Liverpool to host Cunard’s ‘Sea of Glamour’ exhibition at Royal Liver Building

Are we at risk of losing our most precious childhood memories? With the rise of the digital age, is it creating a generational gap in our collective history?

Luxury British cruise line Cunard is addressing this issue by inviting the public to preserve treasured moments as part of a new exhibition, Sea of Glamour, curated by renowned British photographer Mary McCartney to mark 185 years of ocean travel.

A new international study revealed a staggering 265 billion¹ images are taken every year across the UK and the U.S. and many of those remain unseen and unshared, buried in digital devices. With smartphones now responsible for capturing 97% of all photos, only 3% of people store their cherished memories in printed albums.

This reliance on digital storage could create a generational memory gap – 72% believe that without printed photos, future generations’ memories could be lost. Furthermore, only half (51%) of adults are confident that their photos will be accessible in 50 years’ time!

The findings also highlighted a lack of planning around preservation. While three in four adults (75%) plan to preserve and share photos of their children or young relatives, some do not. The main reason for this is they haven’t thought about it yet (38%), or they believe there is perceived lack of interest in the photos (33%).

This trend threatens to impact the historic footprint and shareable legacy that physical photos and albums once provided. Especially as over half of adults (53%) admit to being forced to delete their photos because they ran out of storage or lost photos because their phone broke. As a result, countless stories and sentimental memories are at risk of being lost forever.

To remedy this, Cunard is inviting guests, employees, and celebrities to share their unforgettable images from on board its ships. These contributions will form part of the ‘Sea of Glamour’ exhibition, set to debut at Liverpool’s famous Liver Building in May.

The exhibition will feature a stunning collection of photos of Hollywood icons, musicians, politicians and royalty from the Cunard archives, alongside newly curated images from the public to form a timeline of iconic moments that will immerse visitors in the magic of nearly two centuries of transatlantic travel.

Mary McCartney will take the final photograph for the exhibition herself, capturing a portrait of Queen Anne’s Icons in Liverpool on the day it opens. This unique image will offer a fresh, captivating perspective on Cunard’s iconic link to Liverpool.

Siân Wilks, Cunard Archivist at the University of Liverpool Library, said:

“As a unique resource that captures Cunard’s unrivalled 185-year history, the Cunard archive is an incredible collection that is accessible to all. It is exciting to see how today’s events will shape the Cunard archive of the future and capture the stories of those connected to the brand.”

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said:

“For 185 years, our ships have been at the heart of unforgettable moments for millions of guests and crew. This is a chance to celebrate those memories and the stories they tell. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help Mary McCartney create something truly unique – an exhibition that brings Cunard’s incredible history to life for everyone to enjoy.”

The ‘Sea of Glamour’ will become a global exhibition, set to travel the world on board the Cunard fleet to celebrate the 185th anniversary.

To find out how your cherished memories on board a Cunard ship could become part of the brand’s iconic history, visit www.cunard.com/seaofglamour and submit your favourite memories to cunardphotography@cunard.co.uk by Sunday 9th March 2025.