CUNARD LINES RMS CARONIA WORLD CRUISE PROMOTIONAL FILM 1950s 71302

[@DK640OBrianYT]

What a delightful film. So enjoyable. At least two things stand out from the 50's: The way food got to be decorated and this splendid musical way of expressing the soothing magic of true romance, that precisely reflects the way it actually feels inside. The high violins and the wavy tone setting....oh man.

[@talbotvanman]

I spent a never to be forgotten year on the RMS Caronia in 1963 as a musician in one of the two bands on board. All that travel and luxury living and getting paid for it too !

[@robertbrawley5048]

Did the crew eat up all the leftover take must of been left by the paying customers.. there must of been a ton of food left over after every meal

[@lowiepete]

@@robertbrawley5048 The band members had tables set aside for them in the Sandringham Restaurant and they had an "Orchestra Steward" to look after them. Most of the catering crew were fed from the main galley and with few exceptions (like caviar, lobster etc.) would have a good choice of food. As stewards, we paid pantrymen to put our meals up for us because we mostly ate after main food service. Passengers were known as "bloods" because they provided the ship's lifeblood - the greenback. Probably the best paid guys on board were the only disabled members of crew, who operated the lifts. As a Commis Waiter (general dogsbody) I did regular stints on them while they had their meals and it was not unusual to get a $5 tip for taking a couple from the Restaurant Deck up to the Lounge on Promenade Deck.

[@robertbrawley5048]

@@lowiepete fascinating reply. . You are talking over my head. What is meant by dogsbody

[@lowiepete]

@@robertbrawley5048 think gofer...

[@kenkellar2246]

Lucky!

[@rileywilliams9799]

If only one of my generation or younger could travel back in time to experience such a style and atmosphere of shipboard life.

[@JulieWallis1963]

Riley Williams or alternatively you can travel onboard the beautiful and traditional Queen Mary 2.

[@davidmarshall718]

One thing that is obvious is how huge and remote the World was back then and how small jet travel has made it now, plus the conveniance of communication of the internet and KZbin Travel videos.

[@johnbrooks3832]

all that whilst theSailors and Engine room crew were fed very basic fare from the crew galley.

[@jeffearle8172]

@@johnbrooks3832 Oh please….

[@creeguyvernon]

Yeah, I'll gladly be down in steerage class and enjoy my water, hot dogs and Brunswick stew, 🍲 hehe, I also read that in the early days of cruising ships had no air conditioning, that must have sucked being in the tropics with no AC

[@tonylayton4235]

I was a young first class catering trainee on the 1955 Caronia world cruise. During that year we also did a West Indies cruise,a Mediterranean cruise and a North Cape cruise.The staff captain was Treasure Jones and I worked some of the time with his Tiger (his personal steward).I could write a book about my time on the Green Godess But I'll give you one amusing incident. We used to serve silver finger bowls which contained rose petals. I provided one of these bowls to a rich American lady on the captain's table which she promptly drank in one gulp. She immediately asked me for another one much to the amusement of the skipper and the rest of the passengers.Just one more incident. The silver king who was responsible for looking after the silver ware in the Sandringham restaurant had a pet budgie which sadly died. It was decided to give it a good send off so it was laid to rest in a purpose built match box coffin. Then,led by the ship's orchestra, we processed through the ship down to the aft deck. The funeral music and the coffin draped in the union jack had attracted most of the 'bloods' (passengers) .and under the flag it did appear to be a full size coffin. One of the crew officiated at a heart felt tribute to the bird. Then the stretcher was lifted to allow the coffin to slide into the ocean.There was a gasp from the lookers on when they saw the small box appearing from beneath the flag. This was followed by a loud laugh and applause when they realised the joke that had been played on them.I later went on to university but my time on the Caronia was a far better life enhancing experience. If anyone out there remembers me please get in touch.

[@lowiepete]

@Tony Layton - if you send me the burial story, I'll publish it in your name on the Caronia Timeline...

[@JulieWallis1963]

TONY LAYTON terrific story, it made me smile. I hope you get in touch with ⬆️

[@pennyfitzgeraldfangumball2024]

aww☺️

[@catherineflynn9771]

My dad sailed on many voyages with the Caronia in the 1950's. He was sometimes a "Boot Boy", but other times, he worked in the kitchens. He also had great stories of his days at sea.

