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, hacer clic HERE
Lea acerca de los posibles planes para construir un nuevo puerto de cruceros en Puerto Armuelles HERE
Subscribe today and receive more updates on Puerto Armuelles!
¿Me puede decir si la Gran Flota Blanca de la United Fruit Company dispone de un archivo? Estoy interesado en la información sobre el primer oficial a bordo de un barco llamado de vuelta en Turrialba 1918. El barco corría entre Jamaica y Nueva York.
Idealmente, Me gustaría encontrar una foto del primer oficial — F.E. Wyatt. ¿Hay un archivo fotográfico de imágenes Great White Fleet?
Cualquier información que puede proporcionar será muy apreciada. Thank you.
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.
Thanks,
Reidar
Voy a pedir a algunos de los viejos contadores de tiempo y el correo electrónico, si me entero de algo,,en,¿Tiene alguna viejas fotos que le gustaría compartir desde la visita de verano,,en.
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.
Mi padre fue el primer ingeniero en Talamanka después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial hasta alrededor de 1960, luego organización de prueba de barcos para submarinos, luego ingeniero nuclear en el N.S. Savannah durante muchos años. Luego se retiró de la NRC como inspector de plantas de energía.
Nos encantaría escuchar cualquier historia que recuerde sobre Puerto, o fotos 🙂
Contact me at Debbie@visitPuertoArmuelles.com
Es posible que desee hablar con el historiador de la Administración Marítima que puede tener registros de los barcos que eran estadounidenses.. marcado y, perhaps, las tripulaciones. https://www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/history/united-states-merchant-marine-research-guide
Gracias por la información!
Mi padre George Zahniser, Era capitán del USS Metapán, uno de los barcos más pequeños que hacía reservas para turistas y transportaba plátanos refrigerados.. El ejército trazó el barco como almacenamiento refrigerado durante la guerra de Vietnam y él se sentó en Cam Ran. (sp?) Bahía alrededor 1963 por alrededor 13 months. Se retiró poco después. Había trabajado en la empresa desde aproximadamente 1946.
Es interesante. ¿Tienes alguna foto antigua que puedas escanear y enviarme?? Editor@visitPuertoArmuelles.com
Hello – Llegué a esta página mientras intentaba aclarar información confusa sobre una lista de pasajeros del barco Jamaica de 1951.
Esta lista en particular muestra que todos los pasajeros en esta lista se embarcaron desde Nueva York el 6-25-1951 y regresé a Nueva York 14 días después 07-09-1951. Estoy bastante seguro de que la persona a la que estoy siguiendo fue a Cuba y regresó porque había estado trabajando allí regularmente como profesor de piano desde 1928. Lo que encuentro interesante de esto es que la lista de pasajeros casi hace que parezca que el pasajero no salió de EE. UU. en absoluto. – habiendo embarcado y desembarcado en el mismo puerto. En realidad los pasajeros probablemente desembarcaron en La Habana, Pasé algún tiempo allí y luego regresé a Nueva York.. Me pregunto si algunos de los pasajeros durmieron a bordo del barco durante su visita a La Habana mientras cargaban el barco con frutas.. ¿Tiene alguna idea sobre esto??
Aquí está el enlace a la lista de pasajeros en cuestión.: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L94K-V99J-W?view=index&action=view
Realmente no sé sobre esto, pero uno de mis lectores posiblemente.
No sé la respuesta a eso, pero posiblemente uno de mis lectores sí.