Though it is perhaps the least memorable of the three ships, the S.S. Paris was vital in the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique's success and the transformation of trans-Atlantic travel. Launched in 1916, the Paris actually wasn't completed until 1921 (due to World War 1) whereupon it was the largest ocean liner under the French flag. Moreover, using a new oil turbine, it was up to the modern standard that made the French liners incredibly popular.

It was with the Paris that the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique earned its reputation for providing its passengers with one of the most luxurious experiences on the Atlantic. Its first-class cabins were palatial, incorporating square windows (a rarity at the time), offering private telephones, and even adding service cabins. But nothing was more notable than its chefs. The food on the Paris was known to be superb. It was claimed that more seagulls followed the Paris than any other ocean liner (hoping to eat some of the remarkable cuisine prepared aboard.)

Stylistically, the Paris represented a transitional phase in liner design, a melange of different styles, it sought to offer every choice to its passengers. It had Baroque, Palladian, and Tudor elements, but also began to incorporate aspects of Art Nouveau. Moreover, it had hints of Art Deco design, something that had never been seen before on the high seas, paving the way for what would make the S.S. Ile De France and the S.S. Normandie iconic.

Popular and successful, the Paris would operate until 1939. In April of that year, it would catch fire in its berth Le Havre. It would capsize and sink there and remain there in place until a decade later. Its destruction, much like its completion was stalled by World War II.

However, by the time of its destruction, the Paris had already been outmatched. The Ile De France, named after the region around Paris, was built in the Saint-Nazaire shipyards for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. Ordered before the First World War, the Ile De France's construction was delayed due to the war and wouldn't be launched until 1926. It would be the first major liner to do so following the devastation of World War 1, but it was well worth the wait.

The construction wasn't just quick, it was striking. Built in an Art Déco and Streamline Moderne style, the Normandie's designers wanted to ensure it was the most impressive vessel afloat. Its funnel intakes were specially designed to divert down the sides of the ships to allow for spacious, high ceilinged interiors. Roger-Henri Expert, given charge of the ship's decorative scheme, engineered impressive perspectives, airy rooms, grand staircases, and magnificent entryways. From decorative panels to the Normandie's famed doors, attention to detail was paramount.

While the Ile De France was not the largest liner, nor was it the fastest, it was one of the most beautiful. The Compagnie Générale Transatlantique had spared little expense in its decoration. It was the first ocean liner to be designed in the Art Deco style in sharp contrast with the older steamships that had been modeled after Jacobean, Tudor, and other old fashioned themes. The C.G.T. even commissioned a book of photographs to highlight this style, showing modern, elegant, sleek rooms and detailing.

While less ornate than some of the steamships of years past (including the Paris), the Ile De France's design projected modernity and progressiveness. With the increasing variety of amenities that marked the liners of the era, it proved itself to be extremely comfortable. Soon it was one of the most popular and profitable liners of the era.

Its interiors would not last forever. They were unceremoniously stripped during World War II when after being seized by the British the Ile De France was used first as a troop and then a prison ship. The Ile De France would be restored to service following the war, but eventually, it became obsolete. Sold to a Japanese breaker in 1959, its final chapter was in the film "The Last Voyage" where it was partially sunk.

Following the success of the Ile De France, the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique decided to capitalize on its success with an even grander superliner; the S.S. Normandie. Famous from its launch in 1935, the Normandie has been called the greatest liner ever built. Unlike the other ships, its credit didn't rest on style alone. The largest and fastest liner of its day, it is the most powerful steam turbo-electric-propelled passenger ship ever built.

Its first-class suites had their own designers and each was given different themes. It was a boat built almost exclusively for the first class. The first-class cabins made up the majority of the ship, carrying more than either its second or tourist classes.

Similarly, most of the public space was devoted to first-class passengers. The first-class dining room was the largest afloat, longer than the hall of mirrors at Versailles, its 12 chandeliers earning the Normandie the nickname "The Ship of Light." First-class passengers had access to a gymnasium, a winter garden, a nightclub, a barber, a swimming pool, and more.

The Normandie quickly became famous as the ship for the rich and famous. However, this was a double-edged sword. The focus on the first-class meant that it often left its berth half empty. While it was an overwhelming critical success, it was not as successful commercially. Moreover, its modern and imposing design intimidated some travelers. Other art-deco ships like the Ile De France and the Queen Mary were less radical, but also more popular.

The Normandie, like many other ships, would meet its end in World War II. Seized by the United States, it was converted into a troopship. Like the Isle De France, much of its lauded interiors were stripped out. However, the Normandie's state of the art fire suppression system was removed as well. In 1942, she caught fire and sank in New York Harbor.