ON WORLD CRUISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 177, 28 July 1926, Page 11

ON WORLD CRUISE.

■ FRANCONIA TO BRING TOURISTS. VESSEL ARRIVES FEBRUARY 18 WILL STAY POUR DAYS HERE. There arrived in Auckland on Sunday Mr. V. D. Cove, a special representative from the New York office of Messrs. Thos. Cook and Sons, who is visiting the Dominion, with a view to making himself acquainted with the shore excureinos included in the itinerary of the passengers of the Franconia, which will arrive in New Zealand waiters in February of next year. The cruise of the stately Franconia is a world-wide one and the vessel will carry 400 American tourists. Leaving New York on January 12, the vessel will visit Jamaica, Cristobal and Panama, then going up the Caifornian coast, later to call at Hawaii. Samoa and Fiji will be visited, and then the vessel comes to Auckland. The Franconia will make a four-day stay in this port. She sails then for Wellington and Milford Sound, and after leaving these waters she goes to Tasmania and Australia. New Guinea, Java, Straits Settlements, Ceylon, Kenya, Zanzibar, Portuguese East Africa, South Africa, Uruguay, Argentine, Brazil and Martinique will be visited, and the steamer will arrive back in New York on June 2. The New Zealand Visit. Four full days will be spent in Auckland when the ship arrives here on February IS, and during that time, half the party will be taken in sections on a tour to Rotorua. The other half, after visiting Rotorua, will travel overland to Wellington after a scenic trip up the Wanganui River. "This, of course, only provides a glance at some of New Zealand's scenic attractions," said Mr. Cove to a "Star" reporter this morning. "It is quite impossible to extend the stay. We would like to arrange for the

Ship to call at a Southern port so that the tourists would have an opportunity of seeing the prominent beauty spots of the South. It can't be done. Apart from the shore excursions, the charter fee works out at just on £1500 a day. It rs not only the enormous expense involved, but also the fact that the cruise of the vessel is to last only five months that prevents us from arranging for a longer stay in this country. Already, I understand, that numerous inquiries have been received from all over New Zealand asking why the tourists will not visit " this town or that town t" Unfortunately, we can't possibly arrange for a longer stay here, said Mr. Cove. Cost of Cruise. The Franconia will be carrying 400 passengers, and Mr. Cove says that already 320 people have booked. The bookings • cover all the shore excursions. Although, the vessel is capable of accommodating 2000 passengers, 400 is tha limit placed on board by Thos. Cook and Son. The cost of the complete cruise, including shore excursions at every port is from £500 to £2500, according to the state rooms occupied. The most expensive suites include bedrooms, sitting rooms and bathroms furnished in lavish style. Built as it was especially for pleasure cruises, the new Cunard Line Franconia is a vessel of 20,000 tons. Her sports area covers 5000 equare feet, and there are beautiful garden lounges where the floors have been specially prepared for dances. Nearly every room on the ship has running hot and cold water. Special arrangements are being made through Mr. A. H. Messenger, of the Government Publicity Department, to have films exhibited on board the steamer before she arrives in New Zealand waters. Before the vessel leaves New Zealand printed publicity matter will be distributed on board, and this, it is thought, will find its way throughout America, and will help to attract independent tourists. According to Mr. Cove, this cruise will appeal to those who have already made a world cruise following the more usual route as well ac to those to whom the experience of circling the globe ie a new one. This cruise of the Franconia can be described, in short, as a journey to the lands of the future.