The Captain's Inspection
Other than when Caronia was involved in docking, every Thursday at 11am there was the Captain's inspection
of the crew quarters. The Captain would be accompanied by his 1st Officer and either the Chief or 2nd
Steward and this was always a time of some trepidation. The crew quarters were maintained by “Glory
Hole Stewards” who were responsible for keeping everything clean and tidy.
Other than for the Night Staff, no crew cabin could be occupied during this inspection. The crew bunks had
to be made according to regulation, with all personal belongings put away in lockers. During this time the
crew quarters would take on a strange air, seeming as if they were uninhabited.
It wasn't just us Commis Waiters who wore white gloves! At least one member of the inspection party would
be carrying them in his hand, and if there was a suspicion that an area of the ship wasn't as clean as it
should be, those dreaded gloves would be donned. If it happened, you could almost hear the groans of dread!
As with every other aspect of life aboard Caronia, such was the respect on board that it was a matter of
honour that the white gloves would never be worn! Crew members not on duty would line-up in the working
alleyway and be taking a keen interest in proceedings.
Even though the ship had been in service for over 16 years by the time I joined her, I cannot think of any
other place where the living quarters were, like the rest of the ship, polished half to death! It was always
a glowing tribute to her crew that there was such pride taken in keeping everywhere clean and respectable.
Crossing International Date Line
Gaining a lost day was a regular thing when Caronia was heading from Yokohama to Honolulu. Clocks were put forward by an
hour on several consecutive nights. However, there was no let-up on this even on the day gained, when instead of going
forward by an hour, they were retarded 23 hours.
If you can contribute any information, do please get in touch…
Commentary extracts below come from
the 1957 Great World Cruise Brochure
03 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming Hong Kong to Okinawa 850 miles
Through the China Sea now, to that speck of green land which came to the World's attention
during World War II… Okinawa.
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 22.58N | 123.00E
Travelled: 428 miles
Fresh gale, very rough sea, heavy head-on swell, overcast & clear
346 nmi to Okinawa
04 April 1957
Arrive Naha, Okinawa 6.48am - Depart 6.21pm
Its people pursue an age old culture which has developed as a composite of the best of other nations. A
naturally productive island, Okinawa is agriculturally rich, but except around the main settlements there
is a simple way of farm life. The island has, in the past few years, assumed an added interest as the
scene of the charming Broadway play, “Teahouse of the August Moon.” The Teahouse actually
exists and has become a point of considerable enchantment for visitors to the island.
Log Abstract…
At: 6.48am (LT) Buckner Bay, Okinawa arrival
Passage: 1 day, 22 hours, 48 mins.
Voyage Distance: 850 miles
Average Speed: 18.16 knots
At: 6.21pm (LT) Buckner Bay, Okinawa departure
slide show
{JS}
05 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming Okinawa to Kobe 646 miles
Northward again, the Caronia cruises the blue Pacific until you make your dramatic entrance to
the islands of Japan…
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 30.04N | 132.06E
Travelled: 324 miles
Slight sea, overcast & clear
322 nmi to Kobe
06 April 1957
Arrive Kobe 5.57am
…for you first sail into the harbour of Kobe, with thickly wooded Mt. Rokko as a backdrop and
the emerald waters of Osaka Bay contrasting with the glistening white sand of Maiko Beach.
Log Abstract…
At: 5.57am (LT) Kobe arrival
Passage: 1 day, 11 hours, 36 mins.
Voyage Distance: 646 miles
Average Speed: 18.25 knots
Kobe, 1963
Japan, 1967
Osaka Castle:
Famous landmark of Osaka City
Image: Japan Tourist Assn. leaflet
12 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming Yokohama to Honolulu - 3460 miles
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 33.18N | 146.17E
Travelled: 374 miles
Slight sea, low swell, part cloudy, fine & clear
13 April 1957
At Sea
After leaving Japan, and enjoying a week-long restful journey across the Pacific, you near a lovely green
island… the soft enchantment of Hawaiian music drifts out across the water to greet you…
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 31.05N | 155.48E
Travelled: 503 miles
Slight sea, low swell, overcast with occasional light drizzle
Clocks advanced 1 hour at Midnight
14 April 1957
Sunday At Sea
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 28.56N | 164.29E
Travelled: 471 miles
Slight sea, low swell, part cloudy, fine & clear
Clocks advanced 1 hour at Midnight
15 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming Yokohama to Honolulu - 3460 miles
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 26.54N | 172.53E
Travelled: 464 miles
Fresh head-on breeze, rough sea, mod. E.N.Easterly swell, cloudy, clear
Clocks retarded 23 hours at Midnight
15 April 1957
At Sea
Day gained by crossing the International Date Line
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 24.40N | 178.50W
Travelled: 469 miles
Moderate head-on breeze, mod. sea & swell, cloudy, fine & clear
Clocks advanced 1 hour at Midnight
16 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming Yokohama to Honolulu - 3460 miles
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 23.08N | 170.42W
Travelled: 457 miles
Moderate head-on breeze, mod. sea & swell, part cloudy, fine & clear
Clocks advanced 1 hour at Midnight
17 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming Yokohama to Honolulu - 3460 miles
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 21.51N | 162.37W
Travelled: 455 miles
Moderate sea & swell, cloudy & clear, occasional rain
267 nmi to Honolulu
18 April 1957
Arrive Honolulu 6.18am
…native boys come swimming out into the harbour. As the gangplanks are lowered, laughing groups
of native girls board the ship carrying hundreds of beautiful flower leis - the whole ship is
filled with their perfume.
