"Normandie"s novel design and lavish interiors led many to consider her the greatest of ocean liners. Despite this, she was not a commercial success and relied partly on government subsidy to operate. During service as the flagship of the CGT, she made 139 westbound transatlantic crossings from her home port of Le Havre to New York City. "Normandie" held the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing at several points during her service career, during which the was her main rival.