If you enjoyed this video, please drop a comment in the box! You can watch Part 2...'How Flying Used to Be' , here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ6Zi6Olm9aro68 By the way you might also like to take a look at our latest video aboard the Queen Elizabeth. You can see that video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKjMlKSifKukhdE
@ecthelion17352 ай бұрын
And now you have to become an air travel channel, lol
@ritzytravelguide2 ай бұрын
@ecthelion1735 Ha ha, just a limited side trip!! Part 3 and 4 will look at How Trains Used to Be and Grand Touring in Cars! A little diversion from Cruising, for the fun of it!
@jessschafer13288 ай бұрын
My mother and I traveled from Quebec to France and returned 2 months later in 1955 on the Cunard's SS Samaria and the SS Franconia. I was 5 years old and remember my mother was sick almost the entire time! I made friends everywhere (I remember roaming the ship and seeing whales and an iceberg in the distance!) and I remember the stewards being so nice and helpful. When I was 12, we crossed on the SS America out of New York, in 1961, but ended up stranded in Europe due to some kind of port scheduling problem and we were offered a date change for our return or a plane ticket. We flew back for the first time on an airplane. After that I returned to visit family in Europe many more times, but sadly, never again on one of the wonderful cruise ships…
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Hi Jess, great to hear from you! What a lovely series of memories. Seeing whales and icebergs, and on such glorious ships of the day! Grand times indeed!
@ruthm.60718 ай бұрын
I am sure that today's cruisers would find even the finest 1950s cruise experience a bit boring. But to my eyes, these bygone days of cruising were gorgeous. Even the tourist class had a sense of luxury. I loved seeing it. Thank you for a well produced video showing time that will never be recaptured again.
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Thanks Ruth. No, I don't think that era will ever be fully recaptured as it was!
@tias.66753 ай бұрын
This is way before my time, but I prefer this atmosphere in general.
@brendadrew8343 ай бұрын
Watch some old classic movies from the 1930s and 40s that also show how being on a cruise ship was back then, much classier and romantic than today, unfortunately!
@MicheleOverton-mb8it3 ай бұрын
100 percent agreed!! I'd rather have this. I'm a big reader so on one of these cruises with my books while soaking the sun before a dinner I have to dress for and the music of the times and the cocktails and the wonderful fashion! I'd take this any day 💖
@health19518 ай бұрын
I was an 11 year old girl in 1962 sailing to England with my auntie to visit relatives in London on the Queen Mary. Came home on the Queen Elizabeth after a summer in the UK. Did a lot of traveling as a young adult in the 70's & 80's, but nothing compares to my time on the Queens. A trip of a lifetime that can never be duplicated.
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Hi, thanks so much for that lovely story. Fantastic for you to experience both Queens!
@merrywidow65789 ай бұрын
I crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary in 1964, first class. What a wonderful experience.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi there, I can imagine it really was. What a wonderful memory!
@Gilded-girl9 ай бұрын
@merrywidow6578, we just crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2. It was so wonderful and luxurious. On the walls, all over the ship were huge black and white photos of stars that were in the Queen Mary in her hay day. Do you know if any celebrities were on board when you crossed?
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
@Gilded-girl Hi. Some of the invited speakers can be reasonably well known. Such as Astronauts, or Writers, or experts in their field. It's very rare to get genuine Hollywood stars these days!
@kcjd86598 ай бұрын
I just want to know the story behind your handle. “Merrywidow”-I feel like there’s a story there…
@pamelaspooner71838 ай бұрын
Yes, on the original Queen Elizabeth twice and the United States once. Lovely memories.
@sonaterese7998 ай бұрын
I wouldn't want to book a cruise on todays horrendous cruise ships but this nostalgic video makes me wish I had been old enough to enjoy cruises of the past - thank you
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@LisbethIvy9 ай бұрын
I had the privilege of being able to travel from Australia to Europe in the 50's & 60's with my parents - The Orcades, Neptunia and the Oriana. Wonderful, wonderful memories. You couldn't give me the cruise ships of today - such monstrocities and completely classless!!!
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
What amazing memories for you!
@Pamela-b5e8 ай бұрын
Not all of them. Read my comment above.
@kaamkmca8 ай бұрын
The Cunard Ships still has that class you speak of. I agree there a lot of monstrosities out there. They are amusement fun fair parks which you could have on land. Not for me.
@katiestanfield87943 ай бұрын
I was on the Oriana in 1968
@LisbethIvy3 ай бұрын
@@katiestanfield8794 I hope that you had as wonderful a journey as I did!!
@stephaniestanley80413 ай бұрын
My grandparents took their honeymoon cruise in 1938. I have the menu card from one of their dinners. It was an amazing menu and the card itself is beautiful.❤️
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
Fantastic that you still have it 😊
@faithmoore7520Ай бұрын
How May I obtain a copy ?
@dboutier56369 ай бұрын
They really did have bon voyage parties in their room. I grow up in New York, and several of my parents friends went to Europe by ship. A few times they were invited to the bon voyage party. I think it was a way of really showing off. There were cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the room. My dad always griped, “ why are we getting these people a present when they can afford to take a trip to Europe.” But, my mom who never went anywhere without bringing something always brought a box of Schraff’s candies .
