SS Ausonia (1956)

The SS Ausonia was a British passenger liner built for the Cunard Line by John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland. Launched in 1956, she operated primarily on the UK-Canada route, sailing between Southampton and ports such as Montreal and Quebec City.

Designed for both transatlantic crossings and cruising, the Ausonia featured a modern (for the time) and stylish interior, including air conditioning and stabilizers. She provided accommodation for both first-class and tourist-class passengers.

In 1969, Cunard sold the Ausonia to Karageorgis Lines, who renamed her SS Olympic Esmeralda. Under Karageorgis ownership, she was primarily used for cruising, mainly in the Mediterranean.

The ship subsequently changed ownership and names multiple times, including SS Ithaca and SS Azul. She was eventually scrapped in 2005. The Ausonia represented a significant era of transatlantic passenger travel and later adapted to the changing demands of the cruise industry.