RMS Mauretania held the Blue Riband for the longest continuous period, from 1909 to 1929.
The Cunard liner captured the record in September 1909 with a westbound Atlantic crossing averaging about 26.06 knots. Its record remained unbeaten for roughly twenty years, until the German liner Bremen surpassed it in 1929.
Mauretania was built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson at Wallsend, England. It entered service in 1907 and was one of a trio of large Cunard vessels that also included Lusitania and, later, Aquitania. Its powerful steam turbines contributed to its reputation for speed.
The Blue Riband was an unofficial award for the fastest average speed on a scheduled North Atlantic crossing. Records could be described as eastbound or westbound, and different sources may emphasize different measurements. Mauretania’s important distinction is its exceptionally long uninterrupted tenure as record holder.