The Final Days as a Cunard Ship
The Caronia had left New York in the early hours of 29 September 1967 on what was to be her final cruise under the Cunard house flag. She had sailed with only enough passengers to fill the Balmoral Restaurant, just 284.
Then, on 19 October 1967, Captain 'Pip' Read received a signal from the shore agents at Varna stating that the Caronia was to be sold. Simultaneously, a report of the drastic cutting of the Cunard transatlantic fleet appeared in the New York Times, claiming huge financial losses.
Whilst the impact of the jet airliner was partly to blame for these, there was much greater emphasis put upon the crippling effects of the 1966 Seamen's strike. Strangely, there was no mention of the curb on citizens taking US Dollars out of the USA or of the Sterling crisis that had been raging at the time!
Drastic Cuts!
Probably to the chagrin of every passenger on board, Caronia's 1967 Autumn Mediterranean and Black Sea cruise was abruptly curtailed, with the week in the Middle East cut out of the schedule. Rather than ending the cruise in Cherbourg and Southampton as usual, the passengers were taken directly to New York from Lisbon.
Anyone wanting to spend time in Europe would need to reach the French ports from Lisbon or forego the experience. The day after arrival in New York Caronia set sail on her last transatlantic, a non-revenue crossing direct to the UK.
Report of Caronia's departure
[Left:]
Caronia, still flying her paying-off pennant, at Berth 101 Southampton on 25 November 1967.
Almost prophetically, the ship moored astern is the Caribia (ex Vulcania) of Siosa Line.
[Photo:
Courtesy of Wayne Morris]
Flying her paying-off pennant, the ship quietly slipped into the Port of Southampton for the last time on the foggy morning of 24 November 1967. Ahead was an uncertain future.
Autumn Med Cruise
