After the Second World War, Cunard White Star went about re-establishing themselves as the great pre-war Trans Atlantic service they were. The two Queens had served very well in the war, as had the second Mauretania and the old Aquitania, and finally these ships could be used again for the first time in seven years. Now, Cunard White Star could finally boast their two ship weekly express ervice between England and America. The Mauretania II was used as a releif ship, working with the Queens when needd, but usually keeping her own America-England service and cruised more tropical climates in the warmer weather. In 1946, Cunard White Star ordered a running mate for the Mauretania from John Brown & Co. Ltd. She would be slightly smaller at 34,000 tonnes.
Cunard White Star however changed their minds. With the depression, Booze Cruises made cruising for the fun of it rather popular, and Cunard White Star recognised this and took full advantage. They knew it was a gamble, but the new ship at that time being constructed would be an all out cruise ship.
On October 30th, 1947, the new ship was ready. Queen Elizabeth launched her in gratitude for the Queens' service during the war, and smashing a bottle of champagne against the bow, christened the ship Caronia.
After her fitting out, and successful sea trials, the second Caronia set out on her maiden voyage on April 4th, 1949. Although she would be used mainly for cruising, this voyage was run from Southampton to New York, stopping at Cherbourg.
Because she was built as a cruise ship, she had a very yacht like look about her. Raked bow, one funnel etc. Her funnel was actually one of the biggest ever installed on a ship, painted in the familiar colours of orange and black, and her mast was the largest afloat, but these made minor ripples to the spectators compared to the ship's colour scheme. She was painted in four shades of light green, earning her the nickname 'Green Goddess' She was the first Cunarder to have bathrooms in every state room, regardless of class, and the first to have a built in out door swimming pool. In her first year of opperation, she made several cruises to the West Indies and South America, and almost instantly gaining herself the privelage of being one of the most luxurious ships afloat, some even thinking she out matched first class on the two Queens.
Two years after her first voyage in January 1951, she made her first round the world cruise, stopping at over 30 ports and finishing in Southampton in Spring that year. The only real mishap was when she ran aground in the Suez Canal, but after an hour she was running again. Later that year, she made her first cruise from America to Europe.
In 1953, she was chartered to carry guests to the Queen's coronation ceremony. Through the following years, Caronia opperatoed on a fixed schedual, cruising on several small trips and another round the world one. The next year she was completly overhauled and fully airconditioned.
When she retured to service, she was put onto the New York to Cape Town service, returning via the Pacific. Unfortunatly, on her second voyage on this route, she demolished a light tower at the enterence to Yokohama port. The damage was severe, and repairs were needed. Thankfully, the US Navy allowed Caronia to occupy the dock areas of Yokohama until these were carried out.
As the years wore on, impressed by Caronia's work, other lines began making purpose built cruise ships. To be able to compete with the new ships, Cunard put Caronia through a major overhaul in 1965. Cunard however was going through hard times and announced that the Caronia, Carinthia and Sythia were going to be taken out of service by the end of 1968, and on November 17th, 1967, Caronia set out on her last voyage for Cunard from New York to Southampton. She sat in Southampton for quite a while as Cunard tried to find a buyer for her. Eventually, a Yougoslavian company Domus Turist, came forward with the idea of using Caronia as a floating hotel off Dubrovnik, but the transaction was never completed and Caronia was again sold to Star Shipping. She was renamed Columbia and sent to Piraeus to go through a refit for her new owners. During this time she was again renamed Caribia. Her owners decided also to use her for cruising, and after the refits, she set out on her first voyage for the company on February 11th, 1969. Unfortunatly, comfort and services were poor and many passengers filed complaints, butdespite this, she set out on her second voyage on the 28th. Tragically, on this voyage a steam pipe split and killed a crew member. Caribia was left without power and drifting helplessly. Tempoary repairs were made and 20 hours later, the ship was able to limp into New York.
Star Shipping now did not want to use this ship and she was sold to a Turkish company with the intention of refitting her again, but funds were low and for five years, Caribia sat at different anchorages in New York. In 1974, she was finally sold to a Taiwanese shipbreaking firm. Almost everything aboard her was auctioned off and scattered to the wind. On April 27th, 1974, she left New York for the last time, towed by the ocean tug Hamburg. When she was just outside Honolulu, she took on a dangerous list and tempoary repairs were made, but bad luck followed. On August 12th, they were battling a fierce storm of Guam and the Hamburg's generators failed. The captain decided to cut the tow line and Caribia was left drifting. For a while it looked as though she would make it through the harbour mouth of Apra Harbour and into the calm waters, but at the last minute the tide turned and she was hurled against the breakwater and broke in three. She was a hazard to shipping and was broken up on the spot. The fabled Green Goddess was no more now than a memory. |
