Three Queens

The original Queen Mary with the Normandie and three other unidentified liners in New York circa 1930's

Taking a short break from all of the depressing news in the world today, I take pleasure in noting a forthcoming historical moment. On January 13th 2008 New York will play host to royalty. For the first time probably since the early 1960's and quite possibly for the last time ever, there will be three active service transatlantic ocean liners (as distinct from cruise ships*)in New York Harbor at the same time. The venerable Queen Elizabeth 2, the massive Queen Mary 2 and the brand new Queen Victoria will all be pier side at the same time. The Cunard White Star Line is currently fitting out the new Queen Victoria in preparation for her maiden voyage.

For many New Yorkers this will be like a trip down memory lane. There was a time when the presence of three liners would have been noteworthy primarily due to the absence of more. New York has always been the primary transportation hub of the East Coast. Back before the nightmare of air travel dozens of oceangoing passenger ships entered and left the harbor daily. It may cause some nostalgia for an age when scores of reporters daily crowded the piers of the lower west side waiting to see who was arriving or departing on such oceanic leviathans as the Normandie, the original Queen Mary, the SS United States, Aquitania, Olympic, Berengaria, Majestic, Mauritania and scores of others. They were the pride of nations and great companies now mostly forgotten in history, like the French Line, the Hamburg Amerika Line, the Canadian Pacific Line and the tragic White Star Line (merged with Cunard during the depression). (Photo is the palm court on RMS Aquitania.)

To some this will seem like a throwback to another era. And indeed it is. From the moment Charles Lindbergh few the Atlantic back in 1927 the days of the ocean liner were numbered. Though it would be several more decades before the jet airplane sealed their fate, by the 1960's most of the great liners were being removed from service with fewer and fewer passengers willing to spend four to six days crossing an ocean that could now be bridged in about as many hours. Most of these ships of state wound up suffering ignominious ends in the scrap yards. (Photo is a first class bedroom suite on the SS Paris)

When Cunard launched the QE2 in the late 1960's as a replacement for the original Queen Mary**, there were not a few people who laughed at the folly of building a new transatlantic liner in the modern age. And it was more or less universally accepted until a little over 10 years ago that she would be the last of her breed. No one would ever build another ship primarily for commercial transatlantic passenger service. The 1970's and the first part of the 1980's seemed to support this view. The QE2 struggled financially and even turned to pleasure cruising during the winter months to break even. There was little serious discussion of replacing her on the North Atlantic run when she eventually would be decommissioned. (Photo is of the first class lounge on the Empress of Britain.)

Then something odd happened. Business began to pick up. It was generally assumed for years that those sailing on the QE2 fell into one of three categories. Old and nostalgic people, those terrified of flying, or those who (like myself) while not being afraid of flying nonetheless detest it as the most barbarous form of transportation invented since the slave galley. Whatever the reasons there was a noticeable uptick in business beginning in the late 80's and this trend continued into the 90's. Then came the Titanic. Cruise lines and shipping companies were buried in the wake of the blockbuster movie about the doomed White Star liner. And the rest as they say, is history.

The Queen Mary 2 was launched a few years ago and has been a huge hit. The brand new Queen Victoria is presently fitting out in preparation for her maiden voyage. The sad note to all of this is that the QE2 is about to bow off stage. After 40 years of service her time has finally come. But it is a testament to the flame kept alive by her and the Cunard Line that there will be not one but two liners in service to replace her. On a bright note it appears she will escape the breakers yard, the fate of so many of her great predecessors. Plans are afoot to have her converted into a 5 star resort. Not a bad retirement for the grand old lady.

In the meantime there remains, at least for the foreseeable future, a pleasant alternative to the horror of modern air travel for those going to or from Europe.

*Setting aside the various forensic differences, one apt observer noted the difference between a cruise ship and an ocean liner was the difference between a night club and a 5 star grand hotel.

**She was spared the fate of most her contemporaries being permanently moored in Long Beach CA as a floating hotel and museum.

The Queen Mary 2