Passenger on the Caladonia
Hi, I was a passenger, as a child aged 7, in 1961 on the Caladonia. My parents and my 2 siblings travelled from Liverpool to Aden and these are my memories such as they are!
The ship was definitely scottish in feel, we were put under the care of a lovely scottish lady on the crew and I'm not sure my parents saw much of us from that moment on. We had different meal times from the adults except breakfast. The ship became a fantastic play ground and we were very spoilt by the crew.
The first memory is crossing the Bay of Biscay in a gale with all the furniture tied down and the ship rolling violently. All the adults were sea sick but we were fine and had the run of the ship. The lounge was great, cleared of furniture and adults, for rolling our dinky toys across as the ship rolled. I also remember a new friend of my mother's falling out of her seat and sliding across the room on her behind with a full cup of tea in her hand.
We called in at Gibraltar and had an on shore trip with my parents to see the apes.
I don't remember the Med particularly as we were kept busy by the crew with all sorts of games and pastimes but it was warm and sunny.
We then called in at Port Said and were surrounded by the small boats selling a huge range of souvenirs from lines thrown up to the rails on the ship. I remember them being called 'bumboats' but that may have been a slang name. My first experience of bargaining! I also remember the magician coming onboard and doing slight of hand tricks.
We left the ship for a trip to Cairo where we saw the bazar, belly dancers, the pyramids and Tutankhamun's treasure, while the ship went down the canal and we rejoined at port Suez. It was a trip i remember to this day.
Then it was down to Steamer Point in Aden where we left the ship as it went on to india.
The trip took about 14 days.
I remember the pilot coming onboard at all the ports as it was fun to watch his small boat come along side and the pilot jump across to the steps lowered on the side of the ship.
The cabins were small and we slept in bunks but we didn't spend much time there!
I remember my parents made several friends with other couples on the trip who were also going out to Aden. They remained friends for many years.
We did the return trip 2 years later but my memory is far less clear as I was not keen to return to the UK.
I will ask my mother for her memories of the trip and add to this if she remember other aspects.
Hope that is of some interest.