Word: cunarder
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Late Sweetheart. The ship's greatest test, public acceptance, is yet to come. The Cunard Line has gambled $71 million, loaned by the British government, on the concept of the ship as a floating resort hotel for young Americans willing to spend an average $72 a day for "the first vacation city that isn't tied down." "With this ship," says Cunard Chairman Sir Basil Smallpeice, "we are out of the transportation business and into the leisure business...
...finding one's way about the ship ("I feel like Ariadne in the labyrinth" said a London matron). Though food and service may improve as the crew settles into routine, the ship's eventual profitability remains a large question mark. "The trouble," said a steward, "is that Cunard hasn't made up their minds whether they want a ship or a bloody hotel...
Standing in the glow of the psychedelic lights of the ship's theater, the Cunard chairman, Sir Basil Smallpeice, announced that the ship was in such sad shape that the company would refuse delivery until everything was straightened out by the builders, Glasgow's Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. With that, Cunard scrubbed two scheduled cruises this month and one in February; the cancellations cost the company at least $2,160,000. When the ship will finally be able to go into service remained uncertain...
...passengers' hands, and plumbing and soundproofing were erratic. Though some of the finished public rooms were beautifully furnished in suede and velvet, many rooms showed misguided efforts to cater to an unhappy estimate of American tastes. Decor ran from motel modern to floating Howard Johnson's. One Cunard official tried to explain the limp bill of fare: "What we are trying for is decent middle-class food. We are not pretending to be the equal of big, first-class London or New York restaurants." By contrast, ships of the French Line, the Italian Line and others have some...
Last of Her Kind. Who was to blame? Back along the Clyde, everyone accused everyone else. Trade-union officials faulted managers of Cunard and of the shipyards for disorganized work schedules, and made much of what they called a premature delivery date-although the ship is already eight months behind the original delivery schedule. The builders furloughed hundreds of workmen last November, only to rehire them in last-minute attempts to meet deadlines. Partly because workers were angered by the layoffs, there were many acts of vandalism-carpets were badly soiled and wood flooring was gouged. Hundreds of workmen were...