Embarkation at New York
for 1st Round the World Cruise
05 January 1951
Embarkation days were always exhausting affairs. Imagine coping with up to 580 passengers, their 3 months worth of luggage and their visitors in the space of about 3 hours. Embarkation for this cruise would start at 8pm with a departure set for midnight.
The ship would be buzzing as luggage would be matched to passenger and taken to their quarters to be greeted by their room steward with a smile and the offer of a cup of tea or coffee. Passengers were allowed to have up to two visitors to see them off, and once ensconced in their quarters, passengers and guests would either explore the ship or go to the main lounge where the ship's band would be playing and refreshments served.
No less of a deed was to get booked into the restaurant where you would usually occupy the same dining table for the whole of the trip. Until sailing time, the Restaurant Managers would be located in the Main Lounge to make these arrangements.
Departure
Even at the witching-hour of midnight, going up on deck wrapped with a warm coat and a nice woolly scarf was still an experience not to be missed. There's so much activity as calls are made ship to shore while mooring ropes splash across and hauled one-by-one back on board. The long-anticipated moment of the start of your adventure has arrived and it's one to savour.
Once untethered, it suddenly becomes apparent that this huge ship is slowly moving away from the pier. The only give-away being a slight shudder underfoot as the propellers thrash to drag the ship backwards into the river. There are tugs fore and aft ready to help turn the ship before she heads away down the Hudson River.
A departure aboard a big liner from a port like New York is simply an unforgettable experience!
Log Abstract…
At: 11.58pm (EST) left company berth Pier 90 New York
