Is this a grand looking and majestic ship or what??? Wow! What a perspective! They used to call her, 'The Ship Beautiful", and I think it's easy to see why. Thanks for the series.
Finn
She was a beauty! And what a long career, too! This was the ship my Dad went off to Europe on during WW-2. He returned on the (U.S.S.) Europa. Needless to say - being English born, he much preferred the Aquitania!
Mike - The Sun Viking
Sun Viking, thanks for the nice comment, glad to hear your father made it home, I'll be posting some photos of Aquitania in her WW2 troopship colors later today if you're interested in seeing them.
Left Liverpool in convoy on 17th May 1943. In the North Channel we met Aquitania homeward bound.
We arrived New York 4th June and two days later, from the Empire State Building, was amazed to see the Aquitania sailing into port! Must have had a quick turn around and return passage.
Bernard
Cunard61 -
Many thanks for your comments. My Dad is still kicking today at 94! Still remembers WW-2 and the Aquitania. Some of the 1st Class public rooms were partially intact - sans furniture but the wall paneling was in place in many areas. The Army finally covered it all over as the troops were carving their initials! I can't print most of his comments about the USS Europa, however..! When we sailed away from New York the Liberte was docked near us... He said "That's the cow I came home on!" 'nuff said.
I, personally, liked what CGT did to the old Europa. Alot of Normandie's art work went into her and the Ile de France.
Mike - The Sun Viking
I'd have to say Titanic over Olympic, for the clean lines, tidied up a bit by the enclosure of the forward promenade deck. Too bad Britannic's gangly newfangled davits spoiled the look given the trio. But Aquitania earns Finn's word--"spectacular" and her long useful service life gives her another facet of beauty and a boost I have to account for with bonus points that ultimately lead me to give the Cunarder the edge.
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