The history of cruising in incredible vintage photos

History of the high seas

Cruising has changed a lot since the infamous Titanic sunk en route to New York from Southampton in 1912. From dating on deck to private islands and mega ships, right through to how the industry coped during the pandemic and what life is like on board the largest vessel at sea, we reveal how sailing on the ocean has progressed through the ages. 

Click through this gallery to discover how cruising has evolved over the years...

1912: RMS Titanic

Heralded as the safest and largest ship afloat when she launched, the tragic RMS Titanic liner sank on her maiden voyage in April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg in the north Atlantic. Around 1,500 people lost their lives, due to the fact there were only lifeboats for 1,178 people – about one third of her total capacity. 

1912: RMS Titanic

On this groundbreaking ship, amenities were built to meet the highest standards of comfort and luxury; London's Ritz hotel was one design reference, while public areas and cabins were decorated in styles ranging from Louis XV to the Renaissance, to give the feel of a floating hotel or great house. The first class lounge in the style of Paris' Palace of Versailles was a particularly distinctive feature. The open deck was where people would gather to socialise, while some mothers even scoured the passenger list before boarding to identify eligible bachelors for their daughters to meet while sailing.

1914: RMS Aquitania

Cunard’s RMS Aquitania entered service in 1914 and made its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York in May the same year. After the horror of the Titanic disaster it was a journey which naturally received a lot of press attention. Accommodating 3,200 passengers across three classes, elegant public spaces were designed by British architect Arthur Joseph Davis, whose previous work included the decor of London’s Ritz Hotel. Unique features included a Louis XVI dining saloon, smoking room, old English garden and the first music hall on a ship, showcasing the Tiller Girls dance troupe.

1914-1918: First World War

During the First World War, the production of cruise ships stopped and the existing ones were used to transport troops. This Cunard Steam Ship ticket from Newburg, NY to London, shows assigned sleeping quarters and mess hall, and dates from around 1918.

1914-1918: First World War

The war saw the demise of several much-loved and glamorous ocean liners who had previously worked transatlantic routes. Cunard’s RMS Lusitania was sunk in May 1915 by a German U-boat off the Irish coast. And the RMS Carpathia – the ship that brought the Titanic’s survivors to safety (pictured here) – met the same fate in July 1918 in Irish waters too.

1927: Ile de France

Post-war, trade and voyages on transatlantic routes were in full swing by the mid-1920s. Fashionable French ocean liner the SS Ile de France made her maiden voyage to New York in 1927, when thousands turned out to see the ship. Featuring a sumptuous Art Deco interior, shooting gallery, merry-go-round for kids, and luxurious first class dining room that was three decks high, the ship would carry wealthy and famous passengers from the worlds of film, aristocracy, the arts and sport. Captain Joseph Blancart even became a celebrity in his own right.

1935: SS Normandie

The epitome of glamour on the high seas in the 1930s, French liner the SS Normandie made her maiden transatlantic voyage in 1935. Owned by French Line Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (CGT) she was built in Saint-Nazaire, France, and is instantly recognisable due to her three teardrop-shaped funnels.

1935: SS Normandie

No expense was spared on the interior design of this decadently luxurious ship, from pillars of Lalique glass in the first class dining room to the wide staircases and elegant open spaces where passengers could socialise. The first class dining hall was where guests feasted on the most sophisticated French cuisine of the period; in the central kitchen, 76 chefs and more than 100 assistants turned out 4,000 meals each day.

1935: SS Normandie

What set the SS Normandie apart was the high number of first class passengers. Of the 1,972 guests, 848 places were for the very wealthy, with just 454 in steerage (third class). Sadly, she sailed for just over four years before being converted into a troopship in 1939 and catching fire. She was scrapped in 1946.

