The Great Edwardian Cunarders

R.M.S. LUSITANIA                R.M.S. MAURETANIA                R.M.S. AQUITANIA

This world famous trio of Cunarders have gone down in history as some of the most legendary ocean liners ever built, with their Edwardian four funnels they cut a most imposing and stately profile. These three famous ocean liners were intended to operate the prestigious transatlantic service for Cunard Line from Liverpool to New York in the early to mid 20th century until the arrival of the legendary Cunard Queens. The Lusitania and Mauretania when introduced in 1907 were the first express transatlantic liners fitted with steam turbines and were the ultimate in Edwardian elegance afloat. From their introduction till the First World War in 1914/15 these two ocean greyhounds ruled supreme on the North Atlantic and quickly became holders of the coveted Blue Riband.

Unfortunately events conspired to prevent this as during the First World War the RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by the enemy in 1915 and sunk off the Irish coast. As a result the former German ocean liner, Imperator, was acquired and renamed the RMS Berengaria to replace her and operate a three ship transatlantic service with the Mauretania and Aquitania.

The Aquitania was launched in 1913 in the midst of the First World War and was immediately pressed into war duties as a troopship. She was similar in design to the Lusitania and Mauretania but much larger. Eventually she became Cunard's longest serving express ocean liner and gave sterling service during two world wars. In fact her service record was only surpassed by the legendary QE2 very recently in 2004.

RMS Lusitania (1907)

RMS Mauretania (1907)