French Passenger Lists 1928-1929
Digitized Passenger Lists for French Ports from 1928-1929 available from the GG Archives, Organized by Date of Departure, Steamship Line, Steamship or Ocean Liner, Class of Passengers, Route, and the Ship's Captain.
1928-02-08 SS De Grasse Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 February 1928
Route: Le Havre to New York
Commander: Captain Jean C. E. Simon
1928-02-11 SS Patria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Fabre Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 11 February 1928
Route: Marseilles to New York via Naples and Palermo
Commander: Captain Juste Tempesti
1928-03-13 SS Leviathan Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 13 March 1928
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. A. Cunningham
1928-03-31 SS Minnekahda Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 March 1928
Route: London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain J. Jenson (Lt. Cmdr. U.S.N.R.F.)
1928-05-04 RMS Ausonia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 May 1928
Route: Southampton to Québec and Montréal via Cherbourg and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain A. C. Greig, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1928-05-19 SS George Washington Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 19 May 1928
Route: New York to Bremen via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. B. Randall, U.S.N.R
1928-06-02 SS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Swiss Band
Date of Departure: 2 June 1928
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain Van Den Heuvel
1928-06-05 SS Leviathan Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 5 June 1928
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. H. Cunningham
1928-06-06 SS George Washington Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 6 June 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. B. Randall, U.S.N.R.
1928-06-09 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 9 June 1928
Route: New York to Bremen via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain N. Johnsen
1928-06-14 RMS Albertic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 14 June 1928
Route: Montreal and Quebec to Southampton, Le Havre, and London
Commander: Captain F. F. Summers, R.D., (Cmdr., R.N.R., Retd.)
1928-06-23 SS Minnekahda Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 23 June 1928
Route: London for New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain J. Jensen
1928-06-30 SS Sierra Cordoba Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 30 June 1928
Route: New York to Bremen via Cherbourg and Southampton
Commander: Captain W. Stein
1928-07-07 SS Minnesota Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: Not Stated
Date of Departure: 7 July 1928
Route: London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain E. Finch
1928-07-14 SS Empress of Australia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 14 July 1928
Route: Southampton to Quebec via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain R. G. Latta
1928-07-18 SS President Harding Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 18 July 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain William Rind, USNR
1928-07-21 SS Minnekahda Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 21 July 1928
Route: London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain J. Jensen
1928-07-26 SS Karlsruhe Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 26 July 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain H. Filzinger
1928-07-27 SS Pennland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 July 1928
Route: Antwerp to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain V. L. Making
1928-07-28 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 28 July 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain N. Johnsen
1928-08-04 SS Minnesota Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: Not Stated
Date of Departure: 4 August 1928
Route: London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain E. Finch, R.D., R.N.R.
1928-08-07 TSS Veendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 August 1928
Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol
1928-08-08 RMS Homeric Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 August 1928
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. H. Parker
1928-08-15 RMS Majestic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 15 August 1928
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain G. R. Metcalfe (Lt. Cmdr., R.N.R., Retd.)
1928-08-18 SS Empress of France Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 18 August 1928
Route: Southampton to Quebec via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. Griffiths, R.N.R.
1928-08-23 SS Karlsruhe Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 23 August 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain H. Filzinger
1928-08-25 SS Minnewaska Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 25 August 1928
Route: London to New York via Boulogne
Commander: Captain Frank H. Claret
1928-08-30 SS München Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 30 August 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Cherbourg and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain H. Gößling
1928-08-31 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 August 1928
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1928-09-22 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 22 September 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain N. Johnsen
1928-09-26 RMS Mauretania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 26 September 1928
Route: New York to Plymouth, Cherbourg, and Southampton
Commander: Captain R. L. Alexander, D.S.O., R.D., R.N.R.
1929-09-29 RMS Ausonia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 September 1928
Route: Southampton to Québec and Montréal via Cherbourg and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain G. R. Dolphin, R.D., R.N.R.
1928-10-12 SS Deutschland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg-Amerika Linie / Hamburg America Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 12 October 1928
Route: Hamburg to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Langer
1928-10-20 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 20 October 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain N. Johnsen
1928-11-15 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 15 November 1928
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: A. Ahrens
1929-01-16 SS New York Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 16 January 1929
Route: Hamburg to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Graalfs
1929-03-14 SS München Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 14 March 1929
Route: New York to Bremen via Queenstown (Cobh) and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Gössling
1929-03-15 SS Hamburg Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 15 March 1929
Route: Hamburg to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Schwamberger
1929-03-20 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 20 March 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, K.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1929-03-30 SS Leviathan Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 30 March 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore H. A. Cunningham
1929-04-05 SS New York Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 5 April 1929
Route: Hamburg to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Graalfs
1929-04-13 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 13 April 1929
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
1929-04-20 SS Majestic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 20 April 1929
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. Marshall, C.B., D.S.O., R.D. (Commodore R.N.R.)
