 |
Floating Palaces
The great ocean liners of the Atlantic were the largest—and most opulent—passenger ships ever built. In their glorious heyday, it was as if the finest hotels and most magnificent estates of the Western world had been put to sea. Floating Palaces sets sail on the grand tour of the transatlantic liners, from the ultra-luxurious staterooms and private swimming pools of the elite to the below-deck accommodations of less fortunate immigrant travelers.
Part I
At the time when most of the world traveled in horse-and-buggy, it took extraordinary imagination to conceive of crossing the Atlantic in a giant steamship. Yet, for engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel and shipping magnate Samuel Cunard, just getting across was not enough.
Vocabulary
Discussion Questions
-
Most European powers sailed their own mighty liners. How did great ships symbolize a country’s strength?
-
Why were the great transatlantic liners of the past called “floating palaces?”
-
The steam machine powered the Industrial Revolution, but early steam machines were called a “madman’s gamble.” Why? What did this phrase mean?
-
The Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) is the last of the great liners. Why is this ship considered “state-of-the-art?”
-
What is a calculated risk? How does it differ from any ordinary risk?
-
Why is the QEII so much faster than its predecessors?
-
How did Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s failure contribute to the success of luxury steamships?
-
How did Albert Ballin initiate the era of shipboard opulence?
-
Discuss the role of immigrants in the history of the “floating palaces.”
-
Between the years 1880 and 1924, the greatest human migration occurred. What were some of the reasons for this great migration to the United States?
Extended Activities
-
Design a floating palace during the heyday of luxury liners.
-
Imagine that you are a passenger aboard one of the great luxury liners. Keep a journal or travel log of your journey.
Related Videos
|