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
What a great story! Thanks so much for that! Can you imagine that today... people giving you a going away present, before you hop on a cruise!!
@reinardinaarreman14619 ай бұрын
it was the first leg of an extended journey, not a 'stand alone' cruise holiday!
@rongendron87059 ай бұрын
Just before 09/11/01, my wife & I were on an Alaskan cruise in Ketchican, when a friend, who lived in Alaska, flew there by seaplane & was allowed to come onboard, have free lunch & tour the ship! After 09/11, security tightened & the practice ended! Times have changed, but with all the new ship's amenities, not all for the worse!
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
@rongendron8705 They were allowed on for a free meal!! Times have changed!
@loriloristuff9 ай бұрын
Your mom was a lady, who knew one never went empty handed.
@alexandrawallner88148 ай бұрын
Thanks for the journey! I crossed the Atlantic from N. Y. C. to England as a teenager with my parents on the Queen Mary 1 and crossed back on the Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1968, both in Cabin Class. My father's Cadillac Seville also crossed for the price of another passenger. I loved both ships but the Queen Mary "The Queen of the Atlantic" was more beautiful and warmer in a friendly way. It was the journey of a lifetime! I loved exploring the ships. The British crew was very friendly. The food generally good but now, when I think back, old fashioned. I still have the menus, photos and luggage tags. Just great! Also LOVED the dimly lit pool and the movie theater. Thanks for taking me down memory lane!!!!!
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Hi Alexandra, how lovely that you still have the keepsakes from your Atlantic Crossing! Real personal treasures! Many thanks for watching!
@sharonpolikoff72829 ай бұрын
I like the look of the old liners/criuse ships - they look like actual boats, complete with smokestacks, instead of resembling multi-story buildings as the modern ones do. Will be interested in your videos about luxury air travel too....
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Yes, the ships had elegant lines in those days 🙂
@susanpayson78439 ай бұрын
I liken them to Soviet style apartment buildings.
@PRR-xx2hp7 ай бұрын
They were actual boats. They were not cruise ships. They were ocean liners. The difference is that an ocean liner is seaworthy.
@rags39019 ай бұрын
Excellent and interesting video, but,unfortunately, it also highlighted how far people have allowed their standards to drop! I doubt that care, class and elegance will ever recover fully…the best we can hope is that some will hang on! Edited to add: I don’t miss everything about that era…but do miss the courtesy and general respect for yourself and others…you could very easily bring back elegance and grace if people would just bring back being thoughtful and caring bth about themselves and others….dressing up never killed anybody…caring about how you act never did either…something to think about!
@cherylmaden59898 ай бұрын
Interesting fact a lot of the standard started dropping when people stopped wearing hats
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
@cherylmaden5989 that's an interesting thought!
@annlewallen9649 ай бұрын
I was on the QE2 in 1978 on a Caribbean Cruise out of NYC. As. 19 year old it was a wonderful 17 day cruise. Women in long dresses at dinner. men in suits. We had the same waiters everyday all three meals. Great memories.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Ann! Yes elegance, attentive waiters, dressing to the nines.... how fabulous!
@dankelly51508 ай бұрын
@@ritzytravelguide Don't know if the eastern part of Africa is a cruise spot now with pirates and the like? 🤔
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
@dankelly5150 A lot of cruises going near the Suez are now being cancelled
@chrisgreek42854 ай бұрын
We did a Panama Cruise trip over Christmas 2019 and New Year’s 2020 on the Princess Emerald. It had a bit of a nostalgic and elevated feel - perhaps because of the holiday season - that I had not seen on other cruise lines. On regular nights, most people still dressed for dinner; cocktail dresses and suits seemed to be da rigeur and I loved it! The formal nights were filled with tuxedos and evening gowns and it looked magical. Even on our Caribbean resort vacations, we have always mwde a point of dressing for dinner. It just seems to enhance our own experience, not to mention that the photos taken by both us and the ship’s or resort photographer all look amazing❣️ I get it that it’s not everyone’s style, but it’s ours and makes our vacations a bit more special for us. I don’t know about everyone else reading these comments, but we do not dress like this at home (there no restaurant, pavement nor a traffic light in our town). Getting all dolled up to cook our own dinner, sit in the kitchen and eat it and then clean up seems a bit pointless so it is nice to be able to when we can. Hugs from Canada’s Arctic❣️❣️🇨🇦
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
Hello Canada's Artic Circle! Great to hear from you. I'm right with you, whilst in everyday life you don't have the time to dress up... that's exactly what cruises are for! Not every cruiseline, not every itinerary... but pick just the right one, and it feels magical!
@bradeugene13 ай бұрын
Bravo - well said.
@mattrost25749 ай бұрын
This makes me feel old! My first cruise was in 1990, and much has changed since then. I remember small ships with "bon voyage" parties on the top deck, with paper streamers to throw to your well-wishers ashore; and in the water. I remember midnight buffets, chocolate buffets, tuxedos on formal night, smoking in the cabins, room keys (instead of cards), in-person muster drills and a more sophisticated crowd aboard. Anymore, cruising attracts a more budget-minded demographic.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
You don't get clay pigeon shooting on deck any more either! One errant wave, and you could be shooting the wrong direction altogether!
