Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1929
First Class Shopping Promenade on the Express Luxury Liner SS Bremen of the Norddeutscher Lloyd, 1929. Express Liner Bremen Brochure, 15 November 1929. GGA Image ID # 205a871a89
Passenger lists for 1929 represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection primarily covers North American and European ports and ports in Australia and South Africa.
Our collection contains samples of passenger lists produced and printed by the steamship lines. These lists are often used to illustrate family history books for immigrants from this period.
Coveted by collectors and genealogists, souvenir passenger lists often offered beautiful graphical covers and information not found in official manifests because they focused on the journey rather than the destination.
1929-01-16 SS New York Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 16 January 1929
Route: Hamburg to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Graalfs
1929-02-08 SS Adriatic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: First Class and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 February 1929
Route: Alexandria to New York via Syracuse, Naples, Monaco, and Gibraltar
Commander: Captain V. W. Hickson (Lt. Cmdr., R.N.R., Retd.)
1929-02-09 SS President Roosevelt Passenger List
Steamship Line: Ward Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 9 February 1929
Route: New York to Havana
Commander: Captain Theo. Van Beek, U.S.N.R.
1929-03-14 SS München Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 14 March 1929
Route: New York to Bremen via Queenstown (Cobh) and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Gössling
1929-03-15 SS Hamburg Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 15 March 1929
Route: Hamburg to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Schwamberger
1929-03-20 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 20 March 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, K.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1929-03-30 SS Leviathan Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 30 March 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore H. A. Cunningham
1929-04-05 SS New York Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 5 April 1929
Route: Hamburg to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Graalfs
1929-04-13 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 13 April 1929
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
1929-04-18 SS American Trader Passenger List
Steamship Line: American Merchant Lines
Class of Passengers: One
Date of Departure: 18 April 1929
Route: New York to London
Commander: Captain not stated
1929-04-19 SS Hamburg Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Tourist-Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 19 April 1929
Route: Hamburg to New York
Commander: Captain Schwamberger
1929-04-20 SS Majestic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 20 April 1929
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. Marshall, C.B., D.S.O., R.D. (Commodore R.N.R.)
1929-04-20 Empress of Asia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 20 April 1929
Route: Vancouver and Victoria to Manila via Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
1929-05-17 SS American Shipper Passenger List
Steamship Line: American Merchant Lines
Class of Passengers: One
Date of Departure: 17 May 1929
Route: London to New York
Commander: Captain not stated
Other: Maiden Voyage
1929-05-18 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 18 May 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1929-05-18 SS Baltic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: First Class and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 18 May 1929
Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain G. E. Warner, R.D. (Capt. R.N.R., Retd.)
1929-05-23 SS Llandaff Castle Passenger List
Steamship Line: Union-Castle Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 23 May 1929
Route: London to South Africa via the Mediterranean
Ports of Call: London to Natal via Marseilles, Genoa, Port Said, Port Sudan, Aden, Mombasa, Tanga, Zanzibar, DarEs-Salaam, Port Amelia, Beira and Lourenço Marques (Maputo)
Commander: Captain E. F. Gilbert
1929-05-29 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 May 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol
1929-06-01 RMS Adriatic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 1 June 1929
Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain V. W. Hickson (Lt. Cmdr., R.N.R., Retd.)
1929-06-06 SS De Grasse Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 6 June 1929
Route: New York to Le Havre
Commander: Captain E. Robert
1929-06-08 RMS Cedric Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 June 1929
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain J. Kearney (Lt. Cmdr. R.N.R., Retd.)
1929-06-15 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Student Third Cabin Association (S.T.C.A.)
Date of Departure: 15 June 1929
Route: New York to Plymouth, Boulogne-sur-Mer, and Rotterdam
Commander: Captain Krol
1929-06-19 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 19 June 1929
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1929-07-02 SS Providence Passenger List
Steamship Line: Fabre Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 2 July 1929
Route: New York to Marseilles via Boston, Ponta Delgada, Lisbon, Naples, Palermo, Piraeus, Beirut, and Malta
Commander: Captain Laurent Vidal
1929-07-03 SS Cameronia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 3 July 1929
Route: New York to Londonderry and Glasgow via Boston
Commander: Captain William Gemmeix
Note: This passenger list included mostly students under the direction of the Students Travel Club
1929-07-03 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 3 July 1929
Route: New York to Bremen via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain N. Johnsen
1929-07-04 SS De Grasse Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 July 1929
Route: New York to Le Havre
Commander: Captain E. Robert
1929-07-10 TSS Tuscania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Class
Date of Departure: 10 July 1929
Route: New York to London via Plymouth and Le Havre
Commander: Captain William Rome
1929-07-13 SS Baltic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 13 July 1929
Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain J. Kearney (Lt. Cmdr. R.N.R., Retd.)
