The Cunard Line, formerly the Cunard White-Star Line, is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century.
In 1839, Canadian-born Samuel Cunard was awarded the first British transatlantic steamship mail contract, and the next year formed the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company to operate the line's four pioneer paddle steamers on the Liverpool–Halifax–Boston route. For most of the next 30 years, Cunard held the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic voyage. However, in the 1870s Cunard fell behind its rivals, theWhite Star Line and the Inman Line. To meet this competition, in 1879 the firm was reorganized as Cunard Steamship Company, Ltd to raise capital.[1]
In 1902, White Star joined the American owned International Mercantile Marine Co. and the British Government provided Cunard with substantial loans and a subsidy to build two superliners needed to retain its competitive position. Mauretania held the Blue Riband from 1909 to 1929. The sinking of her sister ship Lusitania in 1915 was one of the causes of the United States' entering the First World War. In the late 1920s, Cunard faced new competition when the Germans, Italians and French built large prestige liners. Cunard was forced to suspend construction on its own new superliner because of the Great Depression. In 1934 the British Government offered Cunard loans to finish the Queen Mary and to build a second ship, the Queen Elizabeth, on the condition that Cunard merged with the then ailing White Star line to form Cunard White-Star Ltd. Cunard owned two-thirds of the new company. Cunard purchased White Star's share in 1947; the name reverted to the Cunard Line in 1950.[1]
Winston Churchill estimated that the two Queens helped to shorten the Second World War by at least a year; fundamentally due to the large troop-carrying capacities of the ships. Upon the end of the war, Cunard regained its position as the largest Atlantic passenger line. By the mid 1950s, it operated twelve ships to the United States and Canada. After 1958, transatlantic passenger ships became increasingly unprofitable because of the introduction of jet airliners. Cunard withdrew from its year round service in 1968 to concentrate on cruising and summer transatlantic voyages for vacationers. The Queens were replaced by the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), which was designed for the dual role.[2]
In 1998 Cunard was acquired by the Carnival Corporation, and accounted for 8.7% of that companies revenue in 2012.[3] and five years later QE2 was replaced on the Transatlantic runs by the Queen Mary 2 (QM2). The line also operates the Queen Victoria (QV) and the Queen Elizabeth (QE). At the moment, Cunard is the only shipping company to operate a scheduled passenger service between Europe and North America.
History
1840–65
Sir Samuel Cunard
The British Government started operating monthly mail brigs from Falmouth, Cornwall, to New York in 1756. These ships carried few non-governmental passengers and no cargo. In 1818, the Black Ball Line opened a regularly scheduled New York–Liverpool service with clipper ships, beginning an era when American sailing packets dominated the North Atlantic saloon-passenger trade that lasted until the introduction ofsteamships.[1] A Committee of Parliament decided in 1836 that to become more competitive, the mail packets operated by the Post Office should be replaced by private shipping companies. The Admiralty assumed responsibility for managing the contracts.[4] Famed Arctic explorer, Admiral Sir William Edward Parry was appointed as Comptroller of Steam Machinery and Packet Service in April 1837.[5] Nova Scotians led by their young Assembly Speaker, Joseph Howe lobbied for steam service to Halifax. On his arrival in London in May 1838, Howe discussed the enterprise with fellow Nova Scotian Samuel Cunard (1787–1865), a shipowner who was also visiting London on business.[6] Cunard and Howe were associates and Howe also owed Cunard £300.[7] (£21,724 as of 2012),[8] Cunard returned to Halifax to raise capital, and Howe continued to lobby the British government.[6] The Rebellions of 1837 were ongoing and London realized that the proposed Halifax service was also important for the military.
Britannia of 1840 (1150 GRT), the first Cunard liner built for the transatlantic service.