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1936: Queen Mary

Dubbed "just about the most beautiful ship afloat" by The New Yorker, Cunard’s Queen Mary made her maiden voyage to Cherbourg and New York in May 1936. With a similar Art Deco interior, the pioneering and undeniably glamorous ship was in direct competition with SS Normandie. 

1936: Queen Mary

Accommodating 2,100 well-heeled passengers, the ship featured two indoor pools, a library, small hospital, dog kennels and tennis court. Pictured is the cocktail bar and observation lounge with its bar made of Macassar ebony, and featuring a mural by Alfred R. Thomson. He went on to become the official war artist to the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

1939-1945: Second World War

During the Second World War, many cruise ships like Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were converted into troopships to transport Allied soldiers. On the Queen Elizabeth, the beauty parlours and women’s hair salon were kept open for the servicewomen aboard. 

1952: SS Braemar Castle

The third Union-Castle Line vessel bearing the name, the 453 passenger, 17,029-tonne SS Braemar Castle was built in 1952 by Harland & Wolff in Belfast, taking its maiden voyage the same year. A mail and passenger ship, the route was the Round Africa service via the Cape and Durban. Features included a swimming pool, deck quoits and double and single cabins. This picture shows TV comedian Terry Thomas at King George V dock in London, aboard the ship.

1967: Queen Elizabeth 2

Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), a veritable style icon of a luxury liner, was launched by Queen Elizabeth II in Clydebank. The ship's maiden voyage – the classic transatlantic route – was from Southampton to New York in May 1969. Accommodating 1,892 passengers, it also had three swimming pools, a 481-seat cinema and a hospital on board.

1967: Queen Elizabeth 2

Before she was retired in 2008, QE2 made 806 transatlantic crossings. A highlight of any trip on board was afternoon tea in the Queens Room (pictured here), which always featured elegant cakes, fruit and plain scones and, of course, cucumber sandwiches. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 70,000 bottles of Champagne were drunk every year on the ship. 

1977: Great Stirrup Cay private island

In 1977, Norwegian Caribbean Line (now Norwegian Cruise Line) acquired and developed cruising’s original private island, the 268-acre Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. This was the first time a cruise line had exclusive control of a private island. Formerly a US military installation and satellite tracking station, Great Stirrup Cay is a protected marine life sanctuary, and removal of anything from the ocean is prohibited.

1977: The Love Boat airs

Produced by Aaron Spelling and mainly set on luxury cruise ship Pacific Princess (a Princess Cruises vessel in real life) iconic American comedy drama The Love Boat first aired on TV in 1977. The series, which made number five in the popularity ratings in 1980-81, revolved around the passengers’ romantic and humorous adventures. The series’ theme song was released as a single a year later by Spanish actress and singer, Charo.

1980: SS Norway

Norwegian Cruise Line converted the former SS France into the world’s largest and longest cruise ship, renaming it Norway. With capacity for 2,000 passengers, the vessel was the first and only purpose-built transatlantic ocean liner that was rebuilt for the luxury market, with more spacious accommodation and public spaces. This made the industry sit up and competitors soon began to order larger ships.

1982: Carnival Tropicale

New-build ship Carnival Tropicale entered the market in 1982 as the first of a new generation of modern liners. Its construction reportedly kicked off the start of a multibillion-dollar shipbuilding boom. Accommodating 1,022 passengers, Tropicale was the cruise line’s 'test ship' for new vessels, and appeared in an episode of The A-Team in 1985. Features included three outdoor pools and international cuisine.

1984: Royal Princess

Princess Cruises’ original Royal Princess was named at a ceremony in Southampton by the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The ceremony was attended by members of the public, employees and local and international dignitaries. The 1,260-capacity ship was, at the time, the most luxurious ship that sailed for P&O. With no inside cabins, Royal Princess was the first large vessel to feature an all-outside cabin concept; something then only seen on premium vessels, as well as two decks of cabins with balconies. 