@meman69648 ай бұрын
1st cruise 1982 on Song of Norway Still Dress for Dinner, assigned seating, same waiter, all the young couples seated at same table. Lovely trip. It was my gift for graduation from college. Still prefer this size ship, so we cruise with Oceania now
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
@meman6964 Oceania does indeed give a great experience
@gtlfb9 ай бұрын
Among my husband’s earliest memories are those of his five year old self and his mother taking the Ile de France to join his father in England. He remembers the long gangplank and watching their new Studebaker being lowered into the hold. We were watching “The Last Voyage”, the movie in which the ship was so ignominiously destroyed, and during a scene in the dining room he shouted, “I sat right there!”. We had to stop watching when the mayhem started, too painful. In the early 80s, I visited the Queen Mary at Long Beach, and I swear there was almost no one there. I bought that famous cutaway print and used it as my guide. I was everywhere, all the main rooms, the pool, the silver vault, even the projection booth high in the forward wall of the main lounge. No one bothered me. I was not able to get into any of the cabins, though. The Spruce Goose was next door, and I was able to take a very leisurely tour of that, too. No chance of ever doing that again.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi, thanks so much for those lovely stories. He was one of those we saw in the video with cars being winched on and off!
@rt66vintage169 ай бұрын
We did that double tour (QM & Spruce Goose) also in the 80s, and I think we were pretty much alone. The SG is now located in a small Oregonian town. It's definitely worth a visit, kinda like the Grand Canyon, lol, you can't imagine how big it is until it's seen in person.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
That would have been a fantastic double!
@douglasjaeger15598 ай бұрын
I did the double tour in 1984 when I was 33. The H-4 Hercules, aka the Spruce Goose, was spectacular. One could tour the inside and cockpit. Then the Queen Mary was the first ocean going vessel I’d ever been on, and it was truly grand. At some point she was a hotel, but I suspect most guests stayed only one night aboard. Unlike today’s cruise ships the Queen Mary was a beautiful ocean liner.
@Istandby6668 ай бұрын
I remember the double tours. I also remember when the H-4 was being moved from Long Beach. It was a sad day when they broke the H-4 and Queen Mary up. Southern California in the 80's was a great time.
@geezygee9 ай бұрын
Turns out, it was the US TV show 'Love Boat' that helped bring cruising to the gen pop. Prior to that, it was even more niche as a from of travel than it is today. It was a Princess ship that was featured in the show, and they attributed the show to their and the industry's growth
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Yes, agreed, I think the Love Boat did contribute to the pickup in cruising!
@yb80808 ай бұрын
My family moved from France to the US on the SS Liberté in September of 1958, from Le Havre to New York, we were greeted by Hurricane Helen on the 4th day of the crossing...what a fun trip that was for a 10 year old kid.
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
I bet! Somewhat like a roller-coaster!
@carolstearns36838 ай бұрын
Our bucket list on Cunard to experience this elegance.
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
The new Cunard Queen Anne is coming very soon. If you haven't seen our video on this new ship, you can find it in our playlist!
@vdc44319 ай бұрын
I see why people traveled with trunks. If I had to be in a different gown every night for dinner not to mention day clothes, exercise clothes, and a swimsuit outfit, I’d need several trunks, too. How amazing that would have been ❤
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
🙂
@Pamela-b5e8 ай бұрын
When we went around the world in 1971 My parents had two trunks and 8 suitcases. I had 1 trunk and 6 suitcases. Every night formal meant shoes and handbag to match each outfit. And casual clothes meant business caual. Not they way so many dress like slobs nowadays.
@codetwohigh8 ай бұрын
I’m 51 and I remember the bon voyage parties as recently as 1986 on Royal Caribbeans M/S Song of Norway. We even threw confetti towards the dock as we were pulling out of Miami.
@carolstearns36838 ай бұрын
We sailed on The Norway before the scraped her. Was wonderful and the lounges were stunning. Learned to ballroom dance on that ship.
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
That would have been interesting! The Norway, and before that as the SS France, was also a very graceful ship!
@CatMom-uw9jl3 ай бұрын
My parents were lucky enough to sail on the Norway shortly after she debuted. Mom talked about that beautiful ship for years.
@sheilacrosby48948 ай бұрын
Thank you people seemed to be a lot classier back then
@alisons99798 ай бұрын
My first cruise was in 1977 on the SS Uganda at the age of 15! We cruised for two weeks on the Mediterranean, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Israel. Absolutely amazing and I felt incredibly fortunate to have experienced it at such a young age. I didn’t cruise again until 2018 and have now cruised 7 times, mainly Royal Caribbean and Cunard, I love it. Really enjoyed this video, thank you!
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Hi Alison, what a lovely treat to be on the Uganda! That would have been a fabulous Mediterranean itinerary By the way, f you haven't already seen them, we have several videos on our channel covering cruising on Cunard!
@alisons99798 ай бұрын
It was, thank you. Subscribed 🙂@@ritzytravelguide
@GlobalAdventurer9 ай бұрын
Thank you for this wonderful video. I really like how the passengers really got to enjoy the "now" and not on cellphones and computers :) I would love to see the Premium Class passengers on those airplanes back in the day.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching, yes it's really insightful to see the old footage!
