A Grand European Voyage: SS Carpathia’s 1913 Cruise Tour B Souvenir Program
🔎 Explore the SS Carpathia’s 1913 European Cruise Tour B, a rare glimpse into early 20th-century ocean travel. This itinerary showcases historic destinations, passenger experiences, and insights for genealogists, historians, and educators.
Front Cover of Tour B Itinerary Souvenir Program - European Cruise on the SS Carpathia of the Cunard Line, 2 July to 23 August, 1913. GGA Image ID # 12a266d622
A Unique Glimpse into 1913 Ocean Travel 🌍🚢
This Tour B Itinerary & Souvenir Program from July 2 – August 23, 1913, offers a rare and engaging look into a grand European cruise aboard the SS Carpathia, just a year after its heroic role in the Titanic rescue. Beyond its historical significance, this document is a treasure trove of insights for educators, students, genealogists, and travel historians, detailing how ocean travel connected cultures and provided luxury experiences in the early 20th century.
Why This Itinerary Matters ✨
This souvenir program isn’t just a schedule—it’s a historical snapshot of how affluent travelers experienced Europe before World War I changed global travel forever. For researchers and history enthusiasts, it offers:
✅ A detailed look at pre-war European travel routes
✅ Cultural and leisure activities of early 20th-century travelers
✅ Valuable information for genealogy research (passenger names & tour details)
✅ An inside look at transatlantic tourism via Cunard Line
Very rare Itinerary and Souvenir Program for a European Cruise on the SS Carpathia of the Cunard Line in the year following its involvement in the rescue of the RMS Titanic.
ITINERARY
Wednesday, July 2—Sail at noon on the Carpathia of the Cunard Line from foot of Fourteenth Street, West, New York City.
- Sunday, July 13: Call at Gibraltar
- Tuesday, July 15: Call at Genoa
- Wednesday, July 16 through Friday. July 18: Naples - Hotel Royal (Sorrento, Capri-Pompeii)
- Saturday, July 19 through Tuesday, July 22: Rome - Fisher's Park Hotel
- Wednesday, July 23 through Friday, July 25: Florence - Hotel Berchielli
- Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27: Venice - Hotel Milan
- Monday, July 28: Milan to Baveno.
- Tuesday, July 29: Simplon Pass to Brigue - Hotel Couronne et Poste
- Wednesday, July 30: Interlaken - Royal Hotel St. George
- Thursday, July 31: Lucerne - Hotel Minerva
- Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2: Heidelberg – Hotel Shrieder
- Sunday, August 3: Rhine - Steamer to Cologne
- Monday, August 4: Cologne and to Paris
- Tuesday, August 5 through Friday, August 8: Paris - Hotel Calais
- Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10: Brussels - Hotel Royal Nord
- Monday, August 11 and Tuesday, August 12: The Hague- Hotel du Passage
- Wednesday, August 13 through Saturday, August 16: London. West Central Hotel
- Sunday, August 17: Stratford-on-Avon.
- Monday, August 18: Coaching trip through the Shakspere district to Kenilworth and Warwick.
- Tuesday, August 19: By train and coach to Grasmere - Rothay Hotel
- Wednesday, August 20: Melrose
- Thursday, August 21 and Friday, August 22: Edinburg – Cockburn Hotel
- Saturday, August 23: Glasgow - Windsor Hotel. Sail by Steamship Caledonia of the Anchor Line for New York.
Cablegrams or mails should be addressed to the hotels named above in care of E. W. Van Deusen. Allow twelve days from New York for letters.
The headquarters of this party will be The Martha Washington Hotel, 29 East 29th Street, New York.
Mr. Van Deusen may be communicated with by telephone at The Florentine, 542 West 124th Street, New York.
All should be at the pier an hour before sailing. Baggage should be sent to the pier twenty-four hours in advance. Claim your baggage at the pier and deliver it to the ship’s baggage-master.
Members of Party
- Miss Abby D. Baker - Detroit. Mich.
- Miss Helen Craig Baker - Montclair, N. J.
