Alfred Neumann and his wife Kitty arrived in Lisbon on 15 January 1941 after fleeing from southern France. The American aid organisation the Unitarian Service Committee was informed by Hermann Kesten of Alfred Neumann's arrival, but places were not booked on the ship until the crossing on 7 February. After a three week stay, during which Neumann finally had to borrow $ 50 from the relief committee of the Unitarians, the Excambion left Lisbon for New York on schedule on February 7. The first few days at sea were stormy and Neumann suffered from seasickness. The physicist Peter Pringsheim, brother of Katia Mann, was also on board. Alfred Neumann wrote on 9 February in his diary: "I meet Professor Pringsheim who has much to recount about the family of Thomas Mann. He confirms the news of the death of Lanyi, who was on the Canadian steamer torpedoed and sunk by the Nazis (along with Rudolf Olden and family). Monika Mann was rescued and is now also in the USA, [...] completely apathetic. [...] Pringsheim himself comes from Gurs, and has the usual horror stories to tell." The ship docked in New York on 17 February after a ten-day crossing. Alfred and Kitty Neumann were met by their friend Erwin Piscator on the quayside.