Third Class Accommodations

Third Class Reading, and Dining Rooms on a White Star Line Steamer circa 1907.

Third Class Reading, and Dining Rooms on a White Star Line Steamer circa 1907. GGA Image ID # 17ba706e98

 

The third class is a new form of accommodation and is provided only on certain vessels of certain lines. The rate is somewhat higher than the steerage and is a good deal less than the second cabin.

At the vessel's forward end on the lower, main, upper, and shelter decks is the third-class passenger accommodation. Two main staircases extend from the main to the upper deck, giving direct access to the dining saloon on the upper deck.

This saloon is very large, being 84 feet long, and the full width of the ship and its height (10 feet) gives a light and airy appearance.

Three hundred and thirty persons can be accommodated at one sitting, revolving chairs being provided for this purpose. The room is paneled out in best-polished ash with teak moldings, and the floor is covered with corticine.

A piano is placed at the saloon's forward end: and the sidelights are screened by sliding sashes, fitted with colored obscure glass.

 

Third Class Smoking Room on the SS Themistocles of the Aberdeen Line, 1913.

Third Class Smoking Room on the SS Themistocles of the Aberdeen Line, 1913. Travelling Palace, 1913. GGA Image ID # 17ae3dee17

 

The smoking room and ladies parlor, two large apartments, are situated on the shelter deck. On the port side, the smoking room is 50 feet long, 24 feet wide, and over 9 feet high. On the starboard side, the ladies' parlor is 50 feet long, 20 feet wide, and the same height as the smoking room.

Both rooms are paneled out in polished ash with teak moldings, are provided with revolving chairs, and are generally similar to the dining saloon, the floors being covered with corticine.

 

Third Class Ladies Room on the SS Themistocles of the Aberdeen Line, 1913.

Third Class Ladies Room on the SS Themistocles of the Aberdeen Line, 1913. GGA Image ID # 17ae4dd718

 

The after end of the bridge enclosure is fitted up with a social hall on the port side and a smoking room on the starboard side, each of these public rooms having an open but protected veranda fitted directly abaft them.

All of the public rooms are specially designed to provide for the greatest comfort and entertainment of the passengers, a feature which is most essential on long sea voyages, especially through tropical waters.

 

Third Class Ladies Sitting Room on the RMS Carpathia, 1903.

Third Class Ladies Sitting Room on the RMS Carpathia, 1903. The Syren and Shipping, 6 May 1903. GGA Image ID # 17af50c243

 

Dining Room

On the American Line steamers, large, well-ventilated dining rooms are provided for third-class passengers. These are also used as sitting-rooms, and for the frequent evening entertainments, a piano in the dining room adds to the pleasure of the passengers.

 

Third Class Dining Saloon on the SS Orama of the Orient Line, 1913.

Third Class Dining Saloon on the SS Orama of the Orient Line, 1913. GGA Image ID # 17aeb67004

 

The main dining room's right aft are arranged the pantries and galleys, and directly abaft the galley are located accommodations for stewards, butchers, bakers, cooks, etc.

 

Third Class Dining Saloon on the RMS Mauretania, 1907.

Third Class Dining Saloon on the RMS Mauretania, 1907. GGA Image ID # 17aee98e68

 

Seeping Accommodation

The sleeping accommodation for third-class passengers is on the lower and main decks, a large number of the rooms on the lower deck being portable.

The third-class passengers are located in suitable accommodations. Rooms containing two, four, or six berths are provided for married couples and families, the berths being of metal, with woven-wire bottoms, ensuring perfect cleanliness.

 

Third Class Six-Berth Room on a White Star Line Steamship, 1907.

Third Class Six-Berth Room on a White Star Line Steamship, 1907. GGA Image ID # 17af84d93d

 

Comfortable beds and blankets are provided by the Company. Single men and women are berthed in separate compartments, and matrons attend mothers and young women traveling alone.

The third class quarters, located forward, have been transformed from open berths to rooms for two and four passengers. Dining rooms, a ladies' parlor, and a smoking room are provided, and promenade space is available on C deck.

The third class passengers are berthed in open berths on the upper and main decks. Dining spaces are arranged on the main deck amidships and on the shelter deck forward. Smoking rooms and sitting rooms are provided on the upper and shelter decks aft.

 

Third Class Four-Berth Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, 1911.

Third Class Four-Berth Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, 1911. GGA Image ID # 17af051594

 

Third-class accommodations are arranged in 2, 4, and 6 berth cabins, and in the two foremost and two aftermost compartments, the accommodations are portable so that when not required for passengers, these spaces may be utilized for cargo.

Access is gained to the third-class accommodations through entrances erected on the shelter deck, which also are fitted with lavatories, bathrooms, etc., for the passengers’ use.

 

Third Class Six-Berth Room on an Atlantic Liner circa 1901.

Third Class Six-Berth Room on an Atlantic Liner circa 1901. GGA Image ID # 17af274140

 

The public rooms are located on the shelter deck in the way of the bridge superstructure. A large dining room is provided at the forward end, and arrangements are made for seating 350 passengers at one time.

On the shelter deck aft, located so as to be completely isolated from all other erections, are hospitals consisting of separate rooms providing for male and female cases or special cases requiring complete isolation.

A special bathroom is provided for each ward, and each is equipped along the most modern lines.

The third-class sections are fitted throughout with excellent lavatory and bath-room accommodations, and the whole deck, on both sides of the steamers, is reserved for third-class passengers who desire to use it for exercise.

 

Third-Class Promenade Deck on the SS Oscar II of the Scandinavian-American Line, 1917.

Third-Class Promenade Deck on the SS Oscar II of the Scandinavian-American Line, 1917. Scandinavia - New York Direct, 1917. GGA Image ID # 17afb2c518

 

Promenade Space

Third-class passengers have a length of 320 feet of space on the shelter deck on each side of the ship, with a width of 16 feet. This space is entirely covered overhead, and there are open rails at each side for a distance of over 180 feet.

 

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