Updated 2025-04-10T17:04:37Z
- Today's cruise ships may have zip lines and skating rinks, but they're not all as elegant as they once were.
- People used to dress up in tuxedos and evening gowns.
- To pass the time, events like egg-and-spoon races were commonplace.
Nowadays, cruise ships may boast large swimming pools, planetariums, and zip lines, but many floating resorts have lost their timeless elegance.
Before air travel became commonplace, cruise ships were the only method of long-distance travel.
These ships — on which celebrities and wealthy people would spend weeks and months at a time — were the epitome of class and luxury.
Take a look at these stunning pictures of cruise ships in their glory days.
Cruise ships of the past were more than just floating malls.
Celebrities like Mae West were regulars. West famously preferred sea travel to flying.
As were Hollywood icons like Cary Grant ...
... former first lady Jackie O ...
... silver screen actor Elizabeth Taylor ...
... and Ginger Rogers.
Cruise ships weren't just ways to travel from one place to another — they were seen as luxurious vacations in their own right.
Many cruise ships were equipped with swimming pools. Some had marble tiling.
This 1950s cruise ship served a buffet lunch poolside.
Pre-internet and smartphones, people came up with all sorts of ways to pass the time.
They played games ...
... engaged in rounds of tug of war ...
... and even set up boxing matches.
They had egg-and-spoon races, too.
Cruise ship dining halls featured waiters in white jackets serving dinner and drinks.
This dining room looked more like an opera house than a cruise ship cafeteria or buffet.
Even older passenger ships boasted incredible skylights ...
... and intricate carvings on the walls.
More modern cruise ships in the 1960s had sweeping spiral staircases.
People got really dressed up for dinner, opting for cocktail dresses or even black-tie attire.
Of course, everyone drank a lot, too. After all, there's an old wives' tale that Champagne is good for seasickness.
In the 1960s, cruise ship lounges became more futuristic-looking.
There were dancing events, like this hula class on a cruise ship in 1954.
Passengers could also enjoy live music on board.
Mostly, there was a whole lot of lounging around.
Despite being in the middle of the ocean, cruise ships offered all the amenities of the mainland.
Passengers could call home ...
... get their laundry done ...
... and even pick up prescriptions at the on-board pharmacy.
Some cruise ships had air-conditioned cinema and theater rooms where guests could catch a movie.
People could also exercise in group classes, like this aerobics class on a cruise ship in 1961.
It was also possible to get married on a cruise ship, like this couple pictured in 1960.
