The Golden Age Of Cruising – What Was It Really Like?

The Golden Age Of Cruising – what do you think it was really like?

I recently watched a television programme about the original Queen Mary – did you see it? I found the history very interesting.  From the book of comparisons Cunard issued in relation to the French Blue ribbon holder – the Normandy, the size of the propellers that could be operated by a hand, the funnel that was as wide as 3 train widths, there was even a song written about her – amazing.

One Lady, who was only a young child at the time remembered the wash she created as she sailed by on the Clyde and the many hundreds of people running away so they were not drenched!

It told us of a very different era.  How wonderful it must of been for those first passengers stepping on board? The glamour, the dressing up, the dancing.

The luxury and decadence – a first class ticket cost £100 – in today’s money that’s about £5000 – compare that with a Transatlantic crossing now – I have seen a one way crossing and a flight back for £799.00 – who says cruising is expensive today?

She has such a history – when the USA were forced into joining World War 11, she became a troop carrier, carrying up to 15000 troops at a time from New York, zig zagging her way across the Atlantic avoiding the German U Boats.

After the war and a 3 month re fit she recommenced her transatlantic sailings.

Just take a moment to think of the Celebrities who sailed on her, after all,  there was very little competition at the time. Errol Flynn, David Niven, Judy Garland, to name just 3 all were regular passengers.

Too soon though, the airline industry began to dominate transatlantic travel – why spend 5 days at sea when you could get there in 7 hours by air? Profits declined and the decision to retire her came in 1967.

What a shame!

She set sail from Southampton in October 1967  and is now a permanent museum and hotel in Long Beach, California.

Have you visited her? What is she like? I think the history is fascinating – don’t you?