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Quiz about Passenger Shipping Since 1945

Passenger Shipping Since 1945 Trivia Quiz

Since 1945, passenger ships have evolved from "mere" transportation to vacation destinations in themselves. Twenty-five questions, including some tough ones.

A multiple-choice quiz by ignotus. Estimated time: 9 mins.

Author
ignotus

Time
9 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
240,582

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
13 / 25

Plays
359

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. The Caronia (II) of 1949 was one of the first modern purpose-built cruise ships. Early in her career, Cunard followed an unusual policy for many of her luxurious voyages. What was it? Hint

Passengers had to be over 21 -- no children, please.

Cruises had to be paid for in dollars -- no sterling, please.

Passengers had to wear formal clothes from 5:00 pm every day -- no sport coats, please.

Only past passengers of the line were accepted -- no nouveaux riches, please.

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Question 2 of 25

2. A great era in passenger travel ended in 1986, when the Queen Elizabeth 2 did one of these. Which was it? Hint

was permanently retired from transatlantic service.

departed on her last world cruise.

was scrapped; the current "QE2" is a smaller replacement.

made the last regular steamship crossing of the Atlantic.

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Question 3 of 25

3. In 1998, something rather shocking happened to the Cunard Line. What was it? Hint

Cunard merged with British Airways.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 experienced a complete loss of electrical power in mid-Atlantic.

Cunard was purchased by an American-based company.

The line's corporate parent filed for bankruptcy.

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Question 4 of 25

4. The "funnels" of Celebrity cruise ships feature a white X on a blue background. What does it mean? Hint

It means nothing at all; it's just decorative.

It's a Cross of St. Andrew, laddie.

It's not an X -- it's the Greek letter chi.

It's a rebus for the line's founder, the Duke of Exeter. Get it?

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Question 5 of 25

5. Carnival, Holland-America, Seabourn, Costa, Princess, Windstar, Swan Hellenic, AIDA . . . what do they have in common? In 2006 they ...? Hint

all of their currently-operating ships were built in Finland.

they are all owned by one corporate parent.

all of their ships are registered in Liberia.

all of them are owned by hotel chains.

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Question 6 of 25

6. The majestic British liner Queen Mary 2 was proudly built by Hint

the Italian craftsmen of Fincantieri, Monfalcone.

the industrious Irish of Harland & Wolff, Belfast.

the skillful Scots of the Firth of Forth.

the French shipwrights of Chantiers de L'Atlantique.

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Question 7 of 25

7. Your cruise of the Hawaiian Islands on the Norwegian Wind included a short detour to a place called Fanning Island, which boasts Hint

the cheapest fuel oil in the Pacific.

the best scuba diving in the world.

nothing much -- except that it's not U.S. territory.

great duty-free shopping.

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Question 8 of 25

8. On your summer cruise of the Baltic Sea, you find that the ship's saltwater pool has been drained. The cruise director explains why: the water in the Baltic ...? Hint

is infested with shipworms; use the chlorinated pool instead.

isn't salty enough for the pool; we will re-fill it in the North Sea.

is too scarce to be pumped aboard; there's a treaty prohibiting it.

is too polluted for swimming; don't taste it, either.

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Question 9 of 25

9. In 2006 Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper are cruise ships of ...? Hint

Silversea cruise line -- easy.

Silver Streak Line -- the fastest passenger ships afloat (2006).

Rolls-Royce Cruises -- elegant and expensive, like the motorcars.

Silverado Expeditions -- plying the Mississippi.

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Question 10 of 25

10. The Oceanic (1965) introduced a novel feature now found on the QE2, QM2 and some other modern passenger ships: Hint

Internet service.

an extra-cost formal restaurant for First Class passengers.

a retractable roof over her swimming pool.

split-level suites for the fortunate few.

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Question 11 of 25

11. Queen Mary 2 offers the only regularly-scheduled transatlantic passenger service -- except in the fall and winter. Her voyages differ from the Cunard crossings of the past, because she Hint

docks at Tower Pier, London instead of Southampton.

takes the "sunny southern route" instead of the traditional North Atlantic sea lane.

calls at Cherbourg on every eastbound voyage, in addition to Southampton.

docks in Brooklyn instead of Manhattan.

