Buzz
For much of the 20th century, colossal ships navigated the northern Atlantic, transporting immigrants to the Americas and providing luxurious passage for affluent travelers between New York (and other eastern ports) and Europe. A few of these legendary liners are still around, while many exist only in vintage photographs or in upscale restaurants that preserved parts of these magnificent ships' interiors. Below is a list of some of the most notable in terms of service duration, opulence, prestige, and onboard features. Many of these ships once held the coveted Blue Riband, awarded to the fastest transatlantic crossing.
Important distinction: An Atlantic liner is very different from a cruise ship. While the latter is designed for calm waters and leisurely entertainment, the former was built to withstand the rough weather of the north Atlantic, designed specifically for transoceanic travel. For further reading, refer to Thomas Maxtone-Graham’s excellent book, “The Only Way to Cross.” Also, note that the dates listed refer to the launch year, not the entry into service. For instance, Queen Mary was launched in 1934 but did not begin its voyages until two years later.
10. RMS Queen Mary II launched in 2003
For nearly three decades, the Queen Elizabeth 2 seemed to be the last remaining link to the glorious age of superliners. However, the QE2’s ongoing success on both transatlantic routes and cruising prompted Cunard to build another. Queen Mary 2 holds the title of the largest Atlantic superliner ever constructed (though one Caribbean cruise ship, the Freedom of the Seas, is larger, and the original Queen Mary was heavier). The QM2 appears to be a blend of an Atlantic liner and a cruise ship, but it was primarily designed for transatlantic crossings, despite its ability to sail to virtually any corner of the globe. If you're feeling adventurous and have around $2,000 (roughly 1,000 pounds), you can experience a voyage on the QM2 for yourself. (And if you're curious about why QM2 ranks #10 instead of #1, it’s because it hasn't been in service for as long.)
9. SS Rex launched 1932
The pride of Italy’s post-WWI fleet, the Rex and her sister ship, the Conte de Savoia, were Italy’s answer to Germany’s cutting-edge greyhounds. (See #6.) After a rocky start, the Rex won the Blue Riband in 1933 and held onto it for two years. She is especially remembered for a dramatic ‘interception’ in 1938 by American YB-17 bombers while still far out at sea. Although the Italians laid her up during WWII, the Allies sank her in September 1944 to prevent the Germans from using her to block the harbor at Trieste.
8. SS France/SS Norway launched 1961
One of the most iconic of the final great Atlantic superliners, The France served as her home country's flagship for nearly 15 years. She was truly the pride of France, and her retirement in 1974 was a national tragedy. The ship was later sold to Norwegian Cruise Line and renamed the Norway, under which she sailed from 1980 until around 2001. As Norway, the ship encountered numerous issues but continued to be a favorite on the Caribbean route. She was then sold and resold with plans for either refurbishment or scrapping, but ultimately the liner was docked due to environmental concerns. She was finally dismantled in 2008.
7. RMS Queen Mary launched 1934
The original Queen Mary was designed to restore British supremacy on the seas and to replace the aging Mauritania and Aquitania. While her interiors were more traditional, she was far more popular than the more modern-looking Normandie. Like her sister ship (albeit loosely defined) the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mary was a prime target for German U-boats during WWII. However, neither ship was ever captured. In the post-war years, both Cunard queens ruled the seas as initially intended. Today, the Queen Mary is preserved in Long Beach, California, as a hotel and tourist attraction, while her sister ship was tragically scrapped in the 1970s during an ill-fated attempt to turn her into a floating university.
6. SS Bremen launched 1929
After losing its pre-WWI fleet of majestic liners to war reparations, Germany regained its place as a maritime powerhouse with the Bremen and her sister ship, the Europa. This modern marvel sparked the 1930s 'express liner' phenomenon, where ships became sleek, fast, luxurious, ‘wet’ (thanks to Prohibition, European ships became more popular than their 'dry' American counterparts), and stylish in every way. The Bremen was immensely popular, but, like many liners, her career was cut short by war. The German military repurposed the Bremen as a barracks before she was set on fire and gutted in 1941 in an act of arson. She was ultimately scrapped in 1946.
5. RMS Mauretania launched 1906
Along with her ill-fated sister ship, Lusitania, the Mauretania was the first true Atlantic Ocean greyhound. Powered by steam turbines, this magnificent and opulent ship remained a favorite for three decades. The Mauretania held the Blue Riband for an impressive 20 years before it was claimed by the Bremen. She was scrapped in 1935, despite protests from ship enthusiasts, including Franklin D. Roosevelt. (If you've seen the blockbuster movie Titanic, you might recall the snobbish Cal stating, dripping with upper-crust arrogance, that Titanic was “over a hundred feet longer than the Mauretania and far more luxurious.”)
4. SS Normandie launched 1932
If you’ve ever come across vintage 1930s travel posters, you might have seen the striking image of the Normandie, her sleek, clipper-like bow taking center stage. She was an epitome of modernity, featuring a steam turbo-electric power plant, a pristine upper deck, and lavish interiors throughout. Despite her glamour, the celebrated ocean liner struggled to maintain profitability throughout the 1930s. As WWII loomed, Normandie was docked in New York and remained there after France fell. A historic photo from 1940 captures the Normandie, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth moored together in New York—an unprecedented sight. When the U.S. entered the war, officials seized the ship and renamed her USS Lafayette, but she never sailed again. In early 1942, while undergoing refitting, she caught fire, and the chaotic firefighting efforts led to her capsizing. Despite an expensive salvage operation, she was ultimately scrapped in 1946.
3. RMS Queen Elizabeth II launched 1969
The QE2 arrived at the end of the golden era of Atlantic steamers, making its debut after the retirement of the first Queen Mary and her sister ship. From the late 1960s until 2004, the QE2 was the epitome of luxury for transatlantic travel (with the exception of the Norway, before she became a cruise ship). But the QE2 didn't just stick to the Atlantic; it also made stops in places like Sydney, Australia. This stunning superliner finally retired in 2008, and plans were made for it to become a floating hotel in Dubai.
Notable omissions: Majestic (formerly Bismarck), Aquitania, Berengaria (formerly Imperator), Nieuw Amsterdam, and the Kungsholm/Sea Princess/Victoria/Mona Lisa.
2. RMS Olympic launched 1911
The majestic Olympic outlived her sisters, the tragic Titanic and the unfortunate Britannic (which never even saw passenger service and was sunk by a German mine while serving as a hospital ship in Greece). Dubbed 'Old Reliable,' she remained in service, with only brief interruptions, from 1911 to 1935. Olympic had a reputation for striking other vessels, but on one occasion, it was intentional. As an auxiliary cruiser under British law, she encountered the U-103 in 1918. Olympic turned and rammed the submarine, forcing the Germans to scuttle their own boat. Despite her age, she retained her popularity long after the war. She was eventually laid up in the mid-1930s and scrapped in 1937.
1. SS United States launched 1952
Built with both luxury and military applications in mind, the SS United States was so fast that her top speed was kept a state secret. The last of the great greyhounds, she still sits at a Philadelphia pier, slowly deteriorating. The secrecy surrounding her speed was due to the fact that many ocean liners scrapped in the mid-1930s would be desperately missed during WWII. In the 1960s, the rise of the jumbo jet left ocean liners in decline, and by then, SS United States was already on the decline. Despite this, she still holds the westbound Blue Riband. After being bought by Norwegian Cruise Line in 2004, her future remains uncertain.
