According to limited research I've done , in the late 1800's Ships from Hamburg Germany would go the the West Indies where the passangers could then get connections to North and South America. Apparently it was less expensive then sailing from Hamburg to New York. Anyone know if there is any info on what port in the West Indies and what ships they may have caught from there? According to the Hamburg passanger lists my ancestors sailed from Hamburg to the West Indies In May 1881 aboard the Saxonia. According to family history they then came via tramp steamer through the Panama Canal to San Francisco.

My great-grandmother and her sisters also traveled from Hamburg to the West Indies, final destination San Francisco. But they came around the horn -- the Panama Canal wasn't opened until 1914. Like you I'm also trying to learn about the second leg of their trip. If you learn anything, please post. Thanks and good luck.