RMS Caronia Timeline

Ship's Course & Activities
January 1950

The Cunard White Star Line's ‘Green Goddess’

Luxurious ocean travel aboard a world-famous British cruise liner

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The 1950 Great African Cruise

The 23 January 1950 issue of TIME magazine stated…
With a merry toot at the thought of British austerity, the 34,183-ton Cunard liner Caronia steamed out of New York harbour last week on the plushiest pleasure cruise in a decade. Billed as “The Great African Cruise”, the trip will take 80 days, cover 21,776 miles, stop at 27 ports in Trinidad, Brazil, Africa, the Near East and Europe.

The 556 well-heeled travellers, mostly Americans, have already paid $2,800,000 in passage money, will shell out many thousands more Round Africa Cruise Map A Map of Caronia's Great African cruise. for shore excursions. Most expensive: $1,150 for a two-week air tour of South and East Africa, broken by a three-day automobile safari into the Lake Amboseli Game Reserve to watch the lions and rhinos at play.

Cruise fares on the Caronia ranged from $2,400 for a half interest in an inside stateroom up to $20,000 for two super-suites. The super-suiters: Manhattan's socialite Yachtsman Harold S. Vanderbilt and Texas Oil Millionnaire Charles F. Urschel.

See NYT News Reports page New York Times Reports about this cruise

January 1950 Movie Quiz

This page lists the films shown on board Caronia during the 1950 Great African cruise. To play the movie quiz, try and guess the stars for each film.

To reveal the answers, hover your mouse over the film title. Click on a film name, the page will scroll up to reveal the following days’ films.

Cruise News Bulletins

On 28 March 2005 another special feature was added to the Timeline. All 8 editions of the “Cruise News” bulletins published on the 1950 Great African Cruise have been transcribed and make rather fascinating reading.

Cruise News Bulletin Introduction Introduction

On this page, and the pages for February and March 1950, the logo seen above will link to each new bulletin as the cruise progresses. The one here will take you to the Introductory Notes.

If you can contribute any information, do please get in touch…

01 January 1950


01 January
programme

Sunday At Sea

Steaming Curaçao to Cristóbal, Panama 691 miles

TELL IT TO THE JUDGEFeaturing: Rosalind Russell | Robert Cummings at 4.45pm

01 Jan Dinner Suggested Menu

Clocks retarded 30 minutes at Midnight

03 January 1950

At Sea
Steaming North Cristóbal to Havana 981 miles

03 January Dinner Suggested Menu

05 January 1950

At Havana

06 January 1950


06 January
programme

Depart Havana 6.30am

At Sea

DEAR WIFEFeaturing: William Holden | Joan Caulfield at 4.45pm

07 January 1950

At Sea
Steaming North Havana to New York 1,199 miles

07 Jan Farewell Dinner Full Menu

Auld Lang Syne Menu
This is another extremely rare menu cover that probably dates back to the 1930s. Possibly only ever used for this meal aboard Caronia. Currently it's unique in the Timeline archive. Use of Caronia image covers was introduced at least 6 months prior to this.

08 January 1950

Sunday Arrive New York 2pm

09 January 1950
10 January 1950
11 January 1950


At New York

RMS Caronia, an official photo
RMS Caronia as depicted in the Frontispiece of Souvenir Book for 1950 Great African Cruise
12 January 1950


12 January
programme

Depart New York 11am with 556 passengers.

At Sea
Start of Great African Cruise

See NYT News Reports page Report: 12 January 1950

Log Abstract…
At: 11.07am (EST) left company berth Pier 90 New York
At: 1pm (EST) Ambrose C.L.V. abeam, NYC departure

12 Jan Luncheon Suggested Menu

13 January 1950


13 January
programme

At Sea

Steaming South New York to St Thomas 1,414 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 32.48N | 70.34W
Travelled: 484 miles
Moderate Easterly winds, mod. sea & swell, cloudy & clear

13 Jan Luncheon Suggested Menu

14 January 1950


14/15 January
programme

At Sea

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 24.45N | 67.27W
Travelled: 511 miles
Fresh Easterly wind, rough sea, moderate swell, cloudy & clear
419 nmi to St. Thomas

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

15 January 1950

Sunday Arrive St Thomas at 8.06am - Depart 3.21pm

Log Abstract…
At: 8.06am (LT) St. Thomas arrival
Passage: 2 days, 18 hours, 6 mins.
Voyage Distance: 1,414 miles
Average Speed: 21.39 knots
At: 3.21pm (LT) St.Thomas departure

16 January 1950


16/17 January
programme

At Sea

Steaming St. Thomas to Port of Spain 508 miles

A LETTER TO THREE WIVESFeaturing: Jeanne Crain | Linda Darnell | Ann Sothern at 11.30am

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 11.38N | 62.10W
Travelled: 436 miles
Strong N.Easterly wind, rough high sea & swell, cloudy& clear
72 nmi to Port of Spain

Arrive Port of Spain, Trinidad 4.15pm

Log Abstract…
At: 4.15pm (LT) Port of Spain arrival
Passage: 1 day, 00 hours, 54 mins.
Voyage Distance: 508 miles
Average Speed: 20.04 knots

