RMS “Aquitania” On 1935 Cruise To Bermuda
To mark the arrival of the first ships of the 2013 cruise season at Dockyard, the Bermuda National Museum this week posted a vintage film of a 1935 visit to the island by one of the most majestic liners of the 20th century at its Facebook page.
“There’s a cruise ship in Dockyard, the ferries are on their summer schedule, and we have a lot of visitors at the Museum,” said a Museum spokesperson.”Tourist season is finally here!
“To celebrate, check out this video of a 1935 cruise to Bermuda on board the ‘Aquitania’. In the aftermath of the ‘Titanic’ — which sank 101 years ago today [Apr. 15] — the Aquitania was one of the first ships to be equipped with lifeboats for all passengers and crew.
RMS “Aquitania” was a Cunard Line ocean liner launched on April 21, 1913 and sailed on her maiden voyage to New York on 30 May 1914. The ship was the third in Cunard Line’s “grand trio” of express liners, preceded by the RMS “Mauretania” and RMS “Lusitania”, and was the last surviving four-funnelled ocean liner.
Widely considered one of the most attractive ships of her time, “Aquitania” earned the nickname “Ship Beautiful.”
In her 36 years of service, “Aquitania” survived military duty in both world wars and was returned to passenger service after each conflict. She paid occasional visits to Bermuda in the 1930s — a period actor David Niven described in his bestselling 1971 autobiography “The Moon’s A Balloon” as a time “that must have been that island’s golden era.”
“I spent several blissful weeks on that spectacular island,” said the future Academy Award winner. “… No cars, no motorcycles, just bicycles or horsedrawn carriages … Smiling, happy faces and music everywhere.”
The “Aquitania” was retired and scrapped in 1950 in Scotland, thus ending an illustrious career which included steaming three million miles during the course of 450 voyages. “Aquitania” carried 1.2 million passengers over a career that spanned nearly 36 years, making her one of the longest-serving liners of the 20th century.
Definitely another era! Lots of hustle and bustle but still conveys a more peaceful time in ‘old Bermuda’. Thanks for sharing these wonderful old images!