Cunard Line's first transatlantic liner 'Britannia' leaving Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 1847. Artist: Smyth

Cunard Line's first transatlantic liner 'Britannia' leaving Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 1847. The 'Britannia' made her first transatlantic voyage in 1840, travelling from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Liverpool in 12 days and 10 hours. Charles Dickens sailed to America on this vessel in 1842, but suffered badly from seasickness and elected to make the return voyage on board a sailing vessel. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)