1988: Sovereign of the Seas

In 1988, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line launched Sovereign of the Seas, at that time the world’s largest 'mega' cruise ship in service, accommodating 2,690 passengers and weighing more than 73,000 tonnes. Features included a shipboard atrium complete with grand piano and glass elevators, sweeping staircases, fountains in marble pools, as well as an entire deck for cabins with private balconies.

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1999: Voyager of the Seas

In December 1999, Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas set a record for the most guests on a cruise (3,497). A number of innovations were introduced on this ship’s debut, including the first ice skating rink and rock climbing wall at sea, plus the 308-feet-long (94m) Royal Promenade: a shopping, dining and entertainment boulevard.

2000: NCL introduces Freestyle Dining

Norwegian Cruise Line ushered in a new era of cruising when it introduced Freestyle Cruising and Freestyle Dining on board Norwegian Sky in 2000. While nearly all cruises had previously involved fixed dining times and formal attire, Norwegian's new and more modern mealtime offering allowed guests the freedom to eat wherever and whenever they wanted.

2004: Queen Mary 2

The world’s biggest ocean liner at the time, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 was named by Queen Elizabeth II and set sail on its maiden voyage a few days later from Southampton with 3,090 passengers on board. Thousands lined the waterfront to see the ship off on its travels as it embarked on its first fare-paying passenger voyage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On board were celebrities including Shirley Bassey, who had previously sailed on the old Queen Mary.

2005: Norwegian Jewel

Norwegian Jewel was christened at the Port of Miami by godmother Melania Trump. The £300 million ($400m) ship featured a sumptuous suite complex with butlers, plus 10 restaurants, 13 bars and lounges. They included a martini bar, Champagne and wine bar, and a beer and whisky pub. The newest vessel in the line’s Freestyle Cruising fleet also offered a range of family-friendly accommodation.

2007: Queen Victoria

At the time a controversial move, Camilla Parker Bowles christened Cunard’s highly anticipated ship the Queen Victoria in Southampton, accompanied by her husband Prince Charles and a performance from the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Part cruise ship, part ocean liner, the 2,014-passenger vessel featured an Art Deco-style Veuve Clicquot Champagne bar located on deck two of the triple-height Grand Lobby.

2008: Royal Caribbean goes smoke free

In 2008, Royal Caribbean announced a more restrictive smoking policy, increasing smoke-free zones in synergy with its Vitality wellness programme. The change meant that smoking in staterooms was no longer permitted, a move only undertaken by a couple of other cruise lines at that time.

2008: P&O Ventura

Advertised as 'the superliner designed for Britain', P&O Ventura, the largest ship ever designed for the British market at the time, entered service and was christened by Dame Helen Mirren at a star-studded naming ceremony in Southampton. With 1,546 cabins accommodating over 3,500 passengers, dining options included a Marco Pierre White restaurant, while children’s facilities were excellent as the ship was intended to appeal to families.

2009: Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas was the world’s largest cruise ship when it entered service in 2009. The first vessel in the cruise line’s Oasis-class, with 16 passenger decks and accommodating a maximum 6,296 passengers, the ship debuted the seven neighbourhoods concept, including Central Park, the Boardwalk, Royal Promenade, Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Centre, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. Additional features included an outdoor AquaTheatre, 82-foot (25m) zipline and rock-climbing walls.

2014: Quantum of the Seas

Dubbed the world’s most technologically advanced ship, Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas made its maiden voyage in November 2014. The ship boasted innovative features including the first ever dodgems at sea; the world’s first bionic bartenders; surf simulators and the North Star, a glass capsule viewing deck rising 300 feet (91m) above sea level. Accommodating a maximum of 4,905 passengers, there are 2,090 staterooms and 16 passenger decks.

2018: Celebrity Edge

Homeporting at its own terminal in Miami, Celebrity Cruises’ pioneering new ship Celebrity Edge entered service in 2018, featuring a revolutionary interior by some of the world’s most eminent designers including Kelly Hoppen. Accommodating 2,918 passengers, notable features include a cantilevered floating platform named the Magic Carpet (pictured), split-level Edge Villas, a palatial spa and Infinite Veranda staterooms featuring a window that can be lowered to create a balcony.

