The United Fruit Company was an American corporation that traded in tropical fruit (primarily bananas), grown on Central and South American plantations, and sold in the United States and Europe. The company was formed in 1899 and flourished in the mid twentieth century. Later becoming Chiquita, a great deal of the history of Puerto Armuelles revolves around the Banana Company’s presence here. This will be one of several articles about that history.
The United Fruit Company Steamship Service provided passenger and cargo ship services under the name of the “Great White Fleet” for over 100 years. The ships were painted white to reflect the tropical sun and help keep the temperature of the bananas lower, hence the name.
Puerto Armuelles is one of the ports.
These ships were originally intended only for carrying cargo. United Fruit soon discovered that it could make more profit by adding passengers. Each ship carried an average of 35,000 bunches of bananas and 50-100 passengers. These cargo-liners, known today as the “banana boats”, were instrumental in helping to establish what is popularly known today as the Banana Republics throughout the Caribbean, and Central and South America. They had a huge impact on the beginning of tourism to these areas.
United Fruit claimed their ships were built especially for luxurious tropical travel. Most cruises were 2 – 4 weeks and went from the U.S. to the Caribbean and Panama Canal, then Central and South America. Their cruise tagline was, “Where the Pirates Hid their Gold” and they promised romance at sea as you explored the coasts where pirates buried their treasures and performed adventurous deeds centuries ago.
Here is a description of passenger accommodations, from the book: A Short History of the Banana and a Few Recipes for its Use:
“The “Admiral” steamships operated by this company are American built twin-screw vessels, and are especially adapted to tropical travel. They have commodious promenade decks, cool and airy, well-ventilated staterooms situated on the main and hurricane decks amidships, thus insuring a minimum of sea motion. The dining saloon is located on the main deck well forward of the engine room, and removed from all disagreeable odors incident. Bathrooms are supplied with fresh or sea water and are at the disposal of passengers at all times.
The table is made an especial feature of these boats, and is supplied with every delicacy the northern and tropical markets afford.
The ships are furnished throughout with a perfect system of electric lighting and steam heating.
The stewards and waiters are unremitting in their duties and everything is done for the comfort and convenience of the passengers.”
From January 1933 to June1936, Puerto Armuelles was a port of call on the cruise ships from the California Coast. I was unable to verify any dates later than these, so I don’t know if the ships continued to come to Puerto Armuelles after 1936. The vessels that came here were: Antigua, Talamanca, and Chiriqui. The Ports of Call: Start San Francisco, Balboa. Return voyages: Balboa, Puerto Armuelles, Los Angeles, San Francisco.
After 108 years of operation, in 2007 Chiquita Brands International (the successor to United Fruit Company) sold the last 12 vessels of the famous Great White Fleet to Eastwind Maritime for $227 million, posting a profit of $100 million on the sale. Under the sale agreement, Chiquita has chartered 11 of the vessels back.
Now the Chiquita Brands shipping service is called Great White Fleet Liner Services Ltd. They still operate passenger cruises, with ports in Panama. Maybe Puerto Armuelles one day again?
To see more photos of the Great White Fleet on our Historical Photos page, klicken HERE
Lesen Sie mehr über mögliche Pläne für ein neues Kreuzfahrthafen in Puerto Armuelles zu bauen HERE
Subscribe today and receive more updates on Puerto Armuelles!
Können Sie mir sagen, ob die United Fruit Company Great White Fleet ein Archiv hat? Ich bin in Informationen auf dem ersten Offizier an Bord eines Schiffes interessiert das Turrialba zurückgerufen in 1918. Das Schiff lief zwischen Jamaika und New York City.
Ideal, Ich möchte ein Foto des ersten Offizier zu finden — F.E. Wyatt. Gibt es ein Fotoarchiv von Great White Fleet Bilder?
Alle Informationen, die Sie zur Verfügung stellen kann wird sehr geschätzt. Vielen Dank.
I have some scanned copies of the cruise schedules and the name lists of a few cruises my great grandparents went on. I can email them to you if you want.
