England is covered with snow and over the Channel blows such a storm, that at London’s Victoria Station a sign for the “Night Ferry” announces: “Cancelled”. Next day however, a boat train is ready to leave from Waterloo Station to make connection not with any ferry - but being assigned to connect with one of the last ocean liners, the “Canberra” of the Peninsular & Oriental, scheduled to leave on 6 January 1979. She does not go on one of that usual pleasure cruises. Instead, she is sent on the once yearly voyage to Sydney, calling at Port Everglades, Cristobal, Acapulco, San Francisco, Honolulu and Auckland. After docking at Sydney on 16 February, she will go to continue via Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Louis, Durban, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and Tenerife, by this way completing her round-the-world tour.

Among the travelers in the train compartment is an English gentleman, showing the behavior of an aristocrat wearing waistcoat and tie, revealing the lifestyle of people used to spend their holidays in St. Moritz or – just at present - going with the P&O. There is also a young Australian couple, Italian by birth, with a child. For their voyage they might have spent a little fortune, the woman however is wearing jeans. In the compartment to the next some aged ladies and gentlemen, certainly having passed the eighties, took their seats. They look like people who just have left their Rolls-Royce with driver. Fearing any kind of draught, they had wrapped themselves in camel-hair coats.

At six o’clock in the evening, at full darkness, Southampton Station is passing by. To the left appear the lights of a ship. Slowly the train slides into the branch. “Is it far to the ship”, asks someone. Nervousness is spreading. “Is it a good ship”, wants to know another one. The train comes to a stop at the terminal.

London Waterloo, 6 Jan.1979	“Canberra”, the Club
“Canberra”, the Crows Nest	“Canberra”, Pacific Restaurant

The hall is crowded with folk. The travelers pass the customs control. Several gangways lead on board. A rank of service staff is standing like for a parade. They ask for the cabin number to take care of the luggage to be stored in the staterooms, which will become the place of living for the next weeks or even months.

A round walk to explore the ship leads over one of the Atrium staircases, which combine eight decks with one another, all maintained in decent styling. From the Prom Deck with Music Hall, Cricketers’ Tavern, shops and a bar with empty dancing floor, the newcomers are proceeding along the A- and B-Deck on to the uppermost one, the Games Deck with Table Tennis Room, Children’s Playroom, and Swimming Pool, coming at last to the Crow’s Nest Observation Lounge. Deep underneath, the lamps on the quay reflect their shine on the water. Far away the lights of the town are glistening. Some passengers, on the day of departure casually dressed, are sitting below on the E-Deck round the magnificently laid Buffet in the Atlantic Restaurant. A steady coming and going is there. Quite different is the Pacific Restaurant, where quiet nobility prevails and distinguished passengers are being served by liveried Indian servants or dignified grey-haired waiters, hurrying along on a decent hint. Hours before departure there is the announcement for escorting persons to leave the ship (sad for us belonging to them). Somewhat later, the ultimate call to leave is sounding, then the ropes get detached. Towed by a tug, the “Canberra” is slowly casting off the quay. Midnight has fallen on this the 6 January 1979. Exactly after a quarter of a year, on 6 April, she will moor again at Southampton port.


“Canberra” before leaving Southampton, 6 Jan.1979


“Canberra” before leaving Southampton, 6 Jan.1979