RMS Caronia Timeline

Greater Intentions

At that time, Cunard ran several passenger and cargo ships across the North Atlantic from London & Liverpool. However, it was renown for its weekly passenger shuttle twixt Southampton and New York, crossing the ocean in just 5 days with the World's two largest liners.

These were the RMS Queen Mary (now berthed in Long Beach) and the larger RMS Queen Elizabeth. There was not a little truth in Cunard's regular strapline of: “It's the only way to cross”.

Caronia had been intended to join the RMS Mauretania to bolster transatlantic capacity when either of the Queens was in overhaul. Instead, driven by the forceful Cunard Chairman Sir Percy Bates, she became the first ocean liner purpose-built for regular Atlantic crossings but more especially, for luxury cruising.

“Caronia” (II)
The Last Word in Cruising Circles

A pale livery, large single funnel and yacht-like proportions made the “Green Goddess” instantly recognisable, even from a distance. This was the second ship to carry the name “Caronia” for Cunard. She had an illustrious and mostly profitable career, flying their flag for nearly 20 years.

Reports in leading periodicals worldwide confirmed her as a ship providing passengers with the highest luxury standards. For her crew, she meant an escape from austere post-war Britain, where attitudes became more ‘Victorian’ than during that Queen's reign!

The novelty was that as an all first-class cruise ship Caronia's rates were based on your accommodation choices. Today's traveller may expect nothing less. However, unlike today, there was no service demarcation; all passengers enjoyed exactly the same amenities, excellent food and Silver Service, across the board.

A Deftly Crafted Reputation

Exceptional art-deco interiors matched by a high crew to passenger ratio very quickly helped secure an enviable reputation as probably the most luxurious ocean liner of her time, even usurping her much larger sisters. Initially boosted by Cunard's vast publicity machine, global eminence was deftly crafted by her own Officers and Crew.

This meant that Caronia soon became a huge US dollar earner, both for her owners and her home country, along with becoming a post-war jewel of the British Merchant Navy. If cruising in style was your desire and you could afford it, here was the last word!

Watching her steam into Southampton after a long absence gained its own air of mystery. Enquiries about her last voyage would be made in hushed tones. After all, aboard was the ultimate in luxury living for her wealthy passengers, and the opportunity of round the World travel for her crew.

In those years, way ahead of mass tourism and long-distance air travel, you could only stand in awe!

Evoking Powerful Emotions

However, it was the massive social, political and financial upheavals of the mid-1960s that sealed her fate. Unlike the excitements of her beginning, global events dictated a sad and sombre end to her Cunard career. Her story as a vessel came to a dramatic climax in 1974, on the rocky entrance to Guam harbour.

Sadly, history recording since then hasn't been kind to the Caronia. This Timeline sets out to try and address this. Despite the passage of all these years, many stories recorded here will testify that this well beloved ship will always evoke some very powerful emotions!

Attention to Detail

Most recollections received from former travellers show a profound fondness for this ship. From a crew viewpoint, close attention was paid to every tiny detail, as a simple matter of pride. It signalled the exigencies of maintaining an outstanding reputation, which made living aboard the Caronia rather special and memorable.

For example, references to “Welcome Home” on this page are not the empty platitudes you'd maybe find on every Web site you visit.

Their purpose is to highlight the special hand-made signs built by the ship's Engineers and lowered by the Deck Hands to hang just above the shell doors when Caronia was away on cruises. Some versions were even illuminated!

Just imagine yourself as a cruise passenger, returning to the ship after an exciting day ashore and seeing this sign. At the top of the gangway you'd often be greeted, by name, by an officer in whites. Aboard this ship, be in no doubt, these were sincere greetings!

Of course, there were many such instances, with probably several more that I haven't yet become aware of to record. So, if I've missed out a story and you have some information that you feel needs to be added, I'd be only too pleased to hear from you.

Caronia Timeline Objectives

Within this Timeline I'm aiming to present a day-by-day analysis of where this grand cruising ship was in the World during her Cunard career.

It is complemented by an eclectic selection of stories about life aboard a ship that had a life-long impact upon everyone who knew her.

If you, or any of your relatives, were aboard the RMS Caronia, my sincere hope is that these pages will rekindle fond memories, and encourage you to share your recollections with many other Caronia Timeline visitors.

The whole is designed to absorb you into taking a keen interest in just one of the ships of her era that became legendary, a while before jet airliners brought along their initially devastating impact.

There's many reminders here of those simpler, gentler and perhaps more formal times. Armed with a suitable libation, sit back and let yourself be carried away on many wonderful adventures…

Peter Stevens
(Webmaster and xCaronia 1st Class Steward)