For a two-class ship, the range of cabins for passengers on board Caronia was quite extensive.
For the most wealthy, the four suites on Main Deck provided the ultimate in late 1940s chic.
Being designed especially for cruising, with visits to much warmer places than the North Atlantic
in mind, and without air-conditioning being provided in all cabins until the 1957 season, the
majority of passenger cabins were outboard.
In these early years this provided the opportunity for forced ventilation supplemented by the
then very new asbestos hull lining to keep cabins cool when cruising. Unfortunately, I've not
been able to determine which individual cabins have been depicted in the various brochures, other
than from which deck they were situated.
A Sun Deck Single Image: Braun Bros. Collection
Sun Deck
Although the sound of a Sun Deck cabin might at first be quite exciting, there was a major drawback
in that the views out to sea were rather obstructed by the large lifeboats that Caronia carried.
These were also the only cabins where other passengers could be seen from the inside of the cabin.
Of course, the passenger accommodation strictly should not be called cabins, we the male crew
certainly lived in 2, 4, 6 and 8 berth cabins, whereas the passengers lived in 1 or 2 bed
“staterooms”, even on lowly B Deck!
Very few of the twin-bed passenger cabins had the second bed above the other, whereas in the crew accommodation even
the twin-berth cabins were only fitted with tubular-steel framed bunk beds one above the other. With barely room for
two tall lockers they were quite claustrophobic.
When I mention crew accommodation, I don't include such as that for the stewardesses, nurses, shopkeepers
and such. They all had accommodation in the smaller cabins in various recesses on the main passenger
decks. There was not only a strict non-fraternising with the passengers policy, the men of the crew
were physically separated from their female colleagues too.
Main Deck
All of the best passenger accommodation was on Main Deck with the best suites being accessed almost directly from the
forward square where the Purser's Office was situated. At major ports of call the passenger gangway would be attached
to this deck, so access to the shore would only be a short walk.
Bedroom of Main Deck Suite Image: Gaillard Collection
The suites had a bedroom with two double beds, a separate sitting room and also had en-suite facilities. There were
smaller “servants cabins” nearby for those travelling with their own personal staff.
For the occupants there was plenty of space. Quite often, especially on the longer voyages,
passengers would bring items of furniture or pictures of their own to add to the existing decor.
A Main Deck Stateroom Image: Braun Bros. Collection
Most of the remainder of the accommodation on Main Deck was in twin-bedded rooms with single rather than double beds.
One feature of the majority of these rooms was the way that the oval or round portholes were disguised as if having
sash windows, or were framed into rectangular panels. They would also be fitted with tie-back curtains to really
accentuate the homely effect. Speaking of curtains, every stateroom had its own individual fabric pattern allocated.
Another Main Deck Stateroom. Image: Braun Bros. Collection
All the photographs testify to the luxury of this accommodation, with ample space provided, and
are a far cry from the tiny spaces provided on today's cruise liners.
Even so, there was always plenty of entertainment provided elsewhere on board so that use of the
cabin was still mainly for sleeping, or dressing purposes. Although I shouldn't forget to say
that there was usually plenty of room for passengers to hold private parties in their cabins,
which on board Caronia were legendary!
Half of the cabins sited on A Deck were designated as Cabin Class, with those forward of the funnel
being First Class. Of course whilst Caronia was cruising all of the accommodation was designated
as First Class, so all the cabins, as depicted here, were very well appointed.
A Twin-Bed Stateroom on A Deck. Image: Braun Bros. Collection
Two features need to be pointed out on the photograph seen [Left]. The water sprinklers set into
the deckplates above and the large ventilator set in the box with two shelves between the beds.
Fire is a great hazard on board any ship, and Caronia was fitted with heat-sensored sprinklers all over the
place. Until 1957 the ventilators would have simply been a “forced air draught” with the bakelite cup rotating
through quite a wide angle to direct the source of air.
NavBarA Single Bed Stateroom on A Deck Image: Braun Bros. Collection
So far I've not managed to find any photos of the cabin interiors on the Restaurant Deck. However,
the First and Cabin class split would have been those forward of and alongside of the Balmoral
Restaurant as First Class, and Cabin Class for those aft of or alongside the Sandringham Restaurant.
“B” Deck
The cabins on B Deck were exclusively for Cabin Class passengers and although these were advertised
as available in the brochures, they were rarely used on cruises. Even so, the single bed room
depicted is still not cramped and the bed still looks quite inviting.
B Deck Stateroom B30 Image: Braun Bros. Collection
In common with the decks above, the porthole is still disguised within a square aperture, although
the wall decoration and the “services” panel is little more utilitarian than elsewhere.
[Left:]
Room B10 was the only Single Bed room on that deck, yet was equipped with both shower and toilet
Passengers who booked their cruise accommodation on B Deck could often find themselves being
upgraded, if it meant that a group of passengers could be served better by a pair of Bedroom
Stewards on a higher deck. The simple economies of scale meant that a pantry on this deck could
be shut down and another fully utilised on Restaurant Deck above.
This would also release cabins for the vital task of storage of passenger trunks, especially
on the longer cruises. Even so, some of the passengers in the Main Deck suites would also book,
and fully pay for, cabins relatively close to their stairwell on “A” deck. These cabins would
be used solely as walk-in closets! How's that for travelling in style?
