
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1900 – 1947 / Also known as Stockholm (I), Solglimt and Sonderburg / Launched as the Holland-America Line’s largest ship thus far, the Potsdam would see a long career of nearly 50 years. She inaugurated the Swedish American Line as the first Stockholm, and was later converted into a whale factory ship.
1905 – 1955 / Also known as Drottningholm, Brasil, and Homeland / A long-lived ship, the Virginian would see almost 50 years of service under different flags and names. She lived through two world wars, and was the oldest ship in transatlantic service when she was retired.
1905 – 1957 / Also known as America (I) / A German competitor in terms of size and luxury, the Amerika was seized and used as an allied troop transport during World War I. Her post-war career was under the American flag, but as her age caught up with her, she was finally sent to the breakers.
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.
1921 – 1958 / As a four-funnelled ship not on the North Atlantic run, Union-Castle Line’s Arundel Castle was of a rare breed. She was later rebuilt with two funnels, and served profitably for almost four decades before being scrapped.
1922 – 1943 / The second of Union-Castle Line’s ‘four-stackers’, the Windsor Castle was not as fortunate as her younger sister. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean during World War II.
1922 – 1952 / Also known as Admiral von Tirpitz, Tirpitz, and Empress of China (II) / Built and intended as a ship of the Hamburg-Amerika Line, this ship was yet another that was handed over to Britain following World War I. Joining the Canadian-Pacific Line, she then had a long career both as a civilian vessel and a troop transport.
1923 – 1956 / An intermediate Cunarder without the flair of her larger fleetmates, the second Franconia entered service in the years between the world wars. She served with distinction in both peace and war, before being sent to the breakers in 1956.
1927 – 2006 / A truly unique vessel, the Stella Polaris was constructed purely with cruising in mind. Offering an exclusive experience, she quickly became a legend in her field and would enjoy a long, distinguished career. After a few decades as a stationary ship in Japan, she was unfortunately lost when she sank while under tow in 2006.