Cruise Ship Memorabilia, Souvenirs and Bargain Gear
An independent guide for collectors and bargain-minded cruisers. Nothing here is for sale.
Get Free Cruise QuotesCruise Ship Memorabilia: What Collectors Look For
Cruise ship memorabilia covers almost anything that once traveled on, or was printed for, a passenger ship: a dinner menu from a 1930s crossing, a deck plan from the first sailing of a modern megaship, a coffee cup with a long-gone line’s crest. Cruise Flea Market is a guide for people who love that material, and for travelers who like a bargain on the things they take to sea.
We are not a marketplace. Nothing here is for sale, and we do not name sellers or quote values. What we do is explain what the main kinds of collectibles are, where they tend to surface, how auctions work, how to avoid reproductions and how to keep paper and china in good shape.
The Main Types of Collectibles
| Category | Examples | What makes a piece interesting |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and print | Menus, passenger lists, daily programs, deck plans, brochures, sailing schedules, luggage labels, tickets | A named ship and date; a famous voyage; good artwork; complete and unmarked |
| Tableware | China, glassware and silver plate with a line’s crest | A backstamp naming the line or maker; matching sets; documented service on a known ship |
| Fittings and fixtures | Signs, lamps, furniture, panels, bells, life rings | Clear provenance from a refit or a ship’s disposal |
| Models and art | Builder’s models, travel-agency display models, posters and paintings | Scale, maker, condition and whether it is original |
| Personal souvenirs | Photos, postcards, crew badges, pins, onboard newspapers | A story: who sailed, when and where |
New collectors often start with paper: it is plentiful, easy to store and full of detail. Our page on ocean liner memorabilia for sale explains where it turns up, and ocean liner memorabilia auctions covers the higher-end pieces.
Three Eras to Know
The ocean liner age
From the mid-1800s to the 1960s, ships carried passengers and mail across oceans. Material from Cunard, White Star, the French Line and their rivals is the heart of most collections.
Auctions →
The early cruise lines
From the late 1960s, new companies sailing from Miami and Los Angeles turned ships into holidays. Their early brochures and menus are now collected too.
Where to look →
Modern milestones
Naming ceremonies, maiden voyages and the last season of a retiring ship produce keepsakes that are saved from the first day.
Souvenirs →See the Real Thing
The best way to train your eye is to see genuine pieces. the Queen Mary in Long Beach, permanently berthed in California and open to visitors, keeps much of its original 1930s interior. Many maritime museums display liner china, posters and models, and some of the finest collections are in the port cities that built or served the great ships. For today’s ships and their milestones, our sister sites New Cruises and World Cruise News follow new ships and grand voyages.
Cruise Memorabilia Questions
Do you sell cruise ship memorabilia?
No. Cruise Flea Market is an independent guide. We do not list, buy or sell items, and we do not recommend individual sellers. We explain what exists, how to judge it and where collectors usually look.
What cruise ship memorabilia is most collected?
Printed items such as menus, passenger lists, deck plans, brochures and luggage labels are the most common starting point. China, silverware, flags and fittings bearing a line’s name or crest are rarer and more sought after. Items linked to famous ships, such as Titanic, Normandie or the Queens of Cunard, attract the most attention.
Is cruise memorabilia from modern ships collectible?
Some of it already is. Items from maiden voyages, final seasons, naming ceremonies and retired ships tend to be kept and traded. Ordinary logo souvenirs are made in large numbers and are mostly of sentimental value.
How much is my item worth?
We do not value items. A specialist maritime dealer or an auction house with a maritime sale can give a view, and what similar items have actually sold for is the best guide.
Who Is Behind This Site
Cruise Flea Market is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
If you would rather make some new memories than buy old ones, cruise offers go out first on the Mister Cruise cruise newsletter. Browse lines and specialists in the Official Cruise Directory, every kind of trip in the Official Travel Directory, and places to visit at home on Best of the USA. And if you love ships enough to talk about them all day, Be a Travel Agent explains how people turn that into a travel career.
Start a New Collection of Voyages
Tell us the kind of ship or voyage you dream about, whether a classic crossing or a new ship’s first season. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will look for sailings to match and quote them for free.
Get Free Cruise Quotes