All the leading steamboat-companies are mentioned in the Handbook in
connection with the different routes. The great Oriental, Australian,
and other liners, of 5–12,000 tons’ burden and upwards, touch at very
few Mediterranean ports (Gibraltar, Marseilles, Genoa, Naples, Port
Said). Travellers desirous of visiting the Portuguese coast, Madeira and
the Canary Islands, Algiers, Sardinia, Sicily, Tunisia, Athens,
Constantinople, and many other places of interest must generally be
content with smaller and often very inferior vessels. The sections of
the following brief summary of the chief lines correspond with those
into which the Handbook is divided.
FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.—_White Star Line._ From
Boston about every three weeks to Gibraltar, Algiers, Naples, and
Genoa, in 14–15 days. From New York at irregular intervals to
Gibraltar, Naples, and Genoa, in 15–16 days. From Genoa viâ Naples to
New York or Boston at irregular intervals. Fares: 1st cl. from New
York to Gibraltar, Genoa, or Naples, from 16_l._, according to
steamer; from Boston to Gibraltar, Algiers, Genoa, or Naples, from
16_l._ 10_s._; from New York to Villefranche, from 19_l._ 10_s._; 2nd
cl. 13_l._
_Hamburg-American Line._ From New York at irregular intervals to
Gibraltar, Algiers, Naples (or Palermo), and Genoa, in 13 days, and
vice versâ. Fares: 1st cl. from 17_l._ 10_s._, 2nd cl. 13_l._
_North German Lloyd Line._ From New York on most Sat. to Gibraltar,
Algiers (not in summer), Naples, and Genoa, in 13 days, returning on
most Thursdays. Fares: 1st cl. from $87½, 2nd cl. from $65.
_Cunard Line._ From New York at irregular intervals to Gibraltar,
Genoa, Naples, Trieste, and Fiume, in about 20 days, returning viâ
Palermo, Naples, and Gibraltar. Fares to Trieste or Fiume, 1st cl.
from 16_l._ 10_s._; to Gibraltar, Genoa, or Naples from 14_l._ 10_s._;
2nd cl. fares from 12_l._
Among the regular pleasure-cruises from the United States to the
Mediterranean may be mentioned those from Boston organized by the
_Bureau of University Travel_; for excursion-steamers from England to
the Mediterranean, see pp. 1, 2.
(1). PORTUGUESE COAST (R. 1).
_Pacific Line_ from Liverpool (31 James St.) fortnightly, for La
Rochelle-Pallice (for Bordeaux), Corunna, Vigo, Leixões (for Oporto),
Lisbon, and St. Vincent (Cape Verde), and thence to S. America.
Passengers for Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean must
of course tranship at Lisbon or St. Vincent.
_Royal Mail Steam Packet Co._, see p. xix.
_Nederland Royal Mail Steamers_ (London office, 2 King William St.,
E.C.) and _Rotterdam Lloyd_, both fortnightly from Southampton to
Lisbon, Tangier, etc.
_Yeoward Bros. Line_, see p. xix.
_Hall Line_, see p. xx.
_Booth Line_ thrice monthly from Liverpool (office in the Tower
Building) to Havre, Vigo, Leixões (for Oporto), Lisbon, and Madeira.
_Ellerman Line_ weekly from Liverpool to Lisbon and Oporto.
_Peninsular & Oriental Co._, see p. xx.
_German East African Line_ (London office, 14 St. Mary Axe, E.C.) once
every three weeks from Southampton to Lisbon, Tangier, Marseilles,
Naples, etc.
_Hamburg-American Line_ (London office, 22 Cockspur St., S.W.) and
_Hamburg & South American Co._ several times monthly from Southampton,
calling occasionally at Lisbon.
_Royal Holland Lloyd_ monthly from Dover to Boulogne, Corunna, Vigo,
Lisbon, etc.
_Compañía Trasatlántica_ (Philippines Line) monthly from Liverpool to
Corunna, Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz, etc.
(2). MADEIRA AND CANARY ISLANDS (RR. 3, 4).
_Union Castle Line_ (London office, 3 Fenchurch St., E.C.) weekly from
Southampton to Madeira; also fortnightly from London and Southampton
touching alternately at Las Palmas and Teneriffe; also summer tours to
Madeira, Las Palmas, and Teneriffe.
