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Last updated: 2009 October 30.

1930 March North German Lloyd's Europa ocean liner takes the title of fastest to cross the Atlantic. [260.49] (month unknown) Rotterdamsche Lloyd introduces the Baloeran and Dempo liners (17,000 gross tons each), for service between Holland and the Dutch East Indies. [67.20] Ward Line introduces the Morro Castle and Oriente mail and passenger transportation ships (11,500 gross tons). They begins runs between New York and Havana, Cuba. [67.27] December 1 The first keel plate is laid for the Queen Mary ship. [274.27] December 27 The keel is laid for the ship that will launch as Queen Mary. [260.60] 1931 January The keel is laid for the French Line's Normandie at St. Nazaire, France. [260.57] June Britain's Furness Bermuda Line's ocean liner Bermuda (19,000 tons) catches fire at Hamilton, Bermuda. (The ship is sent to Belfast, Ireland, but burns again and sinks at pier.) [260.99] (month unknown) Furness Bermuda Line introduces the Monarch of Bermuda liner (22,000 gross tons), transporting passengers between New York and Bermuda. [67.27] The Empress of Britain ship is completed for the Canadian Pacific Company; 42348 gross tons, quadruple-screw turbines, 1200 passengers. [274.13] December 11 All work on building the Queen Mary ship is stopped due to the economic depression. [274.197] 1932 March Empire Shipping Company announces that its French Line has decided to change its second class accomodation on the SS Ile de France, SS Paris, and SS France into tourist class accomodation, due to the rise in popularity of trans-Atlantic travel. [122.23] (month unknown) Grace Line introduces the Santa Rosa liner. [67.30] September On the maiden voyage of Italian Lines' Rex in the Mediterranean, its engines fail. [260.53] October 29 French liner Normandie is launched. [1] November Maiden voyage of the Italian Lines' Conte di Savoia cruise ship (48,500 tons). At 900 miles from the US mainland, an outlet valve jams and blows a hole in the hull below the waterline. The ship is patched and continues to port. [260.54] 1933 January 5 French liner L'Atlantique (42,500 tons) burns out in the English Channel, with no passengers, en route to Le Havre. The ship is a total write-off. [260.98] (month unknown) Furness Bermuda Line introduces the Queen of Bermuda liner (22,000 gross tons), transporting passengers between New York and Bermuda. [67.27] August Italian Lines' Rex crosses the Atlantic in record time: 4 days, 13 hours. [260.54] 1934 March 27 British Parliament passes a bill to advance 9.5 million pounds sterling to Cunard White Star to complete construction of "Job No. 534" (the Queen Mary ship). [274.197] April 3 Work resumes on buidling the Queen Mary ship. [274.197] May 10 Cunard Line and White Star Line are amalgamated as the Cunard White Star Line. [274.7] September 8 American luxury liner Morro Castle (11,500 tons) burns off New Jersey, killing 134. The ship is beyond repair. [1] [260.99] September 26 British ocean liner RMS Queen Mary is launched; 80,700 tons, 1018-foot hull, 2139 passengers. The launch ceremony is performed by Queen Mary. [1] [5] [260.60] [274.13,37] 1935 March 29 French liner Normandie begins its maiden voyage. [1] (month unknown) The ocean liner Mauretania is broken up in Scotland. [260.40] 1936 March 24 The Queen Mary ship begins sea trials. [274.192] May 12 The ship Queen Mary is delivered by the shipbuilder to the owners. [274.192] May 27 RMS Queen Mary leaves Southampton, England, for New York on its maiden voyage, with 1805 passengers, 1101 crew. [1] [73.42] [274.192] (month unknown) In Northern Ireland, Harland & Wolff build the Stirling Castle liner for Union-Castle Line (25,550 gross tons). [67.23] July 16 In Hamburg, Germany, the Blohm & Voss shipyard launches the Pretoria passenger liner (16,622 gross tons) for the Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie. [152.22] August 30 The ship Queen Mary crosses the Atlantic from Ambrose east to Bishop Rock in record time, 3 days, 23 hours, 57 minutes. [274.199] December 21 Maiden voyage of the Pretoria passenger