A Suitable Send-off?
I'll make no apology for putting in a larger than usual picture of a typical Caronia embarkation day. The evocative scene below would have been your first close-up view of the ship as you crossed from terra firma to your “luxury yacht”. From here, for anything up to 3 months or more, your every whim would be met.
Dwell for a moment before climbing the gangway and imagine all the excitement, including the rousing music of an unseen band, almost drowned out by the shouts from ship to shore. There is even time to enjoy showing the visitors who came to see you off around all the wonderful art-deco features of this luxuriously appointed ship.
Quiet Efficiency
As you step aboard, you wonder at your new surroundings, being immediately assured by the quiet efficiency that doesn't leave you feeling lost. Before you know it, you'll be personally escorted to your stateroom by a smartly-dressed Bellboy, with his ready and enthusiastic answers to all your questions.
Having been introduced to your bedroom steward or stewardess, a hot drink will be offered while you are shown round the plush new accommodation that has now become your home from home. To think that even the curtains are unique to your stateroom!
Awe and Envy!
Then, after seeing your visitors ashore, it's time to quickly find a place up on deck to add your own streamers to the growing cat's cradle of colour, as the moment of sailing approaches. Most of all you will be enveloped by the combined feelings of excitement and anticipation. As ship to shore gangways are raised away, there's now no turning back.
As huge mooring ropes are cast off one by one, you'll find yourself mesmerised as this massive green structure, slowly and seemingly quite effortlessly, is making an ever increasing gap twixt you and the shore. All this added to by the crowds of people on the quays frantically waving their good-byes, as no doubt they stand in awe and envy.
An Exclusive Club
As all this was going on, did the unannounced ship's horns make you jump? Or was it almost lost in the cacophony as other ships bade their own farewells? Suddenly, you become aware that you've joined a very exclusive club. Whether at the start of a transatlantic voyage, or a long relaxing cruise, be sure that memories of your magical first ocean liner departure will stay with you forever!
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