LANDFALLMichael Denison | Patricia Plunkett | Edith Sharpe at 9.30pm

17 January 1950

At Port of Spain

Depart Port of Spain 5pm

Log Abstract…
At: 5.12pm (LT) Port of Spain departure

17 Jan Dinner Suggested Menu

18 January 1950


18 January
programme

At Sea

Steaming South Port of Spain to Bahia, Brazil 2,511 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 08.21N | 56.20W
Travelled: 383 miles
Fresh Easterly winds, moderate sea & swell, cloudy & clear

FAMILY HONEYMOONFeaturing: Fred MacMurray | Claudette Colbert at 4.45 & 9.45pm

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

Oceanogram

At Sea

Cross Equator Southbound

Crossing the Line Ceremony pagewith slide show

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 04.41N | 49.47W
Travelled: 448 miles
Strong Easterly winds, rough sea, moderating, moderate swell, cloudy to overcast, clear

PRIVATE ANGELOFeaturing: Godfrey Tearle | Peter Ustinov at 4.45pm

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

20 January 1950


20 January
programme

At Sea

Steaming South Port of Spain to Bahia, Brazil 2,511 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 00.34N | 43.11W
Travelled: 466 miles
Moderate Easterly winds, moderate sea & swell, cloudy to overcast, clear

PRIVATE ANGELOFeaturing: Godfrey Tearle | Peter Ustinov at 9.45pm

21 January 1950


21 January
programme

At Sea

Cruise News Bulletin #2Bulletin No. 2

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 03.51S | 36.26W
Travelled: 485 miles
Fresh Easterly winds, moderate sea & swell, cloudy & clear

22 January 1950


22 January
programme

Sunday At Sea

Steaming South Port of Spain to Bahia, Brazil 2,511 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 10.17S | 35.35W
Travelled: 469 miles
Light breeze, slight sea & swell, fine & clear
260 nmi to Bahia

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIMEFeaturing: Judy Garland | Van Johnson at 4.45pm

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

23 January 1950


23/24 January
programme

Arrive Bahia 6.24am - Depart 2.10pm

Log Abstract…
At: 6.24am (LT) Bahia arrival
Passage: 5 days, 11 hours, 12 mins.
Voyage Distance: 2,511 miles
Average Speed: 19.14 knots
At: 2.10pm (LT) Bahia departure

Bahia Harbour, 1957

Ashore in Bahia, 1957

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIMEFeaturing: Judy Garland | Van Johnson at 4.45pm

24 January 1950
NavBar

At Sea
Steaming South - Bahia to Rio de Janeiro 753 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 20.01S | 39.09W
Travelled: 442 miles
Light N.Westerly wind, slight sea & swell, clear
311 miles to Rio de Janeiro

24 Jan Deck Buffet Full Menu

24 Jan Luncheon Suggested Menu

Arrive Rio de Janeiro 6.18am

Rio de Janeiro 1959

Log Abstract…
At: 6.18am (LT) Rio de Janeiro arrival
Passage: 1 day, 16 hours, 8 mins.
Voyage Distance: 753 miles
Average Speed: 18.76 knots

MR BLANDING BUILDS HIS DREAMHOUSEFeaturing: Myrna Loy | Cary Grant at 9.30pm

27 January 1950

At Rio de Janeiro
Depart Rio de Janeiro 6pm

Log Abstract…
At: 6pm (LT) Rio de Janeiro departure

27 Jan Dinner Suggested Menu

THE STRATTON STORYFeaturing: June Allyson | James Stewart at 9.30pm

At Sea

Westbound across South Atlantic
Steaming Rio de Janeiro to Tristan da Cunha 1,798 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 26.17S | 37.25W
Travelled: 369 miles
Moderate S.Easterly breeze, moderate sea & swell, fine & clear

BARCLAYS OF BROADWAYFeaturing: Ginger Rogers | Fred Astaire at 4.45pm

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

29 January 1950


29 January
programme

Sunday At Sea

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 30.37S | 29.16W
Travelled: 502 miles
Fresh S.S.Easterly breeze, moderate sea & swell, fine & clear

29 Jan Luncheon Suggested Menu

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

At Sea

Westbound across South Atlantic
Steaming Rio de Janeiro to Tristan da Cunha 1,798 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 34.18S | 20.28W
Travelled: 497 miles
Fresh Southerly breeze, rough sea, moderate swell, fine & clear

Race Meeting on Promenade Deck aft at 3pm

BARCLAYS OF BROADWAYFeaturing: Ginger Rogers | Fred Astaire at 4.45pm

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

31 January 1950


31 January
programme

Arrive Tristan da Cunha at 9am - Depart 5pm

Log Abstract…
At: 9am (LT) Tristan da Cunha arrival
Passage: 3 days, 13 hours, 00 mins.
Voyage Distance: 1,798 miles
Average Speed: 21.15 knots
At: 5.03pm (LT) Tristan da Cunha departure

Tristan da Cunha Caronia stamp Stamp produced in 2000 for 50th Anniversary of Caronia's 1st visit

Cruise News Bulletin #3Bulletin No. 3

slide show {JS}

At Sea
Steaming Tristan da Cunha to Cape Town 1,507 miles

See What the Papers SaidReport: 03/04 February 1950

SILENT DUSTFeaturing: Sally Gray | Stephen Murray at 4.45 & 9.45pm

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

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Page last updated on Wed, 05 Nov 2025

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