Five Notable Early Cruise Ships from Miami
Pioneers of the Cruise Industry in the 1950's and 1960's
Passenger ships calling at the Port of Miami as late as the mid-1960's were built for practical transportation and repurposed as cruise ships. Simple as they were by today's standards, they were popular in their own limited way. Left to right on a Friday in this 1962 view are ss Florida at Pier 2; ss Evangeline, ss Ariadne and ss Bahama Star at Pier 3. ss Yarmouth would normally be at Pier 1, but was away cruising for the Seattle World Fair. Note Biscayne Boulevard in the lower left corner and the Miami Herald building under construction between the two causeways next to the WQAM 560 radio tower.
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This ship and sister-ship ss Evangeline began occasional winter cruises from Miami as early as the 1930s, running line voyages between New England and Canadian ports in the summer except for service as army transports in World War II. In 1954 they were finally sold for service as cruise ships under the Panamanian flag with Eastern Shipping Corporation, owned by Frank Leslie Fraser and Miami became their permanent base. Yarmouth was renamed Yarmouth Castle because she was "fitted like a castle", although mainly it was the name that changed.
The government of the Bahamas agreed to make Yarmouth Castle their "official contract ship" and so she was renamed Queen of Nassau, sailing three and four day Miami-Nassau cruises. The contract was not renewed, and so in 1956 Eastern renamed her Yarmouth Castle, had her upgraded with an aft swimming pool, air-conditioning in public areas and a general refurbishment. 
She was again given her original name of Yarmouth for some cruises from Boston to Yarmouth and in 1958, air-conditoning was extended throughout the ship and capacity reduced to 365. There were 186 cabins including 68 with a private or shared bathroom. Public rooms included a dining room, lounge, cocktail bar and small ballroom.
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Evangeline shared a similar early history with her sister-ship ss Yarmouth, frequently assigned to the Boston-Yarmouth route. After World War II, Evangeline was converted to a cruise ship and in 1954 she was also sold to Eastern Shipping Corporation, and based in Miami. The neat little ship was given an aft swimming pool, air-conditioning was installed in all public areas and 50% of cabins, and capacity was limited to 350 guests. Of the 186 staterooms, 74 included some kind of private bathroom facilities. Evangeline offered mainly 4, 7, 10 and 14-day cruises from Miami to Cuba and the Caribbean. Being a great success, she was completely air-conditioned in 1957.
A fire that started in unoccupied cabin #610 went undetected until it was too late. The bridge burned before an alarm could be given, and the Captain left on the first boat. Chaos prevailed. The paint that had been layered on the ropes and davits over the years made it difficult for the poorly-prepared crew to launch lifeboats. In the end 90 lives were lost when the Yarmouth Castle burned and sank.
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The P&O (Peninsular & Occidental) Steamship Company owned this long-serving liner and operated her from Florida throughout her 37-year career, except for 4 years in World War II. Originally the ss Florida connected Tampa, Key West and Havana. In 1934 service was transferred to a Miami-Havana route; in 1954 a weekly Miami-Nassau roundtrip was tried briefly to compete with Eastern Steamship Line, but the Florida reverted to three weekly Miami-Havana round-trip sailings.
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Bahama Star became very well known and popular, even without a swimming pool or extensive sun decks, based on good food, attentive service and innovative entertainment. Eastern boasted she was a "former transatlantic liner" and "the largest cruise ship sailing year round from Miami". After her last refit, public rooms included the main dining room, Star Lounge, Bahama Salon, the Calypso Club and a small game room.
Bahama Star is perhaps best remembered for her role as the primary rescue vessel in the sinking of the Yarmouth Castle. Captain Carl Brown brought his vessel within 100 yards of the flaming ship, lowered 12 lifeboats and rescued 373 passengers and crew. Ironically, the tragedy led to adoption of the 1966 fire safety requirements, which forced older ships like the Bahama Star out of service by 1968.
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Boat Deck forward contained the Observation Lounge which overlooked the swimming pool. The Main Lounge and Veranda Cafe were forward on Promenade Deck, adjoining the Smoking Room. Midship were the Ariadne Suite and six Deluxe cabins. The cozy Club Ariadne was aft, with a lounge, bar and dance floor. The Dining Room was on A-Deck.
Ariadne was placed in service on alternating seven-day Caribbean cruises and, at times, three and four-day Bahama cruises. Over the years the itineraries varied, but cruises nearly always departed from Miami or Port Everglades. Ariadne was one of the first cruise ships to call at Cozumel, Mexico.