A “Sterling” Cruise Like No Other?
The 1956 lay-up was not without its problems. Instead of returning to Southampton in December Caronia needed to be returned to dry-dock in Liverpool. She'd had a lucky escape on the barages of Crosby Training Bank.
While on her sea trials, the ship had torn plates on her bilge-keel, having collided with a revetment, while avoiding an oncoming ship, in fog. Other ships had experienced more severe damage here, including broken backs.
Caronia's 1956 Sterling Cruise set off for Bermuda directly from Liverpool a day late, her passengers having been brought up from Southampton by special train. There would not be a call at Le Havre on this occasion.
Quite what happened to those passengers bound for the Bahamas from there is unknown. Those headed for New York would be accommodated locally then collected by the next Cunard Queen.
The delayed departure meant that the usual few days of “crew standby” routines of cleaning and polishing the ship, especially after an extended overhaul, had been missed. Quite how prepared the ship was for this crossing is not known, though every possible effort would have been put into being ready!
Ahead was a rough sea crossing, with gales most of the way to Bermuda. In New York there was just a single day to prepare the ship ahead of the 1957 Great World Cruise embarkation; a much shorter stay than usual.
By the time Caronia had left Kingston, fewer than 100 passengers aboard would not justify opening both restaurants. All those remaining would be served their meals together in the Balmoral Restaurant for the remainder of the voyage.
Unlike on other transatlantic voyages, a table allocation wasn't fixed for the duration. It's also likely that passengers were requested to move cabins to be accommodated together within a small area of First Class. Not only was this an upgrade, but it made the unpleasant weather more bearable by being together.
These actions would free up a greater number of catering crew, creating the equivalent of a “standby-gang”, at sea rather than in port. They would be put on cleaning duties, dispersed into all areas making sure that every inch of the ship was prepared to the standards necessary to welcome passengers aboard for their Great World Cruise.
By this time, Caronia had established a fine reputation and nothing would be allowed to interfere with that!
with slide show