Log Abstract…
At: 6.18am (LT) Honolulu arrival
Passage: 7 days, 7 hours, 48 mins.
Voyage Distance: 3,460 miles
Average Speed: 19.68 knots
19 April 1957
Good Friday At Honolulu
Depart Honolulu 6.30pm
While in Honolulu you will want to wander about the city, of course, but it is the drive through the city
to Diamond Head, Mt. Tantalus and Waikiki Beach that will most enthral you. Once more bedecked with leis,
you board the Caronia and the soft Hawaiian “Aloha” rings out to you as you sail away.
Log Abstract…
At: 6.30pm (LT) Honolulu departure
Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight
20 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming Honolulu to San Francisco - 2095 miles
When next you sight land, it will not be the limited shoreline of a Pacific isle, but the vast
stretches of the West Coast, as the Caronia glides through the Golden Gate for your call at the
great favourite of Pacific ports - San Francisco!
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 23.53N | 152.45W
Travelled: 330 miles
Fresh head-on breeze, moderate sea & swell, cloudy, fine & clear
Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight
21 April 1957
Easter Sunday At Sea
Steaming Honolulu to San Francisco - 2095 miles
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 27.33N | 145.12W
Travelled: 465 miles
Fresh head-on breeze, moderate sea & low swell, cloudy, fine & clear
Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight
22 April 1957
At Sea
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 31.20N | 137.03W
Travelled: 487 miles
Rippled sea, low swell, overcast, fine & clear
Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight
23 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming Honolulu to San Francisco - 2095 miles
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 35.07N | 128.40W
Travelled: 481 miles
Moderate breeze, mod. sea & swell, mainly overcast, fine & clear
332 nmi to San Francisco
24 April 1957
Arrive San Francisco 5.48am
San Francisco has always inspired an extraordinarily fervent devotion among its dwellers. They
say the view from Nob Hill has no equal - or the mile after mile of waterfront - or Chinatown.
But more than anything else, they apostrophize the atmosphere, the night life, the social whirl
with which an old and warm-hearted culture have endowed San Francisco.
Log Abstract…
At: 5.48am (LT) San Francisco arrival
Passage: 4 days, 9 hours, 18 mins.
Voyage Distance: 2,095 miles
Average Speed: 19.90 knots
25 April 1957
Depart San Francisco 7.21am
However long you might like to linger, there are still exciting adventures ahead, as you round
out your World Cruise with a slight touch of the flavour of Mexico and the thrill of a trip
through the Panama Canal.
Log Abstract…
At: 7.21am (LT) San Francisco departure
At: 12 Noon Position: 36.18N | 122.01W
Travelled: 94 miles
Gentle N.Westerly breeze, slight sea, moderate swell, cloudy & clear
Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight
26 April 1957
At Sea
Steaming South, San Francisco to Acapulco 1,836 miles
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 29.18N | 116.51W
Travelled: 498 miles
Light W.N.Westerly breeze, slight sea & swell, overcast, thin haze
Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight
27 April 1957
At Sea
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 23.35N | 111.11W
Travelled: 480 miles
Gentle N.Westerly breeze, slight sea & swell, cloudy, fine & clear
Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight
28 April 1957
Sunday At Sea
Steaming South, San Francisco to Acapulco 1,836 miles
Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 18.51N | 104.29W
Travelled: 474 miles
Gentle N.N.Westerly breeze, slight sea & swell, cloudy, fine & clear
290 nmi to Acapulco
Clocks advanced 30 minutes at Midnight
29 April 1957
Arrive Acapulco 6am - Depart 2.36pm
Acapulco, Mexico's magnificently beautiful coastal resort, is situated on an oval bay, in a setting
of astounding scenery. Here you'll witness a breathtaking spectacle, as the diving boys of Acapulco
leap from the fantastically high cliffs into the pounding surf, each dive necessarily timed
perfectly with an incoming wave below. In Acapulco's fiesta tempo, you'll enjoy the sophisticated
gaiety and unhurried atmosphere of a favourite play land.
Log Abstract…
At: 6am (LT) Acapulco arrival
Passage: 3 days, 20 hours, 39 mins.
Voyage Distance: 1,836 miles
Average Speed: 19.82 knots
At: 2.36pm(LT) Acapulco departure
Acapulco 1963
