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A photo tour of the golden age of cruising: Pictures from the Cunard archive reveal the VERY glamorous world of ocean liners as company celebrates its 175th anniversary
- Cunard Line have shared rare archived photos showing life on board over its 175 years of sailing
- The British/American-owned line is the only one that currently provides a regular transatlantic crossing
- Cunard’s ships were the first with email, a library and a gymnasium on board, and even transported war horses
PUBLISHED: 03:22 EST, 24 March 2015 | UPDATED: 05:38 EST, 24 March 2015
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One of their ships came to the rescue when the Titanic was sinking, and Charles Dickens described one of their cabins as a ‘profoundly preposterous box’.
Cunard Line celebrates 175 years of sailing the seas this year and has opened its archives to reveal the magical glamour of life on board over the decades.
Since being launched by Samuel Cunard in 1840, the fleet has welcomed the most illustrious members of society on board, and has a guest book which includes everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to Liz Taylor to Beyonce.
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In the lap of luxury: Passengers being served on board a Cunard ship with the deck steward in summer whites
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Cunard has had many royal visits, and their prized ships are named after monarchs: Mary of Teck, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth
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Academy Award-winning actress Elizabeth Taylor was a frequent guest on Cunard’s transatlantic and Mediterranean cruises
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For the first time in 1911, guests could exercise on their cruises; The Franconia was the first ship to have a sundeck and gymnasium
The maiden voyage of a Cunard’s liner, Britannia, took place in 1840 across the Atlantic.
A pioneer in facilities and fleet, celebrities and animals alike were treated to experience the ocean crossing.
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Cunard’s Arabia had a series of equine guests when transported all horses for the Crimean War in the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1853.
Even American author Mark Twain was among the celebrities who enjoyed voyaging in the 1870s.
The ship was a ship of firsts and broke records when it sailed the first steel ship, Servia, which used electrical lighting and en suites in 1881, and successfully achieved the first wireless communication between ships out at sea in 1901.
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A passenger enjoying breakfast in bed on the new Mauretania in the West Indies on July, 21, 1955
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Prime Minister Winston Churchill (pictured during an official visit) enjoyed the lavish surroundings of the Cunard cruise liners
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A man and woman enjoying a game of shuffleboard on the top deck of RMS Mauretania, which made its final voyage in 1965
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Staff on board the Carpathia, famous for its role in the rescue of survivors from the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912
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South African Prime Minister Nelson Mandela and wife Graca Machel on Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1998; and comedians Laurel and Hardy (right)
Not only could they enjoy the lavish parties but guests could exercise on board a ship for the first time in 1911, when the Franconia was the first ship to have a sundeck and gymnasium.
The next year the company famously made history when their Carpathia ship rescued all survivors from the tragic sinking of White Star’s Titanic.
Cunard enjoyed its first royal visit in 1913, when HM King George V and Queen Mary visited the Mauretania.
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Passengers in formal dress relax on one of Cunard’s liners as they listen to a piano performance while at sea
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A couple enjoys a meal during their cruise; The first Cunard liner, the Britannia, made her first voyage in 1840 from Liverpool to Boston
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Couples seated at a bar thought to be on the RMS Caronia, which sailed from 1947 to 1967 and was nicknamed the Green Goddess
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Cunard attracted many famous stars of the day, including American actresses Ginger Rogers (left), and Rita Hayworth, (right)
A SHIP OF FIRSTS: CUNARD’S INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
- Mauretania and Lusitania (1907) were the first ships to have cabins to supply running water.
- The first Smoking Rooms appeared on the Cunarders Bothnia and Scythia in 1874. Previous to this, passengers had to go on deck to smoke.
- Bothnia (1874) also featured three ‘firsts’: the first lounge for women, the first Library at sea and the first system of electric bells.
- The ‘Parthia Evening Post’ of September 11, 1882 is the first known example of a ship’s newspaper.
- Aurania (1893) was the first ship to have a Bridal Suite and suites of rooms.
- Mauretania (1907) was the first ship to have a dark room for photographers.
- The first steel Cunarder, Servia (1881), was also the first of all liners to be built with electric light. Prior to this public rooms and accommodation were lit by oil lamps.
- Franconia (1911) was the world’s first ship to have a gymnasium.
- Queen Victoria (2007) featured the first theatre boxes at sea in the Royal Court Theatre.
- The first sea-going branch of Harrods opened on QE2 in 1984.
- Slavonia, wrecked at Flores in The Azores in 1909, was the first ship to send an SOS signal.
- Laconia undertook the first World Cruise in 1922.
