The SS Caronia
by Published on 14th September 2015 12:11 PM
Commissioned in December 1948, Cunard's Caronia gained a reputation as the most luxurious ocean liner in the world. The 34,000-ton ship – painted entirely in green and so soon dubbed the "Green Goddess" – reigned supreme during the 1950s. But no short 6 or 7 night cruises to Bermuda or Nassau for her, it was nothing but long, luxurious cruises – one, two and three month jaunts. And it all had a pattern, a sort of grand familiarity to it, such as 100 days around the world in January; two months to the Med in spring; 45 nights to Scandinavia in high summer; and one or two more Med cruises in the fall. The Caronia was said to have the very best crew in the Cunard fleet back then. Staff all but queued up to serve aboard her. She carried just about millionaires only, of course, and so the tips were legendary. One restaurant waiter was presented with a sports car, English of course, by a grateful heiress. The Caronia was also like a big floating club – built for 900 passengers, her cruise capacity was reduced to 600 but normally finished-up at a clubby 300. And all being looked after by 600 handpicked Cunard staff. Yes, the caviar flowed. No request was too great. And passengers came year after year – including one lady who "lived" aboard for fourteen years. But by the mid '60s, the Caronia had fallen out of step, new liners came into service and Cunard was in deepening financial trouble. The grand ship was sold, in 1968, to Greek buyers, who planned to re-use the legendary ship on 7-night Caribbean cruises as the Caribia. The maiden season was all but canceled, however – there was a fire, mechanical problems and, worst of all, a shortage of money. The Caribia was soon laid-up in New York harbor – faded, rusting and shifting from berth to berth to anchorage. For a time, in 1970, the ship was moored in Brooklyn, at the old Bush Terminal. A strange site along that remote waterfront, her luxury days had long past.
Brian Probetts (site admin)
R760142