1929-05-18 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 18 May 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1929-05-23 SS Llandaff Castle Passenger List
Steamship Line: Union-Castle Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 23 May 1929
Route: London to South Africa via the Mediterranean
Ports of Call: London to Natal via Marseilles, Genoa, Port Said, Port Sudan, Aden, Mombasa, Tanga, Zanzibar, DarEs-Salaam, Port Amelia, Beira and Lourenço Marques (Maputo)
Commander: Captain E. F. Gilbert
1929-05-29 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 May 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol
1929-06-06 SS De Grasse Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 6 June 1929
Route: New York to Le Havre
Commander: Captain E. Robert
1929-06-15 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Student Third Cabin Association (S.T.C.A.)
Date of Departure: 15 June 1929
Route: New York to Plymouth, Boulogne-sur-Mer, and Rotterdam
Commander: Captain Krol
1929-06-19 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 19 June 1929
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1929-07-02 SS Providence Passenger List
Steamship Line: Fabre Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 2 July 1929
Route: New York to Marseilles via Boston, Ponta Delgada, Lisbon, Naples, Palermo, Piraeus, Beirut, and Malta
Commander: Captain Laurent Vidal
1929-07-03 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 3 July 1929
Route: New York to Bremen via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain N. Johnsen
1929-07-04 SS De Grasse Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 July 1929
Route: New York to Le Havre
Commander: Captain E. Robert
1929-07-10 TSS Tuscania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Class
Date of Departure: 10 July 1929
Route: New York to London via Plymouth and Le Havre
Commander: Captain William Rome
1929-07-16 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 16 July 1929
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, K.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1929-07-20 SS De Grasse Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique / French Line (CGT)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 July 1929
Route: Le Havre to New York
Commander: Captain Léon de Malglaive
1929-07-20 SS Empress of Scotland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 July 1929
Route: Southampton to Quebec via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. Turnbull, C.B.E., R.D., A.D.C., R.N.R.
1929-08-09 TSS Tuscania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 9 August 1929
Route: New York to London via Plymouth and Le Havre
Commander: Captain William Rome
1929-08-10 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 10 August 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. Prothero
1929-08-13 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Student Third Cabin Association Members
Date of Departure: 13 August 1929
Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen
1929-08-16 SS Arabic Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 16 August 1929
Route: Antwerp to Halifax and New York via Southampton, Cherbourg, and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain J. B. Bulman
1929-08-23 TSS Statendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 23 August 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel
1929-08-24 RMS Tuscania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 August 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre
Commander: Captain William Rome
1929-08-27 SS Leviathan Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 August 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore H. A. Cunningham
1929-08-31 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 August 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1929-09-04 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 4 September 1929
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain L. Ziegenbein
1929-09-04 RMS Majestic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 September 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore W. Marshall
1929-09-04 TSS Volendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 September 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain De Koning
1929-09-07 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 September 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. Prothero
1929-09-07 SS Montroyal Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 September 1929
Route: Southampton and Cherbourg to Quebec
Commander:Captain J. P. Lewis
1929-09-11 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 11 September 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol, R.N.R
1929-09-18 RMS Homeric Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 18 September 1929
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain G. E. Warner, R.D. (Capt. R.N.R., Retd.)
1929-10-12 SS Minnewaska Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 12 October 1929
Route: Tilbury (London) for New York via Boulogne
Commander: Captain Frank H. Claret
1929-10-17 SS Cleveland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg-Amerika Linie | Hamburg America Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 October 1929
Route: Hamburg to Boston and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Cobh (Queenstown)
Commander: Captain Niss
1929-10-17 SS München Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 17 October 1929
Route: Bremen to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain H. Gößling
1929-11-02 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 2 November 1929
Route: New York to Antwerp via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
Recap and Summary of the French Passenger Lists (1928-1929)
The French Passenger Lists (1928-1929) from the GG Archives present a fascinating snapshot of transatlantic travel in the late 1920s, a period marked by luxury, migration, and international tourism. These voyages reveal the economic and cultural exchanges between France, Europe, and North America while showcasing the dominance of major shipping lines such as:
- Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT - French Line)
- White Star Line
- Cunard Line
- United States Lines
- Holland-America Line (NASM)
- Hamburg-Amerika Linie (HAPAG)
- Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)
- Canadian Pacific Line (CPOS)
These journeys transported wealthy socialites, emigrants, business professionals, artists, and students, reflecting the increasing accessibility of international travel.
Highlighting the Most Interesting Passenger Lists
Several voyages stand out due to their historic significance, unique routes, or notable passenger categories.
