Well, part of the reason for that post was a project that Onno and I have been working on (...in our spare time ) over the past few months.

We thought it would be interesting to create a large poster showing the evolution of the Ocean Liner over time. Onno agreed to participate in the project and the result of his amazing skills is a beautifully detailed poster showing the most significant liners built from the Great Britain of 1843 to Queen Mary.

Here's a scaled down version of the poster:

Larger Version

Because this is the web, neither of these images reflect the detail Onno has put into the poster. To get an idea of that, click here for a close up of the Titanic. The actual print is even more detailed.

If you are interested in getting your very own copy of the poster, it is available online at our CruisePage.com Store here.

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Keitaro: Well done Joe and Onno! Very nice details Onno. The black hulls looks great and the CANBERRA really stands out with the white hull.

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Actually I was amazed my self when I made the layout of the poster that all (except Canberra) had black hulls.

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Malcolm @ cruisepage: Great stuff!
I wonder who has cruised the most of them?

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I did!! (digitally that is)

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It's excellent.. do we get signed copies
Pam

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Well if the posters were not produced in the USA, I would have personally autographed a copy for you . Besides as art critics like to say the poster is signed all over and has the hand writing of the artist.

I hope you all enjoy the poster, it is a nice item to decorate your wall. you could even have it framed.

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Originally posted by Barryboat:
Actually, John Maxtone Graham made a similar poster of the evolution of liners...I have an autographed copy...I'll try to find it and scan some of it. I think he made two versions.

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JMG's posters were printed on the reverse side of the dust covers of two of his books. When unfolded they are approx 21 1/2 " by 18". There are actually at least 3 of them.

The first one was on the first edition of "The Only Way to Cross" in 1972. A second, updated chart was used for the 2nd edition pulbished in 1983....it extends the horizontal axis of the chart to 1980 (as opposed to 1970 on the 1st ed). That is the one I have. It has coloured line drawings of 35 Atlantic liners from 6 countries, showing when they were in service. As Pam says the line drawings are less detailed (because they are smaller), but it is great chart suitable for framing.

The 3rd chart was printed on the reverse side of the dust jacket for the first edition of "Liners to the Sun" published in 1985. It has larger line drawings of a greater number of cruise ships and does not have a time scale. Unfortunately, I bought it aboard QE2 where the chart was damaged by unthinking staff who sliced off the US price rather than just putting the pound sterling price sticker on top of the US price. The result is a triangular wedge cut into the right hand side of the chart.

I do not know if JMG updated either of these poster-charts at a later date.

There is a smaller chart on the back of the dust jacket of JMG's book "A Tribute to a Queen" which was published to coincide with QE2's return to service after she was re-engined over the winter of 1986/87. Of course this chart is restriced to Cunard liners from Britannia to QE2.

[ 07-03-2003: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

This is a great looking poster with super line drawings. Very well done!

But where is Queen Elizabeth? Was she left out to make room for Canberra?

Just curious.

[ 07-03-2003: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

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Brian_O said:
The 3rd chart was printed on the reverse side of the dust jacket for the first edition of "Liners to the Sun" published in 1985. It has larger line drawings of a greater number of cruise ships and does not have a time scale.

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I would put in the Rembrandterdam too. She is far more innovative than the France. The Olympic class would have been long forgotten if Titanic had not sunk. The German giants exceeded her size.

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Originally posted by desirod7:
Good job Onno,

I would put in the Rembrandterdam too. She is far more innovative than the France.
Kudos on an excellent poster

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However (but I suppose you had to draw a limit line ...and people are always grumbling...), as the most "significant" (and beautiful) liners, I would have add, at least, AQUITANIA, IMPERATOR or BERENGARIA or LEVIATHAN, REX or CONTE DI SAVOIA, NIEUW AMSTERDAM of 1938, QUEEN ELIZABETH (though probably considered as too close to the QM), ROTTERDAM of 1959, ANDREA DORIA, LEONARDO DA VINCI or RAFFAELLO/MICHELANGELO, KUNGSHOLM of 1965... and other ones. We're now at about 20 instead of 10 and I understand each ship is already a long and detailed graphic job.

What cools me down though, is the price.

By the way, a little correction (yes I'm splitting hairs), FRANCE is 315.66 meters long, not 316.1.

[ 07-04-2003: Message edited by: Vaccaro ]

And here is a chart portion of the chart from Liners To The Sun.

[ 07-04-2003: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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But where is Queen Elizabeth? Was she left out to make room for Canberra?

Just curious.

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Deciding on a definite list of ships was the biggest struggle. As an ocean liner fanatic my list is endless, but to be realistic Joe and I had to keep the list relatively short (also to give the poster a tranquil appearance) We did post a topic a while back where all members could give their list of ships they considered to be important. The definite list was a result of the ships mentioned (so all of you had influence in shaping the list) and to create a evolution poster that would appeal a broad public. The list is not about the better or biggest ships but the ships that had something unique or was the first in something. (exterior or interior design or lead to a new ways of looking at the ocean liner.) All ships lead to an archetype we consider to be an ocean liner. (similar of the design philosophy behind QM2) Basically Joe and I had to choose. It is hard to please all because everyone has their good reasons to have their favourites. Now there is at least one or more ship portrayed on the poster that people can like.

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By the way, a little correction (yes I'm splitting hairs), FRANCE is 315.66 meters long, not 316.1.

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Joe is the man responsible for the technical date, I only made the illustrations.

It is hard to please all because everyone has their good reasons to have their favourites.

So true. I think the responses are proof of that.

BTW, my question was not intended as any form of criticism because you have done a great job on the poster. It was only asked out of curiosity. Nor was it a backhanded suggestion that Canberra should not be on it, because I think Canberra does merit selection.

Thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated.

Brian

[ 07-04-2003: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

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Originally posted by Vaccaro:

By the way, a little correction (yes I'm splitting hairs), FRANCE is 315.66 meters long, not 316.1.

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That was before they painted her

They used a lot of thick paint - very thick.

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:

That was before they painted her

They used a lot of thick paint - very thick.

Joe at TravelPage.com

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Opportune and veritable explanation!

In fact, here's the real reason: on the latitude she was built, yes she was 315.66m long, now she's for warmer climate service, the whole hull dilates and she's 316.1m indeed, as you successfully worked out after probably hours and hours of intensive calculation.
As another example of the above, QM2 now beeing built is 1,132ft long at St-Nazaire but, thanks to the high-elasticity limit of her steel, will be -at least !- 1,500ft long, or even 1,800 (and with no thick paint!) once in the Caribbean. That way she'll still retain the title of the longuest/largest passenger ship, no matter the 180,000grt projects of the competitors.

Cruise Man, since you "know nearly everything on the basis of technic about ships", feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

(Joke aside, yes hulls dilates and that's why, during construction, propellers lines had to be installed during night in the past for instance. Sometimes dilatation joints are there for that too but I'm sure most of you already know that).

I hope to order one in the near future.

In either case, the QM2 could be the final evolution!