_Royal Mail Steam Packet Co._ (London office, 18 Moorgate St., E.C.)
fortnightly from Southampton to Vigo, Lisbon, and Madeira; also round
voyages from London, see p. xx.
_Peninsular & Oriental Branch Service_ monthly from London (office, 3
East India Ave., E.C.) to Las Palmas.
_Booth Line_, see p. xviii.
_Bucknall Line_ monthly from London (office, 23 Leadenhall St., E.C.) to
Teneriffe.
_Aberdeen (Thompson’s) Line_ monthly from London (office, 7 Billiter
Square, E.C.) and Plymouth to Teneriffe.
_Aberdeen (Rennie’s) Line_ about once every ten days from London
(office, 4 East India Ave., E.C.) to Las Palmas and Teneriffe
alternately.
_German East African Line_ (London office, see p. xviii) once every
three weeks from Southampton for Las Palmas and Teneriffe.
_Woermann Line_ monthly from Dover to Las Palmas and Teneriffe.
_New Zealand Line_ (London office, 138 Leadenhall St., E.C.) and _Shaw,
Savill, & Albion Line_ (London office, 34 Leadenhall St., E.C.), each
monthly from London and Plymouth to Teneriffe.
_Yeoward Bros. Line_ weekly from Liverpool (office, 27 Stanley St.) to
Lisbon, Teneriffe, and Grand Canary, calling on alternate voyages at
Madeira.
_Federal, Houlder, & Shire Lines_ fortnightly from Liverpool, calling at
Madeira, Las Palmas, or Teneriffe.
_Natal Line_ fortnightly from London (office, 14 St. Mary Axe, E.C.) to
Las Palmas.
_Empreza Nacional de Navegação_ twice monthly, and _Empreza Insulana_
once monthly from Lisbon to Madeira.
(3). GIBRALTAR AND ANDALUSIA (RR. 1, 5, 6 b, 11).
_Peninsular & Oriental Co._ once weekly from London (office, 122
Leadenhall St., E.C.) to Gibraltar, etc. Comp. also p. xx.
_Orient Royal Line_ fortnightly from London (office, 5 Fenchurch St.,
E.C.) to Gibraltar, etc.
_North German Lloyd_ fortnightly from Southampton (London office, 26
Cockspur St., S.W.).
_Anchor Line_ almost weekly from Liverpool (office, 17 Water St.) or
Glasgow (Anchor Line Buildings) to Gibraltar.
_Hall Line_ weekly from London (office, 31 Crutched Friars, E.C.) to
Lisbon, Gibraltar, Málaga, and Cadiz.
_Royal Mail Steam Packet Co._, see below.
_Moss Line_ fortnightly (office, 31 James St.) and _Papayanni Line_
(office, 22 Water St.) occasionally from Liverpool to Gibraltar.
_Vapores Correos de Africa_ from Algeciras to Tangier, Cadiz, and Ceuta.
(4). MOROCCO (RR. 13, 14).
_Royal Mail Steam Packet Co._ fortnightly from London (office, see p.
xix) to Gibraltar, Tangier, etc., returning viâ Las Palmas, Teneriffe,
and Madeira.
_Nederland Royal Mail_ and _Rotterdam Lloyd_, see p. xviii.
_German East African Line_, see p. xviii.
_Peninsular & Oriental Co._ sends ‘Vectis’ or other excursion steamer
from London (office, see p. xix) several times in spring and summer to
Lisbon, Gibraltar, and Tangier.
_Compañía Trasatlántica_ (Canary Line) calls at Tangier (if required
also at Casablanca and Mazagan) once a month on the voyage to and from
Barcelona.
_Bland Line_, small cargo-boats thrice weekly from Gibraltar to Tangier;
also steamers from Tangier to Tetuán and Larash.
_Oldenburg Portuguese Line_ fortnightly from Tangier to Rabât, Mogador,
etc.
_Vapores Correos de Africa_ twice monthly from Tangier to Larash, Rabât,
Casablanca, Mazagan, Saffi, and Mogador.
_N. Paquet & Co._ weekly from Tangier to Rabât and Mogador.
_Navigation Mixte_ weekly from Tangier for Melilla, Málaga, and Oran.
_Hungarian Adria_ monthly from Gibraltar to Tangier and Oran.
(5). W. MEDITERRANEAN.
