George Washington. So great has transatlantic tourist travel become and so insistent the demand for ships with only one type of cabin accommodations that the United States Lines ordered their second largest vessel, the George Washington, changed from first-class to cabin service. Last week the interior alterations were almost completed. On Jan. 4 she will sail for Plymouth, Cherbourg and Bremen. The change groups the George Washington with the United States Lines’ other cabin ships, the Republic, President Roosevelt, President Harding and America, in immediate competition with the White Star Line’s Baltic and the North German Lloyd’s Berlin. The Leviathan, biggest and best U. S.-owned boat, remains the United States Lines’ only ship of the de luxe class.
To Trieste. More than two years ago Merchant Edward A. Filene of Boston recommended that passenger ships be operated as hotels, with rooms at various prices, with all decks open to all passengers, with cafeteria as well as dining-room service. This plan, he argued, would reduce operating costs for the ship owners, would permit lower fares, would stimulate tourist travel (TIME, May 18, 1925). the cabin boats have followed Merchant Filene’s general plan to their owner’s profit. By reducing winter fares, as Mr. Filene also suggested, the lines have gained year-round traffic. Last week the Cosulich Line, operating between New York and Adriatic ports, announced that it would build eight new ships for Filene-plan service. Six will be of 10,000 gross tons, two of 40,000 gross tons. Fares on at least the smaller six will be $125 from Manhattan to Trieste. California. At Newport News the Panama Pacific Line’s new California, largest commercial ship ever built in the U. S., last week was practically ready for experimental trips. By Jan. 28 workmen will have completed her fittings and she will sail, with 751 passengers filling every one of her cabins, from New York to California ports by way of Havana and the Panama Canal.
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