Interesting thread. My father was born in Naples, Italy and came over nearly a century ago to settle first in Chicago, then in Brooklyn, NY. A professional musician (sax/clarinet), he took a gig to play in the ship's band on the USS Independence in the early 50's when I was a youngster. I remember him showing us his ID card (I believe it was issued by the Merchant Marines), and I remember seeing him off at the Hudson River pier. As it happened, the United States was in port adjacent to the American Export Lines pier, and I still remember the beauty and size of that liner which was fresh from having set a transatlantic speed record.

Dad got to visit his ancestral home in Naples, and made money doing it, but I believe that was his last trip on ocean liners. Probably got seasick, for all I know, but stuck to playing club dates after that stateside!