From Gibraltar to Genoa (R. 15a):—_White Star Line_ (from New York or
Boston) 2–3 times monthly; _North German Lloyd_ (from Southampton)
monthly; _Cunard Line_ (from New York) occasionally; _Lloyd Sabaudo_
(from S. America) once monthly.
From Gibraltar to Algiers (R. 15b):—_North German Lloyd_ fortnightly;
the _Hamburg-American_, the _Austrian Lloyd_, and the _German Levant_,
all less regularly; _Navigation Mixte_ (_Touache Co._) to Oran (thence
to Algiers by rail).
From Gibraltar to Marseilles (R. 17):—_Peninsular & Oriental_ (from
London) weekly; _Orient Royal_ (from London) fortnightly.
From Gibraltar to Naples (R. 16):—_Orient Royal_ (from London)
fortnightly; _North German Lloyd_ (from Southampton) twice, also (from
New York) once or twice monthly; _Cunard_ and _White Star_ (from New
York or Boston), each two or three times a month; _Hamburg-American_
(from New York) once or twice a month.
From Marseilles to Naples (R. 23):—_Orient Royal_ (from London)
fortnightly; _North German Lloyd_ (from Southampton) fortnightly;
_German East African Line_ once in three weeks; _Messageries Maritimes_
fortnightly; _Hungarian Adria_ (cargo-boats) twice weekly.
From Marseilles to Algiers (R. 20):—_Générale Transatlantique_ four
times weekly; _Transports Maritimes_, twice weekly; _Navigation Mixte_
(_Touache Co._) weekly, also cargo-boat weekly.
From Marseilles to Tunis (R. 21):—_North German Lloyd_ fortnightly (to
Goletta only); _Générale Transatlantique_ once weekly (and thence on to
Malta), and viâ Bizerta once weekly; _Navigation Mixte_ (_Touache Co._)
once weekly, and cargo-boats viâ Bizerta once weekly.
From Genoa to Naples (R. 24):—_North German Lloyd_ (from Southampton)
two or three times a month; _Hamburg-American_ once or twice monthly;
_Cunard_ and _White Star_, each once monthly; _Società Nazionale_ three
or four times weekly; _Italian Lloyd_ once, twice, or thrice monthly;
_La Veloce_ and _Lloyd Sabaudo_, each once monthly; _Hungarian Adria_
twice weekly.
From Genoa to Tunis (R. 25):—_Società Nazionale_ weekly; _North German
Lloyd_ fortnightly to Bizerta.
From Naples to Palermo (R. 26):—Steamers of the _Ferrovie dello Stato_
daily; _Società Nazionale_ weekly; _Hungarian Adria_ twice weekly;
_Lloyd Sabaudo_ monthly.
From Palermo to Tunis (R. 26):—_Società Nazionale_ weekly, also small
cargo-boats weekly; _Navigation Mixte_ (_Touache Co._), cargo-boats
weekly.
From Naples to Messina and Syracuse (R. 27):—_Società Nazionale_ thrice
weekly to Messina, and once weekly thence to Syracuse; also steamers of
the _Ferrovie dello Stato_ weekly from Naples to Messina, and of the
_North German Lloyd_ fortnightly from Naples to Catania.
From Tunis or Syracuse to Malta (R. 64):—_Società Nazionale_ six times
monthly; _Hungarian Adria_ six times weekly. From London to Malta:
_Peninsular & Oriental_ usually weekly. From Liverpool to Naples and
Malta: _City Line_ about once monthly.
(6). STEAMERS TO ALGERIA.
From Southampton to Algiers:—_North German Lloyd_ once or twice monthly
direct; _Nederland Royal Mail_ fortnightly viâ Lisbon and Tangier.
From Marseilles to Oran (R. 19):—_Générale Transatlantique_ twice
weekly; _Transports Maritimes_ once, and cargo-boat once weekly;
_Navigation Mixte_ (_Touache Co._) once weekly (also weekly steamers
from Cette to Oran).
From Marseilles to Algiers, see p. xxi.
From Gibraltar to Algiers, see p. xx.
From Cartagena to Oran (R. 18):—_Générale Transatlantique_ once weekly.
From Tangier to Oran (R. 18):—_Navigation Mixte_ (_Touache Co._) weekly,
also cargo-boats fortnightly; _Hungarian Adria_ once monthly.
(7). STEAMERS TO TUNIS.
From Algiers to Tunis (R. 22):—_Générale Transatlantique_, coasting
cargo-boats, once weekly; _German Levant Line_ two or three times a
month; _Hungarian Adria_ once monthly to Tunis direct. Several other
lines are available for sections of the route.
