CRUISE LINER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23181, 29 October 1938, Page 14

CRUISE LINER

ORCADES IN PORT FIRST SHIP OF SEASON CATERING FOR VISITORS VARIOUS TOURS ARRANGED The. first cruise ship of the season to visit New Zealand, the new Orient liner Oreades, arrived from Brisbane yesterday morning with 836 passengers, including 180 from London. Most of the other travellers are Australian cruise passengers. The Oreades, which is on her first visit to New Zealand, berthed at Queen's Wharf and will sail for Wellington at midnight tonight. Commissioned only last year, the Oreades is a twin-screw turbine vessel of 23,456 tons gross. In spite of her size, she is of deceptive appearance, looking comparatively small until she is boarded, when her generous dimensions became apparent in the space availablo throughout, both on deck, in the public rooms, and in the individual cabins. The liner is commanded by Captain F. R. O'Sullevan. Trips to Popular Centres

Between 300 and 350 of the pas. sengers who arrived by the Oreades have planned to mako trips to some of the more popular sight-seeing centres of the North Island. Six tours are availablo and in each case arrangements have been made for the visitors to see as much of tho Dominion's scenery as possible. Two parties, one of over 60 people and the other of about 35, left Auckland yesterday. The first was scheduled to spend the night at Waitomo, to visit Rotorua and Wairakei to-day, to seo the Chateau to-morrow, and to reach Wellington on Monday. The second party was to spend last night at Waitomo, and to continue to Rotorua to-day, returning to Auckland in time to board tho Oreades before she sails to-night. Day Excursions to Botorua One of the most popular excursions is tho day trip to Rotorua, to be made to-day. Abou* 120 visitors will leave Auckland by train at 7.30 o'clock this morning, and will return at 10.20 o'clock to-night. There will also bo a motor trip to Rotorua to-day, catering for about 85 people. The cars will leave the City at 7.30 this morning, and are due at tho ship's side at 10 o'clock to-night. A combined trip by motor-car and train is that from Auckland to Rotorua, Wairakei, the Chateau and Wellington. This excursion, to begin from Auckland this morning, will result in passengers reaching Wellington in time to hoard the Oreades there before her departure for Sydney on Monday. In adctitipn, another small party will visit Rotorua, Wairakei, Napier and Wellington, also travelling by rail and road. Sight-seeing Bound City Half-day sight-seeing trips' roind Auckland were undertaken by a number of the visitors yesterday. In spite of showers early in the afternoon, the trips were well patronised, and tourists spoke highly of the attractions they had seen. The drives included such well-known beauty spots as Titirangi and Cornwall Park. Further trips will be made to-day, and in addition visitors who have friends in Auckland have arranged private excursions. Tho Oreades, an attractively-* appointed ship, will be open for public inspection this afternoon, between two o'clock and five. A small charge will be made for each visitor and the proceeds will be devoted to the Flying Angel Missions to Seamen. An Association football match between members of the ship's crew and a team from H.M.S. Achilles was arranged by tho missions. In addition, arrangements were made for members of the crew to enjoy a sight-seeing tour of Auckland.