RMS Scythia Collection

Scythia (1875) Cunard Line

Built by J. & G. Thomson, Ltd., Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland. Tonnage : 4,556. Dimensions: 420'x 42'. Single-screw, 13H knots. Compound engines. 2,780 I.H.P. Three masts and one funnel. Iron hull. Maiden voyage: Liverpool-New York, May 1, 1875. Passengers: 340 cabin and 1,100 third. Service: Liverpool, New York, and Boston trade. Fate: Scrapped in Italy, 1899. Sister ship: Bothnia.

Scythia 1920) Cunard Line

Built by Vickers, Armstrong, Ltd., Barrow-in-Furness, Newcastle, England. Tonnage: 19,761. Dimensions: 600'x 73' (624' O.I.). Twin-screw, 16 1/2 knots. Steam turbines. Two masts and one funnel. Passengers: 350 first, 350 second, 1,600 third. Maiden voyage: Liverpool-New York, August 20, 1921. World War II Service: Commissioned as a troopship. Post War Service: Resumed trans-Atlantic service in October 1948. Modifications: Reconditioned in 1950. Tonnage increased to 19,930. Accommodation for 245 first and 639 tourist class. Placed in England-Canada service. Fate: Scrapped in Scotland, 1958. Sister ships: Laconia and Samaria.

 

 

 

Proposed Sailings, Cunard Line, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York, and Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-Boston, from 8 August 1925 to 6 February 1926. Ships Included the Alaunia, Aurania, Carinthia, Carmania, Franconia, Laconia, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Alaunia Passenger List, 21 August 1925. GGA Image ID # 1dff443705

 

Sailing Schedule, Liverpool, Cobh (Queenstown)-New York-Boston, from 12 November 1927 to 29 April 1928. Ships Included the Andania, Aurania, Carinthia, Carmania, Caronia, Franconia, Laconia, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 26 November 1927. GGA Image ID # 1e119dff3d

 

Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Canadian Ports, from 11 November 1927 to 9 April 1928. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Ascania, Athenia, Ausonia, Carmania, Lancastria, Letitia, Samaria, Scythia, and Tuscania. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 26 November 1927. GGA Image ID # 1e11e04456

 

Westbound Sailings of the White Star Line from 6 October 1934 to 2 February 1935. Ships Included the Alaunia, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Carinthia, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Lancastria, Laurentic, Letitia, Majestic, Olympic, Samaria, Scythia, and Transylvania. The Schedule Includes Originating, Calling, and Destination Ports for Each Voyage. RMS Britannic Passenger List, 6 October 1934. GGA Image ID # 1e3159e0ee

 

Eastbound Sailings of the White Star Line from 6 October 1934 to 14 February 1935. Ships Included the Alaunia, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Carinthia, Doric, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Lancastria, Laurentic, Letitia, Majestic, Olympic, Samaria, Scythia, and Transylvania. The Schedule Includes Originating, Calling, and Destination Ports for Each Voyage. RMS Britannic Passenger List, 6 October 1934. GGA Image ID # 1e3178f51a

 

Cunard White Star Westbound Sailing Schedule for September to November 1937. Ships Include the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. GGA Image ID # 1db7e0cf97

 

Cunard White Star Eastbound Sailing Schedule for September to November 1937. Ships Include the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. GGA Image ID # 1db80746e8

 

Westbound Sailing Schedule from 7 June 1939 to 16 August 1939. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Ascania, Athenia, Aquitania, Aurania, Ausonia, Britannic, Carinthia, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Mauretania, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 7 June 1939. GGA Image ID # 1e141a92c5

 

Eastbound Sailing Schedule from 7 June 1939 to 16 August 1939. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Britannic, Carinthia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Mauretania, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 7 June 1939. GGA Image ID # 1e1424c50b

 

The Last Word in Cunarders

The New Cunarder RMS Scythia. GGA Image ID # 141c0dd806

This ship is the first of a new class of passenger liners which will presently be a not uncommon sight upon our seas

The Scythia, now sailing on her maiden voyage, has been designated “The Ship of the Future”

Making her maiden trip across the Atlantic at moderate speed in order to get her machinery into easy working order, the new Canard liner “Scythia,” the last word in shipbuilding, is nearing the port of New York, having sailed from Liverpool on August 20. She is scheduled to leave New York Tuesday, September 6, on her return trip to Liverpool.

The “Scythia” was built at the famous yard of Vickers, Ltd., Barrow, and is as graceful and staunch as her many famous elder sisters. She has been described as the “Ship of the future,” a model for all ships to pattern after, for there is small chance of improving upon her seeming perfection and is one of the first passenger vessels to have been designed and built to burn oil fuel, the many advantages of which have been emphasized by the actual performances of the “Aquitania.”

She is the first great liner to possess propelling machinery of the double-reduction geared turbine type. The auxiliary machinery of the “Scythia” and the steering gear, too, provide a further departure from any previous practice.

These new features effect each, a definite improvement in the comfort or convenience of the passenger, or in the extensiveness of the accommodation, and place the “Scythia” In the very forefront of the great passenger vessels of the world.

