Media was built by John Brown & Company, Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire. She was yard number 629 and was launched on 12 December 1946, with completion in August 1947.

Media and her sister ship Parthia were the first ships built for Cunard after the conclusion of World War II, and were built for transatlantic service between Liverpool and New York City. Media's maiden voyage began on 20 August 1947 from Liverpool. She received a major refit in 1953, part of which was the introduction of stabilizers; Media was the first ship on the transatlantic route so equipped. She continued on the transatlantic trade through the late 1950's, by which time competition from jet aircraft had cut into her passenger trade, and newer, faster cargo ships had done the same to her cargo trade.



Coming soon: Ocean Monarch, Queen of Bermuda, Raffaello