From Marseilles to Tunis, see p. xxi; from Naples to Palermo, and from
Palermo to Tunis, see p. xxi; from Naples to Syracuse, and from Syracuse
to Malta and Tunis, see p. xxi.
(8). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN.
From Tunis to Malta, see p. xxi.
From Tunis to Tripoli (R. 64):—_Società Nazionale_ weekly, and
_Navigation Mixte_ (_Touache Co._) weekly, both coasting. (From Algiers
to Tripoli direct or viâ Malta, cargo-steamers of the German Levant
Line.)
From Tripoli to Malta and Syracuse (R. 64):—_Società Nazionale_ weekly,
other boats fortnightly.
From Tripoli to Alexandria (R. 65):—_German Levant Line_, cargo-boats,
thrice monthly; _Banco di Roma_ fortnightly.
From Tripoli to Constantinople (R. 66):—_Società Nazionale_ fortnightly.
From Marseilles, Genoa, and Naples to Alexandria (R. 67):—_North German
Lloyd_ weekly from Marseilles to Naples and Alexandria; _Messageries
Maritimes_ from Marseilles weekly to Alexandria direct; _Società
Nazionale_ weekly from Genoa to Leghorn, Naples, and Alexandria.
From Venice to Alexandria (R. 68):—_Società Nazionale_ fortnightly, viâ
Ancona, Bari, and Brindisi.
From Trieste to Alexandria (R. 68):—_Austrian Lloyd_ weekly viâ
Brindisi, and weekly viâ Gravosa and Brindisi.
Steamers to Port Said (RR. 67, 68):—All the great liners already
mentioned and others besides converge at Port Said. Of the companies
despatching vessels almost daily from British ports the following are
the chief: _Peninsular & Oriental_ (calling at Gibraltar, Marseilles,
and Brindisi); _Orient Royal_ and _North German Lloyd_ (calling at
Gibraltar, Marseilles, and Naples); _Bibby_ (calling at Marseilles);
_City Line_ (calling at Naples and Malta); _British India Line_ (calling
occasionally at Marseilles, Genoa, or Naples); _Nederland Royal Mail_
(viâ Genoa); _Rotterdam Lloyd_ (viâ Marseilles); _Queensland Line_;
_Japan Mail_ (viâ Marseilles); and _Compañía Trasatlántica_ (viâ Genoa).
Steamers to Palestine and Syria (R. 72):—_Khedivial Mail_, _Austrian
Lloyd_, _Russian Steam Navigation & Trading Co._, _Società Nazionale_,
all weekly from Alexandria to Port Said, Jaffa, Haifa, and Beirut;
_Messageries Maritimes_ fortnightly from Alexandria and Port Said to
Beirut direct, and fortnightly calling at Jaffa; _German Levant_,
cargo-boats, twice monthly from Alexandria to Jaffa, Haifa, and Beirut.
From Alexandria and Beirut to Smyrna and Constantinople (RR. 72, 75,
76):—_Khedivial Mail_ fortnightly from Alexandria to Port Said, Beirut,
Smyrna, and Constantinople; _Russian Steam Navigation & Trading Co._,
similar route, weekly; _Messageries Maritimes_ fortnightly from Beirut;
_La Phocéenne_ weekly from Alexandria to Smyrna (Constantinople).
Steamers to the Piræus (Athens; RR. 76, 77, 78):—_Khedivial Mail_,
_Rumanian Mail_, _Russian Steam Navigation & Trading Co._, all weekly
from Alexandria to the Piræus; _North German Lloyd_ fortnightly from
Marseilles to Genoa, Naples, Catania, and the Piræus; _Messageries
Maritimes_ fortnightly from Marseilles to the Piræus; _Società
Nazionale_ weekly from Genoa to Leghorn, Naples, Palermo, Messina, and
the Piræus; _Società Nazionale_ also weekly from Venice to Brindisi,
Patras, and the Piræus; _Austrian Lloyd_ weekly from Trieste to Patras
and the Piræus; also Greek-Oriental and Thessalian lines of the same
company, each weekly from Trieste to the Piræus; _Greek Panhellenios
Co._ weekly from Trieste to Patras and the Piræus; _Austro-Americana_,
New York line (quickest), weekly from Trieste to Patras (for Athens).
