I guess I should have written more about this article.At the beginning of the article Bill Miller wrote "This is a daunting task:Select the top 25 ocean liners of all time.Over the years, I have heard the arguments for many candidates and listened to many debates.More recently,however,I encountered a university doctoral candidate whose thesis was a study of ocean liner history.In the course of compiling surveys of more than 70 passenger ship enthusiasts,maritime authors and nautical historians,the doctoral candidate-who shall remain nameless at his request-had produced a list of the 25 greatest ocean liners of all time based on the votes of the group.The criteria were varied:historic notation,innovation,place in history,success and,finally,demise.Invariably,almost every devotee of the great liners will disagree with some part or indeed the entirety of the rankings on the pages that follow.Favorite ships may appear to be ranked inappropriately or possibly omitted entirely.The Normandie and the Titanic,as examples,have small legions of fans,some of whom cannot bear to think of any other ship.Inevitably,the whole matter lends itself to endless discussion and unlimited debate.However-drum roll now please!-with some slight adjustments-made with the approval of our doctoral candidate-herewith are the results,listed in ascending order". Then the article listed the ships in the ascending order.Since I only listed the ships without writting the describtions of each ship I will now write the describtions of each ship. 25-Conte di Savoia(1932)Very good looking running mate to the Rex,Italian super liners of the 1930s,glorius interiors highlighted by Colonna Lounge,highly sucessful,innovative pool and Lido decks,introduced early stabilization,tragic loss by fire in 1943 and ruins later scrapped. 24-Ile de France(1927)Highle innovative 3 stacker that introduced Art Deco decor to the high seas in 1927,Inspired decoration on numerous other liners including Normandie,noted for splendid food and service and great onboard ambiance,wartime trooper,remained popular in the 1950s,sentimental loss when sold for scrap in 1959. 23-Voyager of the Seas(1999)First of Royal Caribbean's 5 Voyager Class cruise liners,the largest afloat 1999-2004, 140,000 tons and carrying 3,600 passengers,innovative and highly sucessful interiors including horizontal lobby,3-deck-high restaurant,800 seat ice arena,rock climbing wall and complete 1950s diner.Prototype for even larger 160,000 ton Ultra Voyager class due in 2006. 22-Andrea Doria(1953)Italy's post war tour de force of design and decoration,great symbol of rebirth following the devastation of the Second World War,immortalized because of her tragic sinking in July,1956 after colliding with Sweden's Stockholm. 21-Nieuw Amsterdam(1938)Holland's "ship of state" for the 1930s,Art Deco dreamboat with superb exterior,beloved and extremely popular,heroic troopship from 1940 to 1946 and great symbol to the Dutch of post war liberation,last Holland America Line transatlantic liner until 1971,longed career when scrapped in 1974. 20-Empress of Britain(1931)Splendid looking ship,a true ocean liner of the 1930s,with 3 oversizes "gas tank" funnels,handsome all-white exterior,lavish often high Art Deco interiors,dual purpose transatlantic and winter world cruising,sunk in 1940 when only 9 years old. 19-Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse(1899 or 1900)First of German "super liners",first of the 4 stackers,Blue Riband champion,her distinctions stunned the rival British lines,ornate quarters,tragically lost in the First World War. 18-Caronia(1948)Very good looking,post Second World War Cunarder of 1948,smaller cousins of sorts to Queen Elizabeth of 1940.Painted in distinctive shades of green and so dubbed the "Green Goddess".Said to be the most luxurious liner of her time,certainly the grandest cruise ship.Finished her days in deepening decay,however,as Greek owned Caribia and later wrecked in the Pacific. 17-Rex(1932)Italy's greatest transatlantic liner,their largest liner of the 1930s,Blue Riband holder,great symbol to Mussolini's era, sad,early ending when bombed and sunk in 1944. 16-Bremen(1929)German record breaker of 1929 that symbolized national rebirth just 11 years after the defeat of the First World War,Blue Riband holder,modern interiors,another tragedy of war being destroyed in 1941. 