@livinhiswill5259 ай бұрын
I love the elegance of cruising in the past but I also love how cruising has become an affordable and accessible vacation for all types of individuals and families today. Thank you for posting this wonderful video!❤
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Nicole. Many thanks for your kind words, and for watching 🙂
@jansupronowicz13008 ай бұрын
Exactly. Who could afford crusing in those "Golden years"? Only the very wealthy.
@davidawilliams2529 ай бұрын
Nice video! The show The Love Boat made cruising exciting, popular and yet still exotic.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thank you 😊
@valeriebolton26078 ай бұрын
Love, love the beautiful attire that all people took pride in wearing, as each activity is a event.
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Yes indeed! Those were the days!
@charlescrawford70399 ай бұрын
In 1958 I traveled as a 15-month-old with my parents to England on the Queen Elizabeth. I have a picture of little me at the Children's Tea in the first-class dining room.
@alexandrawallner88148 ай бұрын
One thing I forgot to add in my comment below: The way people dressed then and now is striking! People actually got DRESSED UP when traveling!!! Oh, no!!!! Heavens forbid anyone nowadays would leave their baggy shorts and flip-flops at home!!! Comfort, comfort, comfort! Too bad these people haven't ever heard of mirrors! Oh, well. Call me old fashioned to think that people could be stylish and comfortable at the same time.
@JJVPYOU4 ай бұрын
I find it funny to see men in suit and tie lounging in the pool deck.
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
That was very much the way, back in the day. Men tended to dress formally, no matter the occasion
@Keep-on-ok4 ай бұрын
If you watch some documentaries on NewYork, people were dressed up just to walk down the street!
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
@Angiehere-1 That's so funny 🤣
@Gottaknow3 ай бұрын
I cruise and I love formal night! I also dress up when going out.
@trudilm38643 ай бұрын
What we're not acknowledging is that those were Liners - designed to cut through rough sea and remain steady as a rock. Today's ships are designed for maximum capacity: they're big floating bath tubs that get tossed around accordingly.
@dereklwashington11329 ай бұрын
I can't imagine wanting to go on a modern cruise after see this
@Maggie-rr8gi9 ай бұрын
Too crowded and too noisy!
@kdbee60868 ай бұрын
How wonderful to see the QE and QM in their prime
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Yes indeed!
@GJALBARR18 ай бұрын
Hey Bill! Really great video! Your clips of old bring the past back and all the glamor that once was! Past, present, future! All are good!
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Thanks George, glad you enjoyed it!
@gottaloveme902109 ай бұрын
My first cruise was when i was about 10 and thats exactly how it was for kids and teens. A free for all with absolutely no parent supervision
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
😂
@gardengeek30414 ай бұрын
Happy to be a new fan of this channel. Just the right mix of intelligent, trans-Atlantic narrative with well-chosen vintage footage. A salute of thanks to those who track down these historic film records , and reformat them to be enjoyed by future generations. As a baby boomer who did my first cruise in my teens in 1966, what strikes me is the subtle level of sexism in all the old travelogues. It was assumed that men were buying the tickets. So, the swimming and sunbathing scenes always emphasized good looking females in skimpy attire. The reality on most cruises is quite different, both then and now. It's a marketing ploy that still works.
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
Hello. Many thanks for your kind comments, and great to have you with us!
@mrclaypole9 ай бұрын
Thoroughly enjoyed that. Hopefully there will be more of this type of content to come in the future
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Mr C.... will do my very best!
@hori1662 ай бұрын
My father worked for Matson Navigation, one of the main shipping lines that services Hawaii. When I was 7 our family took the S.S. Lurline to San Francisco from Honolulu. It was a seminal event in my life for reasons that are well illustrated in this video. I was especially impressed with the dining room: white tablecloths...and all that silverware! I'd never seen a cocktail fork before or the ice bowl for the shrimp cocktail. My mother kept all the menus that I still have. It was the first time I had seen French and culinary terms: Lyonnaise, sauté, Bourguignon, camembert... After all these years, I still remember Mr. Lee our waiter, and the room steward, Pedro. In later life, I became a restauranteur and a French teacher. All because of those wonderful four days it took to cross the Pacific Ocean. I recently purchased a book about Matson's passenger lines. In it is a picture of the dining room and the very table that we sat at for every meal. I can still hear the hand chime that a staff member would ring in the hallway to announce the start of mealtime.
@ritzytravelguide2 ай бұрын
Hi there, what a fabulous account you have written, thank you so much for writing in. I can fully imagine everything you are relating. How fabulous the menus have been kept!
@louise75524 ай бұрын
These videos are brilliant. One of my favourite movies is An Affair to Remember with Deborah Kerr and most of it is set on the ship. The beautiful dresses, rooms, dancing of the late 40s , early 50s is exquisite. Ive been on a few Cruises, but id sell a kidney to be able to experience an old fashioned luxury cruise. Thanks for the time warp.😊😊
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
Maybe keep your kidney! You need that for drinking the cocktails 🍹
@andreatuckman10849 ай бұрын
I still recall when passengers dressed up to fly . The vast majority of people hadn’t even gotten on a plane since travel for ordinary Americans was an extravagance. So, yes, I would very much enjoy a video on air travel.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi there, yes extravagance is a good word! A real treat!