That November, Parry released a tender for North Atlantic monthly mail service to Halifax beginning in April 1839 using steamships with 300 horsepower.[9] The Great Western Steamship Company, which had opened its pioneer Bristol–New York service earlier that year, bid £45,000 for a monthly Bristol–Halifax–New York service using three ships of 450 horsepower. While British American, the other pioneer transatlantic steamship company did not submit a tender,[10] the St. George Steam Packet Company, owner of the Sirius, bid £45,000 for a monthly Cork-Halifax service[11] and £65,000 for a monthly Cork–Halifax–New York service. The Admiralty rejected both tenders because neither bid offered to begin services early enough.[12]
Cunard, who was back in Halifax, unfortunately did not know of the tender until after the deadline.[10] He returned to London and started negotiations with Admiral Parry, who was Cunard's good friend from when Parry was a young officer stationed in Halifax 20 years earlier. Cunard offered Parry a fortnightly service beginning in May 1840. While Cunard did not then own a steamship, he had been an investor in an earlier steamship venture, the Royal William, and owned coal mines in Nova Scotia.[6] Cunard's major backer was Robert Napier, who was the Royal Navy's supplier of steam engines.[10] He also had the strong backing of Nova Scotian political leaders at the time when London needed to rebuild support in British North America after the rebellion.[9]
Over Great Western's protests,[13] in May 1839 Parry accepted Cunard's tender of £55,000 for a three-ship Liverpool–Halifax service with an extension to Boston and a supplementary service to Montreal.[6] The annual subsidy was later raised £81,000 to add a fourth ship[14] and departures from Liverpool were to be monthly during the winter and fortnightly for the rest of the year.[1] Parliament investigated Great Western's complaints, and upheld the Admiralty's decision.[12] Napier and Cunard recruited other investors including businessmen James Donaldson, Sir George Burns, and David MacIver. In May 1840, just before the first ship was ready, they formed the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (B&NARMSPC) with initial capital of £270,000, later increased to £300,000.(£21,239,138 as of 2012),[8] Cunard supplied £55,000.[6] Burns supervised ship construction, McIver was responsible for day to day operations, and Cunard was the "first among equals' in the management structure. When MacIver died in 1845, his younger brother Charles assumed his responsibilities for the next 35 years.[10] (For more detail of the first investors in the Cunard Line and also the early life of Charles Maciver, see Liverpool Nautical Research Society's Second Merseyside Maritime History pp 33–37 1991.)
In May 1840 the coastal paddle steamer Unicorn made the company's first voyage to Halifax[15] to begin the supplementary service to Montreal. Two months later the first of the four ocean-going steamers of the Britannia Class, departed Liverpool, arriving in Halifax after 12 days and 10 hours, averaging 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h), before proceeding to Boston. During 1840–41, mean Liverpool–Halifax times for the quartet were 13 days 6 hours to Halifax and 11 days 4 hours homeward. Two larger ships were quickly ordered, one to replace the Columbia, which sank at Seal Island, Nova Scotia in 1843 without loss of life. By 1845, steamship lines led by Cunard carried more saloon passengers than the sailing packets.[1] Three years later, the British Government increased the annual subsidy to £156,000 so that Cunard could double its frequency.[14] Four additional wooden paddlers were ordered and alternate sailings were direct to New York instead of the Halifax-Boston route. The sailing packet lines were now reduced to the immigrant trade.[1]
From the beginning Cunard's ships used the line's distinctive red funnel with two or three narrow black bands and black top. It appears that Robert Napier was responsible for this feature. His shipyard in Glasgow used this combination previously in 1830 on Thomas Assheton Smith's private steam yacht "Menai". The renovation of her model by Glasgow Museum of Transport revealed that she had vermilion funnels with black bands and black top.[16]
Cunard's reputation for safety was one of the significant factors in the firm's early success.[2] Both the first two transatlantic lines failed after major accidents. 'British and American' collapsed after the President foundered in a gale and Great Western after Great Britain stranded because of a navigation error.[1] Cunard's orders to his masters were, "Your ship is loaded, take her; speed is nothing, follow your own road, deliver her safe, bring her back safe - safety is all that is required."[2] In particular, it was Charles MacIver's constant inspections that was responsible for the firm's safety discipline.[10]
In 1850 the American Collins Line and the British Inman Line started new Atlantic steamship services. The American Government supplied Collins with a large annual subsidy to operate four wooden paddlers that were superior to Cunard's best.[14] Inman showed that iron-hulled, screw propelled steamers of modest speed could be profitable without subsidy. Inman also became the first steamship line to carry steerage passengers. Both of the newcomers suffered major disasters in 1854.[1] The next year, Cunard put pressure on Collins by commissioning its first iron-hulled paddler, the Persia, which won the Blue Riband with a Liverpool–New York voyage of 9 days 16 hours, averaging 13.11 knots (24.28 km/h).[17]
During the Crimean War Cunard supplied 11 ships for war service. Every British North Atlantic route was suspended until 1856 except Cunard's Liverpool-Halifax-Boston service. While Collins' fortunes improved because of the lack of competition during the war, it collapsed in 1858 after the loss of two additional steamers. Cunard emerged as the leading carrier of saloon passengers and in 1862 commissioned the Scotia, the last paddle steamer to win the Blue Riband. Inman carried more passengers because of its success in the immigrant trade. To compete, in May 1863 Cunard started a secondary Liverpool-New York service with iron-hulled screw steamers that catered for steerage passengers. Beginning with the China, the line also replaced the last three wooden paddlers on the New York mail service with iron screw steamers that only carried saloon passengers.
