The Golden Age of Cruising: How extravagant and luxurious was it?!
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- Welcome aboard a time machine... a journey back in time, delving into the opulent and glamorous world of cruising, and ocean liners, during the period spanning the 1920s to the 1960s. Join us as we unveil the allure of this bygone era, exploring what it was truly like to travel on an a ocean liner, and then later on as a cruise ship, during the golden age of ocean voyages.
We look at the original, and magnificent Cunard liners, Including the Queen Mary, and the Queen Elizabeth, and other luxury ships of the era.
And the battle for the trans Atlantic route with the SS Normandie, and the SS United States. This is a light hearted documentary, looking through the archives at how world travel really used to feel like!
Up until the 1950s and 60s the majority of these famous ships were in fact Ocean Liners, going from point A to point B, as a means of transportation; later on, as the aviation industry cut into their business, and they were in financial danger, they evolved into travelling for leisure. Circling the globe for vacations. And thus 'Cruising' was born. The ship and hull designs changed, and they became more leisure resorts at sea. Some of the existing ships converted, and the cruising mentality developed.
Picture yourself stepping onto these magnificent vessels, where every detail was meticulously designed to offer the utmost comfort and style.
Our immersive journey will vividly paint the picture of life aboard these majestic ships. From the grand ballrooms hosting glamorous soirées to the sumptuous dining experiences that defined culinary excellence, every moment was a celebration of refined living.
The 1920s marked the resurgence of ocean travel, with liners like the RMS Queen Mary and SS Normandie setting new standards of elegance and speed. As we progress through the decades, witness the evolution of onboard entertainment, from classic orchestras and Broadway-style shows to the emergence of cinema and onboard activities that catered to every passenger's taste.
But beyond the luxury, the golden age of sea travel and cruising was a melting pot of cultures and stories. Passengers embarked on these voyages for various reasons - be it exploring exotic destinations, socializing with fellow travelers, or simply experiencing the thrill of transatlantic crossings on ocean liners.
Join us as we uncover the reasons why revisiting this era is more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Understanding the historical significance of the shift from ocean liner transport to leisure cruises sheds light on the evolution of travel and its impact on modern-day cruising. The nostalgia and romanticism attached to this period continue to influence the cruise industry, making this exploration both a historical narrative and a reflection on contemporary travel trends.
This video promises an enriching experience for history enthusiasts, travel aficionados, and anyone intrigued by the evolution of luxury travel. Dive deep into the past and discover why this form of travelling holds a timeless charm that continues to captivate and inspire.
Join us on this voyage through time and witness firsthand the elegance, luxury, and allure of cruising during its most glorious epoch.
Don't miss the chance to embark on this nostalgic journey and gain a newfound appreciation for the legacy that continues to shape our modern-day travel aspirations.
Remember to subscribe, like, and share this video to spread the love for the golden age of cruising and to explore more fascinating historical content!
We look at:
Cruise ships in history
Transatlantic crossing
Buffet
Cruise cabins
Room Service
Ports of Call
Looking at the various Cunard ships in history
Cunard Queen Mary
Cunard Queen Mary 2
Cunard Queen Elizabeth
Normandie
In this video :
00:00 - The Great Ocean Liners
01:24 - Cruising in the 1950s
02:22 - Embarkation back in the Day
03:44 - The Layout of Old Liners
04:44 - The different Cunard Classes
07:39 - The Forgotten Cruise Lines
10:21 - Cruising to the Colonies!
13:00 - Cruising in the 60s
15:00 - The start of the World Cruise!
20:15 - The Swagger of Cunard!
25:00 - Flying in the 1950s
25:17 - Low cost Cruising in the 50s & 60s
27:18 - Cruising in the 1920s and 30s
28:28 - The Beautiful Normandie
30:10 - The SS United States
30:23 - How to end a cruise!
31:32 - Upcoming videos
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Contact us, and FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Email : ritzytravelguide@gmail.com
Twitter: / ritzytravel
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ABOUT ME:
Hi, my name is Bill! Together with my family we have lived in 5 countries around the world. The aim of this channel is to give an honest, practical viewpoint, showing exactly what we found, and what tips we may be able to offer. We do not sell vacations, and the objective is to give a fully independent, and real picture. We hope you enjoy the reviews we post.
