Taormina was built in 1908 by D. & W. Henderson Ltd. of Glasgow for the Italia Soc. di Navigazione a Vapore, known as the Italia Line. Taormina sailed on her maiden voyage from Genoa to New York and Philadelphia beginning on 3 September 1908. In 1909, accommodations for 120 first-class passengers were added, and in 1910, her accommodations were again reconfigured so as to carry 60 first-class and 120 second-class passengers.