12. As of her 2007 debut, the Cunarder Queen Victoria will be both traditional and novel. The traditional part is that her name ends in -ia, like almost all other Cunard ships. The novelty is that she's the first Cunarder ...? Hint

with no inside cabins.

built outside the United Kingdom.

with single-seating dining for all passengers.

to be named for Queen Victoria.

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Question 13 of 25

13. Her passengers remember the Andrea Doria as a magnificent liner. The rest of us know her name from the circumstances of her sinking. Who (or what) was Andrea Doria's namesake? Hint

A voloptuous Italian film star -- definitely feminine.

A Genoese mercenary -- very masculine.

A Roman poet -- male, but a romantic.

Not who but where -- the local name for the Bay of Naples.

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Question 14 of 25

14. West Point, Australis, Italis, Alferdoss, American Star -- these were all the same ship. What was her original name? Hint

SS America

RMS Queen Mary

SS United States

Disney Magic

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Question 15 of 25

15. Cruise lines have catchy slogans. Who advertises "Freestyle Cruising"? Hint

Carnival

Holland-America Line

Princess Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

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Question 16 of 25

16. "Voyager of the Seas" sounds redundant -- though there's always the Toyota Land Cruiser. Which cruise line operates this 137,000 ton vessel, and many other "of the Seas" ships? Hint

Cunard

Royal Caribbean

Celebrity Cruises

Seabourn

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Question 17 of 25

17. The SS United States was the fastest liner of all time . . . so far. What was this great ship's "home port" as displayed on her stern? Hint

None; she represented the entire nation.

Newport News, where she was built.

New York; the western terminus for her crossings.

Washington, DC, where the money to build her was appropriated.

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Question 18 of 25

18. As of 2006, this vessel was the last major (18,000+ gross register tons) passenger ship (not ferry!) to be built in England. What was her original name?

Answer: (One Word; look east across the North Sea)

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Question 19 of 25

19. A ship named Seawise University was lost to fire in 1972. What was her original name? Hint

SS Yarmouth Castle

SS United States

RMS Queen Elizabeth

SS America

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Question 20 of 25

20. She was the first nuclear-powered passenger/cargo vessel, launched in 1962. Hint

NV Lenin

NS Savannah

RMS Samuel Cunard

NS Enrico Fermi

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Question 21 of 25

21. Holland-America Line gave up its green-white-green funnel stripes years ago, but the line still uses its familiar slogan: Hint

Getting There is Half the Fun

You're In Dutch with Us

It's Good to Be on a Well-Run Ship

It's a Dutch Treat

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Question 22 of 25

22. In 2005, this was the most popular cruise port in the world. Hint

Hamilton, Bermuda

The Port of Miami, Florida

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Anchorage, Alaska

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Question 23 of 25

23. Queen Elizabeth 2 did it in August of 1992; Monarch of the Seas did it in December of 1998; Empress of the North did it in March 2006. What was it? Hint

Steamed north of the Arctic Circle

Illegally dumped garbage at sea

Collided with a whale

Ran aground

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Question 24 of 25

24. Cunard was not the only shipping line to maintain transatlantic service in the 1970s. These two ships were also true "Atlantic liners": Hint

Stefan Batory and Alexandr Pushkin

Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Crown

France and Pasteur

Nieuw Amsterdam and Volendam

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Question 25 of 25

25. She was the last of the great four-funneled Atlantic liners to be built, and the only one to be included in "Passenger Shipping Since 1945." Hint

Homeric

Deutschland

Aquitania

Ile de France

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Caronia (II) of 1949 was one of the first modern purpose-built cruise ships. Early in her career, Cunard followed an unusual policy for many of her luxurious voyages. What was it?

Answer: Cruises had to be paid for in dollars -- no sterling, please.

