All Caronia Booked for 80-Day Voyage

Report from “The Times” 31 December 1949
All accommodation in the Caronia for a cruise between 70 and 80 days from New York on 12 January has been taken in the United States. The cruise is by far the most extensive that has been planned by the Cunard White Star since the war.

The ship is to visit the West Indies, South and East Africa, and to pass through the Suez Canal to Alexandria. There is to be an optional air tour from the Cape to Cairo. In all about 30 ports are to be visited.

The Caronia will be due at Southampton on 2 March, 72 days after leaving New York, by which time she will have steamed 19,000 miles. Passengers who choose to return to New York by the next available sailing will be able to complete the tour in 80 days. Alternately. some may prefer to return to the United States later.

For the cruise the total number of passengers to be carried in the one class is being restricted to 550. With cruising in mind the Caronia has two identical restaurants called Balmoral and Sandringham in view of the launching of the ship by Princess Elizabeth.

Each of the two restaurants has seating capacity for 280, so all the 550 will be accommodated in the restaurants at one time. When engaged in the North Atlantic service the Caronia is able to carry 580 in the first class and 350 in the cabin class, making 930 in all.