If you enjoyed this video, please drop a comment in the box! By the way you might also like to take a look at our latest video aboard the Queen Elizabeth. You can see that video here:
ua-cam.com/video/VwicqlGFqOo/v-deo.html
I am sure that today's cruisers would find even the finest 1950s cruise experience a bit boring. But to my eyes, these bygone days of cruising were gorgeous.
Even the tourist class had a sense of luxury. I loved seeing it.
Thank you for a well produced video showing time that will never be recaptured again.
Thanks Ruth. No, I don't think that era will ever be fully recaptured as it was!
Turns out, it was the US TV show 'Love Boat' that helped bring cruising to the gen pop. Prior to that, it was even more niche as a from of travel than it is today.
It was a Princess ship that was featured in the show, and they attributed the show to their and the industry's growth
Yes, agreed, I think the Love Boat did contribute to the pickup in cruising!
I was on the QE2 in 1978 on a Caribbean Cruise out of NYC. As. 19 year old it was a wonderful 17 day cruise. Women in long dresses at dinner. men in suits. We had the same waiters everyday all three meals. Great memories.
Hi Ann! Yes elegance, attentive waiters, dressing to the nines.... how fabulous!
@@ritzytravelguide Don't know if the eastern part of Africa is a cruise spot now with pirates and the like? 🤔
@dankelly5150 A lot of cruises going near the Suez are now being cancelled
I crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary in 1964, first class. What a wonderful experience.
Hi there, I can imagine it really was. What a wonderful memory!
@merrywidow6578, we just crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2. It was so wonderful and luxurious. On the walls, all over the ship were huge black and white photos of stars that were in the Queen Mary in her hay day. Do you know if any celebrities were on board when you crossed?
@Gilded-girl Hi. Some of the invited speakers can be reasonably well known. Such as Astronauts, or Writers, or experts in their field. It's very rare to get genuine Hollywood stars these days!
I just want to know the story behind your handle. “Merrywidow”-I feel like there’s a story there…
Yes, on the original Queen Elizabeth twice and the United States once. Lovely memories.
This looks much more enjoyable than the over crowded, floating amusement parks of today.
They really did have bon voyage parties in their room. I grow up in New York, and several of my parents friends went to Europe by ship. A few times they were invited to the bon voyage party. I think it was a way of really showing off. There were cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the room. My dad always griped, “ why are we getting these people a present when they can afford to take a trip to Europe.” But, my mom who never went anywhere without bringing something always brought a box of Schraff’s candies .
What a great story! Thanks so much for that! Can you imagine that today... people giving you a going away present, before you hop on a cruise!!
it was the first leg of an extended journey, not a 'stand alone' cruise holiday!
Just before 09/11/01, my wife & I were on an Alaskan cruise in Ketchican, when a friend, who lived in Alaska,
flew there by seaplane & was allowed to come onboard, have free lunch & tour the ship! After 09/11, security
tightened & the practice ended! Times have changed, but with all the new ship's amenities, not all for the worse!
@rongendron8705 They were allowed on for a free meal!! Times have changed!
Your mom was a lady, who knew one never went empty handed.
I had the privilege of being able to travel from Australia to Europe in the 50's & 60's with my parents - The Orcades, Neptunia and the Oriana. Wonderful, wonderful memories. You couldn't give me the cruise ships of today - such monstrocities and completely classless!!!
What amazing memories for you!
Not all of them. Read my comment above.
The Cunard Ships still has that class you speak of. I agree there a lot of monstrosities out there. They are amusement fun fair parks which you could have on land. Not for me.
I wouldn't want to book a cruise on todays horrendous cruise ships but this nostalgic video makes me wish I had been old enough to enjoy cruises of the past - thank you
Thanks for watching!
I like the look of the old liners/criuse ships - they look like actual boats, complete with smokestacks, instead of resembling multi-story buildings as the modern ones do.
Will be interested in your videos about luxury air travel too....
Yes, the ships had elegant lines in those days 🙂
I liken them to Soviet style apartment buildings.
They were actual boats. They were not cruise ships. They were ocean liners. The difference is that an ocean liner is seaworthy.
I still recall when passengers dressed up to fly . The vast majority of people hadn’t even gotten on a plane since travel for ordinary Americans was an extravagance. So, yes, I would very much enjoy a video on air travel.