liner (16,622 gross tons) of the Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie. [152.22] 1937 August 1 The ship Normandie crosses the Atlantic westbound in record time, 3 days, 23 hours, 2 minutes. [274.200] August 8 The ship Normandie crosses the Atlantic eastbound in record time, 3 days, 22 hours, 7 minutes. [274.200] December 10 Dollar Line's SS President Hoover runs aground off Japanese island of Formosa. All passengers are transferred to the SS President Pierce after four days. The ship is scavenged by the Japanese in 1939. [93.40] 1938 Holland's Niew Amsterdam ocean liner (36,200 tons) is completed. [260.69] August 8 The ship Queen Mary crosses the Atlantic westbound in record time, 3 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes. [274.200] August 14 The ship Queen Mary crosses the Atlantic eastbound in record time, 3 days, 20 hours, 42 minutes. [260.57] [274.200] September 27 Ocean liner Queen Elizabeth launched at Glasgow, Scotland. [1] [274.201] 1939 June Nederland Line's Oranje liner enters service, the world's fastest motor liner maximum 26 knots). The 20,551 gross ton ship can carry 700+ passengers from Holland to the Dutch East Indies. [67.21] August 30 The Queen Mary ocean liner commences her final commercial voyage (for six years war duty) from Southampton, with 2332 passengers. [274.201] September 3 (1930 hours) German submarine U-30 torpedoes and sinks Donaldson Line passenger liner Athenia, 250 miles north of the west coast of Ireland. Of about 1418 passengers, 118 die. Germany denies responsibility, claiming that Great Britain planted a bomb to bring the US into the war. [10] 1940 March 1 The British Government informs Cunard they would requisition the Queen Mary ocean liner for war duty. [274.201] March 5 The Queen Elizabeth ocean liner arrives at New York, after secretly crossing the Atlantic, for safety away from England. [274.201] March 21 The Queen Mary ocen liner departs from New York for war duty. [274.201] October 2 British liner Empress loaded with refugees for Canada, sunk. [1] 1941 December US government seizes French liner Normandie at New York's Pier 88. [260.99] 1942 February 9 In New York harbor, the USS Lafayette (formerly Normandie) is accidentally ignited by a welding torch during conversion for troopship use. While fighting the fire, too much water poured into the ship capsizes it, setting it on its side in the harbor. (Salvaging and pumping out water takes 15 months and US$5 miliion.) [260.69,99] October 2 Queen Mary liner slices cruiser Curacao in half, killing 338. [1] 1944 Netherlands issues a 2.5-cent postage stamp depicting the SS Nieuw Amsterdam passenger liner. [143.1171] September Cunard ships Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth are bombed south of Trieste. [260.68] 1945 January 30 German passenger ship Wilhelm Gustloff is struck by three Soviet torpedoes off Danzig. The ship quickly capsizes, with the loss of 5200-5400 of estimated 6100 on board. Worst sea loss ever. [1] [260.102] May 3 British bombers attack and sink German Hamburg South America Line ship Cap Arcona (27,600 tons) in the East Sea, with the loss of about 5000 people of 6000 on board. [1] [260.102] 1947 January 19 Greek steamer Himara strikes a wartime mine in Saronic Gulf south of Athens with loss of 392 of 637 aboard. [1] 1948 Cunard Line's Caronia (34,000 tons, 715 feet) is the first cruise liner built after World War II. [260.121] 1949 January 27 Chinese liner Taiping collides with a collier off south China. [1] December 19 Luxury passenger ship Aquitania demolished in Garelock, Scotland. [1] 1951 April 5 The Harland & Wolff shipyard launches the Rhodesia Castle passenger liner for the Union Castle Line of England. [152.30] June 21 Passenger liner Kenya Castle launched at Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the Union Castle Line. [152.30] October 6 Harland & Wolff delivers the Rhodesia Castle passenger liner to the Union Castle Line of England. [152.30] October 18 Maiden voyage of the Rhodesia Castle passenger liner of the Union Castle Line, from London, for Round Africa service. [152.30] 1952 February 