In the 1950s, you could cruise from Miami to Havana, Cuba for $42.00 per person aboard the S.S. Florida. This fare included all transportation, two nights aboard ship, a day in Havana and all meals.
YouTube video of cruise ship arriving in Havana – this was recent – but it would have been the same view in 1958 aboard the S. S. Florida. Nothing much has changed including the cars which are mainly American – vintage 1950s. [Read more...]
Florida’s Peninsular and Occidental Steamship Company was a pioneer in today’s billion-dollar Florida cruise business. Until Castro’s regime closed Cuba to cruise ships in 1960, the SS FLORIDA was sailing three times a week from Miami. The SS FLORIDA had first sailed from Key West to Cuba until the 1934 devastating hurricane destroyed the terminal and rail connections to Miami. Built in New Port News, Virginia, in 1931, the SS FLORIDA accommodated 612 passengers in first class and 130 in second class. After World War 2 the overnight ship was turned into a one class liner.
Today, Americans can travel to China but not Cuba. Seems one kind of Communist regime is okay for the current administration but not another.
Maybe that will change in November and Americans will be able to sail again to Havana!
Painting of the SS FLORIDA.
Postcard from the SS FLORIDA arriving in Maimi, Florida.
SS FLORIDA and the SS IROQUOIS.
