Floating Palaces

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From the mid-1890s, a competition emerged among the merchant navies of Germany, Britain, and France to create the most luxurious and fastest ocean liners, beginning with the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. Each subsequent vessel aimed to surpass its predecessor in size and interior design, employing renowned designers to meticulously craft every detail—from cutlery and china to bedrooms and decks. Notable ships like Kronprinzessin Cecilie, Mauretania, Aquitania, Olympic, Titanic, Imperator, Vaterland, Ile de France, and Paris showcased increasingly grand and luxurious designs. This trend extended into the 1930s with the Empress of Britain and the Art Deco Normandie, the most lavish liner ever constructed, along with the more traditional Queen Mary, which nonetheless pushed design boundaries beyond the Edwardian aesthetic. Each new liner featured exquisite interiors, and their influence persists today in vessels like Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and modern cruise ships, all competing for public attention. These grand liners were floating palaces, and the collection presented by William H. Miller features stunning images of these iconic ships, celebrating a time when the journey was as enjoyable as the destination.