[@paulsullivan3291]

Wonderful film from a truly different era of cruising. The first Cunard liner I saw in person was the RMS Franconia about Jan./Feb. of 1970 during a training cruise on the Mass. Maritime school ship "Bay State" at one of the Caribbean ports we visited and I still remember her distinctive domed funnel as she sailed out of port in the early evening. On my final training cruise in 1972 I saw the QE2 for the first time and also the beautiful, "France", and "Bremen" (ex-Pasteur) anchored off Barbados. We tried to visit the QE2 and France, but were not allowed, but the crew of the "Bremen" were more than happy to bring a few of us out to visit the ship. I was able to get a few pictures of the main lounge (where a kindly passenger bought us a few beers) but also her wonderful huge and wooden clad bridge with the 4 massive brass engine room telegraphs located on the port and starboard (depending what side she was berthing to control the two props) along with her basic 3 and 10 cm radars.

[@aimee-lynndonovan6077]

Luck you

[@barriewhitworth749]

I was working on this ship and did the next world cruise as officer steward happy days

[@catherineflynn9215]

My dad worked on that ship too!

[@johncashwell1024]

That must have been an amazing experience! I would love to go back and enjoy a cruise like that during those "romanticized" days and experience what it was really like. If I had the money, I would take a ship like the Queen Mary and re-create that experience completely, down to the smoking and the exact uniforms of the day.

[@carolefranks5489]

My Uncle (Pat Kearney) worked on it too.

[@barriewhitworth749]

@capspread 1957 I left it in New York after that cruise and joined the Queen Mary for five western ocean s

[@porpoisedrivenlife8474]

An amazing time to have been a wealthy American. This is a rare glimpse into a lifestyle and a globe that has gradually fallen away.

[@aintreeiron]

I was a junior seaman on board in 1963 also, did a short cruise from Liverpool to the West Indies and New York, then took on new passengers and did the world cruise west way round, then also a Mediterranean cruise , followed by a North Cape cruise to Norway Sweden Denmark and Germany, best voyages I ever did.

[@shirleysmith3904]

I really enjoyed watching this video so thank you for posting it. The world has certainly changed quite a lot since it was made. Not just cruise liners or the people who travel but the countries we visit today have changed a lot too. I wouldn't have been able to afford to take a cruise like this but I can now so maybe that's a plus.

[@rl6175]

very much enjoyed this film! my dining chairs are from the caronia and i can ever see the building i lived in in rio de janeiro! great fun!

[@sverrearnes7769]

Fantastic charming movie. A world cruise was something very different then, than today. - - I notice that the passengers were mostly quite old, and probably mighty rich :-)

[@TheGozalus]

Also in better physical shape too compared to the modern cruising hippo. Let's face it...most people who cruise nowadays are overweight fatasses.

[@rivervisual7802]

I adore these videos. Such a by-gone era.

[@matthewedwards3550]

Times were so simple then... Beautiful film, scenery and happy people!!!

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

A totally amazing film.

[@ivaldox491]

What a best life, enjoying life without phone

[@mylesgarcia4625]

I was an 11-year old when I saw the RMS Caronia at the Manila harbor in March 25, 1959. My dance teacher, a Doreen Pringle was returning home to Scotland and we saw her off when the Caronia stopped by Manila that March. I forget now if we went on board but I remember the ship as having a black hull rather than the green it was supposed to have. I guess the memory dulls with time. I wonder what happened to Mrs. Pringle who was a very proper Scotswoman -- who reminded me very much of Deborah Kerr playing Mrs. Anna in THE KING AND I.

[@brianhollenbeck8633]

Loved the portrait of Her Majesty and Prince Philip. 😇👑🌎🌍🌏

[@paullewis2413]

"The Caronia has the lines and beauty of a yacht" Wow, couldn't be further removed from today's hideous monsters that look like floating condos with shopping mall interiors just to add to their banality.