Hi there, yes extravagance is a good word! A real treat!
My mother and I traveled from Quebec to France and returned 2 months later in 1955 on the Cunard's SS Samaria and the SS Franconia. I was 5 years old and remember my mother was sick almost the entire time! I made friends everywhere (I remember roaming the ship and seeing whales and an iceberg in the distance!) and I remember the stewards being so nice and helpful. When I was 12, we crossed on the SS America out of New York, in 1961, but ended up stranded in Europe due to some kind of port scheduling problem and we were offered a date change for our return or a plane ticket. We flew back for the first time on an airplane. After that I returned to visit family in Europe many more times, but sadly, never again on one of the wonderful cruise ships…
Hi Jess, great to hear from you! What a lovely series of memories. Seeing whales and icebergs, and on such glorious ships of the day! Grand times indeed!
I was an 11 year old girl in 1962 sailing to England with my auntie to visit relatives in London on the Queen Mary. Came home on the Queen Elizabeth after a summer in the UK. Did a lot of traveling as a young adult in the 70's & 80's, but nothing compares to my time on the Queens. A trip of a lifetime that can never be duplicated.
Hi, thanks so much for that lovely story. Fantastic for you to experience both Queens!
Thanks for the journey! I crossed the Atlantic from N. Y. C. to England as a teenager with my parents on the Queen Mary 1 and crossed back on the Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1968, both in Cabin Class. My father's Cadillac Seville also crossed for the price of another passenger. I loved both ships but the Queen Mary "The Queen of the Atlantic" was more beautiful and warmer in a friendly way. It was the journey of a lifetime! I loved exploring the ships. The British crew was very friendly. The food generally good but now, when I think back, old fashioned. I still have the menus, photos and luggage tags. Just great! Also LOVED the dimly lit pool and the movie theater. Thanks for taking me down memory lane!!!!!
Hi Alexandra, how lovely that you still have the keepsakes from your Atlantic Crossing! Real personal treasures! Many thanks for watching!
My family moved from France to the US on the SS Liberté in September of 1958, from Le Havre to New York, we were greeted by Hurricane Helen on the 4th day of the crossing...what a fun trip that was for a 10 year old kid.
I bet! Somewhat like a roller-coaster!
When I was 9 my mother, brother and I left Canada on a freighter to Amsterdam to then train down to Austria where we immigrated from. The freighter was a blast for us but the trip home was on an ocean liner. Wow what fun that was, during the day we explored every inch of the ship. Then after dinner and a story Mom would put us to bed and go see the movie which we had seen in the afternoon. My brother and I would sneak into the 1st class balcony and watch the movie again, leave just before it ended and fell into bed. Both ocean trips were a blast for a kid and i will remember it forever. My bother and I often discuss those trips.
Hi, what lovely memories you have from those days! Thanks so much for sharing!
Among my husband’s earliest memories are those of his five year old self and his mother taking the Ile de France to join his father in England. He remembers the long gangplank and watching their new Studebaker being lowered into the hold. We were watching “The Last Voyage”, the movie in which the ship was so ignominiously destroyed, and during a scene in the dining room he shouted, “I sat right there!”. We had to stop watching when the mayhem started, too painful.
In the early 80s, I visited the Queen Mary at Long Beach, and I swear there was almost no one there. I bought that famous cutaway print and used it as my guide. I was everywhere, all the main rooms, the pool, the silver vault, even the projection booth high in the forward wall of the main lounge. No one bothered me. I was not able to get into any of the cabins, though. The Spruce Goose was next door, and I was able to take a very leisurely tour of that, too. No chance of ever doing that again.
Hi, thanks so much for those lovely stories. He was one of those we saw in the video with cars being winched on and off!
We did that double tour (QM & Spruce Goose) also in the 80s, and I think we were pretty much alone. The SG is now located in a small Oregonian town. It's definitely worth a visit, kinda like the Grand Canyon, lol, you can't imagine how big it is until it's seen in person.
That would have been a fantastic double!
I did the double tour in 1984 when I was 33. The H-4 Hercules, aka the Spruce Goose, was spectacular. One could tour the inside and cockpit. Then the Queen Mary was the first ocean going vessel I’d ever been on, and it was truly grand. At some point she was a hotel, but I suspect most guests stayed only one night aboard. Unlike today’s cruise ships the Queen Mary was a beautiful ocean liner.