Britain was short of foreign exchange after the war. Cunard's American clientele sustained the "Green Goddess" for a few years. (Britons resident in the U.K. were not allowed to obtain or own large amounts of hard currency, so this was a form of 'compulsory export', just as Wedgwood, the ceramics company, had to export 90%(!) of its output at the time).

2. A great era in passenger travel ended in 1986, when the Queen Elizabeth 2 did one of these. Which was it?

Answer: made the last regular steamship crossing of the Atlantic.

In 1986, her steam turbines were replaced by diesel engines. Since then, she's been a motorship like her new fleet-mate Queen Mary 2.

3. In 1998, something rather shocking happened to the Cunard Line. What was it?

Answer: Cunard was purchased by an American-based company.

In the early 20th century, many major "European" passenger lines were owned by an American consortium named International Mercantile Marine. This included Cunard's historic competitor, the White Star Line. Cunard remained under British ownership, with the help of low-interest loans from the British government. Times have changed.

4. The "funnels" of Celebrity cruise ships feature a white X on a blue background. What does it mean?

Answer: It's not an X -- it's the Greek letter chi.

The Chandris Line was Celebrity's predecessor, with a history dating back to 1959. "Chi" is the first letter of Chandris, in Greek. From modest origins, Celebrity is now one of the leaders in luxury cruising. Those aren't really funnels, though -- more like exhaust pipes.

5. Carnival, Holland-America, Seabourn, Costa, Princess, Windstar, Swan Hellenic, AIDA . . . what do they have in common? In 2006 they ...?

Answer: they are all owned by one corporate parent.

Carnival Corporation & PLC covers a broad spectrum of the market. J.P. Morgan would have been proud -- or jealous!

6. The majestic British liner Queen Mary 2 was proudly built by

Answer: the French shipwrights of Chantiers de L'Atlantique.

Though designed by a British naval architect, she was built in France. Cunard reportedly could not obtain sufficient price and delivery guarantees from British shipyards.

7. Your cruise of the Hawaiian Islands on the Norwegian Wind included a short detour to a place called Fanning Island, which boasts

Answer: nothing much -- except that it's not U.S. territory.

Only US-flagged ships can make voyages among US ports. Foreign-flagged vessels -- and that's almost all cruise ships -- must include at least one foreign port on each voyage. Fanning Island is reasonably close to Hawaii, and it's "foreign."

8. On your summer cruise of the Baltic Sea, you find that the ship's saltwater pool has been drained. The cruise director explains why: the water in the Baltic ...?

Answer: isn't salty enough for the pool; we will re-fill it in the North Sea.

The Baltic Sea has a relatively low salt content. It actually helps to preserve ancient wood and deters shipworms, but it causes problems for some shipboard pools.

9. In 2006 Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper are cruise ships of ...?

Answer: Silversea cruise line -- easy.

Intimate and elegant, these ships offer a luxurious travel experience, though unrelated to Rolls-Royce.

10. The Oceanic (1965) introduced a novel feature now found on the QE2, QM2 and some other modern passenger ships:

Answer: a retractable roof over her swimming pool.

It was called the "Magrodome." Oceanic was the first ship built for the Home Lines. Though designed for the Atlantic run with occasional cruises, she spent almost all of her long career in cruise service.

11. Queen Mary 2 offers the only regularly-scheduled transatlantic passenger service -- except in the fall and winter. Her voyages differ from the Cunard crossings of the past, because she

Answer: docks in Brooklyn instead of Manhattan.

Cunard constructed a new port facility in Brooklyn to host its transatlantic service. The Thames is far too shallow to take QM2, though some small cruise ships do call at Tower Pier.

Answer: to be named for Queen Victoria.

Given Cunard's penchant for "-ia" it is strange that the line waited until the 21st century to launch a "Victoria." Like the other reigning Queens, she has some inside cabins and two seatings in her maining dining salon (but one seating in her Grill Rooms).

13. Her passengers remember the Andrea Doria as a magnificent liner. The rest of us know her name from the circumstances of her sinking. Who (or what) was Andrea Doria's namesake?

Answer: A Genoese mercenary -- very masculine.

