A Missed Marketing Opportunity?

The “Green Goddess” nickname was only colloquially used within the closed maritime communities of Liverpool and Southampton. In reality, it was a regular “Scouse” term that found its way South.

To all other UK folk, a “green goddess” was a term describing the Auxiliary Fire Service water tenders introduced in 1953. These vehicles carried very effective water pumping equipment and were deployed to help local fire brigades. Built by Bedford, they were painted in drab army green with a bold zig-zag stripe.

It's curious that it wasn't until January 1961 that the Caronia soubriquet first appeared in any Cunard advertising. This was in a brochure for a Sterling Cruise, possibly drafted in Liverpool, printed in Britain and aimed only at the home market.

Today, it appears almost exclusively as a marketing term, yet back then it never appeared in any Thos. Cook or AmExCo brochure. Not until the very end of Caronia's career was the term used by Cunard (USA) within its own in-house cruise brochures or advertising.

Even more curious is that, almost until the very end, you'll not find it appear on any meal menu, daily programme or Cruise News edition printed aboard the ship. The only exception being a small mention on later Crossing the Equator dinner menu cards.

I'm not aware of any embargo that denied its use. All this may seem very surprising, when you consider that Caronia's trademark was her once-unique livery! It's really strange because such a catchy and complimentary idiom would be a gift to those anxious to sell stateroom spaces in a market growing ever more competitive.

After all, it had been the “Green Goddess” that had created the growing fervour for luxury tourism!

Only a “Term of Endearment”

It's only since Caronia's demise that this nickname is given such prominence, very often out of context. This maybe to distinguish her from the earlier Caronia or her short-lived successor. All these years later, for those who knew the ship, what it conjures up are reflections of a time when things were done properly and great pride was taken in quietly and efficiently playing our parts.

In historical shipping terms, the “Green Goddess” can only be regarded as an affectionate term by her former crew. From the standpoint of former passengers or local traders in far-off lands, this RMS Caronia would probably be much better remembered as the “Millionnaire's Yacht”.

Unlike most ships, be it a crew area or the Observation Lounge, we polished it half-to-death. Believe me, there wasn't a more spotless working alleyway to be found on any British merchant ship! The other half of the equation came from a vastly different and better life to that ashore enduring the biting strictures of austerity Britain.

Right up to the time she was withdrawn, despite the hard work and long hours, the opportunities of world travel, chasing the sun in winter and cooler climes at the height of summer, kept its magic. Compared to today's very unsettled World, those times were relatively carefree. The main exceptions being the Korean War, race riots in the US and the Vietnam War.

As far as crew family-life was concerned, the Caronia did initially have an anti-social schedule; for example, her first Christmas and New Year stay in the UK didn't happen until 1956! Even so, the crew list transcripts do show continuity, with many people living aboard for several years.

Despite spending so much time away from the UK, you will not hear of many people holding negative recollections of this ship. My references to the Green Goddess within the Timeline are either as a term of endearment or to reflect shared aspects of the ship that I experienced first-hand as a member of her crew for nearly 3 years.

If you can contribute any information, do please get in touch…

Commentary extracts below come from
the 1957 Great World Cruise Brochure

At Sea
Steaming Acapulco to Balboa 1,434 miles

Then southward again to Balboa, the Pacific terminal of the Panama Canal.

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 13.19N | 93.29W
Travelled: 433 miles
Smooth sea, partly cloudy, fine & clear

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

At Sea

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 09.34N | 86.28W
Travelled: 473 miles
Gentle N.Easterly breeze, slight sea, cloudy, fine & clear
528 nmi to Balboa

Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight

Arrive Balboa 2.18pm

Log Abstract…
At: 2.18pm (LT) Balboa arrival
Passage: 2 days, 22 hours, 42 mins.
Voyage Distance: 1,434 miles
Average Speed: 20.28 knots

Panama 1959

Panama 1963

Depart Balboa 6.30am
Transit Panama Canal 44 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 6.30am (LT) Balboa departure
Transit Panama Canal

photo-strip 

slide show {JS}

Arrive Colón / Cristóbal 2.39pm - Depart 3.21pm

Cristóbal, the Canal's Caribbean terminal. Your last stop before New York. Strident Colón, a place of gaudy bazaars and honky-tonk cabarets.

