Comments on: Cunard Celebrates a Special Anniversary

By: MAURICE

MAURICE — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:39:30 +0000

I am researching my family tree and have seen reports that one of my Kennedy relatives married to Thomas Edmund Marks who was supposedly partnered with Sir Cunard. Do you know if this is correct.Thomas Marks was born 1790 in Ireland.
Thanks

By: www.aranypiac.hu

www.aranypiac.hu — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:02:17 +0000

Thank you Chris; this is a great and fitting tribute to this important anniversary.

By: www.aranypiac.hu

www.aranypiac.hu — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:01:08 +0000

Nice article, I allways love to read your blog

By: Chris Frame

Chris Frame — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Thank you everyone for the comments regarding my historical snippet of the Cunard Line.

Jack; after the success of the British Government mail service (operated by Cunard Line), the US Government opted to begin a service of their own. This service was eventually contracted to the Us flagged Collins Line.

Collins Line went head to head with Cunard in a fierce Atlantic rivalry. Collins’ ships were larger and more luxurious than their Cunard counterparts. Collins Line introduced such amenities as bathing cabins and hair salon services – impressive luxuries in those days.

In Britain, White Star Line also introduced increased luxuries which bested the comfort of the Cunard service. Despite the fact that Cunard was renowned for their safety record (which as you can imagine was a great reassurance in those pioneering days) passengers soon became loured onto the larger and more luxurious liners of Collins and White Star. Cunard responded by introducing larger and more luxurious liners of their own – and as time progressed the lines continued to one-up each other gradually increasing the industry standards.

Collins ultimately failed (they had a series of catastrophes that caused their collapse) however their influence in raising passenger expectations left a legacy of increased service and comfort expectations.

White Star continued to raise the bar, and were joined by the German Lines (HAPAG and Norddeutsche Lloyd) in the later 1800’s which ultimately resulted in Cunard responding with the magnificent Lusitania, Mauretania and later, Aquitania.

So the move from Spartan accommodation to the opulence of the great liners of old (First Class at least) was a gradual move – but influenced largely by increased competition as each line fought to differentiate their service and win the lions share of the Atlantic trade.

For more info visit: http://chriscunard.com/archives.htm

Hi David; For horn sounds visit:

QM2: http://chriscunard.com/qm2_horn.htm
QE2: http://chriscunard.com/qe2_horn.htm
Queen Victoria: http://chriscunard.com/qv_horn.htm

Regards, Chris.

By: Andy Fitzsimmons

Andy Fitzsimmons — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:29:47 +0000

Agree a most interesting article charting the birth and formative years of Cunard Line from this widely respected authority. Good work Chris and if you don’t already have a copy of his and Rachelle’s superb book then I thoroughly recommend this!

By: David Shreiner

David Shreiner — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:12:14 +0000

edit: Otherwise Donna and I . . . .

By: David Shreiner

David Shreiner — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:09:56 +0000

The history is great, from Chris. The James Taylor video was really fine. But we decided to book our next crossing, in November, after seeing the QM2 in fog on the bridge cam several times this week. Such romance, such atmosphere!

Can you add a foghorn sound? Other Donna and I sit at our desk and make honking noises, which disturb the rest of our small team at our company.

By: Andy Hames

Andy Hames — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:11:01 +0000

A very interesting and informative piece of Cunard history,
We look forward to the report on the Queen Elizabeth.

Thanks Chris

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:43:21 +0000

Thanks for that excellent piece of history, Chris. Fascinating stuff. I’m curious to know when attention to passengers began to increase; i.e., when did accommodation and food improve?