[2] Norah was built with a bow rudder to assist in navigating in the narrow winding channels of the British Columbia coast.

Although the original plan was for Norah to completely replace Princess Maquinna on the Vancouver Island west coast route, this never happened.

Instead, Maquinna remained the primary ship on the route, with Norah being brought on during the summer when traffic was heavier.

In the winter months, Maquinna handled the west coast route alone, and Norah was used on the Inside Passage runs to Prince Rupert or southeast Alaska.

CPR was able to replace the 25-year-old wooden-hulled Princess Beatrice, which was sold to a scrapper, who removed the machinery and converted the hulk into a floating cannery.

[1][2] In October 1964 the engines were removed from the ship, and the powerless hulk was converted to the Beachcomber, a floating restaurant and dance hall in Kodiak, Alaska.