AUGUSTUS

No, this picture was not taken in the UK. She never ventured north, it looks like New York to me.

Yes, New York. A splendid photo that may have been taken after July, 1956, when AUGUSTUS and GIULIO CESARE were pulled from some of their normal Italy-South America runs to fill-in for the lost ANDREA DORIA. The vessel's tumblehome is clearly seen in this view.

Very sad that this liner - the last survivor of the illustrious Italian Line - sat for years and years in Hong Kong, and then Manila, in virtually her original state, and could have been saved and returned to her homeland as a proud symbol of Italian shipbuilding. Anchored in the Bay of Naples as a hotel ship, with her three swimming pools once again filled with sparkling water and Neapolitan waiters serving Campari-sodas to guests sitting beneath striped umbrellas, observing another tender approaching from Capri... Who wouldn't have wanted to stay aboard her? A much more sensible preservation project than the poor QE2, far from home and tied-up in an uninteresting harbor that offers views of nothing.

You make her sound such a tantalising concept. She could have become the most hip mid-century modern floating hotel.........
But hey! We knew that already..................

Those mid-century modern 'Italia' interiors were - and are again - all the rage. And AUGUSTUS' public rooms, cabins and artwork were of a consistent moderne style that could easily have been recaptured. Unlike QE2, which over decades of service became a hodgepodge of styles as Cunard tried to figure-out how they thought a liner should look. They never got it right, and the Dubai owners have only compounded the years of poor choices.

Strange. Special occasion but no tugs in evidence. Starboard anchor ready for deployment.

Most probably one of countless strikes.........

It was my initial reaction too as "where are the tugs?" I think they're on the port side of the ship and not visible to the photographer and she's bound for the pier the photo was taken from for a starboard side too landing. She does seem to be quite close to the opposite pier, but that might be an optical illusion. Having both anchors out of the hause and ready to let go is just good seamanship during a docking.

Based on her being dressed overall and the presence of well wishers visible on the end of the pier, I believe this photo is more likely a departure than an arrival.

The sun is shining on her bridge front, so this photo was taken in the morning. Therefore I think it's safe to assume she's arriving.

This was the maiden arrival of AUGUSTUS into New York, which is why she is dressed overall. The date is 18 February 1957 and she arrived during a longshoremen's and tug strike. Captain Enrico Roselli brought his ship to Pier 84 for the first tugless docking of his 37-year career. A total of 393 passengers were landed, with 351 aboard when she sailed eastbound on the 20th.