Winter refits in 1926, 1927 and 1928 increased her passenger capacity for travelling the seas, and in 1930, she even served as an art gallery for a voyage. Leaving New York on February 2nd, 1932, she began her first cruise. This voyage would take her to the Mediterranean. In the same year, she cruised again on the same route, and later to the Bahamas.
In late 1932, she underwent a major and costly reconstruction. Her first class cabins were reduced and Tourist class (a replacement for steerage) was enlarged. All public rooms were improved and a movie theatre was added. While keeping with the times, Aquitania still heralded back to an earlier era.
Forced together by the economic recesion, bitter rivals Cunard and White Star began to work together under a new flag. Now with many new running mates, they could claim virtual dominance of the sea.
As the 1930's came to a close, clouds started looming in the form of the Nazi party. Cunard-White Star has reason to be worried. Their new liners Queen Mary and the yet to be completed Queen Elizabeth would be prime targets for assasins in the case of war, the German subs were even more deadly than in World War One, and their precious liners did not need the admiralty once again calling them for their turn of duty. Finally though, Cunard-White Star's fears were realised when was was declared in 1939. |