- Miss Minnie Creath – London, Ohio
- Miss Mernie Mac Corvie - Rochester. N. Y.
- Miss Laura Mac Corvie - Toronto. Canada
- Mrs. Wilhelmina Schadee - Florence. Mass.
- Miss Helen F. Schadee - Florence. Mass.
- Miss Sarah J. Thomas - Chicago. Ill.
- Miss Hazel Ward - Aidsley. N. Y.
- Mrs. Nellie P. Waymire - Springfield, Ohio
Tour B Itinerary Souvenir Program - European Cruise on the SS Carpathia of the Cunard Line, 2 July to 23 August, 1913. GGA Image ID # 12a27c5b18
Members of Party on Tour B Itinerary Souvenir Program - European Cruise on the SS Carpathia of the Cunard Line, 2 July to 23 August, 1913. GGA Image ID # 12a39cad71
🌍 The Grand European Tour: 21 Stops in 8 Weeks
The tour itself is a dream itinerary, covering some of Europe’s most iconic cities and scenic countryside:
📍 Italy – Genoa, Naples (Capri & Pompeii), Rome, Florence, and Venice
📍 Switzerland – Milan, Lake Baveno, the Simplon Pass, Interlaken, and Lucerne
📍 Germany – Heidelberg and a Rhine River steamer cruise to Cologne
📍 France – A four-day stay in Paris
📍 Belgium & Netherlands – Brussels and The Hague
📍 United Kingdom – London, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Lake District, Edinburgh, and Glasgow
🚂 The Journey Included:
Luxury hotel stays in every city 🌟
Coaching trips through Shakespearean England 🏰
A Rhine River cruise 🚢
Train and coach excursions through the Alps 🚞
📌 This wasn’t just a cruise—it was an elite European adventure, blending cultural exploration with first-class travel.
👤 Noteworthy Passenger List: A Genealogist’s Treasure Trove
For genealogists and family historians, the list of passenger names and hometowns is a goldmine. These names provide direct historical records of individuals who embarked on this journey, possibly offering connections for descendants tracing their lineage.
🗂 Example Names & Origins:
🔹 Miss Abby D. Baker (Detroit, MI)
🔹 Miss Helen Craig Baker (Montclair, NJ)
🔹 Mrs. Wilhelmina Schadee (Florence, MA)
🔹 Miss Sarah J. Thomas (Chicago, IL)
📌 Each name tells a story—who were these women, and what inspired them to embark on this journey?
🏞 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance
Some historically significant visuals:
📜 "Front Cover of Tour B Itinerary Souvenir Program
A rare artifact from 1913 ocean travel, likely with period-style design and typography.
👥 "Members of Party on Tour B Itinerary"
A snapshot of the names of actual passengers, giving a human connection to this historic voyage. Such images are valuable for genealogy and social history research.
Relevance for Different Audiences 🎯
👨🏫 For Teachers & Students:
🔹 A real-world example of early 20th-century travel & tourism
🔹 A look at how European travel was structured in 1913
🔹 Insight into social history & leisure activities before WWI
📜 For Historians:
🔹 Details on pre-war transatlantic tourism
🔹 Evidence of social class and gender roles in travel
🔹 A rare primary source from a historically significant ship
🔍 For Genealogists:
🔹 A direct list of passengers with locations
🔹 Possible family connections for descendants
🔹 A unique document to cross-reference with immigration records
🏨 For Travel Enthusiasts:
🔹 A glimpse into luxury travel before commercial airlines
🔹 A blueprint of European Grand Tours before they changed forever
Final Thoughts: A Window Into Luxury & History 🏛🚢
The SS Carpathia’s 1913 Tour B Souvenir Program is far more than an itinerary—it’s a historical artifact, giving teachers, researchers, and genealogists a rich look at ocean travel, cultural tourism, and social dynamics in the early 20th century. Whether you’re studying travel history, tracing family roots, or exploring pre-war Europe, this document serves as a valuable and fascinating resource.
➡ Would you have joined this adventure? 🌍🚢
