Cabins

[Albert Bishop]

Can anybody tell me who decides who gets what cabin when a ship is built? On going aboard, mainly tankers and cargo, I never had a clue where my cabin would be, and Ive been every where from midships, to as near the prop as its possible to get Is it decided when the ship is built ? or does someone decide who goes where after its all done? and who is that someone, who stuck me next to the prop for eleven and a half month? Cheers, Albi.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Albert
I dont think the Cabins for Crew are decided when a Ship is Built as then how would they know for the Next lot etc!
But i really dont have a clue who is in charge of the distrubution of Cabins when one signs on, i reckon it may be as you sign on then a Cabin is assigned to you etc,so its luck of the Draw,but there are different places for different Crew as you well know,like Catering,Deck,Oficers etc!
Cheers just my thoughts!

[Jim Brady]

I joined the Crystal Sapphire,new build at Camell Laird.I was delighted with the accommodation,single berth and really nicely furnished.We had nice wooden wardrobe,and bunk plus a lovelly day bead.Deckhead was flushed off built in lighting,bulkheads being formica panels.I went into the Boy Ratings cabin what a difference I could'nt believe that a shipping company could discriminate against kids for what was most probably about a hundred quid at the time.The cabin was for two although we only had a Galley Boy using the cabin.If my memory serves me right there were double bunks remember those iron ones.The lockers were of the old tin type.Deckheads not flush,pipes etc running across it,bulkheads bare skin of the ship rbs etc.What was that to prove atall?
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Doc Vernon]

So Jim
Do you know who or how the Cabins were allocated at all?
When i was at Sea all i recall is the Second Steward took me to my Cabin on the first Trip,thereafter i was jus told to 'Go to Cabin " Etc etc!
Sounds like your Cabin was a real good one! Lucky Guy!
Cheers

[Jim Brady]

I cant recall now how cabins were allocated on the big ships.There must've been some kind of routine to which cabin you were allocated to.Imagine 8 platemen joining a ship for the first time it cant be just luck that they all end up in the same cabin.On the maiden voyage all hands would have to be allocated to a certain cabin once the ship is up and running I suppose there was a lways someone in the dept that you joined who was there the trip before who would direct you to your cabin.Thinking about it I was on the Britain on about four different occassions and the same cabins were being used by the same people differennt crew members but people doing the same job.Also I did some cruises on the Britain up in the engineers and that time we were moved from what I always knew as the engineers stewards cabin to a place on the working alleyway,so obviouslythere must've been some kind of allocation regime.When we signed on did'nt we get a card with a fire muster station on and a lifeboat number? maybe a cabin number was on here.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks for that info Jim
Yes possibly (but i cant remember) we may have been given a Card of sorts to allocate the Cabins!?
Too long ago the Memory is getting worse haha!
Appreciate that reply anyway Jim!
Cheers

I am sure thee will be many more replies to this in time!

[Tony Wilding]

SURELY WHEN A SHIP IS DESIGNED THE CABIN ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE PLANNED, ? WOULD BE CHAOS OTHERWISE. LOTS OF SHIPS HAVE THE RATING WHO LIVES THERE OVER THE DOOR, IE. GREASERS, FIREMAN, ECT, ? MAYBE I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

[Tony Morcom]

Can anybody tell me who decides who gets what cabin when a ship is built? On going aboard, mainly tankers and cargo, I never had a clue where my cabin would be, and Ive been every where from midships, to as near the prop as its possible to get Is it decided when the ship is built ? or does someone decide who goes where after its all done? and who is that someone, who stuck me next to the prop for eleven and a half month? Cheers, Albi.

That was a bit mean of them Albi although it must have been bliss in port!! I always thought that everything to do with accommodation was the Ch Stwds dept..

[Doc Vernon]

Tony (Quizmaster)
Could well have been that,as after i was taken to the Chief Stwd,he then told the Second to take me to my Cabin.
But there is the possiblity that it only applied to the Catering Dept ??
Not sure,but yes makes sense!

For Tony W
I think that it was more a thing of who did what,as far as Cabins were concerbed,but yes i suppose when a Ship is Built thee must be certain Cabins for the more Senior Crew Members,but generally it was just normal Cabins etc for us Crew!
Some had it good though,like the Posts i have read in the past about some of the Lads here (Like Jim B) who had the good fortune to aquire a sort of First Class Cabin!
Only time i experienced that was on return to SA in 1964 on the old Athlone as DBS ,actually got a Passenger Cabin with all the trimmings too!
Great stuff! Oh the Bliss!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

On most of the Castle ships I knew of all cabins for crew were duly marked. For example on my first voyage the tourist class bell boys had a cabin with a plate over the door stating that. Wingers had a section, one for tourist, one for first class. From memeory most of the galley crew cabins were all inboard and duly marked according to rank. Not sure how deck and engine were marked up. Officers accomodation had all cabins with a name plate, Senior second engineer, etc.
With NZSC all cabins were also duly marked with name plates above the door but they did not always match. I had a cabin with Butcher on the plate, but the ship did not have one, we did howver have a funny cook..............