The Green Goddess

After the end of World War II the Cunard Line (no longer Cunard-White Star, Ltd.) predicted that cruising would become a popular pastime, particularly among older and wealthier vacationers.  One of the first new ships built after the war, Caronia was designed to be a first class cruise ship, and the first major vessel designed to cruise all year.  She was the first Cunarder to have an outdoor swimming pool (previous vessels had indoor pools) and the first passenger vessel painted entirely in shades of green.  She was the first liner to feature a bath or shower in every stateroom, regardless of class and catered to a small number of passengers waited on by a crack staff.  In her prime, she had 600 stewards serving a maximum of 600 but usually fewer passengers.  The service kept passengers coming back to her again and again.

Caronia in harbor.  1:1200Model by Tri-ang Minic, repainted January 2014 with Hansa steam tug and Tri-ang Minic harbor accessories.

Affectionately known as “the green goddess,” she sailed a relaxed schedule of cruises in the Pacific, around Africa or in the West Indies.  Each January, she departed for a three month world cruise.  Some passengers stayed on board for months, and one very wealthy woman reportedly sailed on voyages for a record of 15 years!  Caronia was a floating country club, a grand hotel, and a seaside resort all in one. 

Note the green hull but traditional Cunard colors on the funnel.

While the number of transatlantic passengers declined in the early 1960s, cruise passengers held steady.  However, by the end of the decade passengers were attracted to newer ships and Caronia's numbers dropped as well.  She was retired soon after the Queen Mary and awaited her fate.  In 1969 she was sold to a Greek shipping company and renamed Caribia.  During one the voyages for her new owners she was damaged by fire and laid up until 1974 when she was sold for scrap.  During the long voyage from New York to the Taiwanese ship breakers, she grounded during a storm near Guam and broke in three.  The wreckage was a serious hazard to shipping and was cut up on the spot.  An ignominious end to a beloved vessel.

End of the Caribia, ex-Caronia. By Erwin N. Thompson, US Army Corps of Engineers [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Caronia (1948-1974) built by John Brown & Company, Ltd., Clydebank, Scotland for Cunard line.  34,172 GRT, 715 feet long, 91 feet wide, steam turbines geared to twin screw.  Service speed 22 knots.  600 Passengers for all first class cruising, for some voyages, 923 passengers maximum (581 first class and 351 in cabin class).