La Touraine was laid down by Chantiers de [null Penhoët] for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique in Saint-Nazaire and launched 21 March 1890.

Equipped with twin triple-expansion steam engines driving two screw propellers that drove her at 19 knots (35 km/h), she was outfitted with two funnels and four masts.

La Touraine sailed on her maiden voyage from Le Havre to New York on 20 June 1891[1] in just six days, seventeen hours and thirty minutes.

On 2 March 1900, La Touraine ran down the sailing trawler 'Briton' of Brixham, Devon, in the English Channel near the Eddystone light.

On 21 January 1903, La Touraine was damaged at Le Havre by a fire that destroyed her grand staircase, the first-class dining room, and her "de luxe" cabins, all of which were later rebuilt.

[1] In October 1913, while still on this route, she was one of ten ocean liners that came to the aid of the stricken Uranium Line steamer Volturno that had caught fire.

[1] After the German invasion of France in April 1915, CGT shifted its base of operations to Bordeaux;[7] La Touraine began Bordeaux–New York service at that time, remaining on that route until September 1919, when the end of the war allowed the resumption of departures from Le Havre.