2018: Symphony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas launched in April 2018 and was the world’s largest ship at the time, with a maximum capacity of 6,680 guests. Features include the tallest slide at sea, the Ultimate Abyss, which towers 10 storeys high; FlowRider surf simulators; and a glow-in-the-dark laser tag adventure. The ship also features the Ultimate Family Suite, a two-storey home-from-home with an in-suite slide, private cinema and LEGO wall.

2019: MSC Bellissima

With a maximum passenger capacity of 5,686, MSC Bellissima was christened by screen icon Sophia Loren in Southampton in March 2019. Entitled the ‘ship for all seasons’, innovative technology adapts the ship's facilities to the world’s weather. MSC Bellissima features a Mediterranean-style promenade with an LED Sky Screen – the longest at sea at an impressive 262 feet long (80m) – while entertainment includes exclusive shows from the likes of Cirque du Soleil at Sea.

2019: MSC Bellissima

Another innovative feature on Bellissima is the world’s first digital cruise assistant, ZOE, available in seven languages. Designed to answer questions in the comfort of the cabin, this voice-enabled Artificial Intelligence device is one of the most innovative afloat. Think of ZOE as cruising's answer to Amazon's Alexa. 

2020: COVID-19 pandemic rocks cruise industry

When the COVID-19 outbreak stopped the world in its tracks in 2020, the cruise industry was one of the worst affected. In February that year, Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess (pictured) had the highest number of cases outside mainland China, and was quarantined in the Port of Yokohama, Japan, for 14 days, with guests confined to their cabins, given masks to wear and forbidden from disembarking. At least 700 passengers tested positive for the virus. But this was just the start...

2020: COVID-19 pandemic rocks cruise industry

Diamond Princess was no isolated incident, as further cases grew in their thousands on board other cruise ships, especially in the US. On 13 March 2020, the Cruise Lines International Association, which represents 95% of the global cruise fleet, suspended operations from American ports for 30 days. The next day, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a No Sail Order for cruise ships across the country. Pictured is Ruby Princess, which allowed 2,700 people to disembark in Sydney, Australia by mistake, causing a huge public health disaster in which 28 people died and more than 660 tested positive for the virus.

2021: Cruising restarts after the pandemic

Fifteen months after the No Sail Order was issued, cruise ships gradually started to sail again at reduced capacity, for people who had been vaccinated. This photo shows excited passengers boarding Celebrity Edge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in June 2021. Edge was the first ship to set sail out of a US port since COVID struck a year earlier. During the CDC shutdown, cruise line giants such as Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean had to raise more than £32 billion ($40bn) in financing just to stay afloat without revenue. Needless to say, the industry needed to get back on its feet quickly.

2021: Cruising restarts after the pandemic

Over on British shores, a month earlier in May 2021, the first ship left Southampton, England following the pandemic. MSC Virtuosa set off on her long-awaited maiden voyage around the UK, with restrictions and adaptations in place to keep passengers as safe as possible on the four-night cruise. Among the ship's state-of-the-art facilities is Rob, the world's first robotic bartender at sea (pictured). Speaking eight languages, Rob uses his LED facial expressions to entertain guests as he whips up cocktails in the futuristic Starship Club.

2024: Icon of the Seas

The world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, helped revitalise the post-pandemic cruise industry when it set sail from Miami, Florida on its maiden voyage in January 2024. Measuring a staggering 1,196 feet (365m) long, with 20 decks and a capacity of 7,600 passengers, Royal Caribbean's newest vessel cost £1.6 billion ($2bn) to build. Weighing 250,800 tonnes, Icon boasts more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges, and the largest waterpark at sea, with seven swimming pools and six water slides.

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