British Superliners Of The Sixties

This highly original book looks at the genesis, design and building of three remarkable ships: Oriana, Canberra and Queen Elizabeth 2. In the words of contemporary advertising hype, these were ‘the ships that shaped the future’. Revolutionary in almost every aspect, each is a showcase of advanced ideas in naval architecture. Few large cruise ships built in the last twenty years have been uninfluenced by their success.

British Superliners of the Sixties is far more than a history of three ships since it necessarily covers a transitional period in passenger shipping, where traditionasl companies adapted to the new requirement of leisure holiday travel in order to survive; the solutions, described here, were technically and aesthetically oputstanding.

This is the first book to give such a clear and exciting picture of the complexity of building a large liner; of the interlocking decisions that dictate design, decor and layout; and of the mysterious process whereby a ship acquires a distinct and individual personality.