Being the first major cruise in Caronia's career, the 1950 Great African Cruise caused quite a
sensation even before she left New York on 12 January 1950. Below are transcripts of various news
reports found in the New York Times about this famous voyage. You may notice a discrepancy in the
number of days for this voyage. This is because the cruise actually terminated at Southampton, and
an extra 7 days could be added for the westbound return transatlantic crossing on any of the Cunard
fleet
If anyone reading this comes from one of the ports on this cruise and knows of a local newspaper
archive going back to this period, then I'd be really pleased to explore the possibilities of
getting copies of these local news reports. Do
please get in touch.
Caronia Sails Today on 4-Continent Trip
556 Taking Cruise from $2,000 to $20,000
From New York Times
12 January 1950
One of the most luxurious cruises in modern history will begin today with the sailing of the Cunard
liner Caronia on an eighty-day voyage to four continents.
Billed as the “Great African Cruise”, the ship's itinerary includes calls at twenty-seven ports in
South America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The first stop will be at St Thomas in the Virgin
Islands, the last at Southampton. Despite fares ranging from $2,400 a person to $20,000 for a suite,
556 individuals have booked passage for the long voyage.
The cruise will feature a complete programme of shore excursions to world-famous landmarks and passengers
may visit Rome during the Holy Year celebration or make springtime tours of Europe
The Caronia will follow the coast of South America as far south as Rio de Janeiro, then cross to
Cape Town, sail up the east coast of Africa through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to the
Mediterranean, out into the Atlantic again and North to Cherbourg and Southampton.
556 Off on Caronia on $3,000,000 Trip
Average Two Trunks and Four Suitcases
From New York Times
13 January 1950
The Four-continent cruise of the Cunard Liner Caronia got under way yesterday amid a shower of
gay-coloured streamers and confetti. For eighty days the vessel will carry 556 passengers from
one world-famous port to another, starting at St Thomas in the Virgin Islands and going on to
Rio de Janeiro, Tristan da Cunha, Cape Town, Zanzibar, Suez, Naples and other ports.
The $2,400 to $10,000 price range for individual accommodations indicated that the passengers
would pay close to $3,000,000 for the trip, exclusive of optional shore excursions, which are
topped by a $1,150 air tour from Cape Town to Nairobi.
Pier officials said the passengers left with almost as much luggage as would ordinarily be carried
a 2,000-passenger list on one of the giant “Queens.” An average of two trunks and four suitcases
a person was loaded, in addition to 1,800 bon-voyage gifts.
Cape Town Maps Greeting for Liner Caronia Today
From New York Times
CAPE TOWN, South Africa
03 February 1950
Radio telephone communication today with the liner Caronia on a luxury world cruise confirmed that
she would enter Table Bay soon after dawn tomorrow so that her 550 United States passengers can
enjoy the full beauty of Table Mountain illuminated by the morning sun.
The Caronia's cruise has received so much publicity that not merely Cape Town but all South Africa
is agog. Elaborate preparations have been made by travel agencies on a scale unknown even before
the war. One hundred and twenty automobiles will be at the disposal of the visitors.
Every street-urchin in Cape Town knows that one United States Dollar is equal to “seven bob
(shillings) and tuppence” and that the passengers are reputed to have many dollars.
The headline in The Eastern Province Herald, published in Port Elizabeth, strikes a happy note:
“The dollars are coming, hurrah! hurrah!”
Cape Town Greets the Liner Caronia
Extends Royal Welcome as the Ship Completes
1st Quarter of Super Luxury Cruise
By G. H. Archambault - From New York Times CAPE TOWN, South Africa
04 February 1950
Dressed in bunting, the Cunard liner Caronia docked here this morning, completing the first quarter of her eighty-day
super-luxury cruise. Her 556 passengers, most of them Americans, were treated as “very important persons”.
Indeed, their reception had a regal touch in that arrangements recalled those made three years ago when the British
Royal Family came to South Africa aboard the battleship HMS Vanguard.
The Caronia was assigned the same privileged wharf at the foot of the city's main avenue, there were the same police
lines, and harbour officials stressed that even the same gangways were used. And the Mayor of the city was the first
aboard to extend greetings.
Since she left New York on 12 January, the Caronia has had calm weather. Apart from three days rain at Rio de Janeiro,
conditions have been excellent. Passengers agreed that the highlight of the tour to date has been the twelve-hour visit
to Tristan da Cunha Island, far in the South Atlantic, known as the “loneliest spot on Earth”.
