Q is for the RMS Queen Mary

by | Apr 19, 2015 | #atozchallenge, 1940's, Cinderella's Shoes, WWII | 2 comments

For the A to Z blogging challenge I’ve decided to blog about the 1940′s. And in the spirit of the 1940′s, at the end of the month, I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of one of my favorite books, Summer at Tiffany, to one of my newsletter subscribers (sign-up on the sidebar if you are so inclined.) It’s a light-hearted memoir of two college girls let loose in New York City for a summer. What a hoot.

Q

 

The RMS Queen Mary was an ocean liner that sailed the North Atlantic between Southampton, Cherbourg, and New York City. First setting sail in May 1936, she was the flagship for the Cunard line. And she was fancy! Built in the 1930’s the interior was heavily influenced by the popular Art Deco style of the day. It had swimming pools, tennis courts, and nurseries for the children in addition to the first class dining room, and a music hall. She was the ship celebrities preferred for travel back and forth to Europe.

One of the features I like the most about the Queen Mary is the mural in the first class dining hall that features a map with a crystal ship that moved as the real ship made it’s way across the Atlantic.

During WWII she became a troop transport ship. The finer things were moved out, the ship was painted grey, and bunks were moved in. She was a fast ship and earned the name “Grey Ghost.” After the war, she was again fitted for passengers and resumed her reign on the sea. (And she may just make an appearance in my 1940’s novel Cinderella’s Shoes, releasing in October.)

Today, you can tour the Queen Mary, which is now being used as a hotel in Long Beach, CA.

There are so many good videos, it’s hard to pick just one. So here are three:

2 Comments

  1. Carrie-Anne
    Carrie-Anne on April 22, 2015 at 6:45 PM

    It really must’ve been something to have travelled on a grand ocean liner like that. Even if planes take much quicker, there’s a lot to be said for the old-time romance of crossing the ocean on a floating luxury ship. Maybe someday ocean liner travel will come back into style, for those with the time and money to invest in a longer journey.