Andrea Doria (1466-1560) was a successful condottiero and admiral, who lived to a ripe old age. His statue on board the liner was said to bring bad luck. There was actually a Continental Navy brigantine named after him: the "Andrew Doria" was reputedly the first US warship to receive a salute from a foreign power.

14. West Point, Australis, Italis, Alferdoss, American Star -- these were all the same ship. What was her original name?

Answer: SS America

The SS America of 1940 soldiered through World War Two as the transport West Point. In 1964, she was sold to Chandris Lines and re-named Australis. After passing through several other owners and a sad decline, she was wrecked off the Canary Islands in 1994. in 2005, her deteriorating remains were still visible.

15. Cruise lines have catchy slogans. Who advertises "Freestyle Cruising"?

Answer: Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL, formerly Norwegian Caribbean Line, offers flexible dining options.

16. "Voyager of the Seas" sounds redundant -- though there's always the Toyota Land Cruiser. Which cruise line operates this 137,000 ton vessel, and many other "of the Seas" ships?

Answer: Royal Caribbean

When she debuted in 1999, Voyager of the Seas was the largest passenger ship afloat. Her ice-skating rink and rock-climbing wall were novelties at the time.

17. The SS United States was the fastest liner of all time . . . so far. What was this great ship's "home port" as displayed on her stern?

Answer: New York; the western terminus for her crossings.

New York (City) was her home port. Her top speed was a military (naval) secret, but she reportedly made 38 knots on trials. She never used her full turn of speed in commercial service.

18. As of 2006, this vessel was the last major (18,000+ gross register tons) passenger ship (not ferry!) to be built in England. What was her original name?

Answer: Vistafjord

This little gem of a ship (24,000 grt or so) was completed in 1973 at the Swan Hunter yard on the Tyne. After serving with Norwegian-American Line, she was purchased by Cunard -- coming home, as it were.

19. A ship named Seawise University was lost to fire in 1972. What was her original name?

Answer: RMS Queen Elizabeth

The fire was finally ruled to be arson, but the perpetrator(s) were never identified. She was to be converted into a "floating school."

20. She was the first nuclear-powered passenger/cargo vessel, launched in 1962.

Answer: NS Savannah

With room for only about 100 passengers and 8,500 tons of freight, she lost money during her short commercial career (1965-1971). As of 2006, her nuclear reactor is being removed, and she may be preserved as a museum. Only three other nuclear-powered merchant ships were ever built: Mutsu (Japan), Otto Hahn (Germany) and Sevmorput (Russia).

21. Holland-America Line gave up its green-white-green funnel stripes years ago, but the line still uses its familiar slogan:

Answer: It's Good to Be on a Well-Run Ship

Now a part of the Carnival empire, HAL carries more passengers than it did when it was independent. The ships aren't built in the Netherlands, and few of the crew are Dutch, but there's still a sense of tradition.

22. In 2005, this was the most popular cruise port in the world.

Answer: The Port of Miami, Florida

Approximately 3.5 million passengers and eight cruise lines used the Port of Miami in 2005.

23. Queen Elizabeth 2 did it in August of 1992; Monarch of the Seas did it in December of 1998; Empress of the North did it in March 2006. What was it?

Answer: Ran aground

QE2's grounding near Cuttyhunk was a strange sight, even for Cape Codders accustomed to maritime mishaps.

24. Cunard was not the only shipping line to maintain transatlantic service in the 1970s. These two ships were also true "Atlantic liners":

Answer: Stefan Batory and Alexandr Pushkin

The Polish Ocean Lines operated the Batory (formerly the Dutch Maasdam); the former Soviet Union operated the Pushkin. Though the Pushkin was more modern, the Batory generally attracted more passengers.

25. She was the last of the great four-funneled Atlantic liners to be built, and the only one to be included in "Passenger Shipping Since 1945."

Answer: Aquitania

RMS Aquitania entered service in May of 1914; not a good time for a passenger ship to debut. She served in war and peace and war and peace until her furnishings were sold and she was sent to the breakers in January, 1950.

Source: Author ignotus

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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