This website is for ships’ crew of the FBL— more than 40 years on.

Furness Bermuda Line: ships’ crew reunited

About the Ships

Queen of Bermuda (right) —with three funnels at anchor off Nassau, Bahamas in 1960.

Photo: Alva James

Queen of Bermuda (below) —with one funnel  - at sea in 1963.

Photo: Allan Davidson.

 

Ocean Monarch (right) in Hamilton harbour, Bermuda in 1960.

Photo: Allan Davidson.

Monarch of Bermuda (below) from post card.

Courtesy of Allan Davidson.

After WWII, Queen of Bermuda returned to the Furness Bermuda Line, this time running with the newly-built but smaller Ocean Monarch.  Throughout the 1950s, they were dubbed the ‘Honeymoon Ships’, their Saturday departures from New York fitting in well with the week-long honeymoons of many couples.  During this period, the celebrity list included former US president Harry Truman, Cary Grant, Noel Coward and Princess Soraya, former wife of the Shah of Iran.

Queen of Bermuda made her maiden voyage to Hamilton, Bermuda  in 1933.  Accompanied by Monarch of Bermuda until the outbreak of war in 1939, they became known as the ‘Millionaires’ Ships’ as they attracted the wealthiest passengers – and the famous, including Clark Gable, TS Eliot, Gertrude Lawrence and child film star Shirley Temple. 

 

For more facts and figures, click here.