The Cunard Line's Britannia was the first steamship to establish regular communication across the Atlantic. She sailed on her maiden voyage on July 4, 1840, setting in motion the first regular steamship line. Iron supplanted wood in hull construction and the screw propeller was gradually replacing the paddle wheel. The line became a public company in 1878 and became The Cunard Steam Ship Company Limited. The construction of many famous ships such as Mauretania , Lusitania , Queen Mary , and Queen Elizabeth followed and the company continued to trade in profit until the introduction of the jet aircraft in the 1960s and 1970s. Following various restructuring and take-overs the Cunard Line was also acquired by the Carnival Corporation and now offers cruises on the Three Queens . Utilizing many rare and unpublished images, Ian Collard offers a lavishly illustrated look at the cruise ships operated by Cunard. Included here are images of the ships in many guises and liveries as the author offers an array of superb photographs of these iconic liners.