Transatlantic Crossings Reduction Announced
Predicting its future intentions in the New York Times this month, Cunard announced that the number of transatlantic crossings made by its fleet of 8 ships would be reduced from 211 in 1963 to 191 in 1964. The two Queens would make 78 of the 132 crossings to New York and there would be 58 crossings to and from Canada.
Carmania would make the extra crossing, from Fort Lauderdale, after completing her programme of 6 cruises to the West Indies. The Mauretania, heavily involved in Mediterranean Cruises this year will be diverted to do 13 transatlantic crossings.
Caronia would be used on the Southampton to New York crossing only in January, June and August for positioning purposes. Of course, her January crossing was the “Sterling Cruise” taking in several stops in the Bahamas before her New York arrival.
Clearly the emphasis for revenue seeking was in cruising, with the reduction of transats allowing ships like the Carmania to pick up the West Indies trade. Once a Caronia task, it leaves her to concentrate on her established pattern of longer and more profitable cruises.
Whilst the crew to passenger ratio on the Carmania was quite high, it was nowhere near Caronia's usual one-to-one ratio, making her better suited to Cunard's West Indies offerings. Caronia's marketing could also be targeted more strongly at the luxury end of the scale.
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