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The ship was formerly Cunard's CARONIA. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA quick history: Cunard sadly had to sell off its money-losing but glorious \"Green Goddess\" in 1968. The buyer was a Greek-financed firm known as Universal Cruise Line. The ship was given a quickie retrofit that didn't address enough of the deferred maintenance and sent to New York in early 1969 for cruise service. She departed on her maiden voyage on February 14, 1969, for a two week cruise. When CARIBIA returned on February 28, the passengers were so disgruntled that they circulated a petition complaining about lousy food, poor service, faulty facilities, and a sewer smell that permeated the ship. Later on the 28th another batch of passengers embarked, but a few days later the cruise abruptly ended when a boiler explosion killed a sailor and cut out most power. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIncluded are six daily program and two dinner menus (the 16th and 18th) printed on the same presses used back in Cunard days.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn unused form in Greek shows \"s\/s COLUMBIA\" on top. That was the name initially given to the ship when she went from Cunard to a Greek shipyard for the retrofit. When she emerged she had been renamed CARIBIA. The form stayed the same.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo round out this collection are two promotional items. A twelve-page brochure contains stock Cunard interior photos and an extensive cruise schedule beginning on December 11, 1968. The retrofit problems delayed the first cruise until mid-February. A fold-out (25\" by 37\") deck plan shows nine decks in color-coded detail. The plan may look familiar as it is lifted directly from Cunard. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI'd like to report that the CARIBIA went on to success after a bumpy start, but it ain't so. A long languish in New York, the insult of a parking ticket, and a disastrous tow to the breakers that prematurely ended when a tow line snapped. The beautiful vessel was dashed to pieces on a Guam breakwater. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnlike the ship's reputation, the CARIBIA collection is in excellent condition."}

CARIBIA: 1949 - Ephemera from disastrous cruise Feb. '69

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Universal Cruise Line: A rare collection - menus, program guides, onboard form, brochures, and even a deck plan - relating to the disastrous cruise taken by the CARIBIA in early 1969. The ship was formerly Cunard's CARONIA.

A quick history: Cunard sadly had to sell off its money-losing but glorious "Green Goddess" in 1968. The buyer was a Greek-financed firm known as Universal Cruise Line. The ship was given a quickie retrofit that didn't address enough of the deferred maintenance and sent to New York in early 1969 for cruise service. She departed on her maiden voyage on February 14, 1969, for a two week cruise. When CARIBIA returned on February 28, the passengers were so disgruntled that they circulated a petition complaining about lousy food, poor service, faulty facilities, and a sewer smell that permeated the ship. Later on the 28th another batch of passengers embarked, but a few days later the cruise abruptly ended when a boiler explosion killed a sailor and cut out most power.

Included are six daily program and two dinner menus (the 16th and 18th) printed on the same presses used back in Cunard days.

An unused form in Greek shows "s/s COLUMBIA" on top. That was the name initially given to the ship when she went from Cunard to a Greek shipyard for the retrofit. When she emerged she had been renamed CARIBIA. The form stayed the same.

To round out this collection are two promotional items. A twelve-page brochure contains stock Cunard interior photos and an extensive cruise schedule beginning on December 11, 1968. The retrofit problems delayed the first cruise until mid-February. A fold-out (25" by 37") deck plan shows nine decks in color-coded detail. The plan may look familiar as it is lifted directly from Cunard.

I'd like to report that the CARIBIA went on to success after a bumpy start, but it ain't so. A long languish in New York, the insult of a parking ticket, and a disastrous tow to the breakers that prematurely ended when a tow line snapped. The beautiful vessel was dashed to pieces on a Guam breakwater.

Unlike the ship's reputation, the CARIBIA collection is in excellent condition.