Carter Roy

The Lusitania was a marvel.

The luxury liner took its name from ancient Rome and offered passengers the excesses of the Caesars.

They could borrow a book from the shipboard library, read it under potted palm trees and gilded ceilings, enjoy multi-course fine dining, and cap off the day with a glass of the Cunard Cruise Line's branded scotch.

at least if they booked first class.

But even economy tickets on the Lusitania felt bougie.

Second class was as nice as other ships first.

And the people in the third class bunk beds breathed easy knowing their transatlantic journey would be over in just five days, a record at the time.

Now, if you aren't watching the video, picture the Titanic.

Except, I mean, not Kate and Leo, of course.

The Lusitania was a little shorter, but they had similar paint jobs, four funnels, and sailed between New York and England.

They were direct competitors, and both were dubbed unsinkables.

Well, I'm serious.

Everyone on board the Lusitania in 1915 thought it couldn't possibly sink, even though the Titanic sank just three years before.

Now, to be fair, the Cunard Line had never had a single accidental death.

unlike the White Star Line with the Titanic.

And after the Titanic, new legislation required ocean liners to be outfitted with enough lifeboats to carry every passenger.

So the Lusitania was safer.

The ship even kept a detective on board to watch for sabotage attempts.

So with lifeboats, life vests, and their own personal cop, it really felt like the Lusitania had everything taken care of.

Even when sailing international waters during the biggest war in memory, passengers felt safe.