References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here.
A number after the dot gives the page in the source.
Last updated: 2012 February 6.
1930
March
North German Lloyd's Europa ocean liner takes the title of fastest to cross the Atlantic. [260.49]
(month unknown)
Rotterdamsche Lloyd introduces the Baloeran and Dempo liners (17,000 gross tons each), for service between Holland and the Dutch East Indies. [67.20]
Ward Line introduces the Morro Castle and Oriente mail and passenger transportation ships (11,500 gross tons). They begins runs between New York and Havana, Cuba. [67.27]
December 1
The first keel plate is laid for the Queen Mary ship. [274.27]
December 27
The keel is laid for the ship that will launch as Queen Mary. [260.60]
1931
January
The keel is laid for the French Line's Normandie at St. Nazaire, France. [260.57]
June
Britain's Furness Bermuda Line's ocean liner Bermuda (19,000 tons) catches fire at Hamilton, Bermuda. (The ship is sent to Belfast, Ireland, but burns again and sinks at pier.) [260.99]
(month unknown)
Furness Bermuda Line introduces the Monarch of Bermuda liner (22,000 gross tons), transporting passengers between New York and Bermuda. [67.27]
The Empress of Britain ship is completed for the Canadian Pacific Company; 42,348 gross tons, quadruple-screw turbines, 1200 passengers. [274.13]
July 18
First air-conditioned ship (Mariposa) launched. [1]
December 11
All work on building the Queen Mary ship is stopped due to the economic depression. [274.197]
1932
March
Empire Shipping Company announces that its French Line has decided to change its second class accomodation on the SS Ile de France, SS Paris, and SS France into tourist class accomodation, due to the rise in popularity of trans-Atlantic travel. [122.23]
(month unknown)
Grace Line introduces the Santa Rosa liner. [67.30]
September
On the maiden voyage of Italian Lines' Rex in the Mediterranean, its engines fail. [260.53]
October 29
French liner Normandie is launched. [1]
November
Maiden voyage of the Italian Lines' Conte di Savoia cruise ship (48,500 tons). At 900 miles from the US mainland, an outlet valve jams and blows a hole in the hull below the waterline. The ship is patched and continues to port. [260.54]
1933
January 5
French liner L'Atlantique (42,500 tons) burns out in the English Channel, with no passengers, en route to Le Havre. The ship is a total write-off. [260.98]
(month unknown)
Furness Bermuda Line introduces the Queen of Bermuda liner (22,000 gross tons), transporting passengers between New York and Bermuda. [67.27]
August
Italian Lines' Rex crosses the Atlantic in record time: 4 days, 13 hours. [260.54]
1934
March 27
British Parliament passes a bill to advance 9.5 million pounds sterling to Cunard White Star to complete construction of "Job No. 534" (the Queen Mary ship). [274.197]
April 3
Work resumes on buidling the Queen Mary ship. [274.197]
May 10
Cunard Line and White Star Line are amalgamated as the Cunard White Star Line. [274.7]
September 8
American luxury liner Morro Castle (11,500 tons) burns off New Jersey, killing 134. The ship is beyond repair. [1] [260.99]
September 26
British ocean liner RMS Queen Mary is launched; 80,700 tons, 1018-foot hull, 2139 passengers. The launch ceremony is performed by Queen Mary. [1] [5] [260.60] [274.13,37]
1935
March 29
French liner Normandie begins its maiden voyage. [1]
June 3
French passenger liner Normandie sets Atlantic crossing record of 1,077 hours. [1]
(month unknown)
The ocean liner Mauretania is broken up in Scotland. [260.40]
1936
March 24
The Queen Mary ship begins sea trials. [274.192]
May 12
The ship Queen Mary is delivered by the shipbuilder to the owners. [274.192]
May 27
RMS Queen Mary leaves Southampton, England, for New York on its maiden voyage, with 1805 passengers, 1101 crew. [1] [73.42] [274.192]
(month unknown)
In Northern Ireland, Harland & Wolff build the Stirling Castle liner for Union-Castle Line (25,550 gross tons). [67.23]
July 16