From the Piræus (Athens) viâ Smyrna to Constantinople (R.
80):—_Khedivial Mail_ weekly; _North German Lloyd_, _Messageries
Maritimes_, both fortnightly; _Austrian Lloyd_ weekly; also _Rumanian
Mail_, _Società Nazionale_, and _Austrian Lloyd_ (the three quickest
routes), each weekly to Constantinople direct.
(9). BLACK SEA.
From Constantinople to Constantza (R. 82):—_Rumanian Mail_ (quickest)
twice weekly; _Austrian Lloyd_ alternate Fridays and alternate
Saturdays; _Società Nazionale_ weekly.
From Constantinople to Odessa (R. 83):—_North German Lloyd_ fortnightly;
_Russian Steam Navigation & Trading Co._, direct line, weekly; Syria and
Egypt lines fortnightly; Anatolian line fortnightly; _Austrian Lloyd_
fortnightly; _Società Nazionale_ weekly; _Messageries Maritimes_ weekly.
From Odessa to Batum (R. 84):—_Russian Steam Navigation & Trading Co._
weekly; _North German Lloyd_ monthly.
From Batum to Constantinople (R. 85):—_North German Lloyd_ alternate
Saturdays; _Russian Steam Navigation & Trading Co._ alternate Thursdays;
_Austrian Lloyd_ weekly; _Messageries Maritimes_, _N. Paquet & Co._, and
_Società Nazionale_ all fortnightly.
* * * * *
=Overland Routes.= Travellers bound for the Central or Eastern
Mediterranean, and in particular those who wish to avoid the long voyage
to Gibraltar and thus to save five, six, or more days, will choose an
overland route to one or other of the Mediterranean ports. _Marseilles_
is reached from London by the ‘P. & O. Express’, starting on Thursdays,
or by the ‘Calais-Mediterranean Express’, daily in winter, in 20–20¼
hrs., or by ordinary express in 22½ hrs.—_Genoa_ is 27 hrs. from London,
viâ Paris and Mont Cenis.—_Venice_ is 32¼ hrs. from London viâ Bâle and
the St. Gotthard.—_Trieste_ is reached in 43½ hrs. from London viâ
Milan.—_Naples_ is 46 hrs. from London viâ Paris and Rome.—_Brindisi_ is
reached in 45¼ hrs. by the ‘P. & O. Brindisi Express’, starting on
Friday mornings, or by ordinary express, viâ Boulogne and Paris, in 54½
hrs.
Lastly, the traveller who proposes to explore the Mediterranean from
east to west, and who desires to economize time, should consult
Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Time Tables, or the German
Reichskursbuch, or Hendschel’s Telegraph, as to the great Oriental
expresses to Constantinople and the Black Sea.
=Hints to Steamboat Passengers.= During the height of the season (in
Egypt Jan. and Feb., in other parts of the Mediterranean March, April
and even May) passages often have to be booked a month or six weeks in
advance. Holders of return-tickets or combined tickets must secure
berths for the return-voyage also long beforehand.
_Heavy Baggage_, to be stowed away in the hold, should be sent on
board at least one or two days beforehand. Each passenger should
endeavour, for his own sake and that of others, to limit his
requirements for the voyage to one or two cabin-trunks of moderate
size. Private cabins should, as a rule, be kept locked, and small
articles should not be left lying about on deck unwatched.
_Landing_ or _Embarkation_ by small boat is often an unpleasant
proceeding, as the boatmen are apt to be extortionate in their
demands, especially when the sea is rough. The charge for each
passenger with his baggage should be ascertained beforehand and only
paid at the end of the trip, or the whole transaction may be entrusted
to one of the hotel-agents. Small articles carried in the hand should
not be allowed out of sight.
The _Food_ is generally good. Coffee is served between 8 and 10, lunch
at 1 or earlier, dinner at 6 or 7. First-class passengers in the
British and German steamers dress for dinner.
The _Fees_ vary according to circumstances. They are of course higher
if the passenger has been ill and has required much attention. The
chief steward or stewardess usually expects at least 1 fr. per day,
and the other attendants receive fees proportioned to the services
rendered.
_Medical Attendance_ and medicines, in case of illness, are nominally
free, but a reasonable fee is usually paid. _Baths_ in the larger
steamboats are free, fixed hours being allotted to passengers on
application. Passengers may bring their own _Deck Chairs_ or hire them
from the chief steward.