News From Aboard the Caronia
A selection of news reports of the day.
Caronia Ploughing Atlantic
Aboard the Caronia At Sea, Jan. 4
By John Kenton from New York Times
05 January 1949
The newest pride of Britain's merchant fleet, the Cunarder Caronia, sailed for New York on
her maiden voyage today with 686 passengers aboard.
After having had her sailing time postponed by two and a half hours, the 34,183-ton liner made the run from Nab Tower, off the Isle of Wight to the Cherbourg breakwater in three hours twenty three minutes, and at 11:20 tonight nosed out of the French harbour toward the Atlantic.
[Photo: © 1949 International Press / Joe Waldorf]
Hailed by the British press as “the wonder ship” the trim, green Caronia represents easily the greatest departure in passenger ship design since the Normandie came out in 1935. Conceived as a dual-purpose vessel to combine the features of a cruise liner with those of a transatlantic ferry, the new Cunarder contains a number of “firsts” that make her a new high in shipboard luxury.
Every cabin in both classes is equipped with a telephone from which any point in the World may be reached, a clock, an electric heater, as well as fans and forced draft ventilation. Nearly every cabin has a private bath or shower, and each has its own individual patterned curtains.
The Caronia began her career today without fanfare or ceremonies. A fine drizzle started falling from lowering skies shortly after the flag-bedecked ship pulled away from the ocean terminal in Southampton at 2.57pm. As the Caronia slipped by the Queen Mary she received a salute of four blasts from the siren of the older ship. Other liners in the port, harbour vessels, tugs and dipping newsreel planes joined in paying tribute to the youngest member of the Cunard fleet.
Royal Greetings
Aboard the Caronia At Sea, Jan. 5
Elizabeth and Philip Radio Best Wishes
Heavy Seas Prevail
Special Report from New York Times
06 January 1949
A congratulatory radiogram from HRH The Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh was received last night over the ship's radio. It was read over the Caronia's loudspeakers this morning as the new liner ploughed through a heavy swell on her first day at sea.
The message read…
“To the captain of the Caronia. We send our best wishes for the Caronia's maiden voyage
and may her career be long and prosperous. Elizabeth and Philip.”
Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by the then Lieutenant Mountbatten, launched the Caronia fourteen months ago and the royal couple has maintained interest in the Cunard White Star Line's luxury liner since then.
Capt. Donald W. Sorrell, the Caronia's Master sent to Buckingham Palace the following reply: “The captain and ship's company of the Caronia, thank you for your gracious message and send their loyal greetings.”
Meanwhile, it was revealed on board, when the ship's chart was posted, that the vessel, built with an eye to cruising in tropical waters, would not follow the usual North Atlantic winter track on her maiden voyage. Instead she would take a more southerly course, passing within 60 miles of the Azores.
Steering a course approximately South West by west, the Caronia has been encountering what are described in the ship's log as strong breezes and rough sea and swell, but she has been riding remarkably steadily. She has averaged just under twenty knots since leaving Cherbourg late last night.