@dianapearson17714 ай бұрын
Oh, remember, a couple of years ago, a woman was taken off a flight because she was inappropriately dressed!!😮
@davidfrost16853 ай бұрын
As a child we travelled on the Q Mary, the France, and the United States. The first class passengers would always slum in the tourist bars and clubs. Plenty of stuffed shirts! First class was boring. I remember sneaking into the first class pool and it was usually deserted. Marvelous times!
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
Amazing experiences for you David. How revealing you mention First Class used to frequent the tourist bars and clubs, for a bit of excitement
@timoldfield8823 ай бұрын
I loved this . Thank you
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
Thank you Tim!
@faithmoore7520Ай бұрын
Love the service they had!
@ritzytravelguideАй бұрын
Fantastic wasn't it!
@barbarapritchett86989 ай бұрын
YES... would LOVE the videos of the golden age of flying! THANK YOU
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thanks Barbara!
@thecapone453 ай бұрын
Great video! I’ve seen vintage bus, plane, and train videos but not cruise ships! It did look glamorous. Today things may not be as glamorous but when I travel by car and go to hotels, I like to do my little part and dress up and dress well! In my own little way, maybe I can encourage others to dress a little sharper like back then.
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it!
@NATHANFREDERICK-rs7yb2 ай бұрын
I can't imagine wanting to go on a modern cruise after seeing this.
@jb_makesgames22649 ай бұрын
Wow - get me a time machine and get me back there.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
I'll call HG Wells immediately!
@simonf89029 ай бұрын
Flying in the golden era. Yes please.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Will do!
@maspalfiker8 ай бұрын
I love that "typical" ship design, instead of today's "overgrown giants". But also, these old ships were not really cruise ships but passanger ocean liners, so the purpose of such travels was a mix of enjoying the "cruise" and getting from A to B. I wonder if such a trip is stil possible, or are there only coastal cruises offered today?
@GeorgeNeeds2Travel8 ай бұрын
Well done Bill, as always. A great nostalgic throwback. BTW, we booked the Celebrity Ascent for a TA in April. Looking forward to your review. Jorge
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Hi Jorge, aboard as we speak. Review in a couple of weeks!
@dan7979 ай бұрын
Excellent video, well produced, and documented- love looking at all these elegant ship interiors from the 30s 40s and 50s
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
I totally agree, it's fascinating isn't it! Oh for a time machine, to be able to visit for a day!
@lisathaviu11549 ай бұрын
I think that what is depicted here is First Class. We went to France when I was very young, about 65 years ago, in a Holland America ship. My father worked out a discount with them for my brother’s and my tickets by giving a couple of concerts on board. If they had had a cheaper class with hammocks for everyone, my dad would have had us travel that way. Unsurprisingly, my dad got seasick when we hit rough weather. Happily, I found out that I didn’t get seasick, despite being constantly carsick for the next 3 months of car travel! However, although it was nice, I didn’t call any of it luxurious.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi, was your father a famous musician? That was a clever idea for a discount!
@lisathaviu11543 ай бұрын
@@ritzytravelguideHe wasn’t super famous, but he was the 1st violinist of the Pittsburgh Symphony. I think he enjoyed having a concert or two wherever he went. He probably would have done it discount or no, but he was never one to pass up a deal.
@bradleysimonson11606 ай бұрын
This civilization, extinct now, is almost like Atlantis. A great and beautiful society lost to the ages.
@ritzytravelguide6 ай бұрын
A bygone era!
@brendadrew8343 ай бұрын
Sad! smdh
@stevebass39928 ай бұрын
A great video. Thank you. looking forward to the next one
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Thanks Steve!
@marcusnz2323 ай бұрын
I wish the world was still this wonderful.
@markmh8353 ай бұрын
It was wonderful only if you were white and had money. For everyone else ..... not so wonderful. Not too different than today actually.
@Di0rderL333 ай бұрын
It is. If you can afford it
@hewitc3 ай бұрын
Except back then everyone smoked. Every room smelled of smoke. Otherwise great!
@pierrebinot1499 ай бұрын
Please do an airline travel back in the day. TWA and Pan Am! Thanks Great work by the way!
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Pierre, thanks for your comments. Will try to get that video made
@allisonvachon51483 ай бұрын
I sailed with my family from New York to Amsterdam aboard SS Maasdam (Holland-America Lines) in 1962, and we returned to the States aboard SS Prinses-Margriet in 1965. Real passenger ships. Always something to do. even for the kids. A library, games on the deck, the food. I was old enough that I could stay up with my parents for evenings in the Salon; horse-racing--carved and painted horses that stewards would move around a wooden track on the floor based on numbered balls from a Bingo-style cage. I remember there was a famous opera diva with us from South Africa. And once, I wanted a snack between meals, and a steward brought me vanilla ice cream with stewed figs and lady fingers. It was fabulous!
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
What fabulous memories for you Allison! Lovely story
@stephenhlewis9 ай бұрын
Loved this video, especially the exuberant comments from the 1950s narrator. I'm now a subscriber. Please keep the content flowing!
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
I too love the exuberance! I imagine Mad Men, the TV series in my mind, as I listen to narration of those days. The script writing was impeccable. Each sentence crafted and honed!
