The West Indies Express
The final years of the Mauretania
By Joseph B. Rayder
The stock market crash of 1929 was the beginning of financial troubles for both the average person and companies alike. Spending had been cut back significantly and companies found themselves in tight situations. With everyone on limited budgets, traveling abroad had been reduced to a minimum and steamship lines such as Cunard found themselves reducing fares and looking for new avenues to exploit to keep revenue up. With the Aquitania remaining on the trans-Atlantic route, the Mauretania was about to be given a new role. Cruising the Mediterranean and West Indies had proven to be popular during the early 20's. With inexpensive fares being offered allowing for higher bookings, the Mauretania was given over to thirteen day cruise excursions into the West Indies. Although it was a different venue than what she had been constructed for, the Mauretania would continue to be successful throughout her days of cruising.
Above - The Mauretania rests at dockside sometime during her final years ca. 1933-1934.
(Restored photo file © 2012 Joseph B. Rayder)
(Restored photo file © 2012 Joseph B. Rayder)
When the Mauretania had completed her 261st Atlantic voyage at the end of 1931 she was assigned to regular cruising, with limited Atlantic crossings thereafter. She had already made several cruises previous to this and now it would become routine for her. 1932 was equally divided between trans-Atlantic voyages and cruising; and by 1933 she was cruising full time from New York. On 17 May 1933 the Mauretania was having her hull painted from black to white, which to many who had served the vessel regularly seemed inappropriate for a vessel so renown for her graceful appearance and speed accomplishments. The only time the Mauretania would cross the Atlantic between 1933 and 1934 would be when the port of departure for cruises would switch from New York to Southampton. Until the ship would be retired in July 1934 she would carry passengers to exotic and new places throughout the Caribbean offering sites of interest such as Havana, Trinidad, Curacao, and Bermuda. In spite of the Mauretania's new appearance she was still highly respected by those who had known her for many years as well as those who had sailed in her for the first time. Although the Mauretania continued to maintain a remarkable speed record she had lost her claim to the Blue Ribband when the Norddeutscher Lloyd liner Bremen entered service in 1929.
In 1931 Captain McNeil had retired from the Mauretania and Captain R.V. Peel took command of the vessel and would remain on the liner until her retirement in 1934; he was the next to last master that the Mauretania would have (Captain A.T. Brown would command the Mauretania on her final voyage to the breakers yards at Rosyth). On 26 April 1933 the Mauretania returned to Southampton for the first time since her repaint. This would be one of the few times the liner would depart from Southampton on a cruise. When the Mauretania came up to dockside, many who had known the liner for many years were shocked to see the beautiful ship painted white, one person commenting "My God! Its the old Maury looking like a wedding cake gone wrong. "
In 1931 Captain McNeil had retired from the Mauretania and Captain R.V. Peel took command of the vessel and would remain on the liner until her retirement in 1934; he was the next to last master that the Mauretania would have (Captain A.T. Brown would command the Mauretania on her final voyage to the breakers yards at Rosyth). On 26 April 1933 the Mauretania returned to Southampton for the first time since her repaint. This would be one of the few times the liner would depart from Southampton on a cruise. When the Mauretania came up to dockside, many who had known the liner for many years were shocked to see the beautiful ship painted white, one person commenting "My God! Its the old Maury looking like a wedding cake gone wrong. "
Above - Passengers on the Mauretania, while on a West Indies cruise, wait to disembark on a shore excursion, ca. 1933. The ships band is visible on deck.
(Restored digital file © 2012 Joseph B. Rayder)
(Restored digital file © 2012 Joseph B. Rayder)
The era of the Mauretania's cruising career catered to a wide array of different passengers. According to Captain Peel there were travelers who would jump up on deck to see anything of interest whether it was land or a passing ship, while others would remain down below decks drinking and dancing. It was an age of reveling and partying, often referred to as "Booze Cruises", and many new experiences were to be had by people who may never have had the opportunity financially to sail on the Mauretania had not she been assigned to lower-fare cruising. During her cruising career Mauretania had come to be known as the "The West Indies Express."
On 28 March 1934 an agreement was made between the British Treasury Department, Cunard, and White Star which was eventually known as the North Atlantic Shipping Act of 1934 embodied by British Parliament. This act merged Cunard and White Star into a single company of which Cunard held the higher hand of shares - the Cunard White Star Lmt. had been formed. When the Mauretania was retired in July 1934 she was the last grand liner to retire under the house flag of Cunard alone.
On 28 March 1934 an agreement was made between the British Treasury Department, Cunard, and White Star which was eventually known as the North Atlantic Shipping Act of 1934 embodied by British Parliament. This act merged Cunard and White Star into a single company of which Cunard held the higher hand of shares - the Cunard White Star Lmt. had been formed. When the Mauretania was retired in July 1934 she was the last grand liner to retire under the house flag of Cunard alone.
Above Left - The Mauretania's first class lounge ca. 1920. Today these fittings can be found in a Bristol Pub.
(Restored digital file © 2012 Joseph B. Rayder)
Above Right - The first class library on the Mauretania, ca. 1907. The library fittings reside at Pinewood Studios.
(Restored digital file © 2012 Joseph B. Rayder)
(Restored digital file © 2012 Joseph B. Rayder)
Above Right - The first class library on the Mauretania, ca. 1907. The library fittings reside at Pinewood Studios.
(Restored digital file © 2012 Joseph B. Rayder)
The Mauretania had been officially retired from cruising and trans-Atlantic voyages and was now sold to the scrapping industries. The "Grand Old Lady of Atlantic", as she had become to be known during her days of crossing the Atlantic, departed Southampton on 1 July 1934 on her final voyage to the scrap yards at Rosyth. Voyage No. 319 was by far the saddest chapter in the story of Britain's finest and most memorable liner. All of her interior fittings had been auctioned off and today scrap souvenirs serve as a pleasant memento of the great Mauretania.
Today, the fittings from the Mauretania's first class lounge can be found at a pub in Bristol while the fittings from the first class library reside the Pinewood Studios and serves as the board room.
Today, the fittings from the Mauretania's first class lounge can be found at a pub in Bristol while the fittings from the first class library reside the Pinewood Studios and serves as the board room.
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Copyright © 2008, 2012, 2018 Joseph B. Rayder.
Copyright © 2008, 2012, 2018 Joseph B. Rayder.