The ship’s launch occurred only weeks after the loss of Titanic; and as such, modifications were made to her design to improve safety aboard. Changes included a double hull and a full set of lifeboats with enough space for all persons aboard.
The ship was laid up during World War I. But following the armistice, she was placed into US service to help repatriate troops.
Following this use, the ship was jointly purchased (along with the Hamburg-Amerika liner Bismarck, later Majestic) by Cunard and White Star Line as war reparations.
Imperator was placed into the Cunard fleet to replace the lost Lusitania, and originally commenced Cunard voyages under her original name. However, after a lengthy and costly refit, she was renamed Berengaria and became the flagship of the Cunard Line.
Berengaria was converted to burn oil in the 1920s and this greatly improved her efficiency.
In 1926, during a transatlantic crossing, Berengaria lost 10.97 metres [36 feet] of guard rail in heavy weather.
In 1933, to make the ship more competitive against new liners such as Norddeutscher Lloyd’s new Bremen and Europa, Cunard gave Berengaria a major overhaul at Southampton. During this time, the ship’s interior was upgraded. In 1935, she recorded her fastest speed during a New York to Southampton voyage, despite her advancing age.
But as the Berengaria aged, she was subject to a number of serious electrical fires. These ultimately resulted in the ship’s withdrawal from service.
Replaced by the RMS Queen Mary as flagship in 1936, she was officially removed from the fleet on 23 March 1938 and, after being laid up, was sold for scrap.
