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 his
was particularly so in the 1920s. The RMSP group reached its peak at
that time and enjoyed the flexibility to swap ships.
Once trading
conditions and the economy had returned to an even keel after World
War I, cruises were reinstated. There were again intercolonial cruise
options in the Caribbean basin as well as summer cruises to Norway.
The Company now also offered short tours to France, Germany, Spain,
Portugal and Madeira.
Also reinstated
was the collaboration with the now wholly-owned Pacific Steam Navigation
Company. The combinations here were almost limitless, with RMSP's services
to the West Indies and Panama, and to the South American east coast,
and PSN's operations on the west coast and through the Panama Canal
to New York. With such a wide range of possibilities they were marketed
simply as "Tours round South America".
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To replace
the original Arcadian, RMSP took the larger Asturias and
refitted her as a cruise liner. Confusingly, they bestowed on her the
same name as her predecessor, and so it was as the Arcadian that
she emerged for her new career in 1923.
In the
mid-1920s the Araguaya was also sent to Belfast for conversion
to full-time cruise liner; like the others she emerged with accommodation
for first class-only, of whom she carried just 365. The Arcadian
subsequently made some cruises but was then employed mostly on the prestigious
New York - Bermuda route.
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A short-term
addition to the cruising market was the Orca which, early in
1926, took an unprecedented leap in the cruising stakes with a monster
Great African Cruise which unashamedly targeted the rich both in Britain
and America. A year later the Orca had gone, but the new Asturias
was available. She was less than a year old, several thousand tons bigger
than any other ship in the fleet, and in terms of her accommodation
and public rooms, the decor and sheer artistry, was among the finest
ships ever built.
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n January 1927 the Asturias departed for the Second Great African
Cruise, a 101-day extravaganza, the longest and most spectacular cruise
Royal Mail ever made.
"The
exceptional success of the first Great African Cruise by the ss Orca,"
the brochure said, "was marked evidence of the wide appeal of a
cruise that combines the alluring new lands of South and East Africa
with old favourite places - West Indies, South America, Egypt and Europe.
The Second Great African Cruise will follow the same unique and fascinating
itinerary. . .
"Further
evidence of that pioneering spirit, for which the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company is famous, is found in the arrangements for the Second Great
African Cruise. The itinerary as laid out for the Orca made travel
history - an extension of de luxe travel to lands of beauty and mystery
far off the beaten tracks. Now to this is joined another notable innovation
- the great new motor vessel Asturias.
"The
American Express Company, with its world-wide experience in conducting
de luxe cruises, will again co-operate in the management of all cruise
features both on ship and on shore. This guarantees constant and varied
entertainment between ports and the best possible arrangements for numerous
included excursions in the various countries visited, as well as for
the optional tours that are offered. . ."
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The cruise
left Southampton for New York, then visited Trinidad, Rio de Janeiro,
Santos, Montevideo and Buenos Aires. From South America she headed across
the South Atlantic to Capetown. Halfway between the two lay the tiny
speck of Tristan da Cunha. "Weather permitting,' said the booklet,
"Tristan da Cunha will be approached and a supply of provisions
placed on a raft to be floated ashore to the 129 inhabitants. This was
done on the first Great African Cruise.' With the immense decline in
sailing ships, Tristan had by then become more isolated than ever, and
the promise of provisions would have filled the islanders with joy.
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At Capetown
passengers began a series of options - either staying with the ship
throughout the African portion of the cruise, with the shore excursions
included in the itinerary, or making optional overland journeys. From
Capetown, for instance, passengers could travel north to Kimberley,
Mafeking, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls before doubling back to Johannesburg
and Pretoria to rejoin the ship at Durban. Another trip was from Port
Elizabeth to Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban.
The Asturias
visited Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Mozambique, Zanzibar, Mombasa
and Aden. There was a brief call at Port Sudan to disembark those taking
the optional journey to Khartoum, Luxor and the Nile. There was also
a tour to Palestine and Jerusalem. From Alexandria the Asturias
travelled to Naples, Monaco and Gibraltar, before returning to Southampton.
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