Transatlantiques

The Golden Age of the Liner (1x2)

Air date: Jul 14, 2019

For a little over a century, ocean liners crossed the Atlantic in both directions for thousands of passengers. After the First World War, the transatlantic adventure took on a new lease of life. While America was restricting the reception of migrants from Europe, the major shipping companies set out to conquer an upscale clientele. Sumptuous decoration, fine cuisine and orchestras now embellish the crossings of film stars, prominent personalities and rich tourists. With flagships such as the Paris, which made its first cruise in 1921, or, from 1935, the Normandy, on which more than a third of passengers travelled in first class, the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique distinguished itself with its floating palaces. During the Second World War, rotations, which continued at a slower pace, also had their dramas.