I love to travel because seeing the world is just something that I have to do! And when I travel, I like to get on a plane to my destination and then explore and find hidden gems with no schedule in sight. Cruise ship life is not something I’m ready for (but I’m sure I will be at some point in my life).
However! if the cruises are anything like what is advertised on these 1930s-1950s travel ads and posters, I just might have to change my mind. Glamorous and even more glamorous. Let’s see what I’m talking about friends.
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Vintage Travel Ads for Cruise Ships
1930s-1950s Travel Ads & Posters
Visit Hawaii with Matson Cruise Lines-1934 vintage ad (That Dress!).
Further Reading: What to Wear on a Cruise-The 1930s-1950s Edition
And again in 1953. How tropical!
Source: Etsy
“Life at sea is friendly…delightful…on the new “4 Aces”. American Export Lines – 1949 vintage ad.
Source: Pinterest
Nassau/West Indies/Caribbean vintage travel cruise brochures, 1950s.
Source: Etsy
1930s summer fashions on display as Italian Lines cruises you around the Mediterranean.
Source: Pinterest
1951 Cunard Cruise Ad – Couple Dancing in the ballroom. Looks like a fun time.
Source: Etsy
Getting there is half the fun! Cunard 1952. Balloon Games! I’m in!
Source: Pinterest
“Every day is play day on an Alcoa ship in the Caribbean”, 1947.
Source: Duke University Library
1953 American President Lines Cruise Advertisement. Cruise the Pacific on a country club afloat to Honolulu, Yokohama, Manila, Hong Kong, Kobe.
Source: Etsy
“Come aboard for all the fun of France.” 1957 French Line Cruises.
Source: Etsy
1953 Cunard Cruise ad. Getting there is half the fun! A crowd of happy travelers are enjoying the many fun activities aboard ship.
Source: Etsy
1951 Moore McCormack Lines Ad. 4 Special winter cruises for 1952 from Moore McCormack include a 38 day cruise to Punta Del Este, Uruguay and a 44 day cruise to see Carnival in Rio.
Source: Etsy
Take a cruise on Canadian Pacific to see the Great Lakes-1930s.
Source: Art.com
No need to just sit around and be bored, cruise ship life has so much to do..like tennis and games by the pool. 1951 Matson Hawaii Cruise Ad.
Source: Etsy
Vintage 1953 Moore McCormack Cruise Lines Ad. Take a 38-Day Cruise to Trinidad, Rio, Santos, Sao Paulo, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires for old world enchantment and cities as modern as tomorrow.
Source: Etsy
Thanks for stopping by friends! I hope you enjoyed stepping back into time and seeing how travel advertising for cruising was like. I know I enjoyed seeing all that glamour I mentioned at the start of the post.
Question time: Have you been on a cruise? If yes, what did you like about and where did you go? Share in the comments below.
FURTHER READING:
- Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s. Archived blog posts
- Vintage Travel Posts
Have a great week!
Liz
Anytime you see ‘golden age’ in front of something you know it’s going to be amazing. Wow, everybody looked so elegant and beautiful. All you see on cruises and on the beach nowadays are booty-shorts and extra cropped crop tops.
LOL so true. Back in the day they would bring clothing for various parts of the day. Can you imagine the amount of luggage they would of had?? Yooza!
Liz
What the heck?! Really? When I go on trips, I consider wearing the same outfit twice just to save luggage space. Welp, makes sense as to why they are more fashionable.
I have often wished I could step back in time and take, say, the Queen Mary across the Atlantic. I’d skip the early 40″s though for obvious reasons.
I totally agree with you on both comments. There was no cruise lines doing anything vacation like anyways during the early 40s. That was very evident when looking for advertising between 1939 & Late 1944. Everything stopped at 39 and started up again in 45. For obvious reasons 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
Liz
Love love love, esp the Lido.
Nothing but fashion on the Lido Deck 🙂