@ClarissaMetall6882 ай бұрын
Wonderful and informative! A true look into the past! Thank you!
@ritzytravelguide2 ай бұрын
So glad you enjoyed it!
@brianrobson52089 ай бұрын
Just the tonic after a hard week at work (post Christmas) . Thank you sir I am looking forward to more please 🙏.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Cheers! Raising a 1960s Martini to you 🍸
@frankrisucci57929 ай бұрын
What a treat that was. Keep up the great work. Love your channel, and all your content.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thank you so much Frank! Very kind
@EmmaCruises9 ай бұрын
I recently took a cruise where I went go-karting on a 3-deck track, I'd tried skydiving on cruises and surfing... I wish I could go back in time and show these people, not sure what they'd make of that! 🤣🤣 This was fascinating, thank you so much for sharing this! 👏👏
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Emma, you're so right, oh to see the look of the passengers from the 1950s what happens on a cruise ship today 😂🤣. Their cigarette holders and theatre glasses might drop straight to the floor!
@EmmaCruises9 ай бұрын
It's okay they could calm themselves down by hanging out with a friend who they found in the passenger list. That one is so bonkers to me now! 😅
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
@EmmaCruises Totally agree. How on earth would sharing a passenger list pass confidentiality laws now 😂 Can you imagine the uproar! Plus everyone would get to check which class you were travelling in..... oh the shame!
@Kadenite9 ай бұрын
@EmmaCruises Those go-kart tracks overlooking the ocean could easily be a course in Super Mario Kart. It looks awesome.
@rongendron87059 ай бұрын
After 35 years of cruising on 65 cruises, I can tell you that you wouldn't be able to do any of that, in the old days!
@czeshirecat62785 ай бұрын
Yes please for passenger planes. You've an enjoyable voice for commentating.
@ritzytravelguide5 ай бұрын
That's very nice of you to say! Thanks for letting me know!
@draggonsgate4 ай бұрын
Just watched the plane video and had to pop over here. I started cruising in '11 and while I love it, I always longed for that old feeling of sailing "back in the day" . In '19 I booked a trans-Atlantic on the QM2. Blew me away. Yes, it's more modern, and probably not as "glitzy" as the Queens of the 30's, but it was an amazing experience. Seeing the Statue of Liberty at 4am was an emotional experience, thinking of the millions of people who came to the States to start a new life. I still enjoy cruising, sucking down my Bahama Mama on the deck of the Elation in Cozumel or Nassau, but I'm booked for trans-Atlantic number 4 on the Queen. It's just a whole different and wonderful experience being at sea that I truly treasure and am grateful for being able to do.
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
So wonderfully expressed. It's a delight, and very fortunate to be able to travel and cruise, and imagine those who did it before us. I can fully imagine it was emotional for you as you arrived at 4am. Have a amazing time on your next transatlantic crossing!
@Duchess_of_Cadishead4 ай бұрын
My parents came to Australia in 1963 as £10 “poms” along with me, aged 12 and 4 younger siblings. A 28 day voyage aboard the Sitmar ship Fairsky was a wonderful adventure which started my love of ships and the sea. I repeated the voyage in 1976, this time as a paying passenger on the Chandris ship Australis.
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
In some ways I wish Chandris was still around. They had panache and style. They were folded into Celebrity Cruises, and whilst John Chandris remains on the board, it's not quite the same.
@Duchess_of_Cadishead4 ай бұрын
@@ritzytravelguide I agree. Chandris certainly had class.
@ServraghGiorsal3 ай бұрын
Men in suits and shined shoes. No baggy shorts, tank shirts, and filthy "athletic ' shoes. And every other word is eff you !!!. Women witg skin tight pants, artfukly ripped or cut jeans. Tops with holes cut willynilly, allowing bosoms to hang out or flop around , flip flops and cell phones in hand . Women still wore stockings and high heels,and were well groomed. I remember my mom wearing a skirt and 3 petticoats, and a short sleeved cherry. colored cashmere sweater. My dad was neat in his suit and wingtip shoes. When they danced togetger; and twirled around; her skirt flared out around them both😊 she wore dior perfume and he wore old spice. She had her hair up in a french twist, and he had a fedora. I always. Wanted to go with them, but i was too young. Later, when i was grown up enough to go with them ; they had both died . But in my memories I'm with them My Mom taught our girl scout troop to dance we all had crushes on Ricky Nelson !!😅😅😊
@jermainewoods26419 ай бұрын
What a great Sunday afternoon treat. Brilliant video thanks for your hard work. X
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thanks so much Jermaine! Perhaps it's a Sunday afternoon type of video, on a snowy winters day, in front of a crackling fire, with cognac in hand 😬
@almeggs32479 ай бұрын
Please bring back the world cruise!
@Pamela-b5e8 ай бұрын
There are still many ships that do world cruising. Not the monsters that only sail around the Caribbean and have a 1,000 screaming kids.
@creambabyjazz8 ай бұрын
❤The Gloria days… more more more the video like this🎷🍾️
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
I'll try to bring out more!
@patricianolan50533 ай бұрын
What a beautiful fairytale loved it ❤❤
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
Thanks so much!