I remember the double tours. I also remember when the H-4 was being moved from Long Beach.
It was a sad day when they broke the H-4 and Queen Mary up.
Southern California in the 80's was a great time.
This makes me feel old! My first cruise was in 1990, and much has changed since then. I remember small ships with "bon voyage" parties on the top deck, with paper streamers to throw to your well-wishers ashore; and in the water. I remember midnight buffets, chocolate buffets, tuxedos on formal night, smoking in the cabins, room keys (instead of cards), in-person muster drills and a more sophisticated crowd aboard. Anymore, cruising attracts a more budget-minded demographic.
You don't get clay pigeon shooting on deck any more either! One errant wave, and you could be shooting the wrong direction altogether!
1st cruise 1982 on Song of Norway
Still Dress for Dinner, assigned seating, same waiter, all the young couples seated at same table. Lovely trip. It was my gift for graduation from college. Still prefer this size ship, so we cruise with Oceania now
@meman6964 Oceania does indeed give a great experience
One thing I forgot to add in my comment below: The way people dressed then and now is striking! People actually got DRESSED UP when traveling!!! Oh, no!!!! Heavens forbid anyone nowadays would leave their baggy shorts and flip-flops at home!!! Comfort, comfort, comfort! Too bad these people haven't ever heard of mirrors! Oh, well. Call me old fashioned to think that people could be stylish and comfortable at the same time.
Our bucket list on Cunard to experience this elegance.
The new Cunard Queen Anne is coming very soon. If you haven't seen our video on this new ship, you can find it in our playlist!
How wonderful to see the QE and QM in their prime
Yes indeed!
Excellent and interesting video, but,unfortunately, it also highlighted how far people have allowed their standards to drop! I doubt that care, class and elegance will ever recover fully…the best we can hope is that some will hang on! Edited to add: I don’t miss everything about that era…but do miss the courtesy and general respect for yourself and others…you could very easily bring back elegance and grace if people would just bring back being thoughtful and caring bth about themselves and others….dressing up never killed anybody…caring about how you act never did either…something to think about!
Interesting fact a lot of the standard started dropping when people stopped wearing hats
@cherylmaden5989 that's an interesting thought!
I love the elegance of cruising in the past but I also love how cruising has become an affordable and accessible vacation for all types of individuals and families today. Thank you for posting this wonderful video!❤
Hi Nicole. Many thanks for your kind words, and for watching 🙂
Exactly. Who could afford crusing in those "Golden years"? Only the very wealthy.
Thank you for this wonderful video. I really like how the passengers really got to enjoy the "now" and not on cellphones and computers :) I would love to see the Premium Class passengers on those airplanes back in the day.
Thanks for watching, yes it's really insightful to see the old footage!
In 1958 I traveled as a 15-month-old with my parents to England on the Queen Elizabeth. I have a picture of little me at the Children's Tea in the first-class dining room.
Nice video! The show The Love Boat made cruising exciting, popular and yet still exotic.
Thank you 😊
I’m 51 and I remember the bon voyage parties as recently as 1986 on Royal Caribbeans M/S Song of Norway. We even threw confetti towards the dock as we were pulling out of Miami.
I can't imagine wanting to go on a modern cruise after see this
Too crowded and too noisy!
My first cruise was in 1977 on the SS Uganda at the age of 15! We cruised for two weeks on the Mediterranean, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Israel. Absolutely amazing and I felt incredibly fortunate to have experienced it at such a young age. I didn’t cruise again until 2018 and have now cruised 7 times, mainly Royal Caribbean and Cunard, I love it. Really enjoyed this video, thank you!
Hi Alison, what a lovely treat to be on the Uganda! That would have been a fabulous Mediterranean itinerary
By the way, f you haven't already seen them, we have several videos on our channel covering cruising on Cunard!
It was, thank you. Subscribed 🙂@@ritzytravelguide
I see why people traveled with trunks. If I had to be in a different gown every night for dinner not to mention day clothes, exercise clothes, and a swimsuit outfit, I’d need several trunks, too. How amazing that would have been ❤
🙂
When we went around the world in 1971 My parents had two trunks and 8 suitcases. I had 1 trunk and 6 suitcases. Every night formal meant shoes and handbag to match each outfit. And casual clothes meant business caual. Not they way so many dress like slobs nowadays.