1929-07-16 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 16 July 1929
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, K.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1929-07-20 SS De Grasse Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique / French Line (CGT)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 July 1929
Route: Le Havre to New York
Commander: Captain Léon de Malglaive
1929-07-20 SS Empress of Scotland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 July 1929
Route: Southampton to Quebec via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. Turnbull, C.B.E., R.D., A.D.C., R.N.R.
1929-07-29 SS Hellig Olav Passenger List
Steamship Line: Scandinavian-American Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 July 1929
Route: New York to Copenhagen via Kristiansand and Oslo
Commander: Captain L. F. Peronard
1929-07-27 RMS Scythia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 July 1929
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain R. B. Irving, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1929-08-09 TSS Tuscania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 9 August 1929
Route: New York to London via Plymouth and Le Havre
Commander: Captain William Rome
1929-08-10 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 10 August 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. Prothero
1929-08-10 RMS Laconia Cabin Class Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 10 August 1929
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain M. Doyle.
1929-08-10 RMS Laconia Tourist Third Cabin Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 10 August 1929
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain M. Doyle.
1929-08-13 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Student Third Cabin Association Members
Date of Departure: 13 August 1929
Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen
1929-08-16 SS Arabic Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 16 August 1929
Route: Antwerp to Halifax and New York via Southampton, Cherbourg, and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain J. B. Bulman
1929-08-17 RMS Albertic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 17 August 1929
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Belfast and Glasgow
Commander: Captain F. F. Summers, R.D., (Cmdr. RNR, Retd.)
1929-08-23 TSS Statendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 23 August 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel
1929-08-24 RMS Tuscania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 August 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre
Commander: Captain William Rome
1929-08-25 SS Saturnia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cosulich Line - Trieste
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 25 August 1929
Route: Trieste to New York via Patrasso and Naples
Commander: Captain Stuparich Cav Roberto
1929-08-27 SS Leviathan Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 August 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore H. A. Cunningham
1929-08-30 SS Karlsruhe Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 30 August 1929
Route: Bremen to Boston and New York via Galway
Commander: Captain H. Filzinger
1929-08-31 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 August 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1929-09-04 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 4 September 1929
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain L. Ziegenbein
1929-09-04 RMS Majestic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 September 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore W. Marshall
1929-09-04 TSS Volendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 September 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain De Koning
1929-09-07 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 September 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. Prothero
1929-09-07 SS Montroyal Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 September 1929
Route: Southampton and Cherbourg to Quebec
Commander:Captain J. P. Lewis
1929-09-11 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 11 September 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol, R.N.R
1929-09-14 TSS California Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 14 September 1929
Route: Glasgow to Boston and New York via Belfast
Commander: Captain Frank M. Henderson
1929-09-18 RMS Homeric Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 18 September 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain G. E. Warner, R.D. (Capt. R.N.R., Retd.)
1929-09-28 RMS Carinthia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 28 September 1929
Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain R. V. Peel, R.D., R.N.R.
1929-10-12 SS Minnewaska Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 12 October 1929
Route: Tilbury (London) for New York via Boulogne
Commander: Captain Frank H. Claret
1929-10-17 SS Cleveland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg-Amerika Linie | Hamburg America Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 October 1929
Route: Hamburg to Boston and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Cobh (Queenstown)
Commander: Captain Niss
1929-10-17 SS München Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 17 October 1929
Route: Bremen to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain H. Gößling
1929-10-19 RMS Scythia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 19 October 1929
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh) and Galway
Commander: Captain R. B. Irving, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1929-11-02 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 2 November 1929
Route: New York to Antwerp via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1929-11-29 RMS Walmer Castle Passenger List
Steamship Line: Union-Castle Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 November 1929
Route: Capetown to Southampton via Madeira
Commander: Captain W. Morton Betts
Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1929 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.
Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1929
The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1929 capture a pivotal year in ocean travel, highlighting the rise of luxury, the expansion of tourist-class travel, and the growing influence of German and American liners. This was a golden era for transatlantic crossings, with ships becoming floating palaces of comfort, shopping, and entertainment.
However, 1929 was also the year of the Wall Street Crash in October, an event that would soon affect passenger traffic, ship construction, and the entire ocean liner industry.
