- The Last NORTH ATLANTIC Ocean Liners
- Last Ocean Liners to AFRICA & LATIN AMERICA
- To AUSTRALIA, FAR EAST & AROUND-the-WORLD
- SAILING SCHEDULES January to December 1966
- RANK & COMPARE the Last Ocean Liners
The American President Lines express service to the Far East was operated primarily by the two class President Cleveland and President Wilson. They were shining symbols of post war American technology, design and style. Their 1940s moderne First class public rooms and pool occupied the entire Promenade Deck, while Economy class had a lounge, veranda and pool aft on the lower decks. The twin ocean liners were particularly popular with tourists, government and military personnel and migrants enroute from Asia to the United States.
Beginning in 1962, President Cleveland and President Wilson were assisted by the President Roosevelt, which had been converted from the troopship General W.P. Richardson to the passenger liner La Guardia for American Export Lines, then to Leilani before being sold to American President Lines in 1960. It was upgraded to an all First class ocean liner with an unusually spacious layout which offered many single cabins and a private bath in every stateroom. Public spaces included the Starlight Room, swimming pool and lido on Sun Deck, the Pacific Lounge, cocktail lounge, game room and Roosevelt room on Promenade Deck and dining room on Main Deck. All three ships were fitted with full air-conditioning and stabilizers.
The American President Lines ocean liners normally sailed from San Francisco to Honolulu (5 days), Yokohama (13 days), Hong Kong (17 days) and Manila (19 days), with the return voyage via the same ports. The round trip was 39 days, but could be slightly longer when additional ports were added in the off seasons.
Upon retirement of the combination passenger and cargo liners President Polk and President Monroe in 1965, the President Roosevelt took over the around-the-world ocean liner service. By the late 1960s, American President Lines had begun to experiment with more creative itineraries to Asia and cruising in the Pacific including Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii.
"After a few days of sun and sea air - enjoyed in a deck chair, in the swimming pool and on the deck courts - you'll find yourself without a care or tension in the world. This is the best part of life aboard a President liner - the wonderful lift you get from your days at sea. Then, almost too soon, a new incense flavors the air. The exciting sweep of a foreign land looms upon the horizon."
Sample minimum one-way fares from San Francisco to Honolulu: First class $250; Economy class $165; from San Francisco to Manila: First class $645; Economy class $445; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.
Go to American President Lines sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:
 President Cleveland Built: 1947 by Bethlehem SB, Alameda CA, USA Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 President Wilson Built: 1948 by Bethlehem SB, Alameda CA, USA Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |
 President Roosevelt Built: 1944 by Federal SB & DD, Kearny NJ, USA Go to sailing schedules for this ship. |