That would be amazing Anne! Please email them to Editor@visitPuertoArmuelles.com Thanks so Much! Debbie
My father (Eivind Bornholdt) was a shipmaster with the Fruit Company from 1924 through 1960.
He was captain of the (in no particular order) the Limon, Quirigua, Heredia, Comayagua, others before I was born(1940). I spent a wonderful summer vacation in 1953 in Puerto Armuelles with Maurice and Emily Bostick. Can youhelp me with any information about my father, the Bosticks, The Davis family, or any of my father’s ships? Anything would be gratefully received.
Vielen Dank,
Reidar
I will ask a few of the old timers and email you if I hear anything.
Do you have any old photos you’d like to share from the summer visit?
Alas, I didn’t have a camera.
I am interested in finding out if there are any records of two of my relatives (and possibly three) who were captains of any of the Great White Fleet ships of the united Fruit Company. Their names were:
1. Captain George Bingay McCrae/McCray who captained between 1899 and 1905
2. Captain Alexander McCrae who captained somewhere between 1915 and 1945
3. Captain Clare McCrae who captained between 1935 and 1960
Hola Mike,
Hopefully, someone who knows something will see this post and respond. I will ask a few old folks in town also and send you any info I come across.
Mein Vater war nach dem 2. Weltkrieg bis etwa 1. Ingenieur auf der Talamanka 1960, dann Ship Test Organization für U-Boote, dann Atomingenieur auf der N.S. Savanne seit vielen Jahren. Dann im Ruhestand von NRC als Kraftwerksinspektor.
Wir würden gerne alle Geschichten hören, an die er sich über Puerto erinnert, oder Fotos 🙂
Contact me at Debbie@visitPuertoArmuelles.com
Vielleicht möchten Sie mit dem Historiker der Maritime Administration sprechen, der möglicherweise Aufzeichnungen über die Schiffe hat, die US-Schiffe waren. markiert und, perhaps, die Besatzungen. https://www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/history/united-states-merchant-marine-research-guide
Danke für die Information!
Mein Vater George Zahniser, war Kapitän der USS Metapan, einem der kleineren Schiffe, das Touristenbuchungen sowie den Kühltransport von Bananen durchführte. Die Armee registrierte das Schiff während des Vietnamkriegs als Kühllager und er saß in Cam Ran (sp?) Bucht herum 1963 für ungefähr 13 months. Kurz darauf ging er in den Ruhestand. Er war seit ca. im Unternehmen tätig 1946.
Das ist interessant. Haben Sie zufällig alte Fotos, die Sie scannen und mir schicken könnten?? Editor@visitPuertoArmuelles.com
Hallo – Bin auf dieser Seite gelandet, als ich versuchte, verwirrende Informationen zu einer Passagierliste für das Schiff von Jamaica zu klären 1951.
Diese spezielle Liste zeigt, dass alle Passagiere auf dieser Liste von New York aus einschifften 6-25-1951 und kam zurück nach New York 14 Tage später 07-09-1951. Ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass die Person, die ich verfolge, nach Kuba und zurück gegangen ist, weil er dort seitdem regelmäßig als Klavierlehrer gearbeitet hat 1928. Was ich daran interessant finde, ist, dass die Passagierliste fast den Eindruck erweckt, dass der Passagier die USA überhaupt nicht verlassen hat – im selben Hafen ein- und ausgeschifft wurden. Ich bin mir sicher, dass die Passagiere höchstwahrscheinlich in Havanna von Bord gegangen sind, verbrachte einige Zeit dort und kehrte dann nach NYC zurück. Ich frage mich, ob einige der Passagiere während ihres Besuchs in Havanna an Bord des Schiffes geschlafen haben, während das Schiff mit Obst beladen wurde. Haben Sie diesbezüglich einen Einblick??
Hier ist der Link zur betreffenden Passagierliste: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L94K-V99J-W?view=index&action=view
Ich weiß wirklich nichts darüber, aber einer meiner Leser könnte es vielleicht tun.
Ich weiß die Antwort darauf nicht, aber möglicherweise tut es einer meiner Leser.