In 1956 the Grace Line ordered two new ships to replace the aging 1932-built sisters the Santa Rosa and Santa Paula. The new vessels were referred to as the New Santa Rosa and New Santa Paula and they were specifically built and designed to service the Caribbean. Both ships sailed weekly on 13 day cruises to the Caribbean, South America and Florida.
The interiors of the ships were designed by Dorothy Marckwald & Anne Urquhart, the same designers that did the interiors for the SS America and SS United States. Accommodations were spacious with all cabins facing outside ,and every cabin had its own bathroom. The Santa Rosa’s had two aft cargo holds had side doors and automatic conveyors to quickly move pallets on and off the ship, thus giving her a rapid turn-around at port.
The new Santa Rosa was launched on August 28, 1957 and delivered on June 12, 1958. Her maiden voyage took place between 26 June – 10 July 1958.