1865–97
Etruria of 1885 (7,700 GRT)
When Cunard died in 1865, the equally conservative Charles MacIver assumed Cunard's role.[10] The firm retained its reluctance about change and was overtaken by competitors that more quickly adopted new technology.[14] In 1866 Inman started to build screw propelled express liners that matched B&NARMSPC's premier unit, the Scotia. The B&NARMSPC responded with its first high speed screw propellered steamer, the Russia which was followed by two larger editions. In 1871 both companies faced a new rival when the White Star Line commissioned the Oceanic and her five sisters. The new White Star record-breakers were especially economical because of their use of compound engines. White Star also set new standards for comfort by placing the dining saloon midships and doubling the size of cabins. Inman rebuilt its express fleet to the new standard, but B&NARMSPC lagged behind both of its rivals. Throughout the 1870s B&NARMSPC passage times were longer than either White Star or Inman.[1]
In 1867 responsibility for mail contracts was transferred back to the Post Office and opened for bid. B&NARMSPC, Inman and the GermanNorddeutscher Lloyd were each awarded one of the three weekly New York mail services. The fortnightly route to Halifax formerly held by B&NARMSPC went to Inman. B&NARMSPC continued to receive a £80,000 subsidy (£5,165,840 as of 2012),[8] while NDL and Inman were paid sea postage. Two years later the service was rebid and B&NARMSPC was awarded a seven-year contract for two weekly New York mail services at £70,000 per annum. Inman was awarded a seven-year contract for the third weekly New York service at £35,000 per year.
Campania of 1893, (12,900 GRT)
The Panic of 1873 started a five-year shipping depression that strained the finances of all of the Atlantic competitors.[1] In 1876 the mail contracts expired and the Post Office ended both B&NARMSPC's and Inman's subsidies. The new contracts were paid on the basis of weight, at a rate substantially higher than paid by the United States Post Office.[12] Cunard's weekly New York mail sailings were reduced to one and White Star was awarded the third mail sailing. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday a liner from one of the three firms departed Liverpool with the mail for New York.[18]
To raise additional capital, in 1879 the privately-held British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (B&NARMSPC) was reorganized as a public stock corporation, the Cunard Steamship Company, Ltd.[1] Under Cunard's new chairman, John Burns (1839–1900), son of one of the firm's original founders,[10] Cunard commissioned four steel-hulled express liners beginning with Servia of 1881, the first passenger liner with electric lighting throughout. In 1884, Cunard purchased the almost new Blue Riband winner Oregon from the Guion Line when that firm defaulted on payments to the shipyard. That year, Cunard also commissioned the record-breakers Umbria and Etruria capable of 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h). Starting in 1887, Cunard's newly won leadership on the North Atlantic was threatened when Inman and then White Star responded with twin propellered record-breakers. In 1893 Cunard countered with two even faster Blue Riband winners, the Campania and the Lucania, capable of 21.8 knots (40.4 km/h).
1897–1929
No sooner had Cunard re-established its supremacy than new rivals emerged. Beginning in the late 1860s several German firms commissioned liners that were almost as fast as the British mail steamers from Liverpool.[1] In 1897 Kaiser Wilhelm der Große of Norddeutscher Lloyd raised the Blue Riband to 22.3 knots (41.3 km/h), and was followed by a succession of German record-breakers.[17] Rather than match the new German speedsters, White Star commissioned four very profitable Celtic-class liners of more moderate speed for its secondary Livepool-New York service. In 1902 White Star joined the well-capitalized American combine, the International Mercantile Marine Co. (IMM), which owned the American Line, including the old Inman Line, and other lines. IMM also had trade agreements withHamburg–America and Norddeutscher Lloyd.
Crest of the 1921 Cunard liner Laconia
This was the Dreadnought era and British prestige was at stake. The British Government provided Cunard with an annual subsidy of £150,000 plus a low interest loan of £2.5 million (£199 million as of 2012),[8] to pay for the construction of the two superliners, the Blue Riband winners Lusitania and Mauretania, capable of 26.0 knots (48.2 km/h). In 1904 the firm started a Fiume–New York service with calls at Italian ports and Gibraltar. The next year Cunard commissioned two ships to compete directly with the Celtic-class liners on the secondary Liverpool-New York route. In 1911 Cunard entered the St Lawrence trade by purchasing the Thompson line, and absorbed the Royal line five years later.
