neville

[Neville Roberts]

I remember the Cunard boats I sailed on were some of the worst accomodations at sea. 6 or 8 berth cabins, and sweaty socks hanging of the bunk rails. those were the days . when we were young

[Doc Vernon]

Well Neville,
If it makes you fell any better mate,the old UCL Ships were just as bad,with 4,6 and if i recall correctly some 8 berth Cabins.
Yes those sweaty socks and other stuff too haah!
But them were the days OK and nothing will ever replace them for us! only our fading memories!
Cheers
Vernon haah! old age!

[happy daze john in oz]

G;day Vernon, yes some of the U.C. boats had a lot to desire when it came to accomnodation. One trip on the Pretoria wass in a cabin with pipes running through. Not sure what kind but condensation constantly dripped from them. The new ships were better, quite a lot of two berth cabins on them.

[alf corbyn]

hi neville, me again. the samaria was an immigrant boat to quebec. all steerage was in dormitaries. families seperated. even the plate washing was manual. put plates in basket then pull on chain and work it up and down in boiling soapy water, then swing over another bowl to rinse. cheers. alf

[john middleton]

I did two trips in the platehouse Nov Jan 1952-53, I remember the 'baskets' the plates were put into hot soapy water then rinsed in hot , then wiped over . The worst job was the initial scraping the plates, later on as a winger I saw many a first tripper, adding his own contribution to the 'rosie', not ht ebest remedy for sea sickness.

[David Williams]

Hi Vernon.
sailed on the Edinburgh Castle,slept in No1 cabin right in the Focstle.
If I remember rightly,I think there was about ten in there,me and a
fella from Swansea,and about eight of the "Nicest" people you can
imagine.Kept the cabin spotless,did all our washing and ironing,and
then entertained us all nearly every night in the Pig and Whistle(just
like being married,but without all the hassle).

Dave Williams(R583900)

[David Williams]

Hi John.
I remember my time in the plate house,but I must have
been on "posher" ships than you>We used to have a thick
rubber ring to hit the plates on,and running water to flush
it all away,straight through to the side of the ship.


Dave Williams(R583900)

[ALAN TYLER]

I did a few Cunard ships in the Fifties. Franconia, Media , Parthia, the Battleship Georgic, Carinthia.
Accommodation was manky on the old ones. On the Georgic our accommodation was far superior than the passengers, they had ten to a cabin, the sailors had four, look out men and QMs had two to a cabin.
The Carinthia class had a big improvement on the old Franconia class.

I was on the Carinthia in the 60,s as an Asst Baker it was 6 berth cabins then down to 2 berth cabins as ex 2nd/ 3rd baker. Can,t imagine what ten berth cabins would have been like!!

[Glan Phillips]

You youngsters were lucky, as a cadet with Reardon Smiths of Cardiff, four of us on board, with one pair of socks between us !!! LOL Still have sweaty socks....on my feet ! Cheers....Glan (397279)

[Glyn Jones]

Went out as pasenger on the old Queen Elizabeth to join a ship in New York in 1961, the bulkheads and deckhead where dripping with condensation and the rivet heads where weeping, four to a cabin, I was only on her for 6 days, imagine doing a few trips ,you would end up with trench foot!!!! still, the memory of having sailed on a fine old lady is worth having.