[@allandavis8201]

Paul Lewis, You might never read this, but on the of-chance you do, my sentiments exactly, I could not have put it better, in fact I just watched a newsreel about P&O cruises, from 1960 I think it was, and said the same as you in reply to someone who wondered if this type of cruise was a reality.

[@Finnmarken91]

Couldn't be more true and it makes me sad because it shows how greed quickly takes over the passion for beauty and elegance.

[@lowiepete]

The "proper" Art Deco interior of Caronia matched the beauty of her exterior. All hand-prepared real wood, hand-woven carpets, made in situ furniture throughout and nothing resembling a flat-pack anywhere. Most of the art on board was amazing too. The dodecagonal ceiling of the 1st class smoking room was unique with hand-carved panels that could easily grace an historic house, mansion, manor or palace ashore.

[@operatorjeffdeathstar7759]

Another comparing apples to oranges, Liners are not cruise ships, and Liners today are still Liners...

[@JulieWallis1963]

Captain Jeff Deathstar thank you Jeff. Obviously none of those complaining have ever travelled on the Queen Mary 2. A beautiful and traditional Art Deco style liner. 🛳

[@mariadele9346]

Beautiful video Thanks for sharing Wonderful time, I wish I could be there

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Glad you found it. Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@paradisehotel5005]

The Seychelles part at 26:38 certainly interested me. I was born there. We emigrated to the UK in 1967.

[@bar10ml44]

Really fantastic.

[@TIMBOWERMAN]

The clock tower in the Seychelles is called "Little Ben" and is manufactured by a Croydon firm called Gillett and Johnston, there are two other known examples of this clock tower: South Norwood in South London and Victoria (near the station) in West London.

[@fordlandau]

What a dream to be in this liner. The green goddess.

[@memikell]

It is still possible to enjoy a cruse like we see here. Just stick to the small ships, the smaller the better if you like this. I have sailed 8 or 9 times with the Star Clippers on all three of their ships, and I do mean "sail" for they are truly sailing ships. The largest is the Royal Clipper, A five masted full rigged ship with all the amenities you see here. The dress code is not so formal as the 1950's but dinner does require at least a collared shirt and no shorts.

[@salem865]

several years ago, I saw a nice video about the Caronia cruise. he had jazz music in the background ... could you tell me the name at least of the music ...?

[@LaconiaLancastria]

Very amazing ship

[@QE269]

Magnificent!

[@CJODell12]

2:42. Caronia’s horn/whistle.

[@TheGozalus]

I think I just contracted the "Caronia" Virus XD!

[@johnkean5848]

Splendid

[@LynxStarAuto]

Wow Rio was still a capital back then.

[@roystrickland3363]

Sorry to say, this looks stifling. And I've crossed the Atlantic on the QE2, which was a great deal of fun.

[@aimee-lynndonovan6077]

Been on Cunard France Ocean Liner, back in the 60s.

[@allandavis8201]

During the South African safari Narrator, “as long as we stay in our cars we are safe!!!!” Rhinoceros “Hold my beer”

[@robbiedelrey3924]

Do you know of anything like this for Queen Mary?

[@MaritimeNexus]

Love the horn 2:40

[@retroband]

My dream is to take that cruise…but in the 50s.

[@fritzbasset8645]

The ship was retired when it was only twenty years old. If Cunard and other lines had fitted their liners with reheat turbines when new, upping their efficiency into the 20+% efficiency range, the wholesale abandonment of steamships in the early '70s would not have been necessary (I know CARONIA left the fleet before then). Too bad that everyone thought that $1 per barrel oil would last forever.

[@TheVaughan5]

From an age when ships were ships not floating kitschy condos!

[@JulieWallis1963]

cameronpaul you’re confusing cruise ships with liners! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@rogermoore27]

Wow. Trinidad used to be a port of call for such grand cruise ships?

[@WYTREXOFFICIAL]

41:58 Caronia In Bali, Indonesia

[@tectonicD]

For more promotional marketing, they should have declared that the Carona was “unsinkable”🤣

[@LynxStarAuto]

Caronia. Named after the Italian City.

[@kenkellar2246]

stamp collection is rare now days...