15-Aquitania(1914)Called the "Ship Beautiful",very handsome 4 stacker.one of the great floating palaces with lavish interiors,served in 2 world wars,prelude and something of an inspiration to Queen Mary of the 1930s,last 4-stacker,exceptional career 1914-1949. 14-Canberra(1961)Good looking,rather timeless modern liner and the largest ever created for the traditional 2-class U.K.-Australia and around the world trades.Revolutionary to those services for her modernity,long career serving 1961-1997,very popular British based cruise ship in later years. 13-Rotterdam(1959)Innovative,somewhat revolutionary liner of 1959,Holland's "ship of state" but also the last of Holland America's Atlantic ships,cherished 1950s interiors,favored cruise ship to many,might become a hotel and museum in Rotterdam harbor. 12-Queen Elizabeth(1940)Extremely handsome ruuning mate to the popular Queen Mary,slightly larger being the logest liner of all 1940-1996,wartime maiden voyage,great North Atlantic favorite,sad ending as an unsuccessful Florida tourist attraction and then finishing in tragedy by burning in Hong Kong harbor in 1972. 11-Europa/Liberte(1930)Record breaking German liner of 1930 with sleek greyhound like exterior,modern interiors,revived after World War 2 with French Line grandeur,style and cooking as the Liberte,a great favorite on the Atlantic in the 1950s. 10-Imperator/Berengaria(1913)World's largest liner when completed in 1913,luxurious interiors,Imperator took on a second,quite different life after the First World War as Cunard flagship Berengaria. 9-Queen Mary 2(2004)Most publicized ship of modern times,thoroughly record-breaking,including being the largest,longest and most expensive liner to date,successor to the earlier Cunard Queens,continues traditional transatlantic crossings,large spacious often lavish interiors. 8-Mauretania(1907)Beloved,venerable,the great veteran,Blue Riband champion for 22 years 1907-1929,sleek 4-stacker with Edwardian interiors,finished her days as a white-hulled cruise ship. 7-Lusitania(1907)Great Cunard 4-stacker,one of the largest and fastest of her time (1907),cruelly sunk in May 1915 at the beginning of the First World War,with more than 1,100 casualties. 6-Titanic(1912)Record-breaking liner said to be unsinkable,lost on maiden voyage with over 1,500 casualties,demise has become an unending obsession that has included numerous books,societies and organizations devoted to her history and sinking,inspiration for a Broadway musical and major films including James Cameron's recent $1 billion epic production. 5-Normandie(1935)Adored by many as the most stunningly luxurious ocean liner of all time,advanced design,exceptional 3-funnel profile,revolutionary art deco interiors,Blue Riband champion,sailed for little more than 4 years 1935-1939,tragic ending by fire at her New York pier in 1942. 4-Queen Elizabeth 2(1969)Said to be the last of the great Atlantic liners but lately succeeded by the Queen Mary 2; a great sentimental favorite,beloved and cherished by many since 1969,sailing for 37 years while covering more miles than any other big liner in history,numerous refits and changes. 3-France/Norway(1962)Last of the great French Line passenger ships and a latter-day successor to the Normandie.Eye catching funnels topping handsome exteriors,noted for exceptional food and service and pure glamour of ocean travel.Sailed on transatlantic crossings 1962-1974,revived for second highly sucessful career as the tropical cruise ship Norway.Great symbol of adaptation to change in ocean liner travel. 2-United States(1952)Largest American liner of her time,tour de force of American design,engineering and construction.Great symbol of post war transatlantic revival,last Blue Riband champion.making up to 43 knots on trials and even 20 knots in full reverse.Concluded U.S.flag liner service on the North Atlantic in 1969;long lay-up and saddening neglect 1969-present. 1-Queen Mary(1936)Beloved Cunarder; Blue Riband champion 1938-1952;heroic World War 2 trooper 1939-1946;carried 16,683 passengers and crew on a crossing in 1943,the greatest number ever carried on any vessel;last of the great 3-stackers.Since 1967 Queen Mary has been permamently enshrined as a museum and hotel in Southern California. End of article.