SS Normandie - Popularity

Popularity

Although a critical success in her design and decor, the Normandie ultimately proved to be unpopular with North Atlantic passengers. Two of the ship's greatest attributes, in reality, turned out to be two of her biggest faults.

Part of the ship's problem lay in the fact that the majority of her passenger space was devoted solely to first class, which could carry up to 848 people. Less space and consideration were given to second and tourist class, which numbered only 670 and 454 passengers respectively. As a result, the consensus among North Atlantic passengers was that she was primarily a ship for the rich and famous. In contrast, Cunard White Star had placed just as much emphasis on decor, space and accommodation in second and tourist class on the Queen Mary as it had in first, thus accommodating a travel trend that had become popular during the 20's and the 30's, the American tourist. Many of these passengers could not afford first-class passage, yet wanted to travel with much of the same comfort as those in first. Thus, second and tourist class, became a major cash cow for shipping companies at that time. The Mary would accommodate this and thus she had great popularity among North Atlantic travelers in the late thirties.

Another of the French Liner's greatest triumphs also turned out to be one of her greatest flaws: her decor. The Normandie's slick and modern art deco interiors proved to be somewhat intimidating and uncomfortable for her travellers. It was also here that Queen Mary triumphed over her French rival. Although decorated in an art deco style, the Queen Mary was more restrained in her appointments and was not as radical as her French counterpart, proving ultimately to be popular with her passengers.

As a result, throughout her service history, the Normandie rarely topped more than 60% occupancy, and at many times travelled with less than half her complement of passengers. Her German rivals, the Bremen, and the Europa, Italian rivals the Rex and Conte de Savioa also suffered from this problem; despite their innovative designs and luxurious interiors: they never made a profit for their respective companies, relying on heavy government subsidies. The Normandie, however, did not require government subsidies in service, with her income covering her operating expenses almost exactly.

In contrast, the Queen Mary, and Cunard White Star's Britannic III, Georgic II, Mauretania II, and much older Aquitania, along with the Holland America Line's SS Nieuw Amsterdam, were among the few ships on the North Atlantic to make a profit, carrying the lion's share of North Atlantic passengers in the years preceding the Second World War.