In early 1968 the Caronia was sold to Star Shipping, a company owned by US and Panamian interests.
 Renamed SS Columbia, she sailed to Greece for refitting.
 Cunard had allowed Caronia to fall behind her maintenance schedule, and her engines needed a major overhaul.
Replacement parts were ordered from a Greek company rather than from the original manufacturer.
 Whilst she was being rebuilt Andrew Konstaninidis took control of Columbia, buying out the other owners of Star Line and renaming her the SS Caribia.
 Her refitting was completed and she was given a new all-white colour scheme.
She was registered in Panama, with her tonnage reduced to 25,794 GRT under Panamanian rules (which saved dock dues).
February 1969 saw the Caribia embark on her first cruise from New York to the Caribbean.
 The voyage was hindered by a malfunction in her waste system.
Things turned for the worse on her second cruise, when an explosion in the engine room resulted in the death of one crew member and the severe scalding of another.
 In addition the ship lost all electrical power for twenty hours before repairs allowed her to return to port.
 The incident undermined public confidence in the vessel.
 The Caribia limped back to New York, never to make a commercial voyage again.

Plans to revive the Caribia were considered for the next five years, but she remained docked in New York and her berthing debts continued to accumulate.
Finally in 1974 her owners gave in and sold the once great ship for scrap.
German ocean tug Hamburg was entrusted with the task of towing the Caribia to a breaker's yard in Taiwan.
Whilst near Honolulu the ship was in danger of capsizing; but repairs were made and they continued on.
The two ships sailed into a bad storm near Guam.
 The Hamburg's generators failed and her crew were forced to cut the Caribia loose to save their own vessel.
The storm's winds drove the lifeless ship against Apra Harbour's breakwater, where she was wrecked.

Being a danger to local shipping, the wrecked Caribia was swiftly cut up.
Before that took place, it was discovered that she had come to rest beside a Korean War era landing craft sunk in that same location.
The landing craft was loaded with tons of munitions including 22mm, 40mm, 5", and 8" shells.
This required the careful removal of all of these materials before removal of the Caribia could continue.
Her removal was all the more urgent because the Caribia's hulk blocked Apra harbor's entrance.
No commercial or military vessels could leave or enter the harbor until significant portions of her stern had first been removed.
As Apra is the only deep water harbor on Guam, this made resupply of many vital commodities (e.g., petroleum products) impossible or difficult.
Her life ended just 25 years after she was commissioned.
Despite being probably the most forward-looking ship of her time, she was in active service for only 19 years.
In early 1968 the Caronia was sold to Star Shipping, a company owned by US and Panamian interests.  Renamed SS Columbia, she sailed to Greece for refitting.  Cunard had allowed Caronia to fall behind her maintenance schedule, and her engines needed a major overhaul. Replacement parts were ordered from a Greek company rather than from the original manufacturer.  Whilst she was being rebuilt Andrew Konstaninidis took control of Columbia, buying out the other owners of Star Line and renaming her the SS Caribia.  Her refitting was completed and she was given a new all-white colour scheme. She was registered in Panama, with her tonnage reduced to 25,794 GRT under Panamanian rules (which saved dock dues). February 1969 saw the Caribia embark on her first cruise from New York to the Caribbean.  The voyage was hindered by a malfunction in her waste system. Things turned for the worse on her second cruise, when an explosion in the engine room resulted in the death of one crew member and the severe scalding of another.  In addition the ship lost all electrical power for twenty hours before repairs allowed her to return to port.  The incident undermined public confidence in the vessel.  The Caribia limped back to New York, never to make a commercial voyage again.
Plans to revive the Caribia were considered for the next five years, but she remained docked in New York and her berthing debts continued to accumulate. Finally in 1974 her owners gave in and sold the once great ship for scrap. German ocean tug Hamburg was entrusted with the task of towing the Caribia to a breaker's yard in Taiwan. Whilst near Honolulu the ship was in danger of capsizing; but repairs were made and they continued on. The two ships sailed into a bad storm near Guam.  The Hamburg's generators failed and her crew were forced to cut the Caribia loose to save their own vessel. The storm's winds drove the lifeless ship against Apra Harbour's breakwater, where she was wrecked.
Being a danger to local shipping, the wrecked Caribia was swiftly cut up. Before that took place, it was discovered that she had come to rest beside a Korean War era landing craft sunk in that same location. The landing craft was loaded with tons of munitions including 22mm, 40mm, 5", and 8" shells. This required the careful removal of all of these materials before removal of the Caribia could continue. Her removal was all the more urgent because the Caribia's hulk blocked Apra harbor's entrance. No commercial or military vessels could leave or enter the harbor until significant portions of her stern had first been removed. As Apra is the only deep water harbor on Guam, this made resupply of many vital commodities (e.g., petroleum products) impossible or difficult. Her life ended just 25 years after she was commissioned. Despite being probably the most forward-looking ship of her time, she was in active service for only 19 years.
RMS Caronia (1947)