United States Lines: When war broke out in Europe in 1939, USL canceled regular passenger service for the MANHATTAN and WASHINGTON and used them to ferry home stranded and panic stricken Americas. Beginning in early 1940, rather than laying up the ships, USL used them on coast-to-coast cruises through the Panama Canal. This fold-out brochure from June 1940 promotes those cruises. The ad copy played on the fears of a European war: "An opportunity to enjoy all the pleasures of cruising on a luxurious American flag liner - plus the peaceful atmosphere of the deep blue coastal waters of America inviting you to completely relax." The nicest cabins with private baths and a trunk room cost $775 per person for the two week voyage from New York to San Francisco. From there passengers could sail back, take the train, fly on an aero-plane, or drive in their own automobile handily carried in the ship's hold for an extra $150. The MANHATTAN carried out this service until January 1941 when she ran aground off Palm Beach. Soon after both ships were called into war duty. The MANHATTAN never returned to civilian use while the WASHINGTON carried on austerity service until the early 1950s. Both ships then languished in the Hudson River Reserve Fleet until scrapping in the mid-1960s. This brochure from the last days of peace is in excellent condition.