Deluxe Economy: Motor Ships and Cabin Class

            In the mid-1920s, White Star Line became a British-owned firm once again.  Released from IMM, but with modest capital, the line began to think about the future and invigorate the present operations.  White Star sailed arguably the world’s largest liner, the Majestic (ex-Bismark) awarded as reparations for the loss of HMHS Britannic.  They also owned a smaller, but very modern liner, Homeric (ex-Columbus) that sailed as a running mate for Olympic.  These three ships were the premiere vessels of a diverse fleet of smaller and much older vessels.  White Star never fully recovered from the loss of Titanic in 1912, the disruption of business and loss of ships during the world war, and the loss of capital that came with IMM’s umbrella.  That conglomerate began to unravel, albeit slowly, after the death of J.P. Morgan and the resignation of J. Bruce Ismay.  The new director, Harold Sanderson, focused on keeping the company sound and maintain business.  As we have seen, all the lines faced difficulties with dramatic loss of immigrant traffic since 1921.  The shipping lines had to think new to stay afloat (pardon the pun).  Pre-war vessels such as Olympic were updated frequently to keep pace with passenger demands and new trends.  While they never fully shed their Edwardian trappings, the periodic refits of the 1920s and 1930s added many modern features:  cinemas, dance floors, larger luxury suites, bathrooms in staterooms, shopping arcades, and more tourist-class space.

            In the late 20s, White Star planned a new vessel that they wished to set a new record for size and luxury.  This would be the 1,000 foot, 80,000 ton vessel Lord Pierre dreamed of early in the century.   This would be a truly modern ship and bear the name of illustrious predecessors-- Oceanic.  But it was not to be. Profits began to decline and then plummeted with the onset of the Depression.  So, White Star changed plans.  Rather than build one large vessel, they planned two smaller ones that would be able to run cruises and sail as a single class vessel if need be.  To attract passengers, they would be thoroughly modern in interior design and take inspiration from the streamlining movement on the outside.

Georgic and her near-sister Britannic were the last liners built for the White Star Line.

            In 1930, White Star’s builder, Harland & Wolff, launched the first of the new vessels.  Named Britannic, she was conceived as a “cabin liner”-- that is the top tier accommodation offered first-class amenities as second class prices.  With Britannic, White Star eschewed steam turbines and installed diesel-electric engines.  The “motor ship” came into vogue during this period on the coastal and empire routes.  At her launch Britannic was the largest motor ship in the British merchant marine.  Two years later, Georgic a larger near-sister was launched.

Long sleek lines of the Georgic.  Model by Mercator with Triang Minic quayside models and Hansa tug,

            The motor ships were long and sleek looking.  They had two short funnels, two masts rigged with cargo booms, and a modern cruiser stern.  Inside, the ships had Art Deco features: light woods, chromium fixtures, and abstract patterns in the carpets and fabrics.  Like the Bremen and Europa their interiors looked like ships and the public rooms looked and felt much less formal than in the older ships.  The Britannic by comparison was a more conservative ship.  After the merger with Cunard, many fittings removed from Aquitania were installed in Britannic.  From the start Georgic’s interiors and exteriors were more moderne in design. 

The art deco styling of Georgic is reminiscent of larger contemporaries such a North German Lloyd's Bremen.

            Georgic was the last White Star liner built and, with her sister, sailed for nearly three decades.  Both ships were initially popular, as most new ships were, but maintained popularity due to the lower fairs and improved comforts (including forced air cooling!) in all classes.  The two vessels maintained a busy schedule for crossings between Liverpool and New York and then after 1935 departed London.  They were the largest liners to use that port regularly.  In the winter months, the ships went cruising ($100 for eight days to Bermuda and Nassau) to tropical climes. 

            During World War II, Georgic and Britannic served as troopships.  Britannic served largely without incident, but Georgic was damaged by fire in 1944 and suffered extensive damage.  She remained in service, but was never fully reconditioned to her pre-war condition.  After the war, she sailed on austerity service and during the early 1950s  she sailed on a leisurely route to northern ports to New York.  The damage from the fire rendered her structure too weak to risk on winter Atlantic crossings. During winter months, she sailed as an all tourist-class cruise liner.  In her last years she was rebuilt with a single funnel and was a demoted ship in the Cunard-White Star fleet.  She was sold for scrap in 1956.

           

 Georgic (1932-1956) Built by Harland & Wolff, Limited, Belfast, Northern Ireland for White Star Line.  27, 759 gross tons, 711 feet long, 82 feet wide.  B&W diesels geared to twin screw.  Service speed 18 knots.  As built total capacity of 1,542 passengers (479 cabin class, 557 tourist class, 506 third class).