Unlike ships of the modern era that would seem incomplete without a huge range of retail outlets, there were just two
shops on board Caronia. To make travellers aware of their presence some quieter areas of the ship had display cases
with an opening times notice attached.
The Gift Shop was a good revenue earner on board Caronia. It stocked a whole range of designer items including souvenirs
relating to the ship, along with leather goods and jewellery. This page will show just a small sample of the souvenir
items that were available.
At the forward end of the ship was the “drug store”. Another good revenue earner because it was the source
of all sorts of basic essentials and accessories; everything from safety-pins to complete ranges of toiletries.
As a guide, Cunard produced a little booklet listing most of the items available on board. Sited
in the aft corner of the starboard side of the forward Promenade Deck foyer, the shop was only
ever open once Caronia had put to sea. In fact there were two shops on board, although the Cabin
Class one, sited on the aft foyer of Main Deck, was only ever used on transatlantic crossings.
From a humble tiepin or pen, to hallmarked sterling-silver cigar and cigarette boxes, all of
the gift items were of superb quality, often hand-made, and of course, had price-tags to match!
[Left: and Below:]
Covers of Cunard Shopping List booklets
As ever, I'm indebted to several people who have made photograph scans available for this section.
These are credited where they apply.
This section of the folio has entailed a great deal of research over an extended period. However,
I need to add a caveat at the outset. Whilst the following information is presented as a guide,
it is neither exhaustive, nor is it definitive! The purpose of my research has been to try and
establish whether items often claimed to have been sold on board, actually were.
There is now substantial evidence that a few items which may indicate as having been sold
as Caronia souvenirs, on board the ship, were nothing of the sort. What has come to light is
that some items, usually hand-made in hall-marked silver, were in fact specially commissioned gifts from Cunard.
These would have been presented to those travel agents who had sold several accommodation berths on the significant
Caronia cruises, especially the Great World and the premium-rate North Cape cruises.
Two items which almost certainly qualify in this category are the engraved silver Caronia “Armada Dish”
and “Tastevin”, both of which are featured on the Silver Souvenir Items page.
The small booklets issued by Cunard contain a curious mix of detail as to the items that were
sold on board. It appears that all the small items and accessories were listed individually,
whereas things like Cameras (the prized items) were only listed under a heading of “various.”
The full range of Chocolates is listed, right down to “Bounty” and “Mars Bars”; the same with
Cigars, Cigarettes, Tobacco and Smokers Requisites.
Continuing through its pages, the Chinaware heading only offers “a selection of Doulton
figures etc., as available.” Again, no detail listing of Cosmetics or Jewellery. Fancy goods
and Haberdashery are listed in some detail, however the greatest detail comes in the four-page
listing of Medicinal Preparations.
Among these were two types of Aspirin pills and a horrific sounding preparation called Ammoniated
Tincture of Quinine! Apparently this is a malaria treatment, but the list itself reads like a
hypochondriac's fantasy.
However, the listings that are probably the most relevant today are those for the Souvenirs.
These are transcribed in full below…
