North Foreland. A protruding bolt on the Admiralty Pier at Dover caused some minor damage, which was quickly repaired. Although her steering gear had failed, there was no difficulty in manoeuvering the ship, attributed to the fact that the engines drove each paddle wheel independently. Castalia then made the crossing to Calais. She made a public trial crossing of the Channel on 2 August. The Times commented that she was underpowered, having for a gross register tonnage of 1,533. Mailboats then in service had for a tonnage of . Castalia entered into regular service on 5 August 1875. She departed from Dover at 09:35, arriving in time for passengers to catch the 12:30 train to Paris. She departed from Calais at 13:20, allowing passengers from the Continent to arrive at London that evening. She operated daily except Sundays. Fares were 8s 6d first class, 6s 6d second class. Private cabins were available at £1 extra and refreshments were available on board. Her lack of speed meant that she could not operate in connection with mail trains and she was not a success financially. Only capable of , she needed to be able to achieve at least to be as fast as ships then in service on the cross-channel route, and to be able to provide the required service. It had been hoped that Castalia would be able to achieve . Illustrious passengers Following his unsuccessful attempt at swimming across the English Channel on 12 August 1875, Matthew Webb returned to the United Kingdom on board Castalia. Following the successful swim across the Channel on 24 August, he again returned to the United Kingdom on board Castalia. Reaction from passengers who sailed on board Castiliâ was generally favourable. Castalia was reported to only roll by about 5° to port and starboard in heavy seas, whereas a conventional ship would roll by 15° or more. In identical conditions, was reported to have taken 1 hour 42 minutes for a crossing from Calais to Dover, pitching and rolling heavily, whereas Castalia took three hours, but with little pitching and rolling. On 11 October, the Prince of Wales travelled on board Castalia as part of his journey from London to India. The prince chose Castalia as he was prone to seasickness. He was accompanied from London to Calais by the Princess of Wales, who slept on board Castalia after arrival at Calais and returned