An irresistible world unfolds in this fascinating voyage through the heyday of the great ocean liners. For over a century, from the 1850s to the launch of the Queen Elizabeth II in 1969, great ships like the <I>Queen Mary, Normandie</I>, and <I>Brittania</I> were undisputed monarchs of the sea, when the transatlantic crossing was still the swiftest route between Europe and America. <BR><BR><I>Luxury Liners</I> presents a sumptuous illustrated history of the glamorous life onboard these enormous ships. The book's organization mimics an actual crossing: the mountains of cargo crammed below decks before embarkation; the crossing itself, with entertainment that might include trained seals; the danger of shipwrecks; and finally, arrival. <BR><BR>Illustrated with rare, unpublished photographs from private collections, <I>Luxury Liners</I> is ideal for maritime history buffs and lovers of a bygone era. An irresistible world unfolds in this fascinating voyage through the heyday of the great ocean liners. For over a century, from the 1850s to the launch of the Queen Elizabeth II in 1969, great ships like the <I>Queen Mary, Normandie</I>, and <I>Brittania</I> were undisputed monarchs of the sea, when the transatlantic crossing was still the swiftest route between Europe and America. <BR><BR><I>Luxury Liners</I> presents a sumptuous illustrated history of the glamorous life onboard these enormous ships. The book's organization mimics an actual crossing: the mountains of cargo crammed below decks before embarkation; the crossing itself, with entertainment that might include trained seals; the danger of shipwrecks; and finally, arrival. <BR><BR>Illustrated with rare, unpublished photographs from private collections, <I>Luxury Liners</I> is ideal for maritime history buffs and lovers of a bygone era.