- QE2 was the first ship to have an email address.
- QE2 hosted the world’s first Trivial Pursuit cruise.
- QE2 became the world’s largest hospital ship during the Falklands Conflict in 1982.
- When QE2 arrived in Liverpool for the first time on July 24, 1990 more than a million people lined the banks of the Mersey to greet her - another record and more people than the visit of the Pope or the Beatles to the city attracted.
- QE2 was the first ship ever to sail more than five million miles. Upon her arrival in Dubai she had clocked up 5,875,493.22 million nautical miles.
- Cunard appointed its first female Captain in 2010.
- Queen Mary 2 was the first Atlantic liner built in 35 years and the first of the 21st Century.
- The first live TV transmission from a ship at sea took place from QE2 in July 1986.
Cunard achieved the fastest crossing of the Atlantic in 1924 when the Mauretania completed its journey in a record five days, one hour and 49 minutes.
A lavish addition to the fleet came in 1934 with the launch of the Queen Mary liner, celebrated by monarch herself.
Dubbed ‘the most elusive dining room at sea,’ the Cunard’s signature Grills concept was opened for all guests on this luxury ship.
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Walt Disney poses for a group photo while celebrating an occasion on a transatlantic voyage with Cunard
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A female passengers smiles as a Cunard ship arrives in New York on May 9, 1967, following a transatlantic voyage
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Passengers ride exercise bikes whilst wearing day clothes in a gymnasium on board the RMS Franconia on February 21, 1911
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Passengers at a table wait to be served tea and coffee (left); evening dancing was a common activity during and after dinner (right)
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Joining the Queen Mary was another royal cruise liner, which maintained the title of the world’s largest cruise liner until 1996.
This was the Queen Elizabeth, launched by HM Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Princess Elizabeth.
The two royal ships were praised by Winston Churchill for shortening the war in Europe by at least a year, when they helped out with troop carrying in WW2.
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Fine dining in the 1950s; Cunard’s earlier ocean liners had sails, used to help stabilise the ship in rough weather
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The balloon dance was held on every voyage on Cunard ships from the 1920s to the early 1960s
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A pool on a Cunard ship; Many of Hollywood’s greatest celebrities travelled on Cunard liners during the 1950s and 60s
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A game of hoopla is enjoyed by guests on deck, with the ship’s funnel partially visible in the background
The liner was known for its parties with the popular balloon dance being held on every voyage on Cunard ships from the 1920s to the early 1960s.
A main feature of the soirees would be the Fancy Hat Parade, where guests could create their own creative headpieces.
Race Nights were also held with bets placed on the winning wooden horses across the dance floor in the Main Lounge.
The 50s and 60s were a time for celebration and decadence, with many Hollywood greats coming aboard Cunard ships.
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A group of passengers enjoy a game of hoops in the sun (left), and a member of staff plays a deck game with a couple (right)
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The birthday boy blows on the candles on his cake as children attend a part on board a Cunard cruise ship
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The liner was known for its parties with the popular balloon dance being held on every voyage from the 1920s to the early 1960s
Liz Taylor, David Niven, Clark Gable and Bing Crosby were all fans of the Atlantic crossing.
Parties and dancing were accompanied by the new addition of jukeboxes on the ships, introduced from America.
The third royal liner, the Queen Elizabeth 2, was another addition to the Cunard’s fleet in 1967.
It boasted the title of being the first big Atlantic liner with private facilities in every cabin.
The ship also had military duties, when it carried 6,000 troops and 650 crew volunteers to the Falklands War in 1982.
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Queen Elizabeth II attended a ceremony when RMS Queen Mary 2, Cunard’s flagship, entered into service in 2004
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The Queen Mary 2 makes transatlantic voyages, which can be enjoyed in the exquisite and luxurious duplex suite
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In May all three of Cunard’s prized ships will call at Liverpool as they meet on the Mersey for the first time ever
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With the Queen Mary 2, Cunard is the only cruise line in the world to provide a regular transatlantic crossing
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Nelson Mandela joined the celebrities who travelled on the QE2 when he journeyed from Durban to Cape Town.
When Cunard was purchased by Carnival Cooperation in 1998, the transaction was celebrated by the launch of the largest and grandest ocean liner ever built, the Queen Mary 2.
Not only did this have the largest planetarium at sea, it also had the largest champagne bar, and ballroom at sea.
The three prize royal liners, the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, are set for special commemoration events to celebrate 175 years of ocean travel for Cunard.
In May, they will call at Liverpool as they meet on the Mersey for the first time ever before embarking on separate journeys.
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