@flashbazbo39324 ай бұрын
I sailed the QE with my family from NYC to Europe. I remember the intensely yeasty rolls at dinner with unsalted butter as well as the yummy consomme soup served on deck in the stiff cold breeze. Sailed back from Germany on the SS United States in June of 1969. Only a few months later, she was removed from service. No surprise, our cruise was hardly half filled.
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
Hi there, it's great to hear your stories. Isn't it funny how one's mind remembers certain things... such as the "intensely yeasty rolls!"
@Keep-on-ok4 ай бұрын
I was on the SS United States with my parents on our way to Belgium.
@Retiredtraveler19619 ай бұрын
I did two crossings as a kid 1965 & 1966, NYC to Spain on SS Independence. I had. Fond memories but the rooms were small and there were 2 classes. We were in 2nd class.
@sp-bl1sl8 ай бұрын
I used to lament the demise of the elegant, great liners of the past and feel like I missed out. But watching this confirms what I realized awhile back; everyone pretty much smoked every where on the ship. So much for luxury travel.
@samlbrown66659 ай бұрын
Thanks for bringing back many great memories. I took a cruise back in August of 1973 aboard the S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam ( Holland America ). She was built in the mid 1930's. I remember feeling like I stepped thru a time portal. God that was beautiful ship. Could you possibly include her in one of your next nostalgia films ? Thanks so much.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi, that's a nice idea. I will try to include some in any next one I do!
@silviacaptan13004 ай бұрын
Yes make a video about airline luxury. What wonderful times!
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
Hi Silvia, the airline video came out this week, and is now ready to view
@bradeugene13 ай бұрын
I sailed NY to Southampton on the S.S. France in 1965. I don’t remember much about the ship other than my many excursions to the children’s game room where I became an Expert Rifleman on one of the numerous pinball machines. I also snuck into an R rated movie (A Man And A Woman). I do remember my parents dressing for dinner, which meant I had to wear a monkey suit too. I went on deck once and was the only one there, perhaps because it was stormy and cold in the mid-Atlantic. Even at age 12 I considered myself an old salt because I had spent three weeks cruising the Med on the MS Dunera with some of my schoolmates a year before. This documentary takes me back to those heady days - We’ll done!
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
SS France was such an iconic ship. Fantastic that you were able to experience it first hand, as a youngster!
@bymyhandsworked9 ай бұрын
My mother travelled aboard the Cunard Samaria in 1952, to and from a two month tour of Europe following her graduation from university. At the time, it was one of the older boats in the fleet (scrapped three years later), but she had a marvelous time and would always mention how it left her with a lifelong desire to cruise. I would like to imagine she's one of the young women by the pool in the video! Thank you! PS would love to see your air travel footage.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi, she might well have been in there. Thanks for your lovely story!
@swjumbo7479 ай бұрын
Very enjoyable viewing. Great to see how people dressed up for this sense of occasion. Please keep up the great work and you mentioned a future instalment on aviation. Absolutely. Thanks for keeping us entertained and great to see your subscriptions increase rapidly and rightly so.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thank you so much, that's very kind of you. I'll add 1 more to the Aviation installment!
@usnavye95 ай бұрын
I would love to see a video about air travel in the 50's and 60's. Really enjoyed your video.
@ritzytravelguide5 ай бұрын
Thank you so much John. It's been a couple of months since I mentioned the Air Travel video, I really should get it out!
@jessy49359 ай бұрын
As an ex-pat child of the 50s, I made several trips to and from San Francisco to my dad’s posting in Asia. I remember ticker tape departures and the children’s play room, running wild with a gang of 7 to 10 year olds. Our Nanny had a room in another class but was allowed to spend her days with us looking after my younger brother. I have a passenger list booklet, and several photographs taken at what must have been a children’s party. It was a mode of transportation…airplanes were only used if someone back home was very ill and expected to pass away! I remember passing under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. For the adults, there were Galas, costume parties, dances, and a lot of clothing packed in large trunks which were emptied, then sent off to a cargo area for the rest of the trip!
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Jessy, how lovely to hear from you! Thank you so much for letting us know your first hand experiences from the 50s, many of which we saw in the video! Your experiences closely match exactly how it was portrayed in these documentaries and promotional films. We might almost have seen you in there! It also amazes me how passenger lists were public in those days. Confidentiality laws would certainly prevent that now!
@beesnort31639 ай бұрын
So so cool to see how it was back in the day. People really took care of their appearance back then. I wonder how much it was comparatively to now.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Yes, back in the day they wore suits to the pool deck! And all their relatives came to the dock to wave them off!
@beesnort31639 ай бұрын
@@ritzytravelguide seems so glamorous! My mom told me that she used to spend hours on her hair and clothes! Now us ladies just wear sweats lol. More comfortable for sure but oh the beauty back then!
@mchapman19284 ай бұрын
In 1957 we traveled from New York to Southhampton, England on the RMS Queen Elizabeth. It was a wonderful trip, a beautiful memory. It took 5 days each way. We lived in Brooklyn, two blocks from the water and from our back window we could see the big ocean liners sail by. Mom could recognize all of them by their smoke stacks.
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
How fabulous for you. I hope you looked out for yourself on the video! 5 days, as we know, is much faster than crossings of today. They really powered through the water.
