Videos: “Queen’s” Launch, Post-War Cruise
Entering Service in February 1933 the “Queen of Bermuda” was one of two luxury liners known as “the Honeymoon Ships” and “the Millionaires Ships.”
Built at the Vickers Armstrong shipyard in Scotland, sister ships “Monarch of Bermuda” and “Queen of Bermuda” were ordered by Furness Bermuda Line in the late 1920s for a weekly service out of New York to Bermuda, and became very popular for the wealthy and newlyweds.
The ships were built of a high standard for the time, with ornate public rooms a large amount of deck space and private facilities in all cabins. The run between New York and Bermuda took 40 hours in each direction and that allowed four days to be spent on the island.
Italian newsreel of the “Queen Of Bermuda’s” launch
At the outbreak of the Second World War [1939-1945] both ships were requisitioned by the British Admiralty for the war effort. The “Queen of Bermuda” served as an armed merchant cruiser and later, like the “Monarch of Bermuda”, as a troop transport.
Both ships survived the war, but “Monarch of Bermuda” was gutted by fire in 1947 while being refitted. “Queen of Bermuda” did return to the Bermuda run after being refurbished in 1948/49. She continued the service until it was terminated in 1966.
Below is footage of a leisurely post-World War Two cruise to the island aboard the “Queen of Bermuda.” The accompanying song is “Bermuda” from a Furness Bermuda Line’s souvenir recording of the ship’s band under the baton of Al Donahue.
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