RMS Carpathia of 1901 (13,555 GRT) became famous for rescuing the survivors of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Not to be outdone, both White Star and Hamburg–America each ordered a trio of superliners. The White Star Olympic-class liners at 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h) and the Hapag Imperator-class liners at 22.5 knots (41.7 km/h) were larger and more luxurious than the Cunarders, but not as fast. Cunard also ordered a new ship, the Aquitania, capable of 24.0 knots (44.4 km/h), to complete the Liverpool mail fleet. Events prevented the expected competition between the three sets of superliners. White Star's Titanic sank on its maiden voyage, both White Star's Britannicand Cunard's Lusitania were war losses, and the three Hapag super-liners were handed over to the Allied powers as war reparations.[2]
In 1917 Cunard Line completed its European headquarters in Liverpool. The grand neo-Classical Cunard Building was the third of Liverpool's Three Graces. The headquarters were used by Cunard until the 1960s.
Berengaria of 1913 (51,950 GRT), originally Hapag's Imperator, was acquired by Cunard in 1921 to join Mauretania andAquitania in the three-ship express service.
Due to First World War losses, Cunard began a post-war rebuilding programme included eleven intermediate liners; Southampton replaced Liverpool as the British destination for the three-ship express service; and Cunard acquired the former Hapag Imperator (renamed the Berengaria) to replace the lostLusitania as the running mate for Mauretania and Aquitania. By 1926 Cunard's fleet was larger than before the war, and White Star was in decline, having been sold by IMM.
1929–71
Despite the dramatic reduction in North Atlantic passengers caused by the shipping depression beginning in 1929, the Germans, Italians and the French commissioned new "ships of state" prestige liners.[1] The German Bremen took the Blue Riband at 27.8 knots (51.5 km/h) in 1933, the Italian Rex recorded 28.9 knots (53.5 km/h) on a westbound voyage the same year, and the French Normandie crossed the Atlantic in just under four days at 30.58 knots (56.63 km/h) in 1937.[17] In 1930 Cunard ordered a 80,000 ton liner that was to be the first of two record-breakers fast enough to fit into a two-ship weekly Southampton-New York service. Work on hull 534 was halted in 1931 because of the economic conditions.
Aquitania of 1914 (45,650 GRT).
By 1934 the White Star Line was failing and the British Government was concerned about potential job losses. David Kirkwood, MP for Clydebank where the unfinished hull 534 had been sitting idle for two and a half years, made a passionate plea in the House of Commons for funding to finish the ship and restart the dormant British economy.[20] The government offered Cunard a loan of £3 million to complete hull 534 and an additional £5 million to build the second ship, if Cunard merged with White Star.[2] The merger was accomplished by forming a new company, Cunard White Star, Ltd with Cunard owning about two-thirds of the capital.
Due to the surplus tonnage of the new combined Cunard White Star fleet many of the older liners were sent to the scrapyard, these included theMauretania and the ex-White Star liners Olympic and Homeric. In 1936, the ex-White Star Majestic was sold when hull 534, now named Queen Mary, replaced her in the express mail service.[2] Queen Mary reached 30.99 knots (57.39 km/h) on her 1938 Blue Riband voyage.[17] Cunard started construction on the Queen Elizabeth, and a smaller ship, the second Mauretania, joined the fleet and which also could be used on the Atlantic run when one of the Queens was in drydock for overhaul.[1] Berengaria was sold for scrap in 1938 after a series of fires.
Queen Mary of 1936 (80,700 GRT) in retirement at Long Beach, California as a floating museum/hotel ship.
During 1939–45 the Queens carried over two million servicemen and were credited by Churchill as helping to shorten the war by a year.[2] All four of the large Cunard express liners, the two Queens, Aquitania andMauretania survived, but many of the secondary ships were lost. Both the Lancastria and Laconia were sunk with heavy loss of life.
In 1947 Cunard purchased White Star's interest, and the company dropped the White Star name, and the company commissioned five freighters and two cargo liners. The Caronia, was completed in 1949 as a permanent cruise liner and the Aquitania was retired the next year.[1] Cunard was in an especially good position to take advantage of the increase in North Atlantic travel during the 1950s and the Queens were a major generator of US currency for Great Britain. Cunard's slogan, "Getting there is half the fun", was specifically aimed at the tourist trade. Beginning in 1954, Cunard took delivery of a quartet of new 22,000-GRT intermediate liners for the Canadian route and the Liverpool- New York route. The last White Star motor ship, the Britannic of 1930, remained in service until 1960.[2]
In 1960, a government appointed committee recommended the construction of project Q3, a conventional 75,000 GRT liner to replace Queen Mary. Under the plan, the government would loan Cunard the majority of the liner's cost.[21] However, some Cunard stockholders questioned the plan at the June 1961 board meeting because trans-Atlantic flights were gaining in popularity.[22] By 1963, the plan had been changed to a dual purpose 55,000 GRT ship that was designed to cruise in the off season.[23] Ultimately, this ship came into service in 1969 as the 70,300 GRT Queen Elizabeth 2.
