office, and the offices of the purser, chief steward, and baggage master. Imperator introduced a two-deck-high, Pompeiian-style swimming pool for its First-Class passengers. It was inspired by a similar swimming pool built in 1907 at the Royal Automobile Club in London. Connected to the pool were Turkish baths, steam baths, electric baths, massage and hairdressing rooms. The gymnasium was "the largest and most luxurious that has ever been fitted up on a passenger steamer...", according to The Marine Engineering and Naval Architect. For the first time on an ocean liner, Second-Class had its own gymnasium as well. Second-Class passengers also had their own smoking room, reading and writing rooms, dining room, and music room. World War I and U.S. Navy service In August 1914, as World War I began, he was laid up at Hamburg and remained inactive for more than four years, falling into dilapidation. Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Imperator was taken over by the Allied Food Shipping and Finance Agreement, and allocated to the United States for temporary use as a transport alongside Vaterland, which was now renamed SS Leviathan and bringing American service personnel home from France. He was commissioned as the USS Imperator (ID-4080) in early May 1919. After embarking 2,100 American troops and 1,100 passengers, Imperator departed Brest, France on 15 May 1919, arriving at New York City one week later. Operating with the Cruiser and Transport Force from 3 June to 10 August, he made three cruises from New York to Brest, returning over 25,000 troops, nurses, and civilians to the United States. While en route to New York City on 17 June, Imperator assisted the , which had broken down in the Atlantic Ocean. The then president-elect of Brazil Epit%C3%A1cio Pessoa was on board Jeanne d'Arc and Imperator received him and his party for transport to the United States, arriving there several days later. Decommissioned at Hoboken, New Jersey in early 1919, Imperator was transferred to the British Shipping Controller on 20 September, and it was decided that Cunard would operate him. Captain Charles A. Smith and a full crew were sent out to New York on the new operators and the official handover from the American Board of shipping to Cunard took place on 24 November. Imperator was then transferred to Cunard's pier 54 for Cunard service. Cunard service as Berengaria The ship arrived at Southampton on Sunday 10