Please bring back the world cruise!
There are still many ships that do world cruising. Not the monsters that only sail around the Caribbean and have a 1,000 screaming kids.
We sailed on The Norway before the scraped her. Was wonderful and the lounges were stunning. Learned to ballroom dance on that ship.
That would have been interesting! The Norway, and before that as the SS France, was also a very graceful ship!
❤The Gloria days… more more more the video like this🎷🍾️
I'll try to bring out more!
Thoroughly enjoyed that. Hopefully there will be more of this type of content to come in the future
Hi Mr C.... will do my very best!
I think that what is depicted here is First Class. We went to France when I was very young, about 65 years ago, in a Holland America ship. My father worked out a discount with them for my brother’s and my tickets by giving a couple of concerts on board. If they had had a cheaper class with hammocks for everyone, my dad would have had us travel that way. Unsurprisingly, my dad got seasick when we hit rough weather. Happily, I found out that I didn’t get seasick, despite being constantly carsick for the next 3 months of car travel! However, although it was nice, I didn’t call any of it luxurious.
Hi, was your father a famous musician? That was a clever idea for a discount!
Love, love the beautiful attire that all people took pride in wearing, as each activity is a event.
Yes indeed! Those were the days!
My first cruise was when i was about 10 and thats exactly how it was for kids and teens. A free for all with absolutely no parent supervision
😂
Flying in the golden era. Yes please.
Will do!
Hey Bill! Really great video! Your clips of old bring the past back and all the glamor that once was! Past, present, future! All are good!
Thanks George, glad you enjoyed it!
YES... would LOVE the videos of the golden age of flying! THANK YOU
Thanks Barbara!
My father-in-law traveled back across the Atlantic from Europe after WWII on the Queen Mary. I still have a (badly deteriorated) copy of the mimeographed "ship's newspaper" that was published during the voyage.
I toured the Queen Elizabeth when she was docked in Miami. I remember looking down at the Queen Mary and thinking how small the Queen Mary was by comparison.
How nostalgic to have the ships newspaper from that era!
Excellent video, well produced, and documented- love looking at all these elegant ship interiors from the 30s 40s and 50s
I totally agree, it's fascinating isn't it! Oh for a time machine, to be able to visit for a day!
My mother sailed over to Europe in (I think 1956) - LONG before I was born! She then flew back home. She had worked for a railroad and got travel discounts.
Right in the 50s Golden Era we are featuring here!
3:22 Just a noted difference here from then and now.
When I recently left on a cruise that departed Miami, nobody was there on shore waiving to anybody.
The ship just quietly left port.
I would love to see a video about air travel in the 50's and 60's. Really enjoyed your video.
Thank you so much John. It's been a couple of months since I mentioned the Air Travel video, I really should get it out!
You often get pedantic people commenting under videos about old liners saying that they were liners (operating a scheduled service from A to B) and not cruise ships (going on journeys for pleasure round ever-changing routes), but this entertaining compilation shows that the liners sold their services by emphasising the cruise-like attractions to be found onboard (and isn't it amazing how many of those attractions were young, female and clad in swimsuits)?
Hi there. Many thanks indeed for your comments. Whilst Ocean Liners were the forerunner to Cruise ships, and offered transportion from A to B, on a fixed schedule, and had a different hull design.... that being said, the offerings and facilities aboard, were almost identical to cruise ships. Day to day life onboard mirrored each other: swimming pools, promenade decks, dining rooms, theatres, shops, bars, children's facilities, hair salons, casinos, activities, butler services, room service and entertainment.
@@ritzytravelguide I'm curious... What would
a butler do on a cruise ship? Was his role more
akin to that a concierge?
The SS United States came on scene just in time for the jet airliner to make her redundant. She still holds the record for a passenger ship crossing the Atlantic. She had a powerplant every bit the equal of an aircraft carrier and she was just as thirsty. So she didn’t survive to the resurgence of cruising for cruising sake, not as transportation across the ocean. Which is a real shame as she was the pinnacle of the ocean liner.
Hi Bill, indeed The SS United States was an absolute powerhouse and behemoth!
I really enjoyed this video! I seldom ever park myself for 30 minutes to watch anything. You did a crackerjack job!