Within ten years of the introduction of jet airliners in 1958, most of the conventional Atlantic liners were gone. Mauretania was retired in 1965, theQueen Mary and Caronia in 1967, and the Queen Elizabeth in 1968. Two of the new intermediate liners were sold by 1970 and the other two were converted to cruise ships.[2] Cunard tried operating scheduled air services to North America, the Caribbean and South America by forming BOAC-Cunard Ltd in 1962 with the British Overseas Airways Corporation, but this venture lasted only until 1966.
Trafalgar House Years
By 1971, when the line was purchased by the conglomerate Trafalgar House, Cunard operated cargo and passenger ships, hotels and resorts. Its cargo fleet consisted of 42 ships in service, with 20 on order. The flagship of the passenger fleet was the two-year-old Queen Elizabeth 2. The fleet also included the remaining two intermediate liners from the 1950s, plus two purpose-built cruise ships on order. Trafalgar acquired two additional cruise ships and disposed of the intermediate liners and most of the cargo fleet.[25] During the Falklands War, the QE2 and the Cunard Countess were chartered as troopships[26] while Cunard's container ship Atlantic Conveyor was sunk by an Exocet missile.
Queen Elizabeth 2 of 1969 (70,300 GRT), at Trondheim, Norway, in 2006.
Cunard acquired the Norwegian America Line in 1983, with two classic ocean liner/cruise ships.[28] Also in 1983, the Trafalgar attempted a hostile takeover of P&O, another large passenger and cargo shipping line, which was formed the same year as Cunard. P&O objected and forced the issue to the British Monopolies and Mergers Commission. In their filing, P&O was critical of Trafalgar's management of Cunard and their failure to correct QE2'smechanical problems.[29] In 1984, the Commission ruled in favor of the merger, but Trafalgar decided against proceeding.[30] In 1988, Cunard acquiredEllerman Lines and its small fleet of cargo vessels, organizing the business as Cunard-Ellerman, however, only a few years later, Cunard decided to abandon the cargo business and focus solely on cruise ships. Cunard's cargo fleet was sold off between 1989 and 1991, with a single container ship, the second Atlantic Conveyor, remaining under Cunard ownership until 1996. In 1994 Cunard purchased the rights to the name of the Royal Viking Lineand its Royal Viking Sun. The rest of Royal Viking Line's fleet stayed with the line's owner, Norwegian Cruise Line.[31]
By the mid 1990s Cunard was ailing. The company was embarrassed in late 1994 when the QE2 experienced numerous defects during the first voyage of the season because of unfinished renovation work. Claims from passengers cost the company US$13 million. After Cunard reported a US$25 million loss in 1995, Trafalgar assigned a new CEO to the line, who concluded that the company had management issues. In 1996 the Norwegian conglomerate Kværner acquired Trafalgar House, and attempted to sell Cunard. When there were no takers, Kværner made substantial investments to turn around the company's tarnished reputation.
Carnival
In 1998 Cunard was sold to the cruise line conglomerate Carnival Corporation for US$500 million.[33] The next year Carnival acquired the remaining stock for US$205 million.[34] Each of Carnival's cruise lines is positioned to appeal to a different market, and Carnival was interested in rebuilding Cunard as a luxury brand trading on its British traditions. Under the slogan "Advancing Civilization Since 1840," Cunard's advertising campaign sought to emphasize the elegance and mystique of ocean travel.[35] Only the QE2 and Caronia continued under the Cunard brand and the company started Project Queen Mary to build a new ocean liner/cruise ship for the transatlantic route.[36]
By 2001 Carnival was the largest cruise company, followed by Royal Caribbean and P&O Princess Cruises, which had recently demerged from its parent P&O. When Royal Caribbean and P&O Princess agreed to merge, Carnival countered with a hostile takeover bid for P&O Princess. Carnival rejected the idea of selling Cunard to resolve antitrust issues with the acquisition.[37] European and U.S. regulators approved the merger without requiring Cunard's sale.[38] After the merger was completed, Carnival moved Cunard's headquarters to the offices of Princess Cruises in Santa Clarita, California so that administrative, financial and technology services could be combined.[39]
With the opening of Carnival House in Southampton in 2009,[40] executive control of Cunard Line was subsequently transferred from Carnival Corporation in the United States, to Carnival UK, the primary operating company of Carnival plc. As the UK listed holding company of the group, Carnival plc now has executive control of all Carnival Group activities in the UK, with all UK based brands, including Cunard, being headquartered in offices at Carnival House.
