The elegant Dutch liner was once a common sight in the Solent, a glamorous link between the Old World and the New – and for many British passengers, she was their first step to America. Launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana, the SS Rotterdam – often known as The Grande Dame – was a triumph of Dutch design and a radical departure from traditional marine architecture. Significantly, heralding the arrival of a new and sophisticated age in transatlantic travel. As the jet age diminished demand for ocean crossings, the Rotterdam smoothly morphed from a transatlantic ferry to a full-time cruise ship. Even then, she was still a consistent visitor to Southampton, where she embarked passengers for the world cruises she became famous for in the cruise calendar.