First Class Cargo: A History of Combination Cargo-Passenger Ships

This book is about the unique, largely ignored and forgotten passenger-cargo ships that were not liners but more than ordinary freighters. The first appeared in the 1930s but their heyday was post-war until the 1960s. There were dozens of these ships, often carrying 50-300 passengers in very comfortable, sometimes quite luxurious quarters. They were club-like, even yacht-like, and preferred by many, pre-jet travelers who wanted a longer, more restful journey, away from the often hotel-like quality of the big ocean liners. They also happened to be cargo vessels, carrying holds of cargo while adhering to scheduled sailings. William Miller presents an important record of a little-documented aspect of maritime history.