16 Union Castle Line takes delivery of passenger liner Kenya Castle. [152.30] March 7 Maiden voyage of Union Castle Line's passenger liner Kenya Castle, on a cruise to Casablanca. [152.30] April 24 At the Harland & Woolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the ship Braemar Castle is launched, built for the Union Castle Line. [152.30] (month unknown) The French Line builds the Flandre liner. [67.30] MSC Cruises' MSC Monterey cruise ship is built. [73.10] The Bergen Line transfers the Stella Polaris ship to Clipper Line of Malmo. [73.42] July The United States Lines' United States ocean liner (53,000 gross tons, 990-foot hull) captures the Blue Ribbon with the fastest crossing of the Atlantic. [260.75] [274.201] November 22 Maiden voyage of the Union Castle Line passenger ship Braemar Castle from London, England, for the Round Africa voyage. [152.30] 1953 January 5 Passenger ships Willem Ruys and Orange collide in the Red Sea. [1] January 31 Princess Victoria capsizes off Stanraer, Scotland; 133 die. [1] 1955 Shaw Savill liner Southern Cross is built. [74.6] 1956 Canadian Pacific's Empress of Britain liner is built. [75.8] July 25 (11:20 PM) Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria (29,000 tons) collides with Swedish-American Line steamship M.S. Stockholm (12,600 tons) in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Nantucket, USA. The Andrea Doria is struck midship; the Stockholm loses a portion of its bow, with the loss of five lives. (The Andrea Doria sinks the next day, with the loss of 49 lives.) [7] [260.103] 1958 October 4 Transatlantic commercial jet passenger service begins (BOAC). Travel time is reduced from six days to six hours. [1] [260.78] 1959 May 8 Three-deck Nile excursion steamer springs a leak panicking passengers who capsize ship; 200 drown just yards from shore. [1] (month unknown) Holland America's Rotterdam passenger liner is built. [67.24] Inres Line introduces the Victoria cruise ship, formerly of the Union Castle Line. [67.28] November 3 Her Royal Highness British Princess Alexandra launches Orient Line's Oriana passenger liner (41,915 gross tons). [152.10] 1960 May 11 French passenger liner France launched. [1] June Maiden voyage of Italian Line's Leonardo da Vinci ocean liner across the Atlantic to New York. [260.80] 1961 January 21 Portuguese rebels seize cruise ship Santa Maria. [1] April 8 British liner Dara explodes in Persian Gulf, kills 236. [1] April 25 Romania issues a postage stamp depicting passenger ship Oltenita. [278.501] (month unknown) Canadian Pacific builds the Empress of Canada liner (27,250 gross tons). [67.30] Cunard Line begins a trial of twenty slot machines on the Queen Mary liner. [73.32] 1962 French Line's SS France ship enters service. [67.18] September Italian Line's Michelangelo ocean liner is christened at Genoa. The 45,000-ton ship has a length of 920 feet, and capacity of 1775 passengers. [260.81] 1963 Lloyd Triestino's Galileo Lalilei cruise ship enters service. [71.36] December 23 Fire on Greek luxury liner Lakonia, 128 die. [1] 1964 Flotta Lauro purchases the Nederland Line's Oranje liner, renaming it Angelina Lauro. [67.21] December 30 Cunard Line signs contract with shipbuilder John Brown & Co. of Clydebank, Scotland, for a new ocean liner. (The ship will launch in 1969 as the Queen Elizabeth 2.) [254.12] 1965 Italian Line's Michelangelo is delivered into service. [260.81] April Home Lines introduces the Oceanic (39,241 gross tons, 1200+ passengers) as a year-round pleasure cruise ship, commencing with 7-day cruises between New York and the Bahamas, at a cost of US$170+ per person. [67.29] [260.122] June The keel is laid for Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner, at the Clydeside shipyards in Scotland. [260.85] (month unknown) The Sagafjord cruise ship is built for Norwegian America Line. [93.20] Stanley MacDonald forms Princess Cruises, to operate cruises from Los Angeles, California, to the Mexican Riviera in the winter months. [203.9] Italian Line's Raffaello is delivered into service from the Monfalcone shipyard. The 45,000-ton ship has a length of 