In Hamburg, Germany, the Blohm & Voss shipyard launches the Pretoria passenger liner (16,622 gross tons) for the Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie. [152.22]
August 30
The ship Queen Mary crosses the Atlantic from Ambrose east to Bishop Rock in record time, 3 days, 23 hours, 57 minutes. [274.199]
December 21
Maiden voyage of the Pretoria passenger liner (16,622 gross tons) of the Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie. [152.22]
1937
August 1
The ship Normandie crosses the Atlantic westbound in record time, 3 days, 23 hours, 2 minutes. [274.200]
August 8
The ship Normandie crosses the Atlantic eastbound in record time, 3 days, 22 hours, 7 minutes. [274.200]
December 10
Dollar Line's SS President Hoover runs aground off Japanese island of Formosa. All passengers are transferred to the SS President Pierce after four days. The ship is scavenged by the Japanese in 1939. [93.40]
1938
February 26
First passenger ship equipped with radar. [1]
(month unknown)
Holland's Niew Amsterdam ocean liner (36,200 tons) is completed. [260.69]
August 8
The ship Queen Mary crosses the Atlantic westbound in record time, 3 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes. [274.200]
August 14
The ship Queen Mary crosses the Atlantic eastbound in record time, 3 days, 20 hours, 42 minutes. [260.57] [274.200]
September 27
Ocean liner Queen Elizabeth is launched at Glasgow, Scotland. [1] [274.201]
1939
June
Nederland Line's Oranje liner enters service, the world's fastest motor liner maximum 26 knots). The 20,551 gross ton ship can carry 700+ passengers from Holland to the Dutch East Indies. [67.21]
August 30
The Queen Mary ocean liner commences her final commercial voyage (for six years war duty) from Southampton, with 2332 passengers. [274.201]
September 3
(1930 hours) German submarine U-30 torpedoes and sinks Donaldson Line passenger liner Athenia, 250 miles north of the west coast of Ireland. Of about 1418 passengers, 118 die. Germany denies responsibility, claiming that Great Britain planted a bomb to bring the US into the war. [10]
1940
March 1
The British Government informs Cunard they would requisition the Queen Mary ocean liner for war duty. [274.201]
March 5
The Queen Elizabeth ocean liner arrives at New York, after secretly crossing the Atlantic, for safety away from England. [274.201]
March 21
The Queen Mary ocean liner departs from New York for war duty. [274.201]
October 2
British liner Empress, loaded with refugees for Canada, is sunk. [1]
1941
December
US government seizes French liner Normandie at New York's Pier 88. [260.99]
1942
February 9
In New York harbor, the USS Lafayette (formerly Normandie) is accidentally ignited by a welding torch during conversion for troopship use. While fighting the fire, too much water poured into the ship capsizes it, setting it on its side in the harbor. (Salvaging and pumping out water takes 15 months and US$5 miliion.) [260.69,99]
October 2
Queen Mary liner slices cruiser Curacao in half, killing 338. [1]
1944
Netherlands issues a 2.5-cent postage stamp depicting the SS Nieuw Amsterdam passenger liner. [143.1171]
September
Cunard ships Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth are bombed south of Trieste. [260.68]
1945
January 30
German passenger ship Wilhelm Gustloff is struck by three Soviet torpedoes off Danzig. The ship quickly capsizes, with the loss of 5200-5400 of estimated 6100 on board. Worst sea loss ever. [1] [260.102]
May 3
British bombers attack and sink German Hamburg South America Line ship Cap Arcona (27,600 tons) in the East Sea, with the loss of about 5000 people of 6000 on board. [1] [260.102]
1947
January 19
Greek steamer Himara strikes a wartime mine in Saronic Gulf south of Athens with loss of 392 of 637 aboard. [1]
1948
Cunard Line's Caronia (34,000 tons, 715 feet) is the first cruise liner built after World War II. [260.121]
1949
January 27
Chinese liner Taiping collides with a collier off south China. [1]
December 19
Luxury passenger ship Aquitania demolished in Garelock, Scotland. [1]
1951
April 5
