She spent the bulk of her career in the Mediterranean Sea where she evacuated insurgents and their families from Crete in 1868 during the Cretan Revolt.

A novel system of zinc pipes that penetrated sheathing and connected with the ventilation fan was installed in the hold to prevent the decay of her hull.

[2] General Admiral's propeller could be hoisted out of the water and her funnel retracted to improve her sailing qualities.

[2] She carried 750 long tons (760 t)[1] of coal which gave her a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi),[2] but it was her 75 days of provisions that were the practical limit of her endurance.

She met the newly completed coast-defence ship Pervenets en route and escorted her from England to the Baltic.

In June 1867 she made another port visit at Piraeus before leaving Cadiz on 26 July bound for the Baltic.