RMS Caronia Timeline: The Crossing the Line Ceremony 1954 Japan & South Pacific Cruise

Crossing the Line on Japan & S.Pacific Cruise

For this page I'm indebted to Brenton Jenkins for supplying photographs of a popular ceremony on what turned out to probably be the Caronia's most memorable cruise. This time the recollections are for all the right reasons!

This cruise was to visit some enchanting places that had rarely, if ever, been visited by any large cruise ship, let alone by the most famous one in the World at that time. Everyone who has spoken to me about this cruise has the happiest of memories of it, unlike the dramatic events in Yokohama just 4 years later.

Another Caronia First

On all of the previous major cruises where the Caronia had crossed from the Northern to the Southern hemisphere she had been in the Atlantic Ocean. Having left a Caribbean Island heading southward the “Green Goddess” had crossed the Equator on her way to Bahia, Brazil. On this occasion it would be in the Pacific, on her way to Callao, just 14 miles from Lima, Peru.

Having traversed the Panama Canal just a few days into the cruise, this would be the first Equator crossing in the Pacific Ocean, just 2 days later. As some of the photographs below show, for some people, 29 January 1954 would indeed be a very memorable day!

Neptune's Court Arrives

The Crossing the Line ceremony aboard Caronia was another one of those occasions where the usually strict demarcation line between passengers and crew became a little blurred. It was also another festivity where some crew members could indulge their fantasies in “dressing for the occasion”. As always, there was no shortage of imagination applied here!

Photo Ref: BRJ06 - Neptune's Court arriving on Caronia's foredeck — Photo Ref: BRJ06
Neptune's Court arrives on Caronia's foredeck
[Photo: Caronia - Courtesy of Brenton Jenkins]

NavBar

Brenton Jenkins writes…
This photo shows part of the Parade of King Neptune's Court coming down the steps to the crew pool platform. In the lead are two Judges of the Court, the one on the left is Assistant Purser, the late Barry Boyle ( he sadly died at a very young age from a blood clot - a good friend of mine) The right one isn't identified.

Behind, in a black morning coat and top hat, is Chief Barkeeper Alf Taylor, a wonderful guy and a great personality. He lived very close to me in Southampton. Sadly, he died on the operating table not very long after. He had one child, a daughter June who married the only child of Chief Bar Keeper Alfie Cain, the first Chief of the Caronia, who went on to become the Chief on the Queen Mary and was replaced by Alf Taylor.