1. The 11 February 1928 Voyage – The Mediterranean Route to New York
- Ship: SS Patria (Fabre Line)
- Route: Marseilles to New York via Naples and Palermo
- Commander: Captain Juste Tempesti
- Passenger Class: First Class
🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This route reflects the continued migration of Italians and Southern Europeans to America, but with a focus on elite travelers. Naples and Palermo were major departure points for Italian immigrants and tourists visiting the U.S.
2. The 2 June 1928 Voyage – The "Swiss Band" Voyage
- Ship: SS Rotterdam (Holland-America Line)
- Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
- Commander: Captain Van Den Heuvel
- Passenger Class: Swiss Band
🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This voyage is unique as it carried an entire Swiss musical ensemble, likely performing on board and traveling for international concerts. It provides a glimpse into cultural exchanges and entertainment-based travel in the 1920s.
3. The 23 June 1928 Voyage – The Rise of Budget Travel
- Ship: SS Minnekahda (Atlantic Transport Line)
- Route: London for New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
- Commander: Captain J. Jensen
- Passenger Class: Tourist Third Cabin
🔹 Why It Stands Out:
The late 1920s saw the rise of budget-friendly ocean travel, as middle-class tourists and students could now afford transatlantic voyages in "Tourist Third Cabin" class—a new concept that made ocean liners accessible beyond the elite.
4. The 26 July 1928 Voyage – German Maritime Excellence
- Ship: SS Karlsruhe (North German Lloyd)
- Route: Bremen to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
- Commander: Captain H. Filzinger
- Passenger Class: Cabin Class
🔹 Why It Stands Out:
North German Lloyd was famous for its efficiency and engineering prowess, and the Karlsruhe was one of its premier ships. This voyage reflects Germany's strong position in transatlantic travel despite the political and economic shifts of the time.
5. The 20 July 1929 Voyage – A Luxurious French Experience
- Ship: SS De Grasse (CGT - French Line)
- Route: Le Havre to New York
- Commander: Captain Léon de Malglaive
- Passenger Class: Cabin
🔹 Why It Stands Out:
The De Grasse was one of France’s most elegant ocean liners, known for its chic décor and refined service. This voyage represents the golden age of ocean liner luxury, catering to high-society travelers between Paris and New York.
6. The 27 August 1929 Voyage – The Largest U.S. Liner in Service
- Ship: SS Leviathan (United States Lines)
- Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
- Commander: Commodore H. A. Cunningham
- Passenger Class: Tourist Third Cabin
🔹 Why It Stands Out:
The Leviathan was the largest and fastest American passenger liner, originally built as a German ship but seized during WWI. By 1929, it was a symbol of American power and innovation in ocean travel, particularly for middle-class passengers.
7. The 23 May 1929 Voyage – The Grand African Route
- Ship: SS Llandaff Castle (Union-Castle Line)
- Route: London to South Africa via the Mediterranean (Marseilles, Port Said, Aden, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam, Beira, Lourenço Marques, and more)
- Commander: Captain E. F. Gilbert
- Passenger Class: First Class
🔹 Why It Stands Out:
Unlike the standard transatlantic routes, this long-haul voyage connected Europe with Africa, reflecting colonial-era trade and elite travel to the continent. This journey carried British officials, business elites, and wealthy tourists exploring Africa’s colonial ports.
8. The 13 August 1929 Voyage – The Student Travel Boom
- Ship: TSS Nieuw Amsterdam (Holland-America Line)
- Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
- Commander: Captain Lieuwen
- Passenger Class: Student Third Cabin Association (S.T.C.A.)
🔹 Why It Stands Out:
The inclusion of Student Third Cabin Association members highlights the rise of educational tourism, where European and American students embarked on study-abroad experiences and summer travels across the Atlantic.
Final Thoughts
The French Passenger Lists (1928-1929) reflect a world on the brink of the Great Depression, where transatlantic travel was still thriving among the wealthy and middle class. However, looming economic changes would soon reshape ocean travel and migration patterns.
Key Trends from These Passenger Lists:
✔ The Growth of Tourist Travel – The emergence of Tourist Third Cabin class opened up transatlantic travel to a wider audience, including students and budget travelers.
✔ Luxury and Prestige in Ocean Liners – Ships like the De Grasse and Leviathan symbolized elegance, exclusivity, and national pride, catering to elite passengers.
✔ The Expansion of Global Routes – Voyages extended beyond Europe and North America, with routes to Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Far East.
✔ Cultural and Educational Exchanges – From Swiss bands to student associations, these voyages showcased how ocean liners facilitated international cultural experiences.
These passenger lists remain a treasure trove for maritime historians, genealogists, and ocean liner enthusiasts, offering a window into a dynamic and evolving world of ocean travel.