920 feet and passenger capacity of 1775. [260.81] Cunard Line adds roulette and blackjack as well as slot machines to its Franconia cruises of the Canary Islands. [73.32] November 13 Cruise ship Yarmouth Castle, on an overnight cruise from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas, burns and sinks off Bahamas, killing 90 of 546 passengers. [1] [75.27] [94.50] 1966 January 6 Union Castle Line's passenger liner Braemar Castle arrives at Faslane for demolition by Shipbreaking Industries. [152.32] April The Italian Line's Michelangelo passenger liner suffers substantial damage to the forward part of the ship, and the death of one crew member and two passengers, from rogue waves in the Atlantic crossing. [202.33] June Norwegian cargo firm Klosters Rederi introduces the Sunward passenger liner (8666 gross tons, 600 passengers, 150 cars), with cruises out of Miami, Florida. [73.16,33] [260.124] (month unknown) Cosulich Line's Saturnia liner is scrapped. [67.21] The Swedish American Line's Kungsholm cruise ship is built. [73.42] October P&O completes purchase of remaining Orient Line shares. [152.10] December Klosters Rederi begins offering 3- and 4-day cruises aboard the Sunward liner from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas, year-round. [73.33] 1967 June Commodore Cruise Line introduces the Princesa Leopoldina cruise ship for 8- and 10-day cruises from Miami, Florida, to the Caribbean. [73.34] (month unknown) Princess Cruises introduces the Princess Italia cruise ship (12,000 gross tons, 480 passengers). [67.30] [73.35] August 12 Former Union Castle Line passenger liner Kenya Castle arrives at Piraeus, Greece for refitting for new owner Chandris Lines. [152.32] September 20 Cunard names its new ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2. [260.86] September 22 The Cunard ocean liner Queen Mary leaves New York on its final Atlantic crossing. [73.42] [260.86] October 26 Union Castle Line's passenger liner Rhodesia Castle arrives at Kaohsiung for demolition by Chin Ho Fa Steel & Iron. [152.32] 1968 Holland America Line rebuilds Rotterdam to focus operations on full-time cruises. [73.31] August 8 Maiden voyage of Amerikanis passenger liner (19904 gross tons, 920 passengers) of Chandris Lines, from Piraeus, Greece to New York, USA. [152.32] November Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner makes its first sea trials, encountering serious turbine problems. [260.86] December 7 Commodore Cruise Line introduces the Boheme cruise ship (11,000 gross tons, 500 passengers) for 7-day Caribbean cruises from Miami, Florida. [73.34] December Klosters Rederi introduces a second cruise ship, the Starward (13,000 gross tons, 736 passengers, car deck) under a new company name: Norwegian Caribbean Lines. [73.33] 1969 April 18 Cunard Line accepts delivery of a new ocean liner (65,863 gross tons, 2005 passengers) from Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. Build cost was US$80 million. (The ship will debut as the Queen Elizabeth 2.) [254.13] [260.87] May 2 British liner Queen Elizabeth 2 leaves England on its maiden voyage to New York. [1] [140.12] [254.12] [260.87] May 7 Cunard ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 arrives in New York from its maiden voyage. [254.12] (month unknown) The former Stella Polaris ship is moored on the Japanese coast as a hotel and restaurant under the name Scandinavia. [73.42]

End of 1930-1969. Next: 1970. The complete timeline can be purchased in a PDF file for US$10 from the author. You can pay now directly via PayPal. When I receive notification from PayPal, I will email you the PDF file. or send me an email to request my mailing address to mail payment. 1835-1929 1930-1969 1970-1989 1990-1999 2000-2006 2007-2008 2009 A list of references to all source material is available. Other web pages of interest: Chronology of World History Chronology of the Walt Disney Company Ken P's Today in History

Last updated: 2009 October 30. Copyright © 2008-2009 Ken Polsson (email: kpolsson@islandnet.com). URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/cruiship/ Link to Ken P's home page.