British Pathe

Reel 1

Prologue: title reading '"Cruising - the one holiday that has EVERYTHING" says Sir Alan (A.P.) Herbert.' superimposed over shot of AP. He turns to camera and says that although he loves his home in Hammersmith, he wishes he was still cruising on the Arcadia, going on to describe his...

Reel 1

Prologue: title reading '"Cruising - the one holiday that has EVERYTHING" says Sir Alan (A.P.) Herbert.' superimposed over shot of AP. He turns to camera and says that although he loves his home in Hammersmith, he wishes he was still cruising on the Arcadia, going on to describe his holiday and extoll the virtues of cruise trips.

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company P & O presents... Holiday With Everything.

A family of four at home discuss where to go on holiday; girl suggests a cruise and they toss a coin to decide between the SS Arcadia and their usual 'Seaview' hotel - Arcadia wins! M/Ss of the Mother and Father on board the ship and unpacking in their spacious cabin; man takes out a loud, patterned shirt still in a wrapper, then rings for steward to press his crumpled jacket.

Various exterior shots of the ship as it speeds along; the family stroll on deck. L/S of Cape St. Vincent. Shots of the games deck; people playing quoits, others sit around sunbathing or stroll around the ship. Shots of the restaurant below where a chef is preparing exotic, glazed food; we see the family being served at a table as they eat and drink.

Shots of the sea and ship at night; Mother creams her face before turning out her light and settling down to sleep; Father studies a map in bed. Next day, and Father and Son are shown the navigation route in the ship's lounge with an officer. Meanwhile, Mother is served breakfast in bed. Son takes photos from the deck; commentator says we are now in the Mediterranean; shot from the boat of a rocky coastline and passing fishing boat. Nice shot of a line of middle-aged ladies looking over the ship's rail as the wind whips their skirts about.

Shots of Mother in a kind of library lounge below; Daughter by the pool chatting with new friends; Father with group of men in loud shirts at a deck table; the family swimming in the pool; various deck shots of people strolling about; playing games; woman rubbing sun oil on a man's back.

Commentator says "Now for the first time, down the gangway into a foreign land. The first of the jewels on our particular necklace is Naples". Nice M/S of passengers coming down the gangway; shots of the city, countryside and Bay of Naples as the family and the daughter's new boyfriend explore. Various shots of them as they visit Pompeii, then eat at a restaurant backing onto the water.

Commentator says "You can't get a stronger first impression of a place than by coming in to it from the sea, walking and riding round it, and, of course, having one of its meals". Some young boys in boats on the water dive for money thrown by tourists.

Back on the ship the Mother and Father sit in writing booths in a lounge. Commentator says "Sometimes it's difficult to remember what day it is. But as one day slides into another there's plenty to do". The daughter is seen on an upper deck playing quoits with some friends. Mother and Father stroll on deck; shots of people standing at the rail looking out at a mountain (could be Vesuvius?).

End of reel 1. Continued - see record c..