In 2004, the 36-year-old QE2 was replaced on the North Atlantic by Queen Mary 2. Caronia was sold and QE2 continued to cruise until she was retired in 2008. In 2007 Cunard added a large cruise ship, Queen Victoria. She is not a sister for the QM2, being ordered by Carnival as a Vista class cruise ship for the Holland America Line. To reinforce Cunard traditions, the QV has a small museum on board. Cunard commissioned a second Vista class cruise ship, Queen Elizabeth in 2010.[41]
As of December 1, 2011 all three Cunard ships in service had changed vessel registry to Hamilton, Bermuda.[42] This marks the first time in the 171-year history of the company that it will have no ships registered within the United Kingdom.
Queen Victoria of 2007 (90,049 GT)
Fleet
The Cunard fleet, all built for Cunard unless otherwise indicated, consisted of the following ships in order of acquisition:
1840–1865
| Ship | Built | In service for Cunard | Type | Tonnage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unicorn | 1836 | 1840–1846 | wood-paddler | 650 GRT | coastal steamer purchased for Montreal service, sold 1846 |
| Britannia | 1840 | 1840–1849 | wood-paddler | 1,150 GRT | Eastbound record holder, sold to North German Navy 1849 |
| Acadia | 1840 | 1840–1849 | wood-paddler | 1,150 GRT | sold to North German Navy 1849 |
| Caledonia | 1840 | 1840–1850 | wood-paddler | 1,150 GRT | sold to Spanish Navy 1850 |
| Columbia | 1841 | 1841–1843 | wood-paddler | 1,150 GRT | Blue Riband, wrecked 1843 without loss of life |
| Hibernia | 1843 | 1843–1850 | wood-paddler | 1,400 GRT | Eastbound record holder, sold to Spanish Navy 1850 |
| Cambria | 1845 | 1845–1860 | wood-paddler | 1,400 GRT | Blue Riband, sold to Italian owners 1860 |
| America | 1848 | 1848–1863 | wood-paddler | 1,850 GRT | Blue Riband, sold 1863 and converted to sail |
| Niagara | 1848 | 1848–1866 | wood-paddler | 1,850 GRT | sold 1866 and converted to sail |
| Europa | 1848 | 1848–1867 | wood-paddler | 1,850 GRT | Blue Riband, sold 1867 |
| Canada | 1848 | 1848–1866 | wood-paddler | 1,850 GRT | Eastbound record holder, sold 1866 and converted to sail |
| Asia | 1850 | 1850–1868 | wood-paddler | 2,250 GRT | Blue Riband, sold 1868 |
| Africa | 1850 | 1850–1868 | wood-paddler | 2,250 GRT | sold 1868 |
| Arabia | 1852 | 1852–1864 | wood-paddler | 2,400 GRT | sold 1864 and converted to sail |
| Andes | 1852 | 1852–1859 | iron-screw | 1,400 GRT | sold to Spanish Government 1859 |
| Alps | 1853 | 1853–1859 | iron-screw | 1,400 GRT | sold to Spanish Government 1859 |
| Jura | 1854 | 1854–1860 | iron-screw | 2,200 GRT | sold to Allan Line 1860 |
| Etna | 1855 | 1855–1860 | iron-screw | 2,200 GRT | sold to Inman Line 1860 |
| Persia | 1856 | 1856–1869 | iron-paddler | 3,300 GRT | Blue Riband, taken out of service 1868 and scrapped 1872 |
| Australian | 1857 | 1860–1876 | iron-screw | 2,700 GRT | built for other owners, sold 1876 |
| China | 1862 | 1862–1880 | iron-screw | 2,550 GRT | sold to Spanish owners 1880 |
| Scotia | 1862 | 1864–1878 | iron-paddler | 3,850 GRT | Blue Riband, sold 1878 and converted to cable layer |
| Cuba | 1864 | 1865–1876 | iron-screw | 2,700 GRT | sold 1876 and converted to sail |
| Java | 1865 | 1865–1878 | iron-screw | 2,700 GRT | sold 1878 to Red Star Line, and renamed "Zeeland" |
1865–1897
| Ship | Built | In service for Cunard | Type | Tonnage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 1867 | 1867–1880 | express | 2,950 GRT | sold to Red Star Line 1880 |
