During the early 20th century, transatlantic travel was an extraordinary undertaking, and many women found their lives changed by their journeys. Offering a fascinating portrait of the era, the ships themselves, and these women as they crossed the Atlantic, Sian Evans notes first-class passengers like Marlene Dietrich, Wallis Simpson, and Josephine Baker, while the second class carried a new generation of independent women, like interior designer Sibyl Colefax. Down in steerage, Evans profiles émigré Maria Riffelmacher, escaping poverty in Europe, and tells the story of Violet "The Unsinkable Stewardess" Jessop, who survived the Titanic disaster.