[@MrStiffie123456789]

yeah, along with card games and crokinole lol

[@amroelchristlastchild5114]

🕵️🕺🌷like history it

[@MD-82_B717_TFSFan]

2:41 The Horn

[@GabrielSanchez-b2b]

i love CARONIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@kimberlywentworth9160]

With all that food, the passengers gain about 20lbs.

[@astolatpere11]

How much did a trip round the world on the Caronia?

[@johnbenson4111]

In 1962 a top stateroom on Main Deck for the 3 month South Pacific & Far East Cruise was $28,000 per person. Rate of exchange then £1=$2.8 which then was a fixed rate. The passengers were predominantly American as Brits generally could not afford it. I was an Engineer Officer on the Caronia during 1962 then returned to the Queen Mary.

[@phyllisgorell4830]

In 1955 accommodation for 2 was $7200.00 USD. Not included were tips, drinks, laundry and other services, shore excursions and souvenirs.

[@TrueBrit1]

Those people were very wealthy. That cruise must have taken at least 2 months, and probably nearer 4. All that luxury, food, drink, tours, clothes etc., etc. for that time would have cost a fortune. Being trapped on a ship for all that time would have done my head in, but that being said what an amazing trip - even by today's standards. To do all that not long after WW2 must have been an incredible experience, even if very expensive. To do that today would likely cost a minimum of £10,000 each and probably upwards of £30,000 each for the highest cabin and service. Nice, but 2 weeks in Tenerife is good enough for me.

[@lowiepete]

If you look up Caronia Timeline, then go to the Folio Index and select Cruise Rate Schedules from the Passenger Ephemera section, you'll have a choice of several to look at. There's also a dollar inflation calculator link so you can see what the equivalent would be today. A couple who sat on our station on the 96 day 1966 Great World Cruise had a Suite on Main Deck and a Stateroom _each_ on A Deck which they used as their walk-in wardrobes. In today's money, their fares alone would come to around 400,000 USD...

[@JulieWallis1963]

True Brit it costs about £15,000 today on a similar Cunard ship. I love being onboard a ship, being in Tenerife would “do my head in” . I know this because I have been there. I’m sorry you hated your cruise.

[@mylesgarcia4625]

But NOT everyone took the entire 2=month cruise. Some people just boarded at a certain dock and then got off at a later dock. Like we knew someone who boarded in Manila and took it all the way back to the UK. Many American passengers living in the western half of the US must've disembarked in Long Beach.

[@devinisdead4061]

How bloody much money would a trip like this cost? My goodness it must have been thousands of pounds.

[@googleuser7454]

I believe only the wealthiest got to enjoy the amenities on the film (lower class passengers had basic stuff and maybe a theater if I am remembering correctly). Although cruises now have higher level suites, it makes me glad that the distinction isn't nearly as stark today

[@CJODell12]

@@googleuser7454 IIRC when Caronia did cruises, it was all first class passengers. During her transatlantic service, she had first class and tourist class.

[@googleuser7454]

@@CJODell12 Thanks for explaining. I confused this with other ocean liners. If you remember, were there any major differences between tourist and first class ?

[@CJODell12]

@@googleuser7454 I'm far too young to have ever sailed on her. She was out of service by the time my parents got married. I do remember reading about her though.

[@tow5384]

Wish they had included an itinerary and times.

[@ertelmisegvaltastajobbolda7775]

6:28 NO! NO! I'm not seeing this... I am seeing it! =))))))))))))))))))))))))

[@weerobot]

When Cruises were Cruises...

[@kenkellar2246]

gay hotels in rio? ahead of its time lol

[@masterskrain]

A lifestyle that is long gone, sadly.

[@JulieWallis1963]

masterskrain it’s not, www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise you can still take a classy cruise around the world on Cunard.

[@kenkellar2246]

this narrator really likes the word gay

[@lowiepete]

In those days the word had happier connotations... ;)

[@JulieWallis1963]

mark rylander I’ve seen his previous comments too. Obviously a ‘still in the closet’ gay, hiding in plain sight! 🤫🤫🤫

[@kenkellar2246]

@@orangeleaves4026 I knew that,but less humorous...

[@styldsteel1]

Enjoy your boo-fay lunch lol

[@pxn748]

India was so empty compared to 2021!