Log Abstract…
At: 2.39pm (LT) Cristóbal arrival
Passage: 8 hours, 9 mins.
Voyage Distance: 40 miles
Average Speed: 8.37 knots
At: 3.21pm (LT) Cristóbal departure

At Sea
Steaming North, Cristóbal to New York 1,965 miles

Definitely northward now, the Caronia heads for New York, and you will find it difficult to suppress a feeling of sadness. Farewell parties with fellow passengers who are now old friends, and before you know it you will be peering down from the rail to the dock below, straining with all the others to catch sight of a familiar face.

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 15.37N | 76.47W
Travelled: 416 miles
Moderate N.Easterly breeze, mod. sea, low swell, cloudy, fine & clear

Sunday At Sea

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 22.55N | 74.25W
Travelled: 494 miles
Light airs, rippled sea, cloudy, fine & clear

Clocks advanced 1 hour at Midnight

At Sea
Steaming North, Cristóbal to New York 1,965 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 30.48N | 74.04W
Travelled: 477 miles
Fresh N.N.Easterly breeze, moderate sea & swell, overcast & clear

At Sea

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 38.54N | 73.40W
Travelled: 486 miles
Light N.N.Westerly breeze, slight sea & swell, cloudy & clear
92 nmi to New York

Arrive New York 6.15pm with 400 passengers

To an impartial observer on the pier, it would be a difficult task to tell when you looked happier - that day in January when you sailed with all the enthusiasm of anticipation - or now on your return, tanned and refreshed, with the deep contentment of things achieved.

Log Abstract…
At: 4.13pm (LT) Ambrose C.L.V. abeam, NYC arrival
Passage: 3 days, 23 hours, 52 mins.
Voyage Distance: 1,965 miles
Average Speed: 20.50 knots

Depart New York 11.13am
Start of 1957 Spring Mediterranean Cruise

Departure Summary

11 May 1957

Total Passengers

 421

Crew Total

 659

Total souls on board

1,080 (including Master)

• 1957 Spring Mediterranean Cruise Passenger List transcript

Log Abstract…
At: 11.13am (LT) left company berth, New York
At: 1.09pm (LT) 17:09GMT Ambrose C.L.V. abeam, NYC departure

Mediterranean Cruise Movie

Clocks advanced 1 hour at Midnight
on 12th, 13th, 14th & 15th May

At Sea
Eastbound transatlantic
Steaming New York to Funchal 2,761 miles

Arrive Funchal AM - Depart PM

Funchal 1954

Funchal 1959

Funchal 1961

Funchal 1964

Funchal, 1966

Sunday Arrive Gibraltar AM - Depart Noon

Gibraltar and Tangier

Gibraltar 1959

Gibraltar, 1966

Steam Gibraltar to Tangier

Arrive Tangier PM

Tangier 1959

Tangier 1961

Tangier 1964

Arrive Valletta, Malta G.C., AM - Depart PM

Malta G.C. 1954

Malta G.C. 1959

Malta G.C. 1961

Arrive Piraeus, Athens AM - Depart PM

Athens 1954

Athens 1961

Athens, 1966

Sunday Arrive Dubrovnik AM - Depart PM
Steam N.West Dubrovnik to Venice 330 miles

Dubrovnik 1959

Dubrovnik, 1962

At Venice

slide show {JS}

Catania 1959

Catania 1961

Catania

Steam to Messina 48 miles

Arrive Messina 3pm - depart 7.30pm

Messina 1959

Messina 1961

Messina 1964

At Sea
Steaming North Messina to Naples 175 miles