I hope you’re proud Samuel Cunard!

Dear Sir Samuel Cunard

Sir Samuel Cunard

I bet you never thought that your name would be so well known 174 years after you were awarded the British transatlantic steamship mail contract. That first crossing on Britannia when you and 63 others sailed from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia was the first regular passenger and cargo service between Britain and USA and  led to you holding the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic voyage for the next 30 years.

RMS Britannia 1840

You probably couldn’t imagine how important your fleet would become over the decades with the transportation of so many settlers to the New World. As new ships joined the fleet they were bigger and faster with many famous names such as Mauritania which held the North Atlantic speed record for 22 years. Also, Lusitania which tragically was hit by a German U boat in 1915 at a huge loss of life and forcing the German Government to apologise for the atrocity.

During World War II, Cunard’s war effort in the transportation of 2 million servicemen led Winston Churchill to announce that this had helped to shorten the war by at least a year.

Winston Churchill

With the development of air travel over the years, the idea of long sea voyages as a means to travel to America became less popular and so the QE2 was built with cruising in mind where the passengers boarded the ships for a holiday rather than to use just as a means to get somewhere else. The ships have such loyal fans that the Queen Mary was converted into a hotel at Long Island California when she retired rather than be scrapped.

Again during a time of crisis, Cunard stepped in and QE2 was chartered as a troop ship during the Falkland’s war in 1982. A complete refurbishment, then business as usual she continued with her luxury cruise itineraries.

And so Sir Samuel, as you can see, you certainly started something!

Today there are 3 beautiful ladies in the Cunard fleet, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Between them they cover the globe offering luxury and unique elegance on board. They also, you’ll be pleased to hear, have the only scheduled transatlantic passenger crossings.

Cunard’s magnificent 3 Queens

So…what has lead me to write this….

2015 sees the 175th anniversary of your first crossing and that will be celebrated with all 3 ships docking together and 5 special cruises including a 12 night transatlantic voyage on 02.07.15 on QM2 called “Spirit of Sir Samuel”.

All this goes on sale next week so you will be keeping me busy!!

As I said before, I hope you’re proud, you should be.