Thanks so much Sandria, very kind of you to say!
As an ex-pat child of the 50s, I made several trips to and from San Francisco to my dad’s posting in Asia. I remember ticker tape departures and the children’s play room, running wild with a gang of 7 to 10 year olds. Our Nanny had a room in another class but was allowed to spend her days with us looking after my younger brother. I have a passenger list booklet, and several photographs taken at what must have been a children’s party. It was a mode of transportation…airplanes were only used if someone back home was very ill and expected to pass away! I remember passing under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. For the adults, there were Galas, costume parties, dances, and a lot of clothing packed in large trunks which were emptied, then sent off to a cargo area for the rest of the trip!
Hi Jessy, how lovely to hear from you! Thank you so much for letting us know your first hand experiences from the 50s, many of which we saw in the video! Your experiences closely match exactly how it was portrayed in these documentaries and promotional films. We might almost have seen you in there!
It also amazes me how passenger lists were public in those days. Confidentiality laws would certainly prevent that now!
So so cool to see how it was back in the day. People really took care of their appearance back then. I wonder how much it was comparatively to now.
Yes, back in the day they wore suits to the pool deck! And all their relatives came to the dock to wave them off!
@@ritzytravelguide seems so glamorous! My mom told me that she used to spend hours on her hair and clothes! Now us ladies just wear sweats lol. More comfortable for sure but oh the beauty back then!
Thanks for adding actual captions for the Deaf
You're very welcome! A lot of viewers on UA-cam rely on subtitles, so I try to make sure they are accurate. Thanks for mentioning it!
A great video. Thank you. looking forward to the next one
Thanks Steve!
I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this. Thank you.
Thank you Geoffrey.
Wow, how times have changed.
They have indeed!
While I certainly wouldn't want to bring back all aspects of cruising of the golden days, the idea of romance and elegance is worth retaining. The ships certainly lacked diversity and it's interesting how class division is coming back. That leads to that Celebrity Ascent, a ship I'm highly critical of and have a lot to say about (that isn't very positive). Some of the aspects of cruising are remarkably similar to what exists now.
I knew someone would wave the race card. Shame on you, sir.
@@Mr.SLovesTheSacredHeartofJesus What race card? You're out of line. I'm talking about class division not race division. No one in their right minds talks of the good old days without bringing up diversity in terms of respecting women's rights, and any person's right, not just the rights of Black people so you're being presumptuous. Shame on you. This is about the ships and the cruise product. The romance of being at sea is being replaced with hanging out on your balcony and having special perks due to being in a larger space. The idea of restricting passengers to a part of the ship while others have their own area and the run of the ship is what I'm objecting to. And this is NCL, Celebrity and MSC doing this and I'm objecting to that.
Yea but if someone has more $$ to afford more perks I mean that’s life. That’s why I don’t go anywhere unless I can be at my level of comfort. I am taking my first cruise in Nov because I got a great deal on an ocean view. You have to do what’s best for you and your budget. I am fine with my Corolla even though my neighbor has a BMW! That’s their business and that’s life.
@@AshleySpeaks09 I'd take the Corolla as well. The issue with the Celebrity Edge ships and the NCL Haven ships would be like saying only BMW and luxury car drivers are allowed to drive in certain areas of the resort. That's the class division that I'm objecting to. I don't mind a few perks here and there but ship within a ship with some prime areas reserved for suite passengers is a something worth debating IMO.
Just the tonic after a hard week at work (post Christmas) .
Thank you sir I am looking forward
to more please 🙏.
Cheers! Raising a 1960s Martini to you 🍸
Very enjoyable viewing. Great to see how people dressed up for this sense of occasion. Please keep up the great work and you mentioned a future instalment on aviation. Absolutely. Thanks for keeping us entertained and great to see your subscriptions increase rapidly and rightly so.
Thank you so much, that's very kind of you. I'll add 1 more to the Aviation installment!
What a treat that was.
Keep up the great work. Love your channel, and all your content.
Thank you so much Frank! Very kind
Yes I would love the flying part
Righty ho!
My mother travelled aboard the Cunard Samaria in 1952, to and from a two month tour of Europe following her graduation from university. At the time, it was one of the older boats in the fleet (scrapped three years later), but she had a marvelous time and would always mention how it left her with a lifelong desire to cruise. I would like to imagine she's one of the young women by the pool in the video! Thank you! PS would love to see your air travel footage.
