She cost £1,090,987[7] She had six water-tube boilers with a combined heating surface of 32,500 square feet (3,019 m2) that supplied steam at 400 lbf/in2 to two turbo generators.

At reduced power of up to 11,600 shp (8,700 kW) only one turbo-generator was needed to supply current to both motors, thus maximising fuel economy.

[8][9] During fitting out she was damaged amidships by Donaldson South American Line's 7,131 GRT cargo ship Corinaldo, which was trying to dock in poor visibility.

[10] At about the same time as she was built, P&O also had RMS Mooltan's performance increased by the addition of BT-H turbo generators and propulsion motors to supplement her quadruple-expansion engines.

Viceroy of India was also suited for leisure cruises, which she made every year until the outbreak of World War II in September 1939.

[12] On 23 November 1929 Viceroy of India rescued 25 crew members from the Italian cargo steamship Maria Luisa, which sank in the eastern Mediterranean[7] off the coast of Egypt.

In September she stood by when Theodoros Bulgaris' cargo of grain shifted in storms and the Greek merchantman's crew were transferred to another vessel.

[7] On 5 September 1935 the Cunard White Star liner Doric and the Chargeurs Réunis cargo steamship Formigny collided off Cape Finisterre.

[7] In February 1939, Viceroy of India cruised to the South Atlantic, where she became the first P&O liner to visit the island of Tristan da Cunha.

[7] On 11 August 1940 the Bank Line cargo ship Testbank collided with the Shaw, Savill & Albion liner Ceramic in the South Atlantic off Walvis Bay.

[7] In 1942 Viceroy of India sailed in Convoy KMF-1A carrying Allied troops from Britain to invade French North Africa in Operation Torch.