@mchapman19284 ай бұрын
@@ritzytravelguide- Yes, it’s seven days now I believe. Today the crossing is considered a cruise, back then it was just nice transportation to your destination. We made that crossing a few times because we stayed with our grandparents in Birmingham for the summer when we were young.
@Bill_N_ATX9 ай бұрын
The SS United States came on scene just in time for the jet airliner to make her redundant. She still holds the record for a passenger ship crossing the Atlantic. She had a powerplant every bit the equal of an aircraft carrier and she was just as thirsty. So she didn’t survive to the resurgence of cruising for cruising sake, not as transportation across the ocean. Which is a real shame as she was the pinnacle of the ocean liner.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Bill, indeed The SS United States was an absolute powerhouse and behemoth!
@alastairstaunton70818 ай бұрын
Yes please for the air travel history!
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Thanks Alastair!
@kathyslocombe11829 ай бұрын
Lovely video. My husband, son of an RAF veteran and Canadian war bride was born in Bristol, England and emigrated to Canada in 1951 on the Queen Mary. We have a copy of that manifest from Southampton to New York. While we have toured the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA, we were fortunate to sail on the QM2 in 2004.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Kathy, what a lovely keepsake, to have a copy of the manifest. That's really one to treasure!
@aircal7378 ай бұрын
I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this. Thank you.
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Thank you Geoffrey.
@laraoneal72849 ай бұрын
TY BILL SO MUCH.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
@robingriffith7693 ай бұрын
Oh!!! It's coming back to me nowww!!! The OCEANIC in the 70's/80's out of NYC (where we lived)!!!!😊
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
The Grand Old Days!
@sabrinamerrick12713 ай бұрын
In the 70s my parents went on a cruise to BDA out of NY. They actually let visitors of passengers board the ship. We got to have a soda in my parent's stateroom. At some point an announcement was made advising visitors to get off. It waa special.
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
Hi Sabrina, you're absolutely right, back in the day Cruise Lines did permit visitors on board for the day. These days however, practically impossible!
@sabrinamerrick12713 ай бұрын
It was such a a big deal as I was 10. They had an inside room. And it had a fully stocked mini fridge! Afterwards, we watched the ship depart and waved at it from the pier.@@ritzytravelguide
@mrslinarcos9 ай бұрын
A beautiful video. Loved every minute of it. I hope you will have a video focused from the 1960s to 1980s on cruise ships. 😊😊
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@mrslinarcos9 ай бұрын
@@ritzytravelguide You're very very welcome 😊
@Slonge923 ай бұрын
Great video, thank you.
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@warrier0074 ай бұрын
Loved it.Nostalgic.Thank You.
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
Yes and, it is indeed nostalgic!
@sandriagutierrez26059 ай бұрын
I really enjoyed this video! I seldom ever park myself for 30 minutes to watch anything. You did a crackerjack job!
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thanks so much Sandria, very kind of you to say!
@dan7974 ай бұрын
Love your videos you really capture they’re glamour of the 30s 40s and 50s-
@ritzytravelguide4 ай бұрын
Thank you Dan
@Aprilsraven6299 ай бұрын
Can we please go back to somewhere between the 1920 and 1960 cruising was just beautiful, everything was a delight to the sensors unlike today its so busy, noisy, crowded, dangerous ....not a nice place to spend a holiday
@aprilrich8079 ай бұрын
This was wonderful! And yes - luxury air travel would be great to learn about. Thank you.
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Thanks April, yes I think an Aviation Edition would be a lot of fun!
@stephenwassell36503 ай бұрын
I cruised in the early 70s and then had to wait until 2018 for my next one. Quite different experiences but each had its attraction. I have to say the food was better in 1971. Very enjoyable video, thanks.
@ritzytravelguide3 ай бұрын
Hi Stephen, great to hear from you. Wow, 40 years between cruises! Next one 2050s!
@stephenwassell36503 ай бұрын
@@ritzytravelguide No, 2025 for a world cruise! I'll be long gone by 2025.
@steveunangst3 ай бұрын
This does bring back memories. As a teenager, I cruised with my family a couple times in the late 60s. Was a lot of fun and is the reason I still cruise frequently. Frankly I was a bit uncomfortable that we were in first class when not everyone was having the same experience. Still that way although there are splurges we take now that are probably the equivalent, such as dining at specialty restaurants and maybe staying in a more expensive cabin. There is some nostalgia but I enjoy cruises just as much now as before... especially sea days!
@ronaldboonstra48349 ай бұрын
Love this vid,. Cruising as cruising supossed to be. Yes, flying in the 50"s? Yes please 🙂
@ritzytravelguide9 ай бұрын
Hi Ronald, yes Cruising in the heyday would have been a riot!
@kittybitts5678 ай бұрын
I just discovered this channel and I'm so glad I did! I love videos about big old ships. This one is interesting, fun to watch, informative and entertaining. My grandmother took my mom and aunts to France shortly after WWII as my grandfather was there working for radio free Europe. They must have taken a ship. I wish I had thought to ask them what it was like before they passed. At least I can imagine watching this video. Thank you!
@ritzytravelguide8 ай бұрын
Hi Kitty, thanks so much for your lovely story, and your comments. Much appreciated!