Cunard Line

Cunard Line is a British cruise line based at Carnival House at Southampton, England, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation & plc.

Since 2011, Cunard and its three ships have been registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. 

In 1839, Samuel Cunard had been awarded the first British transatlantic steamship mail contract, and the next year forms the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company in Glasgow with shipowner Sir George Burns together with Robert Napier, the famous Scottish steamship engine designer and builder, to operate the line's four pioneer paddle steamers on the Liverpool–Halifax–Boston route.

For most of the next thirty years, Cunard holds the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic voyage.

However, in the 1870s Cunard falls behind its rivals, the White Star Line and the Inman Line.

To meet this competition, in 1879 the firm is reorganized as the Cunard Steamship Company, Ltd, to raise capital.

In 1902, White Star joins the American-owned International Mercantile Marine Co.

In response, the British Government provides Cunard with substantial loans and a subsidy to build two superliners needed to retain Britain's competitive position.

Mauretania holds the Blue Riband from 1909 to 1929.

Her sister ship, Lusitania, is torpedoed in 1915 during the First World War.

In 1919, Cunard relocates its British homeport from Liverpool to Southampton, o better cater for travelers from London.

In the late 1920s, Cunard faces new competition when the Germans, Italians and French build large prestige liners.

Cunard is forced to suspend construction on its own new superliner because of the Great Depression

In 1934, the British Government offers Cunard loans to finish Queen Mary and to build a second ship, Queen Elizabeth, on the condition that Cunard merges with the then ailing White Star line to form Cunard-White Star Line.

Cunard owns two-thirds of the new company.

Cunard purchases White Star's share in 1947; the name reverts to the Cunard Line in 1950.

Upon the end of the Second World War, Cunard regains its position as the largest Atlantic passenger line

By the mid-1950s, it operates twelve ships to the United States and Canada.

After 1958, transatlantic passenger ships become  increasingly unprofitable because of the introduction of jet airliners.

Cunard undertakes a brief foray into air travel via the "Cunard Eagle" and "BOAC Cunard" airlines, but withdraws from the airliner market in 1966.

Cunard withdraws from its year-round service in 1968 to concentrate on cruising and summer transatlantic voyages for holiday makers.

The Queens are replaced by Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), which is designed for the dual role.

In 1998, Cunard is acquired by the Carnival Corporation, and accounts for 8.7% of that company's revenue in 2012.

In 2004, QE2 is replaced on the transatlantic runs by Queen Mary 2 (QM2).

The line also operates Queen Victoria (QV) and Queen Elizabeth (QE).

As of 2019, Cunard is the only shipping company to operate a scheduled passenger service between Europe and North America.

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