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EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, The World's Wonder Ship
EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, The World's Wonder Ship

EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, The World's Wonder Ship

Artist (British, 1890 - 1939)
Publisher (1891 - 1971)
Date1930-1940
Object number00032094
NameBooklet
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 229 x 153 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Jean Nielsen
DescriptionBrochure titled EMPRESS OF BRITAIN - The World's Wonder Ship Canadian Pacific. The brochure contains text and images of onboard interior decorations and features including The Empress Room, The Mall, The Cathay Smoking Lounge, The Salle Jacques Cartier, Mayfair Lounge, Knickerbocker Cocktail Bar and The Olympian Swimming Pool.History'Golden Age', 'Wonder Ships', 'Floating Temples of Style' - the accolades for the 'great liners' of the early 20th C were not just advertising hype. These ships were as grand and opulent as ship builders could conceive. They became symbols of national pride and prestige and passengers were encouraged to embrace the luxury lifestyles these seagoing grand hotels offered. Of the handful that epitomized the opulence and splendour of the time was the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN. Built by the John Brown shipyard in Scotland for the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, the ship was to travel between Canada and Europe. In addition to luxury the vessel was promoted for its safety features, including outer steel plating, double the thickness at the stem, to combat possible floating ice of the northern waters. On-board there were facilities for over 450 first class passengers with interiors reflecting those of luxurious hotels, sporting facilities and shopping. In 1939 the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN had the honour of hosting King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with their entourage from Britain to Canada. When war broke out later that year, EMPRESS OF BRITAIN was converted to a troopship, beginning service by transporting troops from Canada to England. Later the ship made runs to New Zealand and South Africa but in October 1940 off the coast of Ireland, the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN was attacked by a German bomber. Badly damaged but not yet sunk, the crew evacuated and a salvage operation begun. The next day, despite being towed by tugs and enlisting aerial support, a German submarine managed to torpedo and finally sink the great liner. And so one of the 'World's Wonder Ships' was no more, but the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN still held onto its reputation of great wealth with rumours swirling that the ship had been carrying a cargo of gold when it sunk. No definitive evidence for this has been established although a skeleton discovered in the bullion room only added to the theory. SignificanceEMPRESS OF BRITAIN was one of a small number of cruise ships that redefined the world of travelling and established cruising as a viable vacation option. It was a time when luxury and prestige were not compromised for those travelling first class and shipping lines competed for the most opulent interiors and facilities.