The Harland & Wolff shipyard launches the Rhodesia Castle passenger liner for the Union Castle Line of England. [152.30]
June 21
Passenger liner Kenya Castle launched at Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the Union Castle Line. [152.30]
October 6
Harland & Wolff delivers the Rhodesia Castle passenger liner to the Union Castle Line of England. [152.30]
October 18
Maiden voyage of the Rhodesia Castle passenger liner of the Union Castle Line, from London, for Round Africa service. [152.30]
1952
February 16
Union Castle Line takes delivery of passenger liner Kenya Castle. [152.30]
March 7
Maiden voyage of Union Castle Line's passenger liner Kenya Castle, on a cruise to Casablanca. [152.30]
April 24
At the Harland & Woolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the ship Braemar Castle is launched, built for the Union Castle Line. [152.30]
(month unknown)
The French Line builds the Flandre liner. [67.30]
MSC Cruises' MSC Monterey cruise ship is built. [73.10]
The Bergen Line transfers the Stella Polaris ship to Clipper Line of Malmo. [73.42]
July
The United States Lines' United States ocean liner (53,000 gross tons, 990-foot hull) captures the Blue Ribbon with the fastest crossing of the Atlantic. [260.75] [274.201]
November 22
Maiden voyage of the Union Castle Line passenger ship Braemar Castle from London, England, for the Round Africa voyage. [152.30]
1953
January 5
Passenger ships Willem Ruys and Orange collide in the Red Sea. [1]
January 31
Princess Victoria capsizes off Stanraer, Scotland; 133 die. [1]
1955
Shaw Savill liner Southern Cross is built. [74.6]
1956
Canadian Pacific's Empress of Britain liner is built. [75.8]
July 25
(11:20 PM) Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria (29,000 tons) collides with Swedish-American Line steamship M.S. Stockholm (12,600 tons) in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Nantucket, USA. The Andrea Doria is struck midship; the Stockholm loses a portion of its bow, with the loss of five lives. (The Andrea Doria sinks the next day, with the loss of 49 lives.) [7] [260.103]
1958
October 4
Transatlantic commercial jet passenger service begins (BOAC). Travel time is reduced from six days by passenger liner to six hours. [1] [260.78]
1959
May 8
Three-deck Nile excursion steamer springs a leak panicking passengers who capsize ship; 200 drown just metres from shore. [1]
(month unknown)
Holland America's Rotterdam passenger liner is built. [67.24]
Inres Line introduces the Victoria cruise ship, formerly of the Union Castle Line. [67.28]
November 3
Her Royal Highness British Princess Alexandra launches Orient Line's Oriana passenger liner (41,915 gross tons). [152.10]
1960
May 11
French passenger liner France launched. [1]
June
Maiden voyage of Italian Line's Leonardo da Vinci ocean liner across the Atlantic to New York. [260.80]
December
Home Lines' Italia ship (20,000 gross tons) begins year-round seven-day cruises from New York to Nassau, Bahamas. [379.27]
1961
January 21
Portuguese rebels seize cruise ship Santa Maria. [1]
April 8
British liner Dara explodes in Persian Gulf, kills 236. [1]
April 25
Romania issues a postage stamp depicting passenger ship Oltenita. [278.501]
(month unknown)
Canadian Pacific builds the Empress of Canada liner (27,250 gross tons). [67.30]
Cunard Line begins a trial of twenty slot machines on the Queen Mary liner. [73.32]
1962
French Line's SS France ship enters service. [67.18]
September
Italian Line's Michelangelo ocean liner is christened at Genoa. The 45,000-ton ship has a length of 920 feet, and capacity of 1775 passengers. [260.81]
Flotta Lauro purchases the Nederland Line's Oranje liner, renaming it Angelina Lauro. [67.21]
December 30
Cunard Line signs contract with shipbuilder John Brown & Co. of Clydebank, Scotland, for a new ocean liner. (The ship will launch in 1969 as the Queen Elizabeth 2.) [254.12]
1965
Italian Line's Michelangelo is delivered into service. [260.81]
April
