CARRIAGE TRADE: The Long Voyage Home

With a merry toot at the thought of British austerity, the 34,183-ton Cunard liner Caronia steamed out of New York harbor last week on the plushiest pleasure cruise in a decade. Billed as "The Great African Cruise," the trip will take 80 days, cover 21,776 miles, stop at 27 ports in Trinidad, Brazil, Africa, the Near East and Europe. The 556 well-heeled travelers, mostly Americans, have already paid $2,800,000 In passage money, will shell out many thousands more for shore excursions. Most expensive: $1,150 for a two-week air tour of South and East Africa, broken by a three-day automobile safari into the Lake Amboseli Game Reserve to watch the lions and rhinos at play.

Cruise fares on the Caronia ranged from $2,400 for a half interest in an inside stateroom up to $20,000 for two super-suites. The super-suiters: Manhattan's socialite Yachtsman Harold S. Vanderbilt and Texas Oil Millionaire Charles F. Urschel.