twin screw motor passenger liner; 3 decks; 4th deck except in after hold; 9 cemented bulkheads; cruiser stern; fitted with refrigerating machinery, submarine signalling device, direction finder & echo sounding device; cellular double bottom 417 feet, 1,818 tons; Forward Peak Tank 98 tons; Aft Peak Tank 230 tons
Primarily used on the London (Tilbury) - round Africa service until the outbreak of WW2, when she was converted to an armed merchant cruiser, and later to a troop transport. In 1949 she resumed her London - round Africa service.
In 1958 she was sold to Incres SS Co, who renamed her Victoria and substantially rebuilt her in Rotterdam. She entered service in 1960 on New York-West Indies cruises. - In 1964 she changed hands once again, this time to Victoria SS Co, a subsidiary of Swedish company Clipper A/B, she retained her name, and Incres Line as agents.
Chandris Cruises bought her in 1964, and she resumed sailings as The Victoria in June of 1976. She cruised in Europe and the Caribbean until 1993, when she was sold to Louis Cruise Lines and renamed Princessa Victoria for use on cruises from Cyprus. In 2002 it was reported that she was to be taken up for service as a hotel ship in London. To be broken up in Cyprus 2004
Built as an Intermediate steamer but entered service on the mail run while the other ships were being refurbished.
On 28th August 1939 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty for commission as an Armed Merchant Cruiser and served with the South Atlantic patrols. When, in 1942, more war-built trade protection cruisers entered service, she was released and converted into a troopship carrying over 250,000 men including shuttling between Normandy and Southampton after the D-Day landings.
She returned to commercial service in 1948 and, after a refurbishment by Harland & Wolff, resumed deployment on the clockwise Round Africa service, London-Suez-South Africa-London. In 1958 she was, after 94 voyages, replaced by the Rhodesia Castle and sold to Incres S.S. Co. of Monrovia and renamed Victoria.
On 16th January 1959 she was towed to Holland where she was rebuilt and re-engined by Wilton-Fijenoord, Rotterdam, her tonnage being reduced to 14917grt but her length increased to 572ft, and commenced cruising in the Mediterranean on 14th December 1959. From 1960 until 1964 she cruised between New York and the West Indies.
Chandris Cruises bought her in 1964, and she resumed sailings as The Victoria in June of 1976. She cruised in Europe and the Caribbean until 1993, when she was sold to Louis Cruise Lines and renamed Princessa Victoria for use on cruises from Cyprus.
In 2002 it was reported that she was to be taken up for service as a hotel ship in London.
To be broken up in Cyprus 2004
