🚢 RMS Queen Mary (1953) Passage Ticket – Transatlantic Travel with Cunard Line

📌 Explore the historical RMS Queen Mary passage ticket from 1953, documenting a transatlantic voyage from New York to Southampton. This detailed record provides valuable insights for historians, genealogists, and maritime enthusiasts. Discover more about Cunard Line’s famous ocean liner and 20th-century travel at GG Archives!

Front Side, Cunard Line Tourist Class Passage Ticket for Passage on the RMS Queen Mary, Departing from New York for Southampton Dated 7 February 1953. GGA Image ID # 12ce4e106b

RMS Queen Mary Passage Ticket (1953) – A Luxurious Voyage Across the Atlantic 🚢✨

The RMS Queen Mary passage ticket from 1953 offers a captivating glimpse into mid-20th-century transatlantic ocean travel, a period when ocean liners were still the primary means of crossing between Europe and North America. This was a time when commercial aviation was in its infancy, and ships like the Queen Mary served as both an essential means of transportation and a symbol of luxury and status. The Cunard Line, which operated the RMS Queen Mary, was one of the most prestigious shipping companies of the era, known for its impeccable service, grand accommodations, and efficient voyages.

This specific tourist-class passage ticket, issued for Mrs. Pauline Bunt, records her journey from New York to Southampton on February 7, 1953. While the ticket cost is not listed, the voyage was part of Cunard's efforts to make ocean liner travel more accessible to a wider range of passengers by offering different travel classes. The ticket details important aspects of the journey, including embarkation at Pier 90 in New York City, specific passenger regulations, and the documentation required for international travel. This document is a valuable historical artifact, shedding light on the logistics, experience, and significance of transatlantic sea voyages during this period.

Summary of Passage Ticket

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 7 February 1953
• Steamship Line: Cunard Line
• Steamship: RMS Queen Mary
• Route: New York to Southampton
• Ticket Type: Passage Ticket
• Voyage Class: Tourist Class
• Name on Contract: Mrs. Pauline Bunt
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): American
• Contract Terms: Transcribed
• Cost of Ticket: Not Stated

Passage Ticket Details

Tourist Class passage ticket on the Cunard Line RMS Queen Mary, sailing from New York to Southampton on 7 February 1953 on Pier 90, North River where passengers embarked between 8:30 and 11:30 am for this voyage.

THE CUNARD STEAM-SHIP COMPANY LIMITED

Mrs. Pauline Bunt

PASSAGE TICKET

For Tourist Class Passage
Per S. S. "QUEEN MARY"
Sailing from: New York City
Pier No. 90, North River    
Passengers embark: February 7, 1953
Beginning at 8.30 A.M.  to 11.30 A.M.

When daylight Saving Time is in effect, sailing and embarkation hours are shown in Daylight Saving Time.

Back Side, Cunard Line Tourist Class Passage Ticket for Passage on the RMS Queen Mary, Departing from New York for Southampton Dated 7 February 1953. GGA Image ID # 12ce646337

Westbound Embarkation Arrangements

In order to obtain complete and accurate embarkation information for sailings from:

Cherbourg and Havre: passengers should confirm their reservations at the Cunard Line Office, 6 Rue Scribe, Paris

Southampton and Liverpool:  passengers should confirm their reservations at any of the Company’s offices in England.

Passengers are requested to read carefully the conditions both on the front and back of the enclosed contract of transportation.

Necessary Travel Documents

• PASSPORTS: All passengers must be in possession of valid passports of the country of which they are citizens.

• VISAS: All passengers must secure visas when required of all countries which they intend to visit except the country of which they are citizens or subjects.

• SAILING PERMITS :Before departure from the United States, all passengers, except U. S. Citizens, must secure a Sailing Permit (Income Tax Compliance  Certificate) from the U. S. Dept, of Internal Revenue in their local district.  In New York, Sailing Permits are issued in Room 500, 292 Madison Avenue.

• VACCINATION: All persons entering the Port of New York must have valid vaccination certificates which indicate that the vaccination was successful or showed immunity. See a copy of the Company’s sailing list or consult your local agent.

• WARNING: Passengers are cautioned not to leave articles such as coats, cameras, binoculars, etc., in the staterooms unattended while in port. If leaving the stateroom before departure of the steamer, notify the bedroom steward to lock the room.

Tipping or Gratuities to Porters at the Entrance or on the Company’s Piers, is not required.

Location of Company's American Port Offices and Piers

• NEW YORK, N. Y., 25 Broadway and

441 Park Ave., cor. 56th St. 
Pier 90 N.R., foot of West 50th Street, N. Y. City
Pier 92 N.R., foot of West 51st Street, N. Y. City
Piers 54, 55 N.R., foot of West 14th Street, N. Y. City

• BOSTON, MASS., 393 Boylston St.

Cunard Pier 3, East Boston

• MONTREAL, QUE., 230 Hospital Street

Piers 2, 3, & 5, foot of St. Francis Xavier Street

• HALIFAX, N. S., 375 Barrington St.

Piers 20, 21, 22 South Terminals

• QUEBEC, QUE., 67 St. Peter Street

Wolfe’s Cove Terminals & Pier No. 28

• SAINT JOHN, N. B., 162 Prince William Street

Ships Dock at West Saint John

Baggage Handling

Passengers are cautioned to retain in their possession until on board ship all articles such as coats, wraps, furs, cameras and any cases containing valuables such as jewelry, etc. Such items should not be entrusted to a porter.