Not only does the “Scythia” lead the way in constructional and engineering improvements, but her passenger accommodation la such that she can lay claim to being one of the most up-to-date liners afloat.

The First Class Dining Hall is Delightful because it is Roomy, Light, and Most Tastefully Decorated. GGA Image ID # 141c20d183

The variety and spaciousness ot public rooms and staterooms depend very largely upon the size of the ship, and In this respect the “Scythia” with her 21,000 gross tonnage, 600 feet length, 73 1/2 feet beam and 46 feet depth has space sufficient to provide unusually extensive accommodation for some 2,2000 passengers.

Not only the 350 saloon and the 350 second class passengers will find that the “floating hotel” comparison has been maintained and developed, but third class passengers, especially, will appreciate the careful and complete provision that has been made for their needs.

New features are continually being introduced into the modern liner which all tend to increase the comfort of the passenger. One of these is the garden lounge. In the "Scythia's” saloon passenger accommodation there are two garden lounges, one situated on the port and the other on the starboard side of the “A” or upper promenade deck.

Here passengers may enjoy the sun and the sea air amidst surroundings typical of an old English garden, fitted with many comfortable rest-inviting wicker chairs. Cold winds and rain do not interfere with the comfort of those who seek the tranquility of these garden lounges, for they are enclosed on the outside of the vessel with sliding windows.

Then there is the verandah café for the sole use of the second class passengers. The “Scythia” is the first Cunarder of her size to have such an attraction for second class patrons.

Another feature worthy of note in the “Scythia’s” accommodation is the small subsidiary rooms or alcoves which form part of the big public rooms and yet maintain •a certain sense of privacy. In addition, the ventilation of the public rooms and staterooms has been thoroughly studied and the latest improvements introduced.

The main staircase forms itself into an imposing central hall with approaches to the saloon, drawing and writing- room, lounge and smoking room. This grouping of the public rooms should prove of great convenience to passengers.

The lounge is particularly attractive. In plan it is oval with an imposing central dome of white glass. The exquisite ornamentation 1b reminiscent of the Empiré period, being delicately molded in plaster.

There are four alcoves, diagonally opposite each other, and these have separate windows. The massive fireplace with its handsome marble mantelpiece is surmounted by a picture in the style of the period. At each side of the fireplace and at the opposite end are carved mahogany console tables.

The furniture and appointments of the room present a most effective color scheme—black and sold, grey and gold, with here and there touches of Vermillion.

The rich effect is toned down by a number of pieces of furniture in old mahogany. The coverings are in black end gold, and blue and gold with charming Chinese designs, while grey velvet is also introduced into the scheme.

Chinese silk of blue and gold is the material used for the curtains, while Reseda green pile carpet completes the successful effort to provide a general representation of the best work produced during the latter end of the 18th century.

The drawing and writing-room Is extended at each extremity by an alcove. The main feature of this room iB the elliptical dome over the center portion, finishing with a fan-shaped painted panel on either side. Rising to the full height of the cornice the fireplace has massive pilasters on either side of its old-fashioned grate.

The color scheme of the walls and ceiling is white, while the appointments are in the modern style but showing the influence of the Georgian period. The Adam furniture is of dull old mahogany and the silk coverings form a unique color scheme of purple and yellow.

This, with the purple carpet and the exquisitely designed damask curtains strike a modern note among the reproductions of Adam models. There is a handsome carved mahogany book case, situated on the opposite side to the fireplace.

In that part of the ship devoted to second class passengers, the comfort of the traveler has received the fullest consideration. Public rooms include a dining saloon, lounge and smoking room. In the dining saloon, small tables for four and six people replace the usual long tables, while the stately sideboard has given way to a number of small quick-service tables.

These developments cannot fall to add to the pleasures of the voyage. The drawing room is furnished in plain mahogany. The cane backed chairs and settees are covered in moquette and corded velvet, and the carpet is in keeping with the general scheme of decoration.

The smoking room is paneled throughout in oak, and is furnished also in oak with moquette coverings of modern design. Jaspe Rubino in octagonal tile pattern covers the floor. The second class verandah café overlooks the stern of the vessel, thus giving the passengers an uninterrupted and sheltered view of the sea.

Never on any ship before has greater care been devoted to the design of the accommodation for third class passengers. The old-fashioned open berths have been entirely dispensed with, and throughout the ship third class passengers are berthed in commodious rooms each accommodating, in general, two to four persons.

Spacious alleyways separate the group of rooms, and congestion is completely eliminated. Two large dining saloons, a general room and smoking rooms, all commodious, well lighted and well ventilated, and ample open and covered promenade space, complete a scheme that is unexcelled in any ship.

What is true of the third class accommodation is true also of that provided for the crew. Passengers in their luxurious rooms will find satisfaction in knowing that those responsible for carrying them across the sea are housed In greater comfort than ever before.

"The Last Word in Cunarders," in Shipping, Marine Transportation, Construction, Equipment, and Supplies, Vol. XIV, No. 4, New York: Shipping Publishing Company, Inc., 25 August 1921, P. 8-9.