$10 Bermuda Cruise On “Palatial Liner” In 1912
A 1912 advertisement shows that Bermuda was as sought after a vacation destination in the early 20th century as it is today, with a trip to the island offered amid glowing praise for its beauty.
“There is more beauty to the square foot in Bermuda than anywhere else in the world,” proclaims the ad, which offers a trip to Bermuda at a price modern travelers can only dream of.
Issued by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co, the ad features photos of Bermuda, along with a quote from American novelist William Dean Howells that says, “I used to recall Italy there, but for beauty Italy is nowhere beside Bermuda.”
Round trip passage aboard the Arcadian, which is described as “the most palatial liner ever in the Bermudian service,” is offered at $10, sailing every Saturday “commencing soon,” according to the flyer.
The flyer also highlights locations in the West Indies that include Panama, Jamaica, Santiago, Havana, Colombia, and Venezuela, urging travelers to “see the canal now while it is in its most interesting stage.”
The SS Arcadian, a Barrow-in-Furness built passenger liner, was constructed in 1899 by Vickers, Sons & Maxim Ltd for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company as SS Ortona.
The Arcadian’s dining saloon in 1913:
After serving with the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, the vessel was sold to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and renamed in 1910 as the Arcadian, providing cruises from 1912 to 1915, including passage to Bermuda.
Following its usage as a cruise ship, the Arcadian was taken up by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser in order to serve during World War I.
It was during this service, in April 1917, that the Arcadian was en route to Alexandria with a company of more than 1,300 troops and crew. After completing a drill, the vessel was hit by a single torpedo about 26 miles northeast of the Greek island of Milos, sinking it within minutes, and killing over 250 people onboard.