Home Lines introduces the Oceanic (39,241 gross tons, 1200+ passengers) as a year-round pleasure cruise ship, commencing with 7-day cruises between New York and the Bahamas, at a cost of US$170+ per person. [67.29] [260.122]
June
The keel is laid for Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner, at the Clydeside shipyards in Scotland. [260.85]
(month unknown)
The Sagafjord cruise ship is built for Norwegian America Line. [93.20]
Stanley MacDonald forms Princess Cruises, to operate cruises from Los Angeles, California, to the Mexican Riviera in the winter months. [203.9]
Italian Line's Raffaello is delivered into service from the Monfalcone shipyard. The 45,000-ton ship has a length of 920 feet and passenger capacity of 1775. [260.81]
Cunard Line adds roulette and blackjack as well as slot machines to its Franconia cruises of the Canary Islands. [73.32]
November 13
Cruise ship Yarmouth Castle, on an overnight cruise from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas, burns and sinks off Bahamas, killing 90 of 546 passengers. [1] [75.27] [94.50]
1966
January 6
Union Castle Line's passenger liner Braemar Castle arrives at Faslane for demolition by Shipbreaking Industries. [152.32]
April
The Italian Line's Michelangelo passenger liner suffers substantial damage to the forward part of the ship, and the death of one crew member and two passengers, from rogue waves in the Atlantic crossing. [202.33]
June
Norwegian cargo firm Klosters Rederi introduces the Sunward passenger liner (8666 gross tons, 600 passengers, 150 cars), with cruises out of Miami, Florida. [73.16,33] [260.124]
(month unknown)
Cosulich Line's Saturnia liner is scrapped. [67.21]
The Swedish American Line's Kungsholm cruise ship is built. [73.42]
October
P&O completes purchase of remaining Orient Line shares. [152.10]
December
Klosters Rederi begins offering 3- and 4-day cruises aboard the Sunward liner from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas, year-round. [73.33]
1967
June
Commodore Cruise Line introduces the Princesa Leopoldina cruise ship for 8- and 10-day cruises from Miami, Florida, to the Caribbean. [73.34]
(month unknown)
Princess Cruises introduces the Princess Italia cruise ship (12,000 gross tons, 480 passengers). [67.30] [73.35]
August 12
Former Union Castle Line passenger liner Kenya Castle arrives at Piraeus, Greece for refitting for new owner Chandris Lines. [152.32]
September 20
Cunard names its new ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2. [260.86]
September 22
The Cunard ocean liner Queen Mary leaves New York on its final Atlantic crossing. [73.42] [260.86]
October 26
Union Castle Line's passenger liner Rhodesia Castle arrives at Kaohsiung for demolition by Chin Ho Fa Steel & Iron. [152.32]
1968
Holland America Line rebuilds Rotterdam to focus operations on full-time cruises. [73.31]
August 8
Maiden voyage of Amerikanis passenger liner (19904 gross tons, 920 passengers) of Chandris Lines, from Piraeus, Greece to New York, USA. [152.32]
November
Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner makes its first sea trials, encountering serious turbine problems. [260.86]
December 7
Commodore Cruise Line introduces the Boheme cruise ship (11,000 gross tons, 500 passengers) for 7-day Caribbean cruises from Miami, Florida. [73.34]
December
Klosters Rederi introduces a second cruise ship, the Starward (13,000 gross tons, 736 passengers, car deck) under a new company name: Norwegian Caribbean Lines. [73.33]
1969
April 18
Cunard Line accepts delivery of a new ocean liner (65,863 gross tons, 2005 passengers) from Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. Build cost was US$80 million. (The ship will debut as the Queen Elizabeth 2.) [254.13] [260.87]
May 2
British liner Queen Elizabeth 2 leaves England on its maiden voyage to New York. [1] [140.12] [254.12] [260.87]
May 7
Cunard ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 arrives in New York from its maiden voyage. [254.12]
(month unknown)
The former Stella Polaris ship is moored on the Japanese coast as a hotel and restaurant under the name Scandinavia. [73.42]