Key Themes in 1929 Ocean Travel
1. The Age of the Express Luxury Liner Begins
One of the most significant events in 1929 was the launch of the German express liner SS Bremen, a ship that revolutionized transatlantic travel.
- SS Bremen (September 4, 1929) was one of the fastest and most advanced liners of its time.
- It featured a first-class shopping promenade, reflecting the industry’s shift toward luxury and leisure travel.
- German shipbuilders aimed to reclaim their place in the transatlantic market, competing directly with Cunard’s Mauretania and White Star’s Majestic.
Why It Matters: The SS Bremen’s debut signaled the start of a new "speed war" among ocean liners, where speed and luxury became key selling points.
2. The Rise of Tourist and Third-Class Travel
By 1929, the class system aboard ships was changing, with a growing middle class fueling demand for affordable transatlantic crossings.
- Tourist Third Cabin class became the new standard for budget travelers.
- Major ships catering to this market included:
- RMS Aquitania (August 10, 1929)
- RMS Berengaria (September 7, 1929)
- SS Columbus (July 3, 1929)
- More students, young professionals, and middle-class families were now crossing the Atlantic for work, education, or tourism.
Why It Matters: This shift meant that ocean travel was no longer just for the wealthy or immigrants, but for a growing segment of budget-conscious travelers.
3. The German, British, and American Rivalry Heats Up
- Germany: With ships like the SS Bremen and SS Columbus, Germany was reclaiming its place as a powerhouse in ocean travel.
- Britain: Cunard and White Star dominated the luxury market, with ships like the RMS Majestic, RMS Aquitania, and RMS Berengaria.
- United States: American liners like the SS Leviathan and SS President Roosevelt strengthened America’s role in transatlantic travel.
Each country was competing for passengers, offering better accommodations, faster crossings, and more amenities.
Why It Matters: This fierce competition led to technological innovations but also overproduction of ships—something that would become a problem after the 1929 economic crash.
4. The Impact of the Wall Street Crash of 1929
In October 1929, the stock market crashed, leading to the Great Depression.
- Luxury travel on ocean liners would soon decline, as fewer people could afford first-class tickets.
- Tourist-class travel might have remained stable, but even budget travelers were affected by job losses.
- Orders for new ships were delayed or canceled, affecting shipbuilding in Britain, Germany, and the U.S.
Why It Matters: Though not fully felt in 1929, the effects of the economic collapse would reshape ocean travel in the 1930s.
Notable Passenger Ships of 1929
1. SS Bremen (North German Lloyd) – The Fastest Liner of Its Time
- Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
- Significance:
- First-class shopping promenade set a new standard for luxury travel.
- One of the fastest transatlantic liners, competing with Mauretania.
2. RMS Aquitania (Cunard Line) – The Epitome of Luxury
- Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
- Significance:
- Premier luxury liner for the elite.
- Balanced elegance with comfort, making it a preferred choice for first-class travelers.
3. SS Columbus (North German Lloyd) – The German Challenger
- Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
- Significance:
- One of Germany’s most successful ocean liners.
- Competed with British and American ships for speed and comfort.
4. SS Leviathan (United States Lines) – America’s Ocean Giant
- Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
- Significance:
- Largest U.S. passenger ship, competing with British and German liners.
- Symbol of American luxury travel before the Depression.
5. SS President Roosevelt (Ward Line) – The Caribbean Connection
- Route: New York to Havana
- Significance:
- Reflects America’s growing tourism and trade with Cuba.
- Part of the Caribbean cruise industry’s early expansion.
Key Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1929
1. The Debut of the SS Bremen – A New Era in Ocean Liners
- Germany re-entered the competition with one of the fastest ships ever built.
- Set new standards for onboard luxury, with first-class shopping promenades.
2. The Growth of Tourist-Class Travel
- Ships like RMS Aquitania and RMS Berengaria adapted to cater to middle-class travelers.
- Ocean travel was no longer just for the wealthy.
3. The Wall Street Crash of 1929
- The stock market collapse in October had an immediate impact on first-class bookings.
- The effects on shipbuilding and passenger numbers would be more fully realized in the 1930s.
Conclusion – 1929: The Peak Before the Fall
- This was the height of the golden era of ocean travel, with luxurious ships, faster crossings, and record numbers of passengers.
- Germany made a major comeback in transatlantic travel, challenging Britain and the U.S. with the launch of the SS Bremen.
- Tourist-class travel continued to expand, making ocean voyages more accessible.
- However, the Wall Street Crash in October signaled the beginning of financial hardship, which would soon impact ocean liners and international travel.
By the end of 1929, the world had changed, and so would the future of steamship travel.
