In April 1877 she broke the westbound record, crossing from Queenstown to New York in 7 days 11 hours and 37 minutes, averaging 15.76 knots (29.19 km/h; 18.14 mph).

[2] On 7 November 1880, she collided with Samarang off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, United States whilst on a voyage from Liverpool to New York.

[4] In January 1883 whilst on an eastbound crossing, Germanic's propeller shaft sheared at sea, and she was forced to make the rest of the journey by sail.

When she was around 500 miles (800 km) west of Ireland, an exceptionally large wave broke over the ship causing substantial damage, with several lifeboats torn away, the skylights to her engine rooms smashed, and her pilot house being stove in.

Germanic's gross tonnage was increased to 5,066 tons by the refit, and she returned to regular service on 15 May that year under the command of Edward Smith, becoming the first vessel to embark passengers at Liverpool's new floating landing stage.

[2][9] On 11 February 1899, Germanic arrived at New York with her upper decks and rigging laden with ice and snow after sailing through a blizzard, which gave the ship a list to starboard.

Now top heavy, and aided by strong winds, she listed to port, so much so that water began to enter doors opened for coaling.

The ship had sustained water damage to her accommodation but was otherwise undamaged, and was determined to be worth saving, so she returned to Belfast for a refurbishment that lasted three months.

Still named Germanic, she served on the Southampton to New York route, with her first voyage starting on 23 April 1904, she completed only six round trips on this route, before being transferred yet again in October that year to another IMM company, the Dominion Line, to be used on that company's Canadian service, and her passenger accommodation was converted to carry 250 second class, and 1,500 third class passengers.

[2][12] In 1909, Ottawa joined four other liners to ensure a weekly joint White Star-Dominion Line service between Liverpool and the Canadian ports.

She left Liverpool for the last time on 15 March 1911 for Constantinople, and was renamed Gul Djemal, in honour of the Sultan's mother.

[2] Within a few months, she was carrying Turkish soldiers to war duty in Yemen at the southern extremity of the Ottoman Empire in order to quell an uprising.

[16] Gul Djemal was repaired with German assistance and put back into service, at first as a naval auxiliary in the Black Sea.

She turned up unannounced to the Allied control point at Dover, which caused alarm and confusion, however the German soldiers were disarmed and sent home.

She survived World War II, although playing no notable part in it, and was last mentioned in the International Lloyd's records in 1945.

[18] In 1950 it was rumored that she would be used briefly as a floating hotel, however on 29 October 1950, Gülcemal was taken from Istanbul under tow to Messina for scrapping, arriving on 16 November.

Only Cunard's SS Parthia (1870) served a longer time afloat than Germanic, ending her days as a lumber tug in 1956.