Lives of the liners: P&o's arcadia

[Doc Vernon]

Arcadia 4.jpg



After the North Atlantic run between Europe and North America, one of the busiest ocean liner routes was between England and Australia. Like the North Atlantic, it was supported by a regular passenger trade, but also with a huge backbone: a seemingly unlimited, outbound, low-fare immigrant trade. One of Britain's most famous, most historic shipping companies, P&O, the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company Limited, was heavily (and profitably) involved for decades in this now all but bygone Australian liner service. In 1960, they were merged with another London-based company, the Orient Line, and using no less than twelve large passenger ships at their peak. P&O-Orient Lines, as they were called until 1966 (before reverting to the simpler P&O name), had regular sailings to Australia, but also on worldwide itineraries that included over 100 ports in the Middle East, the Far East, North America and the Caribbean.



After considerable losses during the destructive years of the Second World War, both the P&O and Orient lines constructed a large list of new liners: Orcades (1948), Himalaya (1949), Chusan (1950), Oronsay (1951), Arcadia (1954), Iberia (1954), Orsova (1955) and finally the larger and faster Oriana (1960) and Canberra (1961).





The Arcadia appears in our new book Great Passenger Liners 1950-60.

[Graham Payne]

Hi Doc,
I was on 4 of them in the '60s , Orcades, Oronsay, Oriana, and Himalaya, from Deck/Boy, to AB and Quatermaster. Had a great time in the Pig & Whistle also put on a lot of weight after being at Training School.
Unlimited food, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, "Blackpan" then supper. For a 16yr old it was like dying and going to Heaven ( food wise )
Happy Days.

[Red Lead Ted]

Graham, My misses joined weight watchers a few weeks ago to loose some flab before we go on holiday in a few weeks, Bingo wings.........Bloody hell mate they are like bin bags, She came home the other night with a big on her grid I have lost six pounds, Dont worry hun i said i will find it down the back of the sofa or somewhere

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Graham
you may have come across my ;ate Uncle on the Himalaya in the 60,s but he was in Catering,but a very well known Lad indeed by all!
"Dusty" (George VanderPoll)
Cheers

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Graham
you may have come across my ;ate Uncle on the Himalaya in the 60,s but he was in Catering,but a very well known Lad indeed by all!
"Dusty" (George VanderPoll)
Amongst his jobs was Deck Steward at one time!
Cheers

[Graham Payne]

Sorry Doc I can't recall the name , it was a long time ago and the catering staff formed the greater part of the crew.
Kind regards

[Graham Payne]

Terry, your a braver man than me to put that in public , however I will try, my wife has just purchased a Hula Hoop, it's even got a counter & display on it to tell her how many calories she has lost.
( bloody madness )

[Captain Kong]

I asked my Doctor what was the best way to lose weight.
He said,
"Stick a Plaster over your mouth. There were No fat people in Belson"
Brian

[Red Lead Ted]

Terry, your a braver man than me to put that in public , however I will try, my wife has just purchased a Hula Hoop, it's even got a counter & display on it to tell her how many calories she has lost.
( bloody madness )

Graham, They dont make them big enough for my one, Be like trying to get a polo mint over a broom handle