| Siberia | 1867 | 1867–1880 | intermediate | 2,550 GRT | sold to Spanish owners 1880 |
| Samaria | 1868 | 1868–1892 | intermediate | 2,550 GRT | sold 1892 |
| Batavia | 1870 | 1870–1884 | intermediate | 2,550 GRT | traded in for Oregon 1884 |
| Abyssinia | 1870 | 1870–1880 | express | 3,250 GRT | sold to Guion Line 1880 |
| Algeria | 1870 | 1870–1881 | express | 3,250 GRT | sold to Red Star Line 1881 |
| Parthia | 1870 | 1870–1884 | intermediate | 3,150 GRT | traded in for Oregon 1884, scrapped 1955 |
| Bothnia | 1874 | 1874–1898 | express | 4,550 GRT | sold 1898 |
| Scythia | 1875 | 1875–1899 | express | 4,550 GRT | sold 1899 |
| Gallia | 1879 | 1879–1897 | express | 4,800 GRT | sold to Beaver Line 1899 |
| Cathalonia | 1881 | 1881–1901 | intermediate | 4,850 GRT | sold 1901 |
| Cephalonia | 1882 | 1882–1900 | intermediate | 5,500 GRT | sold to Russian Navy 1900, sunk Port Authur |
| Pavonia | 1882 | 1882–1900 | intermediate | 5,500 GRT | sold 1900 |
| Servia | 1881 | 1881–1902 | express | 7,400 GRT | first steel liner to New York, scrapped 1902 |
| Aurania | 1883 | 1883–1905 | express | 7,250 GRT | sold 1905 |
| Oregon | 1883 | 1884–1886 | express | 7,400 GRT | Blue Riband, built for Guion Line, purchased by Cunard 1884, sank 1886 without loss of life |
| Umbria | 1884 | 1884–1910 | express | 7,700 GRT | Blue Riband, sold 1910 |
| Etruria | 1884 | 1884–1910 | express | 7,700 GRT | Blue Riband, sold 1910 |
| Campania | 1893 | 1893–1914 | express | 12,900 GRT | Blue Riband, sold to Royal Navy 1914 and converted to aircraft carrier |
| Lucania | 1893 | 1893–1909 | express | 12,900 GRT | Blue Riband, scrapped after fire 1909 |
1897–1929
| Ship | Built | In service for Cunard | Type | Tonnage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultonia | 1899 | 1899–1917 | intermediate | 10,400 GRT | sunk by submarine 1917 |
| Ivernia | 1900 | 1900–1917 | intermediate | 14,250 GRT | sunk by submarine 1917 |
| Saxonia | 1900 | 1900–1925 | intermediate | 14,250 GRT | sold 1925 |
| Carpathia | 1903 | 1903–1918 | intermediate | 13,600 GRT | rescued survivors from Titanic, sunk by submarine 1918 |
| Caronia | 1905 | 1905–1932 | intermediate | 19,650 GRT | scrapped 1932 |
| Carmania | 1905 | 1905–1932 | intermediate | 19,650 GRT | scrapped 1932 |
| Lusitania | 1907 | 1907–1915 | express | 31,550 GRT | Blue Riband, sunk by submarine 1915 |
| Mauretania | 1907 | 1907–1934 | express | 31,950 GRT | Blue Riband, scrapped 1934 |
| Franconia | 1911 | 1911–1916 | intermediate | 18,100 GRT | sunk by submarine 1916 |
| Albania | 1900 | 1911–1912 | intermediate | 7,650 GRT | built for Thompson Line, purchased by Cunard 1911, sold 1912 |
| Ascania | 1911 | 1911–1918 | intermediate | 9,100 GRT | wrecked 1918 |
| Laconia | 1912 | 1912–1917 | intermediate | 18,100 GRT | sunk by submarine 1917 |
| Andania | 1913 | 1913–1918 | intermediate | 13,400 GRT | sunk by submarine 1918 |
| Alaunia | 1913 | 1913–1916 | intermediate | 13,400 GRT | sunk by mine 1916 |
| Aquitania | 1914 | 1914–1950 | express | 45,650 GRT | scrapped 1950 |
| Orduna | 1914 | 1914–1921 | intermediate | 15,700 GRT | built for other owners, acquired by Cunard 1914, sold 1921 |
| Aurania | 1916 | 1916–1918 | intermediate | 13,400 GRT | sunk by submarine 1918 |
| Albania | 1920 | 1920–1930 | intermediate | 12,750 GRT | sold to Libera Triestina 1930 |
| Berengaria | 1913 | 1921–1938 | express | 51,950 GRT | built by Hapag as Imperator, purchased by Cunard 1921, sold for scrap 1938 |