Hi, she might well have been in there. Thanks for your lovely story!
Thanks for bringing back many great memories. I took a cruise back in August of 1973 aboard the S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam ( Holland America ). She was built in the mid 1930's. I remember feeling like I stepped thru a time portal. God that was beautiful ship. Could you possibly include her in one of your next nostalgia films ? Thanks so much.
Hi, that's a nice idea. I will try to include some in any next one I do!
Excellent montage.
Love watching videos like these, thanks so much for posting. Unfortunately, as a non-smoker all I can think of with every interior shot is "ugh, how must that have smelt!"
Hi Peter, yup I think if we could actually go back in a time machine, the first thing that would hit us is the tobacco and cigar smell in the air!! The other thing we'd notice is everyone sunbathing in their suits, jackets and ties!
TY BILL SO MUCH.
You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant more please G
Thanks! Will do!
48,000 bottles of beer on the bulkhed, 48,000 bottles of beer. Take one down and pass it around ...
New things usually cater to people with money or resources. When the prices go down you get people with lower behavioral standards.
Well done Bill, as always. A great nostalgic throwback. BTW, we booked the Celebrity Ascent for a TA in April. Looking forward to your review. Jorge
Hi Jorge, aboard as we speak. Review in a couple of weeks!
As an 11 yr old in the mid 60’s we sailed on Moore McCormack lines and I miss most was the Bon Voyage parties and streamers we would throw .
Yes, bring back the streamers, tickertape and brass band sendoffs!
I did two crossings as a kid 1965 & 1966, NYC to Spain on SS Independence. I had. Fond memories but the rooms were small and there were 2 classes. We were in 2nd class.
loved this,.. more please sir! thank you
Thanks Nicole!
I used to lament the demise of the elegant, great liners of the past and feel like I missed out. But watching this confirms what I realized awhile back; everyone pretty much smoked every where on the ship. So much for luxury travel.
Lovely video. My husband, son of an RAF veteran and Canadian war bride was born in Bristol, England and emigrated to Canada in 1951 on the Queen Mary. We have a copy of that manifest from Southampton to New York. While we have toured the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA, we were fortunate to sail on the QM2 in 2004.
Hi Kathy, what a lovely keepsake, to have a copy of the manifest. That's really one to treasure!
loved every second of this :D
Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it!
This was wonderful. In 1948 my parents and two brothers sailed on the Uruguay around South America. In 1971 my brothers were grown. Dad asked me if I wanted to go on a world cruise on the Arcadia. A main line voyage with immigrants going to New Zealand and Australia and passengers just going from here to there. Dining room did not have assigned tables and we entertained a young girl going from Fiji to New Zealand and an elderly woman going from Perth to her home in South Africa. there was first and second class and single cabins in first class with a stunning view. My parents were slighty aft of midships and I was on a different deck and forward midship. The thing I miss most on todays ships are the lack of a dress code and manners. Every night was formal except Sunday and sailing from port. I use Oceania now. Not as expensive Regent or Silversea and there are no children and only 6 to 12 hundred passengers. Those monstrosity ships were passengers dress like slobs and have half a dozen screaming children. I see that P&O is building a new Arcadia but they won't let Americans go on P&O ships any longer. Not even us older ones who behave ourselves.
Thank you so much for your reminiscances and stories, it's lovely to read!
This was wonderful! And yes - luxury air travel would be great to learn about. Thank you.
Thanks April, yes I think an Aviation Edition would be a lot of fun!
A beautiful video. Loved every minute of it. I hope you will have a video focused from the 1960s to 1980s on cruise ships. 😊😊
Thanks for watching!
@@ritzytravelguide You're very very welcome 😊
My mother was a stewardess with hapag Lloyd! I’m the late 70ies to mid 70ies!
Thank you Mr Ritzy for another great vlog, neatly put together. How those early days compare favourably in contrast to the benidorm on boat rabble who are ever more present on modern day cruises. God help us for bigger boats.
Thanks for watching!
Great video and very interesting. What suprised me was to see that the dress code appeared to be more formal on Normandie that on Cunard: gentlemen in white tie and tails. On Cunard only the maitre'd, I guess.
