SS Deutschland (1900)

SS Deutschland was a passenger liner built in Stettin and launched on 10 January 1900 for the Hamburg America Line (HAPAG) of Germany. She was officially the second ocean liner to have four funnels on the transatlantic route, the first being of 1897. The Deutschland took away the Blue Riband from the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse on her maiden voyage and held the west bound record for over seven years, until Cunard took it back to Britain with the in 1907. Despite holding the record she suffered from persistent vibrations, especially in the stern area which gave her the nickname "The Cocktail Shaker" and made her unpopular with 1st class passengers. Although her vibration problems were finally fixed around 1907, it was already too late, as she has lost the speed record to Cunard, and the direct competition had grander, larger and safer ships, so in 1910 she was pulled from the transatlantic route and refitted into the world's second fully dedicated cruise liner. C deck had the first class dining saloon, made out of mahogany with red Japanese wallpaper on the walls and a light beige carpeting. She was also given a new name, Victoria Luise. She replaced their first purpose built cruise ship of similar name ( Prinzessin Victoria Luise) that ran aground and was destroyed off the coast of Jamaica in 1906. On 8 June 1914, Victoria Luise ran aground in the Elbe and developed a list. Her engine rooms flooded. She was later refloated, repaired, and returned to service. In World War I, Victoria Luise was converted for use as an auxiliary cruiser, but because of her still troublesome engines, she was not used as such by the Imperial German Navy.

In 1920, she was pressed into emigrant carrier service and renamed Hansa. During the renaming, Hansa had two funnels removed and had some of her interiors refitted. She became a full 3rd class liner, for exception of the 36 2nd class spots. The United States passed the Emergency Quota Act in 1921 and the even more restrictive Immigration Act of 1924, which substantially reduced the emigrant trade from Europe. Ultimately Hansa was sold for scrap in 1925.