During World War II, the Italian Line had lost a large portion of its fleet, including the ocean liner SS Rex.

It placed an order with Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico to build two new 27,000 GRT ocean liners, to be christened Giulio Cesare and Augustus.

MS Giulio Cesare was built by Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico, Monfalcone (Yard #1756) but was engines by Societa Anonima Fiat, Turin.

The ship was completed in September 1951 and made her maiden voyage on 27 October 1951, from Genoa to Naples and then to Buenos Aires.

These engines were the largest and most powerful ever built,[citation needed] and were found to cause severe vibrations in her passenger accommodation, however, they produced 35,000 HP, providing 23.3 knots, which made her popular.

The exterior design of Giulio Cesare and her sister attracted many passengers because of their fat and round bows, curved superstructures, modern masts, tall large funnel, and graceful sterns.

She was laid up at Naples on 14 January, and departed on 20 April for the Terrestre Marittima Shipyards, La Spezia, Italy where she was broken up, the first post-war built Italian liner to be scrapped.