A group of 130 photographs taken by Carl Van Vechten during a Caribbean cruise aboard the SS Mauretania from 28 February 13 March 1951. Each silver gelatin photograph measures 4 1/2 x 7 in. Rectos with Carl Van Vechten's embossed blindstamp. Versos with Van Vechten's studio stamp, as well as the caption, date, and inventory number, in ink.

Van Vechten was accompanied on the cruise by several friends and colleagues, including a number of Haitian writers and statesmen, such as Jean-Fernand Brierre, poet, dramatist, journalist, and diplomat; Félix Morisseau-Leroy, writer; Dr. Camille Lherisson, physician and former Minister of Education and Public Welfare in Haiti; Rene Piquion, writer; Pradel Pompilus, writer; and Roussan Camille, poet, journalist, and diplomat. Additional travel companions included
Mr. & Mrs. George Booth; Greville Edwards; Rex Fever; Mr. & Mrs. Milton Miller; Mr. & Mrs. Charles Miller; Pierre Noel; and Dewitt Peters, American painter.

The travelers identified above are featured in many of the images, which provide both informal views and more formal, intimate studies of the subjects, taken aboard the ship as well as the various stops throughout the cruise. Several photographs document the ports of call, capturing the local people, events, architecture, landscapes, vegetation, and more. Ports of call included St. Thomas, Martinique, Trinidad, Barbados, St. Vincent, Curacao, Panama, Haiti, and Havana.

Together, 130 photographs taken by Carl Van Vechten during his travels in the Caribbean in 1951.