Hamburg American Line: Two ships are better than one figured Hapag for their "Around the World via Panama Canal" cruises scheduled for January 1915.
CINCINNATI departed New York on January 16 and finished up in Hamburg on May 21. Sister CLEVELAND departed New York on January 31 and closed out the cruise in Hamburg on June 4. Their itineraries were identical. The recent opening of the Panama Canal meant that both ships could sail the globe without a lengthy journey around the tip of South America.
The seventy-four page brochure is mostly filled with destination info and photos, routes maps, rates, and tour info. But seven pages highlight the ships with glowing descriptions and photos. Besides a portrait, images, unidentified as to vessel, show the First Class Dining Room, Lounge, Promenade Deck, Ladies Room, Smoking Room, and Gymnasium. A small set of basic plans shows six decks.
Was business so good that Hamburg American could run two word cruises at the same time? We'll never know as WW1 intervened. CINCINNATI was interned in Boston and later was drafted as an American troopship. A German torpedo sent her to the bottom in July 1918. CLEVELAND was laid up in Hamburg and post-war sailed for White Star for a short time before eventually finding her way back to Hapag.
Good condition with cover wear.
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