Careful note should be made by passenger of the badge number of the porters handling their baggage on the pier. If baggage is lost or mislaid immediate advice should be given to the Baggage Master on the Pier or on board ship, together with the number of the porter.

Passengers are cautioned to wrap all packages securely. Each package, as well as all other baggage, must be tagged and labelled with the passenger’s name, class and stateroom number. The Company reserves the right to refuse any package which does not comply with these requirements.

HAVE YOU INSURED YOUR BAGGAGE?

As the Company’s liability for baggage and personal effects is strictly limited in accordance with the terms of the contract clauses of the passage ticket (s), it is recommended that passengers insure their baggage and personal belongings.

Inexpensive policies sponsored by Cunard Line include protection in steamships, trains, automobiles, airplanes, hotels, etc. They are for sale by leading Travel Agents and

Company’s Offices.
C2C0-6 1 830-5/50
PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Passports must be submitted at embarkation. Passengers should have passports ready for presentation.

US Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1914-1966

List of Outward-Bound Passengers (United States Citizens and Nationals), Form I-435 US Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, P. 379, List No. 13, Sailing from New York, 7 February 1953 on the SS Queen Mary bound for the Port of Southampton. Line 15 Pauline Bunt, 21 YO Female from Bucksport, Maine on Indefinate leave. A4169-NewYork,1948-1956-201. GGA Image ID # 1a1d677e8d

• Name: Pauline Bunt
• Gender: Female
• Departure Age: 21
• Birth Date: abt 1932
• Birth Place: Bucksport Maine
• Departure Date: 7 Feb 1953
• Departure Place: New York, New York, USA
• Ship: QUEEN MARY

The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels and Airplanes Departing from New York, New York, 07/01/1948-12/31/1956; NAI Number: 3335533; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A4169; NARA Roll Number: 201.

Who Should Find This Resource Valuable?

✅ 📚 Teachers & Students – This passage ticket is a primary source for studying transatlantic travel in the 1950s, offering insights into passenger regulations, maritime history, and international movement. It can enhance lessons in history, geography, and transportation studies.

✅ 🏡 Genealogists & Family Historians – Researchers tracing family migration will find this document useful for verifying travel records, passenger routes, and departure details. The United States Departing Passenger and Crew Lists (1914-1966) offer additional avenues for historical family research.

✅ ⚓ Maritime Historians & Enthusiasts – The RMS Queen Mary is one of the most iconic ocean liners in history. This ticket provides a direct link to the ship’s operations, detailing embarkation procedures, required travel documents, and Cunard Line policies.

✅ 💰 Economists & Researchers – The economic significance of transatlantic travel is evident in this document. By comparing ticket costs over time, researchers can analyze inflation, transportation costs, and economic shifts in global travel.

Historical Context of the Ship & Voyage

The RMS Queen Mary, launched in 1934, was one of the most famous transatlantic liners ever built. Initially a luxury ocean liner, she played a crucial role during World War II as a troop transport, ferrying thousands of soldiers across the Atlantic. After the war, the ship returned to civilian service, becoming one of the fastest and most prestigious passenger vessels.

By 1953, air travel was starting to challenge ocean liners, but the Queen Mary remained a preferred choice for those seeking a comfortable and elegant transatlantic experience. This voyage from New York to Southampton was part of Cunard’s regular service, which connected the United States and the United Kingdom at a time when many still relied on ships for leisure travel, business trips, and migration.

Cost of Voyage (Then & Now) 💵

While this specific ticket does not list a price, we can estimate the cost based on similar Cunard tourist-class fares from the early 1950s. The price for tourist class on the Queen Mary in 1953 was approximately $160 to $180 USD for a one-way trip.

Inflation-Adjusted Prices in 2020:

• Real Price Comparison: $1,700.00 – $1,900.00
• Labor Value Comparison: $3,200.00 – $3,500.00
• Income Value Comparison: $5,000.00 – $5,800.00
• Economic Share Comparison: $14,000.00 – $17,000.00

This data demonstrates that while ocean travel was once a standard means of crossing the Atlantic, the cost—relative to income—was still a significant investment for passengers.

Noteworthy Images 🖼️

📜 Ticket Image ID #12ce4e106b – The front side of the Cunard Line passage ticket provides an authentic look at mid-century ocean liner documentation, including embarkation details, pier location, and sailing times.

📑 Ticket Back Side Image ID #12ce646337 – The reverse side of the ticket includes crucial passenger instructions, such as visa requirements, customs regulations, baggage handling, and embarkation guidelines, reflecting the strict procedures in place for international travel.

📜 Passenger Manifest (February 7, 1953 Departure Record) – This document confirms Pauline Bunt’s journey on the Queen Mary, verifying her age (21), birthplace (Bucksport, Maine), and immigration status. This is a valuable reference for genealogical and immigration research.

Further Research Using GG Archives 📖🔍

The GG Archives provides an extensive collection of historical ocean travel documents, making it an essential resource for teachers, students, historians, and genealogists.

The RMS Queen Mary passage ticket from 1953 serves as a perfect example of the detailed records available, offering valuable insights into passenger travel, ship history, and maritime regulations.

💡 Students and researchers can use these materials to explore transatlantic migration, economic shifts in passenger travel, and the decline of ocean liners due to the rise of aviation. By studying primary sources like this ticket, they gain a deeper understanding of global travel in the 20th century.

🔗 Explore More at GG Archives! 📜✨