LUXURY SHIP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 77, 11 January 1928, Page 3

LUXURY SHIP.

HAMBURG'S LATEST LINER. MAGNIFICENT APPOINTMENTS. The Cap Arcona, built for the passenger trade between Germany South America, has already started on its first journey. She is the largest vessel built in Germany since the war; she is the second largest ship in 'the newly built German Mercantile Marine and she will bo the largest steamer, as distinct from a. motor-ship, in the Soutii American trade. The Cap Arcona, winch has been built and engined by Blohm and Voss, of Hamburg, for the Hamburg-Sud Amerikanische Dampfachiffahrts Gesellschaft, is of 27,000 tons gross, but her cargo-carrying capacity is limited to a mere 400 or" 500 tons. The main passenger lifts serve six decks, the lowest of which is 20ft above the sea level. So even on this —the "E" deck —the portholes may be opened at sea. From "E" deck there is a lift d»wn to the swimming, electrical, and other baths on "H" deck —three decks lower — which is over the tank tops^ The "Sport Deck," which is the highest deck, contains "a full-sized hard tennis court, with a 15ft "run-back." On either side of the netting surroundi: g the court is a gallery with seats for spectators. With the aid of powerful elertcic lights, play should he practicable after dusk.

Below the sport deck is the boat, or "A," deck. This may be completely covered by the passenger, who thereby walks about 300 yards. In the centre is a handsome winter garden, with mosaic work, palm trees, and a fountain with goldfish. Forward of the winter garden arc two private dining rooms, with a view below of the main dining saloon: and farther aft is a well-equipped gymnasium, which completes the gymnastic appliances on the sport deck. One of the features of the Cap Arcona is her magnificent continuous range of constructions, comprising din-ing-room, lounge, saloon, ballroom and sniokeroom. This un inter runted sweep traverses nearly three-quarters of the 676 feet loner vessel. The revolution that has taken place in recent years in ocean travel is demonstrated by the wireless equipment of the Cap Arcona which enables passengers to maintain telephonic communication with the shore within a radius of 1000 miles. The Cap Arcona has a speed of twenty knots, and is expected to do the voyage from Hamburg to Buenos Aires in fifteen days/ The total accommodation on the ship is for 1549, while officers and crew number 634.