A New Book, Wartime Voyages, and Cunard Elegance

Printing Presses

In early November, Fonthill Media and I began the final proofs for our latest book: On All the Seven Seas. It recounts some of my travels back in the 1980s: River-boating on the Danube Princess to Vienna and Budapest; around the British isles on the Vistafjord; a maiden crossing on Holland America; north to remote Greenland on the Astor; Christmas in the Caribbean on the Rotterdam; the Mississippi River on the Delta Queen; cruising from Australia on the Oriana and the Fairstar; up the Amazon on the Stella Solaris; and the grand pairing of the QE2 and Concorde. The book is due out this winter from Fonthill over in the UK. (Available through Amazon.)

Cover of On All the Seven Seas: Travel Aboard Passenger Ships, the latest book by William H. Miller, recalling decades of ocean travel and classic passenger shipping. — Cover of *On All the Seven Seas: Travel Aboard Passenger Ships*, the latest book by William H. Miller, recalling decades of ocean travel and classic passenger shipping.

At the Podium

One of Cunard’s three highest ratings come from its Insights Lecture program. My own talks, even after 45 years, produces/prompts interesting comments, anecdotes, sometimes full stories.

William H. Miller delivering a Cunard Insights lecture at sea, continuing a decades-long tradition of storytelling and maritime history. William H. Miller Collection

Wartime Voyages

Crowded decks aboard Queen Mary during World War II, when the liner carried a record 16,683 passengers on a single crossing from New York to Gourock, Scotland, in July 1943. William H. Miller Collection — Crowded decks aboard *Queen Mary* during World War II, when the liner carried a record 16,683 passengers on a single crossing from New York to Gourock, Scotland, in July 1943. William H. Miller Collection

At least a half-dozen fellow passengers (American as well as British) have come forward to tell me that their father or grandfathers traveled as military/GI soldier “passengers” during World War II on either the Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth. While Carnival Cruise Lines is still trying – but the Queen Mary still holds the all-time record: 16,683 onboard during a crossing from NY to Gourock in Scotland in July 1943.

Queen Mary at sea during her early wartime service, April 1940, already transformed from luxury liner to fast troopship as World War II reshaped Atlantic crossings. William H. Miller Collection — *Queen Mary* at sea during her early wartime service, April 1940, already transformed from luxury liner to fast troopship as World War II reshaped Atlantic crossings. William H. Miller Collection

One guest from Minnesota did tell me that his father returned on the USS West Point (ex-America) and that he still had some of the voyage paperwork.

But can anyone confirm: My guess is the ship just above the West Point’s bow is another trooper, the Monticello, the former Italian Conte Grande:

The USS West Point (formerly the America of United States Lines) returning to New York Harbor in May 1945, carrying servicemen home at the close of the war in Europe. William H. Miller Collection — *USS West Point* (formerly the *America* of United States Lines) returning to New York Harbor in May 1945, carrying servicemen home at the close of the war in Europe. William H. Miller Collection

High Style

Dinner tonight in the grand Queens Grill up on Deck 11. A glorious setting: panoramic windows with vast sea views, immaculately set tables, glistening crystal and dinnerware, Arctic-white linens and of course flawless service. Graciously overseen by our longtime friend Sandro, the skilled ship’s restaurant manager, master of charm and proud son of Italy. Yes, grandeur on the high seas! And altogether gloriously and grandly reminiscent of those Grill Rooms with the film stars and tycoons and sometimes even royalty on the original Queens. Yes, Cunard is the greatest link, the evocative gangway, to ocean liner history, to the maritime past.

Cunard Link

A lady from Bournemouth in England told me: “My father sailed with Cunard for ten years – and he was very, very proud. Just walking ashore in and around Southampton, one had an air of importance and pride being with Cunard. He sailed on both Queens, around the world on the famous Caronia, but his favorite ship was the Mauretania. He spent four years in her and kept a framed picture of it on his wall, even long after retirement.”

Mauretania at Pier 90 in New York, one of Cunard’s most admired liners in the 1950s. William H. Miller Collection — *Mauretania* at Pier 90 in New York, one of Cunard’s most admired liners in the 1950s. William H. Miller Collection

Soviet Style

We recently mentioned our summer cruise onboard the Mikhail Lermontov back in August 1975. A letter followed from top cruise buff Brad Hatry: “I sailed solo from New York for Cobh and Tilbury aboard the Mikhail Lermontov on the day you returned to NY from the Canada/New England cruise, August 1975. My first Atlantic crossing! What a bargain! Student Fare of $210 for ten nights.”

The Soviet passenger liner Mikhail Lermontov maneuvering with tug assistance in New York Harbor. William H. Miller Collection — The Soviet passenger liner *Mikhail Lermontov* maneuvering with tug assistance in New York Harbor. William H. Miller Collection

Exotic Journey

“When I was twelve, we sailed from Liverpool (actually from Birkenhead) in 1961 on the Warwickshire of the Bibby Line,” a guest tells me. “Carrying only about 75 passengers and we went to Colombo on Ceylon. My father was an engineer there. The ship stopped at Port Said and Port Soudan on the way. It was a small, slow ship. But two things I remember: Going down the corridor to the toilet and taking a bath in a separate room; and having ice cream every day. Two years later, we returned on the Stratheden, but bigger and an actual liner.”

The Bibby Line’s Warwickshire on the River Mersey, a modest passenger-cargo ship of the era. William H. Miller Collection — The Bibby Line’s *Warwickshire* on the River Mersey, a modest passenger-cargo ship of the era. William H. Miller Collection

In the kitchen

A fellow passenger recently told me that he had made four Atlantic crossings, all of them on the French Line – on the Liberte, Flandre and the France. “They were beautifully decorated ships, but it was the food that was the absolute highpoint. No ship could top or even match the kitchens on the French Line.”

Liberté departing Le Havre, with Île de France visible astern. William H. Miller Collection — *Liberté* departing Le Havre, with *Île de France* visible astern. William H. Miller Collection

Saturday Afternoons at 4

Ken Mika told us: “I remember back in the late 1970s. My parents sailed out of New York on the Oceanic and back in those days guests we’re allowed on board. I remember boarding the ship and we walked a lot of the decks — and I even found their cabin for them. But then I failed to stow away!”