There was no wharf, of course, and most of the 200-odd inhabitants rowed out to the Caronia in
home-made canvas boats. Money is unknown on Tristan da Cunha, and the simple curios made by the
islanders were bartered for scarves and other useful articles that visitors could spare.
“At their own risk” eighty passengers ventured ashore in canvas boats.
Caronia lit-up at night
from Flyer cover
Although immigration and customs formalities here at Cape Town could not be waived entirely, they
were reduced to a minimum and soon many passengers were off sightseeing. Their preferences had
been made known in advance.
One had the cruise organisers puzzled. Grinnell Burt, from Palermo, California, wished to see
penguins. On his arrival he explained that he wanted to make photographs. He was told that although
the South African Government owns several penguin islands, they were distant; nevertheless, a
well-known Cape Townian was ready to take him out in his power boat. Finally, Mr. Burt, himself
a fruit grower, went to see orchards.
Dr. William Brady from Beverly Hills, California, known as the “best informed man on board”, was
enquiring about the International Air Edition of The New York Times, which is following him
during the cruise.
Miss Janet Thompson, also from Beverly Hills, and Miss Nancy Wing Olmsted, from New York, voiced a
general sentiment when they said that they particularly wanted to see wildlife and native tribal
ways. Consequently, by tomorrow a majority of the passengers will have left on side trips for
which all the best trains, aeroplanes and motor coaches have been mobilised.
The Caronia's visit has come in the nature of a windfall, and there is much speculation as to how
much the wealthy tourists will spend. Some estimates run as high as $250,000. Bearing in mind the
number of industrialists in the party, the Mayor of Cape Town, in his address of greeting, hinted
that there were still “good factory sites” around the city.
The Caronia will remain here until Thursday, then leave for Port Elizabeth.
Tourists Sleep in Luxor on Mattresses on Floor
From New York Times - 04 March 1950
From: Dispatch of The Times, London Cairo, Egypt, 03 March
A party of United States tourists from the Caronia was stranded at Luxor, and tonight members
were reported sleeping on mattresses on the floor because the hotels were crowded. A dispute
between the Aden Airways and the Egyptian air authorities caused the discomfiture.
When the Caronia called at Port Sudan last week, forty-eight passengers disembarked for a flying
trip to Khartoum, where they were joined by another party from Nairobi. The Aden Airways, which
transported them to Khartoum, arranged to fly them to Cairo, and got the necessary permission
from the Egyptian Government.
When some tourists wanted to land at Luxor this was done, and the plane returned to Khartoum,
bringing the rest of the party to Cairo. But when the airline wanted to bring others from Luxor,
the Egyptian authorities refused, saying that this was barred by an international agreement.
$7,000,000 Cruise Ends
Caronia Docks After 73 Days - Fares Ranged to $12,000
From New York Times - 27 March 1950
Associated Press Report
Southampton, England, 26 March
The Cunard liner Caronia arrived today completing a seventy-three-day world cruise in the course
of which, officials estimated, it earned $7,000,000.
[Reuters said the passengers, whose average age was 60, spent $4,000,000 on fares another estimated
$3,000,000 on board and at ports of call, providing the British Treasury with a windfall in dollars.]
Twenty of the 561 passengers were United States and Canadian millionnaires. Fares they paid ranged
from $2,400 to $12,000. The liner, which left New York Jan 12, visited twenty-seven ports in nine
countries. The crew outnumbered the passengers - 682 to 561.
The 34,000 ton Caronia will resume regular transatlantic service next month.
Webmaster Notes:
At the start of the Great African Cruise it was reported that 556 passengers left New York on 12 January, yet in the
last report above it's reported that there were 561 cruise passengers. One death, that of H.H. Whitman, was reported
in the New York Times on 19 March 1950, so it's quite possible that another four also died on this voyage, making a
corrected 551 arrivals.
However, because of the call at Cherbourg earlier that day, only 199 passengers reached Southampton. The remainder
would disembark for trips around the European Continent. Several passengers would again meet up with the Caronia just
10 days later on her call at Le Havre, thus returning to the USA without a visit to Britain.
As reported, the average age on board was 60 years, and passenger deaths on the longer cruises
were not uncommon. These would often be followed with burials at sea.
