HOLIDAY CRUISES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21966, 24 November 1934, Page 15

HOLIDAY CRUISES

WIDE POPULARITY :: NEXT SHIP FOR DOMINION ALL ACCOMMODATION BOOKED Confidence in the success of tourist cruises to New Zealand was expressed bv Captain K. A. J W. Carter, comlnander of the P. and 0, liner Strathaird, and Staff-Commander L. J. Kdwards, who is in charge of the general organisation of the vessel's present cruise. They pointed out that in spite of the fact that the Melbourne Centenary celebrations and the visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Sydney had proved a strong counter-attraction, 800 passengers had made the present trip. For the next cruise to New Zealand, that of the Strathnaver, there was a full booking. The policy of the P. and O. Company was to utilise the time that would normally be spent in port at each terminus of the run from Australia to England by arranging attractive cruises. During ih« present season there had already been two trips to Fiji, one to Noumea and one to Norfolk Island. From Kngland similar cruises had been made to the Mediterranean and to the Norwegian Fiords As evidence of tho popularity of the latter, Captain Carter stated that in the last three European cruises upward of I WOO passengers had been carried.

On tho voyages to Australia i> largo proportion of the passengers left the vessels at Indian ports, and the present type of cruise enabled tho company to use the accommodation and keep the large crews occupied. People from Western Australia were particularly attracted to the coastwise trip round the Commonwealth with its advantage of having two days in each port on both journeys, and the added inducement of being able to see something of New Zealand. On the present trip no fewer than 2;35 Western Australians had joined the ship their voyage occupying a full five weeks.

"The passengers on the present voyage," stated Commander Edwards, " are probably equally divided between their desire to taste the enjoyments of a holiday on a large liner and to have the experience of visiting a new country. The indefatigable efforts of the representatives of the New Zealand Tourist Department have undoubtedly resulted in a number of passengers, who had originally intended to remain on the ship, changing their minds and joining the parties visiting the resorts in the interior of the North Island."

" Cruising has come to stay," said Captain Carter. " It is a great thing for people to travel and meet their fellow men and to see other countries. Above everything else it helps to break down some of the insularity that is a characteristic of British peojile, and results in a broadening of outlook." * Both officers paid a tribute to the excellent publicity organised by the Tourist Department. Throughout the cruise everything had been done to place the attractions of New Zealand before the passengers. The average faros for the cruise, exclusive of shore excursions, are about £22 for first-class accommodation and £l2 for tourist class.