Hi. Yes, quite possibly so. Added to which this was the 30s, where dress code was even more important
What a great Sunday afternoon treat. Brilliant video thanks for your hard work. X
Thanks so much Jermaine! Perhaps it's a Sunday afternoon type of video, on a snowy winters day, in front of a crackling fire, with cognac in hand 😬
I love that "typical" ship design, instead of today's "overgrown giants". But also, these old ships were not really cruise ships but passanger ocean liners, so the purpose of such travels was a mix of enjoying the "cruise" and getting from A to B. I wonder if such a trip is stil possible, or are there only coastal cruises offered today?
I was on the Queen Elizabeth when I was 10 months old. I was photographed in a crib in the children's area. That's when a liner was used to travel from Liverpool to NY.
One of the youngest passengers!
Yes to airline travel.
Thanks for letting me know!
Yes please.
Thanks Rick
Love this vid,. Cruising as cruising supossed to be. Yes, flying in the 50"s? Yes please 🙂
Hi Ronald, yes Cruising in the heyday would have been a riot!
Thanks for such a fascinating video... loved it!
You're very welcome, looking back into the archives produces such intriguing images!
Train Travel in the past also is interesting. The Orient Express. I love these.
Hi, that's a great idea too!
Can we please go back to somewhere between the 1920 and 1960 cruising was just beautiful, everything was a delight to the sensors unlike today its so busy, noisy, crowded, dangerous ....not a nice place to spend a holiday
Yes please for passenger planes. You've an enjoyable voice for commentating.
That's very nice of you to say! Thanks for letting me know!
Ah the good old days! Men in suits taking the sea air or smoking in the cigar lounge whilst the ladies changed from bikinis to daytime dress to cocktail or evening gowns.! No movie theatre for the poor folk in tourist class? Thank you for this amusing look back at classic cruising. I'm sorry that i was born too late to experience the Normandie, the most beautiful cruise ship of them all!
Yes, no movie theatre for the poor folk of the day ! They had the enjoyment of rolling the bottle!
Thank you people seemed to be a lot classier back then
My family sailed on the P&O arcadia to Australia from Canada...it was a 6 month cruise....i mean we went all over the Oceanic for excursions but i remember posh cocktales and elegant gowns and lots of cigarette smoke....as a kid we had the freedom to run around wherever 🤷🤪🤣
Kids running around everywhere!!
Yes please for the air travel history!
Thanks Alastair!
Please do an airline travel back in the day. TWA and Pan Am! Thanks Great work by the way!
Hi Pierre, thanks for your comments. Will try to get that video made
Brilliant video Bill. Please keep them coming.
Thanks Marc!
Great video. Love travel videos through the ages. Come from a generation of travelers, so it allows me to imagine my parents and grandparents traveling. I would love a similar air travel video
I loved this, thank you for putting it together.
You're welcome, thanks for watching Claire!
One of the more surprising things was the published passenger list available to all, rather fun and useful I think.
Yes, indeed they did, and information was freely available. In fact I was thinking of covering this in a potential follow up video, as I was running out of time with this one.
To this day the Cunard passenger registers are available to peruse, up to 1960. You can see them here :
www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/Passengers/Cunard/index.html
@@ritzytravelguide Fun fact : My great uncle and my grandfather both worked on liners for White Star from around 1923'ish to 1956 when it ended up as Cunard. (One was a hairdresser and the other a pharmacist in the on board chemist shop).
My great uncles final ship was Queen Elizabeth if I remember rightly. That's what prompted me to take my first Queen Mary 2 voyage recently. They were fascinating times. Seeing your video today was a real treat, thank you so much. 👍 Vik
@VikTheArtist Wow Vik, what an amazing back story... your Grandfather and Great Uncle were on White Star and Cunard! Such historic liners. I can fully imagine you feel a real connection with these Grand Old Ships. It's fantastic that you got to experience it in person on the QM2, I'm sure it was a poignant moment
I was utterly astonished that this happened. I guess nobody thought of data protection laws and privacy back then. Completely unacceptable these days
Yes, I don't think it would be allowed in any shape or form nowadays!
I loved this video & I really hope you make the video about the golden age of flying. It’s fascinating to see what it was like to travel in the past. Thank you!
Hi Marnie, yes I too love the Golden Age era of travel. Thanks for watching