The Start of a Glittering Career!
Caronia's first passenger carrying voyage was her commissioning run starting from Gourock in Scotland, leaving the Tail of the Bank at 9pm on 18 December 1948. This trip to Southampton of approximately 667 miles, at an average speed of 15.65 knots, arrived at 1pm on 20 December 1948. For more details on the commissioning run, see the “Coastal Cruise” page.
It wasn't until January 1949 that Caronia began her first year of revenue service. Nevertheless, within a very short while she would establish herself as one of the most luxurious ships afloat and build a renown reputation where, for both passengers and crew, sailing on her would be an unforgettable experience.
It wasn't long before an annual pattern of cruises emerged, only punctuated by positioning crossings of the Atlantic. Even one of these provided a winter escape, by being turned into a mini-cruise with a call to Bermuda and a couple of other islands in the Caribbean before reaching New York.
[Left:]
RMS Caronia's maiden arrival at Southampton, seen from the deck of the RMS Aquitania which had sent a
“Welcome Child” signal. The response from Caronia, apparently suggested by H.R.H. The Duke of
Edinburgh, being “Greetings Mother.” A year later Aquitania, the last of the 4-stack liners
and the only one to serve in both World Wars, was sold for scrap.
Photo: Southern Evening Echo
During her career, the “Green Goddess” never seemed to be too far away from trouble, mostly because of high winds making her funnel (the largest fitted to any ship, including the RMS Queen Elizabeth) act like an unwanted sail. The first of many mishaps caused this way happened whilst attempting to berth in New Docks Southampton in October 1949 on a return trip from New York.
Introduction
