SS Normandie was the French Line’s flagship when it entered service in 1935.
The French Line, officially Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, introduced Normandie to compete with the leading British and German express liners. The ship sailed between Le Havre and New York and represented French engineering, cuisine, art, and interior design.
Normandie was particularly famous for its streamlined exterior and extensive Art Deco decoration. Its public rooms featured works by prominent French designers and artists, giving the ship a distinct national identity. The vessel also achieved the Blue Riband for the fastest westbound Atlantic crossing in 1935.
Its career was relatively short. Normandie was caught in New York after the outbreak of the Second World War, suffered a catastrophic fire in 1942, and was never restored to service. SS France later became the better-known successor to the French Line’s flagship role.