| Scythia | 1921 | 1921–1958 | intermediate | 19,700 GRT | scrapped 1958 |
| Samaria | 1922 | 1922–1955 | intermediate | 19,700 GRT | scrapped 1955 |
| Laconia | 1922 | 1922–1942 | intermediate | 19,700 GRT | sunk by submarine 1942 |
| Antonia | 1922 | 1922–1942 | intermediate | 13,900 GRT | sold to Admiralty 1942 |
| Austonia | 1922 | 1922–1942 | intermediate | 13,900 GRT | sold to Admiralty 1942 |
| Lancastria | 1922 | 1922–1940 | intermediate | 16,250 GRT | sunk by bombing 1940 |
| Franconia | 1923 | 1923–1956 | intermediate | 20,200 GRT | scrapped 1956 |
| Aurania | 1924 | 1924–1942 | intermediate | 14,000 GRT | sold to Admiralty 1942 |
| Carinthia | 1925 | 1925–1940 | cruise | 20,200 GRT | sunk by submarine 1940 |
| Ascania | 1925 | 1925–1956 | intermediate | 14,000 GRT | scrapped 1956 |
| Alaunia | 1925 | 1925–1942 | intermediate | 14,000 GRT | sold to Admiralty 1942 |
1929–present
| Ship | Built | In service for Cunard | Type | Tonnage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Mary | 1936 | 1936–1967 | express | 80,750 GRT | Blue Riband, sold 1967, now a stationary hotel ship |
| Mauretania | 1939 | 1939–1965 | express | 37,750 GRT | scrapped 1965 |
| Queen Elizabeth | 1940 | 1946–1968 | express | 83,650 GRT | WWII troopship 1940-1945, sold 1968, destroyed by fire 1972 |
| Media | 1947 | 1947–1961 | cargo liner | 13,350 GRT | sold to Cogedar Line 1961 |
| Parthia | 1947 | 1947–1961 | cargo liner | 13,350 GRT | sold to P&O 1961 |
| Caronia | 1949 | 1949–1968 | cruise | 34,200 GRT | sold 1968, wrecked 1974 |
| Saxonia Carmania | 1954 | 1954-1962 1962-1973 | intermediate cruise | 21,637 GRT 21,370 GRT | Sold to the Black Sea Shipping Company, Soviet Union 1973 |
| Ivernia Franconia | 1955 | 1955-1963 1963-1973 | intermediate cruise | 21,800 GRT | Sold to the Far Eastern Shipping Company, Soviet Union 1973 |
| Carinthia | 1956 | 1956–1968 | intermediate | 21,800 GRT | sold to Sitmar Line 1968 |
| Sylvania | 1957 | 1957–1968 | intermediate | 21,800 GRT | sold to Sitmar Line 1968 |
| Queen Elizabeth 2 | 1969 | 1969–2008 | express | 70,300 GRT | sold 2008, laid up in Port Rashid |
| Cunard Adventurer | 1971 | 1971–1977 | cruise | 14,150 GRT | sold to Norwegian Cruise Line 1977 |
| Cunard Ambassador | 1972 | 1972–1974 | cruise | 14,150 GRT | sold after fire 1974 to C. Clausen and converted to a cattle carrier |
| Cunard Countess | 1975 | 1976–1996 | cruise | 17,500 GRT | sold to Awani Cruise Line 1996 |
| Cunard Princess | 1975 | 1977–1995 | cruise | 17,500 GRT | sold to MSC Cruises 1995 |
| Sagafjord | 1965 | 1983–1997 | cruise | 24,500 GRT | built for Norwegian America Line, sold to Saga Cruises 1997 |
| Vistafjord Caronia | 1973 | 1983-1999 1999-2004 | cruise | 24,300 GRT | built for Norwegian America Line, sold to Saga Cruises 2004 |
| Sea Goddess I | 1984 | 1986–1998 | cruise | 4,333 GRT | Built for Sea Goddess Cruises, transferred to Seabourn Cruise Line 1998 |
| Sea Goddess II | 1985 | 1986–1998 | cruise | 4,333 GRT | Built for Sea Goddess Cruises, transferred to Seabourn Cruise Line 1998 |
| Royal Viking Sun | 1988 | 1994–1999 | cruise | 37,850 GRT | built for Royal Viking Line, transferred to Seabourn Cruise Line 1999 |
| Queen Mary 2 | 2004 | 2004–present | express | 148,528 GT | in service |
| Queen Victoria | 2007 | 2007–present | cruise | 90,049 GT | in service |
| Queen Elizabeth | 2010 | 2010–present | cruise | 90,901 GT | in service |
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