Cunard’s PLAYBOY Cruise Ships: How Two Ships Changed Cruising Forever

They were Cunard's most loved cruise ships in the 80s and 90s, but they started life with a link to Hugh Hefner's Playboy empire. This is the story of the Cunard Countess and Cunard Princess; two vessels that rewrote the rulebook on modern cruising, served their country, and met very different fates. Discover the full story behind these forgotten icons of the sea — 🛳️ SUBSTACK: https://themaritimehistorian.substack.com/ 📚 Buy my books: https://www.chrisframe.com.au/books 👕 Buy cruise merch: https://chrisframeofficial.Teemill.com/ 🌐 Find out about our Cruise Consultancy: https://frameandcross.com/ 🚢 My Cunard History Website: https://www.chriscunard.com/ — 🎥 OUR EQUIPMENT: Camera - DJI Mimo Pocket 2: https://amzn.to/3XjXwQn Vlogging Mic: DJI Mic: https://amzn.to/3D3idJP Lav Mic: DJI Lavalier Mic: https://amzn.to/4klRgBA Voice Over Mic: Audio Technica: https://amzn.to/4ij8myg These are affiliate links meaning we may receive a small commission from any sales. 🗺️ CUSTOM CRUISE MAP: Made using AIS (satellite ship-tracking) data, The Cruise Maps show the exact route. Select your cruise, give your map a title, and we'll do the rest. Use my code "ChrisFrameOfficial" for 10% off at: https://thecruisemaps.com/products/p-o-australia-final-voyages-special-edition-maps/chrisframeofficial This is an affiliate link, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through it. — Image References: Permission / License: Bill Miller Collection Ian Boyle: https://tinyurl.com/ianboylecunard Ian Boyle's Simplon Postcards: https://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Cunard.html a Cunard Line Photographed aboard Cunard Line National Archives Released: Cunard Princess: https://tinyurl.com/natarchives1 Cunard Princess: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6479416 Cunard Princess: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6467600 Cunard Princess: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6467599 Pexels / Unsplash / Pixabay etc: Playboy Photo by Max Letek Unsplash: https://tinyurl.com/floating-in-the-air Video by Danilo Arenas: https://www.pexels.com/video/drone-footage-of-cape-san-juan-in-tayrona-national-park-colombia-13820395/ Video by ROMAN ODINTSOV: https://www.pexels.com/video/pink-sky-view-from-a-boat-deck-5668626/ Video by Oleg Gamulinskii: https://www.pexels.com/video/waves-on-graph-and-arrows-falling-down-3945008/ Video by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/video/banknotes-856511/ Video by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/video/a-woman-is-holding-fire-on-the-beach-at-sunset-4440816/ Video by Denys Gromov from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/video/pouring-alcoholic-drink-on-a-cocktail-glass-4765778/ Video by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/video/bartender-7608985/ Error Tone: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/windows-error-sound-effect-35894/ IMDB Image of Janet Armstrong: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5565504/ CC BY: Hugh Hefner: © Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com CC BY SA 3.0 https://tinyurl.com/hughheffner Cunard Princess C BY SA 4.0 Gillfoto https://tinyurl.com/2wc3rsey Cunard Princess CC BY SA 4.0 Gillfoto https://tinyurl.com/7r7nxdur Cunard Princess CC BY SA 4.0 Gillfoto https://tinyurl.com/a4mzhxwp Bow of ex. Cunard Princess CC BY SA 4.0 דוד שי https://tinyurl.com/mrjuwhdr Cunard Ambassador CC BY SA 3.0 Jtrouw https://tinyurl.com/3te8p8mc CC BY SA 2.0 Florida Keys Public Libraries https://tinyurl.com/3mhaey5m Overseas National Airways DC10 CC BY SA 4.0 Richard Vandervord https://tinyurl.com/5t2d7cej CC.0 NASA https://tinyurl.com/mr32jh9t CC BY SA 2.0 Trondheim Havn Trondheim Norway https://tinyurl.com/bd98fwuy CC BY SA 3.0 Emilio J Rodriguez Posada (1986-) https://tinyurl.com/52jw4e4j Achille Lauro: CC BY SA 3.0 D. R. Walker https://tinyurl.com/2p94ynms Olympic Countess CC BY SA 2.0 MeRyan https://tinyurl.com/2reh9mdf Ocean Countess CC BY SA 3.0 Kalle Id https://tinyurl.com/ysx786f6 Ocean Countess CC BY SA 3.0 Slowmover https://tinyurl.com/25pf99fz Ocean Countess CC BY SA 4.0 Niels Johannes https://tinyurl.com/zrcnp3e9 Golden Iris CC BY SA 4.0 Pjotr Mahhonin https://tinyurl.com/yjjxs6kd Scrapping CC BY SA 4.0 Nayeem Noor https://tinyurl.com/2vwxh75c Trafalgar House CC BY SA 4.0 International Batandrean https://tinyurl.com/7bktkw9h Thumbnail V1: Playboy logo: Image by https://pixabay.com/users/clker-free-vector-images-3736/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=42527 Pixabay. Ship: National Archives -- Tags: #Cunard #cruisenews #cruiseship #cruiseline #cruising #maritime #history #maritimehistory