Affordable Luxury at Sea: The 1939 United States Lines Travel Experience
Discover the 1939 brochure from United States Lines, showcasing luxurious yet affordable transatlantic travel aboard the SS Manhattan, SS Washington, and more. Ideal for historians, genealogists, teachers, and ocean travel enthusiasts, with fascinating insights into life at sea before WWII.
Cover, Travel in Luxury at Low Cost with American Hospitality with United States Lines, 1939 Brochure. Make a Pleasure Cruise of Your Crossing to New York! GGA Image ID # 1edc46ee28
You live well on board the luxury liners SS Manhattan and SS Washington.
Cabin DeLuxe on the SS Manhattan. GGA Image ID # 1edc602114
Roominess on board the splendid SS Manhattan and SS Washington is one of the many features designed to give travelers just what they want. The broad decks will impress you first. Lounges are spacious and handsomely furnished, and ceilings are high. Even the closets in your stateroom are far larger than most. You'll find the same careful planning reflected in the food you eat—the deft service you receive—the first-run movies, and the grand music. That's why every detail of these ships appeals to experienced travelers.
Cabin Class Dining Room on the SS Washington. GGA Image ID # 1edcfa2891
You Will enjoy the comfort, fun, and friendliness of SS President Harding and SS President Roosevelt.
The popular ships SS President Roosevelt and SS President Harding have an atmosphere of genuine hospitality. You will surely meet friendly, interesting companions aboard—people with whom you can enjoy all the features provided for your entertainment. These ships are known for their comfortable, well-ventilated staterooms and everything that makes for a delightful voyage in congenial surroundings. The library supplies an interesting and varied selection of the classics and modern novels. In the evening, there is music by the ship's orchestra, dancing, and the latest films.
The SS Manhattan and SS Washington, alternating with the SS President Harding and SS President Roosevelt, maintained a weekly service every Friday from Southampton to New York.
The new SS America, coming in 1940, is designed to offer all the features that have made United States lines' ships so popular.
ONE-CLASS ONLY SERVICES
£21 The Whole Ship is Yours £21
Weekly from London direct to New York; fortnightly from Liverpool via Glasgow and Belfast. All cabins are outside and equipped with roomy beds or berths—all sports facilities. You will enjoy the voyage to the utmost.
Sample Tourist Class Dinner Menu Prepared with Skill Offers a Wide Selection on the SS Washington. GGA Image ID # 1edd651ab0
This Is the Year to See America
USL Ocean Liner Seen Against New York Skyline. GGA Image ID # 1eddd264f7
MINIMUM FARES
- £37.50 Cabin Class on the luxurious SS Manhattan or SS Washington. Fortnightly from Southampton.
- £28.50 Cabin Class on the SS President Harding or SS President Roosevelt.. informal and very comfortable. Fortnightly from Southampton.
- £25.10 Tourist Class on the SS Manhattan or SS Washington—freshwater showers, swimming pool, gym use, pre-release talkies, etc.
- £21.00 On the " One Class Only " ships, weekly from London. The whole ship is yours, fortnightly from Liverpool via Glasgow and Belfast.
- £18.10 Third Class on the SS Manhattan or SS Washington. Comfortable cabins, good ventilation, ample deck space, sports, and entertainment provided.
- £18.00 Third Class on the SS President Harding or SS President Roosevelt. A homelike atmosphere and a cordial spirit of friendliness.
Fortnightly = 14 Days
Low-Cost Tours to America
Special Excursion Rates during specific Periods. Details on application.
Tourist Class Sheltered Promenade Deck on a USL Liner. GGA Image ID # 1eddf64e78
Tourist Class Swimming Pool on a USL Ocean Liner. GGA Image ID # 1ede309eb4
Published by the United States Lines, London. C. P. & S. Co., Ltd. Printed in England.
Recap & Summary: Travel in Luxury at Low Cost (1939)
The 1939 brochure Travel in Luxury at Low Cost from the United States Lines presents an engaging and informative look into transatlantic travel options just before World War II. With vivid descriptions, captivating photographs, and practical insights, the brochure paints a picture of comfortable, affordable ocean voyages for a diverse range of passengers. This historical document holds significant value for teachers, students, genealogists, historians, and others interested in maritime travel, 20th-century tourism, and social history.
Historical Significance & Educational Relevance
This brochure is more than a promotional piece for ocean travel; it reflects the era's travel trends, economic considerations, and the leisure habits of pre-war America and Europe. Teachers can use it to illustrate the importance of ocean liners in international travel before the rise of commercial aviation. Historians might find the documented fares, schedules, and social dynamics aboard these liners useful for understanding interwar travel culture. Genealogists may also glean insights into the voyages their ancestors undertook when immigrating or traveling abroad.
Key Highlights and Engaging Content
🚢 Luxurious Yet Affordable Travel
The United States Lines positioned themselves as offering affordable luxury. Passengers could choose from various classes, including Cabin, Tourist, and Third Class, each providing comfort, entertainment, and high-quality service. The brochure showcases how travelers could enjoy amenities like freshwater showers, gyms, swimming pools, first-run films, and diverse menu selections regardless of their ticket class.
Why It’s Engaging:
The detailed fare breakdown demonstrates the accessibility of international travel for middle-class families, highlighting an era when ocean voyages were transitioning from elite luxury to a more inclusive experience.
🌊 Life Onboard: Hospitality & Leisure
The brochure vividly describes life aboard the flagship liners SS Manhattan, SS Washington, SS President Roosevelt, and SS President Harding. Spacious decks, porthole portraits, morning bouillon service, deck games like tennis and shuffleboard, and evening dances made the voyages enjoyable and social. The photographs of the Tea Wagon service and the children’s gala parties underscore the effort to create a welcoming atmosphere for passengers of all ages.
Why It’s Engaging:
These details bring the shipboard experience to life, offering a glimpse into mid-20th-century leisure and social customs. For students studying social history, the brochure provides a snapshot of daily life at sea that textbooks rarely capture.
⚓ Innovation & Comfort
The mention of the upcoming SS America in 1940 reflects the ongoing innovation within the industry. The description of room sizes, modern ventilation, and amenities like large closets, comfortable beds, and freshwater showers exemplify the technological advancements that made sea travel more comfortable.
Why It’s Engaging:
The contrast between earlier ocean liners and these modern vessels is stark, providing a discussion point for lessons on technological progress in transportation.
Economic Insights & Travel Patterns
The fares section provides insights into the cost of transatlantic travel in 1939. With minimum fares as low as £18 for Third Class and £37.50 for Cabin Class, the brochure illustrates the accessibility of overseas travel for middle-class families. Additionally, the inclusion of "One-Class Only" services reflects a shift toward more democratic travel experiences.
Why It’s Engaging:
Economics teachers and historians can use this fare structure to discuss currency values, travel costs, and the impact of tourism on economies during this era.
Genealogical Insights
For genealogists, the details of sailing schedules, routes, and ship names are invaluable. The documentation of weekly and fortnightly departures from London, Southampton, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Belfast offers clues about migration and travel patterns during this period.
Why It’s Engaging:
Ship names, ports of departure, and passenger class options can help researchers connect family records to actual voyages and historical events.