[@jeandoom6513]

49:31 wait, that's racist

[@rw9737]

So what? Better times better, people and no political correctnes and all that todays lefties bullshit...

[@Chairman-Joseph-Stalin]

Dawg this came out in the 50s……😂 this is even before the civil rights movement lmao

[@RoskinGreenrake]

Coronia cruise of course a highly tempting bargain, just don't bring your grandparents along

[@mylesgarcia4625]

Except that they were the ones who would be paying for that cruise back then.

[@antoniodelrio1292]

Enjoyed this film but all I could think of is good lord how much money did this cost? deeyam!

[@JulieWallis1963]

Antonio del Rio well......if you do a similar world cruise on Cunard ship today, it’s about £15,000 www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise

[@chipps1066]

I bet this was a very expensive cruise.

[@MerleOberon]

I want some of that boo-fay.

[@kenkellar2246]

ceylon is now sri lanka

[@Jungleland33]

And Bruce is now Caitlyn.

[@allandavis8201]

I wonder how much this cruise would have cost (in today’s money), I bet it would be roughly the same, but with a much less personal atmosphere of service and style, and entertainment straight out of the holiday camps of the 50s & 60s, everyday a new port with little to no time to explore the port of call, and then back onboard for overnight dash to a new port of call, and repeat again the next day, waste of money in my opinion.

[@lowiepete]

You're describing cruises of today, where it's all about extracting every last brass farthing from travellers in shops and food outlets. In those days, it was a much more leisurely affair, with passengers able to sample the night-life in most ports. A 5 day / 4 night stay in places like Bombay, India, Yokohama in Japan and Alexandria in Egypt were regular events. 2 or 3 nights in Naples, Venice and Istanbul; mostly unheard of today! There was no obligation toward demanding Michelin Chefs in having to fill their restaurants only to get plate service, at extra cost! On board Caronia it was silver-service for all meals; even the extensive breakfast menu was quite different from one day to the next. Imagine being on a ship where at the last port of call of a 40 day voyage, the Chef would have cases of fresh fish and seafood brought aboard just for service at the last luncheon. This no matter what there might be in the frozen stores. If the ship went short of oranges, cases would be flown out from Spain to the next port of call. Cunard can try and boast luxury today, but back in our day, with a one-to-one crew to passenger ratio or better, we had the time, the tools and the wherewithal to provide a level of passenger luxury that hotels ashore could only dream of! On a 96 day cruise you got to know your passengers extremely well and you'd go out of your way to make every meal on board a delight for them. It was also a fool-proof method of keeping the Restaurant Manager (a mighty tin-god) off your back. Just have a look at the Caronia Timeline where you can immerse yourself in a choice of virtual cruises...

[@allandavis8201]

@@lowiepete , Exactly the point I was trying to make, but re-reading it I didn’t really get that across, I totally agree with you, I would have loved to experience the type of cruise that this film shows, excellent service, fine dining as standard and enough activities to keep you busy if you want, it was so much more refined and glamorous, yup, that would have been worth every Penny. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@johnhaxby306]

looks like a Caucasian Senior Citizens Anti-PC tour around the world.

[@emilkarpo]

Join you must be fun at parties.

[@Inpri]

I don't know. I think I'd prefer being on board with 5,000 other passengers on one of those ugly RCCL shoeboxes for one week of one boring, similar island after another.

[@sawzawsaw]

Occidental cultural appropriation tour. A trip like this must have cost a fortune. Even back then. Today it would be, what? $100,000? Maybe more on a cool smaller ship like that.

[@jamesjohnson-pq7li]

All white cruise.

[@sailorforlifebestti3366]

hey, where the black people at?

[@rw9737]

Te black people were on the black ships, this one is white one tho...

[@Kosmonooit]

"gay hotels" lol

[@jamesflorence4394]

Unfortunately,diversity and inclusion has destroyed this....we can’t have nice things anymore.....

[@PeoplesChoiceofficial]

sooo cheeeesy

[@PeoplesChoiceofficial]

@mark rylander ur mother

[@jamesflorence4394]

Unfortunately,diversity and inclusion has destroyed this....we can’t have nice things anymore......