First, the basics.

RMS Caronia was a 34,183 gross register tons (GRT) passenger ship of the Cunard Line (then Cunard White Star Line). Launched on 30 October 1947, she served with Cunard until 1967. She was nicknamed the "Green Goddess". She is credited as one of the first "dual-purpose" built ships: suited to cruising, but also capable of transatlantic crossings.

The idea of an Atlantic liner, let alone the inherent majestic proportions of such, has fallen out of the public imagination. Once upon a time, there were many:

After World War II, the Cunard White Star Line operated three ships on the Southampton—New York run. The famous RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth operated a weekly express service, with the smaller and slower RMS Mauretania sailing as the third ship on the route. The company placed an order for a running mate to the Mauretania, a ship of similar speed and proportions for the transatlantic run. Ultimately this was not to be the role of the new ship, as Cunard White Star's executives decided that the new ship would be built primarily for cruising.

With that in mind, the new ship — soon to be named Caronia by Princess Elizabeth — received many different features from her Cunard White Star fleetmates. An outdoor swimming pool was a new thing, as was having bathroom / shower facilities in every cabin.

Ah, the things we take for granted.