PLEASURE GRUISES

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 75, 29 March 1934, Page 11

PLEASURE GRUISES

VISITS TO NEW ZEALAND

In view ' of the 'importance' to New Zealand at a flourishing tourist traffic, considerable interest attaches to the news that.. next summer- four of the largest and uioat moderfi1 liners' plying between Australia and England will make pleasure cruises to this country. During the summer just closed aud that of last year the P. and O. and Orient Lines have been carrying out pleasure cruises in Australian waters and'to various important Pacific islands, and, arrangements have now been made for six cruises to New Zealand nest summer. Each cruise will occupy about twelve days. • -*'~. ". . The following schedule has been arranged: Strathaird (P.. and p.), leaving Brisbane on. November ,21; Strathnaver (P. and 0.), leaving Brisbane on December 19; Oronsay (Orient), leaving Bris-baiie-^pn December 23; Otranto (Orient), leaving" Brisbane on February' 3; Strathaird, leaving Brisbane on March, 13; and Orousay, leaving Brisbane on Apiil 14. The probable itinerary in each case will be from Brisbane to Auckland ami Wei-J lingtoii and back td.Sydney. This arrangement'will enable the .tourrats/ to. seethe scenic beauties5 of the North' Island by travelling overland froni Auckland to Wellington. .-.--.-.-; -j - ■ . i It is considered very unlikely, that the liners will visit the Marlborough or West | Coast Sounds, owing to the limited time I available v for tile cruises. The cruises. undertaken1 by both companies during the past two .summers have proved exceedingly popular. The passenger accommodation has been.' limited to a certain exteuti and iii a number of eases people wishing" to make certain trips have not been able.to do so. The Strathaird! and the Strathnaver, both,22,soo : tonnere,! carry between-800-and 900 passengers on their cruises, and the Oronsay and the Otranto; which.' are vessels of 20,000 tons, accommodate about 500 passengers each. On the basis of their gross tonnage, the Strathaird and the Strathnaver will be the biggest passenger vessels to visit Wellington; ;That distinction at present Belongs to the Eraneonia, which has a gross tonnage of 20J175. J