Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1925

Passenger lists for 1925 represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection primarily covers North American and European ports and ports in Australia and South Africa.

Our collection contains samples of passenger lists produced and printed by the steamship lines. These lists are often used to illustrate family history books for immigrants from this period.

Coveted by collectors and genealogists, souvenir passenger lists often offered beautiful graphical covers and information not found in official manifests because they focused on the journey rather than the destination.

Other 1925 Passenger Lists Available at the GG Archives

• Cunard Line RMS Caronia, 1925-05-30, Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain W. Hossack, R.D., R.N.R.
• Cunard Line RMS Laconia, 1925-06-06, Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain E. T. Britten, R.D., R.N.R.
• Cunard Line SS Carmania, 1925-06-27, New York to Liverpool via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain S. G. S. McNeil, R.D., R.N.R.
• Cunard Line RMS Berengaria, 1925-08-15, Southampton to New York via Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain W. R. D. Irvine, R.D., R.N.R.
• CGT-French Line SS De Grasse, 1925-08-19, Le Havre to New York, Commanded by Captain J. Robert
• Cunard Line RMS Mauretania, 1925-08-22, Southampton to New York via Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, C.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
• Cunard Line RMS Albania, 1925-08-28, Southampton to New York via Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain S. Gronow
• Cunard Line RMS Berengaria, 1925-09-05, Southampton to New York via Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain W. R. D. Irvine, R.D., R.N.R.
• Cunard Line RMS Ausonia, 1925-10-10, Southampton to Québec and Montréal via Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain G. Gibbons, R.D., R.N.R.

Passenger Lists By Year Continued

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• 1924
• 1925
• 1926
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Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1925 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1925

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1925 highlight a changing landscape in transatlantic and international ocean travel. With U.S. immigration still restricted under the 1924 Johnson-Reed Act, steamship lines continued their shift away from mass immigration transport to luxury travel, business voyages, and cruising.

This period marks the rise of "tourist third cabin" as an affordable alternative to first- and second-class accommodations, catering to middle-class travelers who previously might have sailed in steerage. Additionally, cruise tourism expanded, as seen in the New York-to-Bermuda voyage of SS Araguaya (RMSP).

 

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Key Themes in 1925 Ocean Travel

1. Growth of Cruise Travel and Leisure Voyages

• The SS Araguaya’s New York-to-Bermuda cruise (February 28, 1925) reflects the growing popularity of leisure voyages.
• Other long-distance routes, such as the Pacific Line’s RMS Oroya (January 22, 1925), served South America, stopping at Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, emphasizing the expansion of tourist and business travel beyond Europe and North America.

 

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2. The Expansion of "Tourist Third Cabin"

• With mass immigration dwindling, ocean liners introduced a new budget-friendly class—tourist third cabin—as an affordable alternative to first and second class.
• The SS Minnekahda (July 11 & August 8, 1925) of the Atlantic Transport Line was one of the leading ships to accommodate this new class of passengers.

 

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3. U.S. Dominance in Ocean Travel

• United States Lines became a formidable force in transatlantic shipping, competing against British, French, and German lines.
• The SS Leviathan (July 25 & August 25, 1925) carried both first-class and tourist cabin passengers, solidifying its role as the flagship of the United States.
• Other U.S. ships, such as SS America and SS George Washington, continued to reinforce America’s growing presence on the seas.

 

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4. Canada's Role in Transatlantic Immigration

• With U.S. restrictions in place, Canada became a preferred gateway for European migrants.
• Canadian Pacific Line and White Star-Dominion Line maintained steady traffic between the British Isles and Canada, with ships like:
  • SS Athenia (May 8, 1925) – Glasgow to Québec and Montréal
  • SS Marburn (September 11, 1925) – Glasgow to Québec and Montréal
  • SS Canada (September 18, 1925) – Liverpool to Québec and Montréal
  • RMS Ausonia (August 15, 1925) – Southampton to Québec and Montréal

 

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5. Continued Competition Among the Great Shipping Lines

• British, American, French, and German lines vied for dominance in the transatlantic passenger market.
• Notable rivalries included:
  • Cunard Line vs. White Star Line (RMS Berengaria, RMS Majestic, RMS Aquitania vs. RMS Homeric, RMS Celtic)
  • United States Lines vs. European carriers (SS Leviathan, SS America vs. SS France, SS De Grasse)
  • North German Lloyd (NGL) rebuilding its fleet post-World War I (SS Sierra Ventana, SS Stuttgart).

 

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Notable Passenger Ships from 1925

1. RMS Oroya (Pacific Line) – 22 January 1925

• Route: Liverpool to Valparaíso via multiple South American ports
• Class of Passengers: First and Second Saloon
• Commander: Captain A. W. Pearse, R.N.R.
• Significance:
  • This was a rare voyage linking Europe to South America, stopping at Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Chilean ports.
  • Showcased the importance of South America as an emerging destination for both business and tourism.

 

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2. SS Araguaya (Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.) – 28 February 1925

• Route: New York to Bermuda
• Class of Passengers: Cruise
• Commander: Captain E. Clarke, R.D., R.N.R.
• Significance:
  • One of the early examples of cruise tourism, catering to wealthy American travelers.
  • Bermuda was a prime luxury destination, foreshadowing the later boom in Caribbean cruising.

 

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3. SS Leviathan (United States Lines) – 25 July & 25 August 1925

• Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: First Class & Tourist Cabin
• Commander: Captain Herbert Hartley, U.S.N.R.F.
• Significance:
  • America’s largest ocean liner, the Leviathan continued to assert U.S. dominance in transatlantic luxury travel.
  • Tourist cabin class was introduced, broadening accessibility to middle-class passengers.

 

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4. SS Minnekahda (Atlantic Transport Line) – 11 July & 8 August 1925

• Route: London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
• Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
• Commander: Captain J. Jenson
• Significance:
  • One of the first ocean liners to adopt tourist third cabin, bridging the gap between steerage and luxury travel.
  • Aimed at budget-conscious travelers and students.

 

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5. RMS Berengaria (Cunard Line) – 15 August 1925

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: Saloon
• Commander: Captain W. R. D. Irvine, R.D., R.N.R.
• Significance:
  • A symbol of postwar British luxury, originally the German Imperator, seized by Britain after World War I.
  • Carried high-profile business travelers, diplomats, and wealthy tourists.

 

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6. SS Doric (White Star-Dominion Line) – 30 July 1925

• Route: Liverpool to Québec via Queenstown (Cobh)
• Class of Passengers: Third Class
• Commander: Captain S. Bolton
• Significance:
  • A key immigrant transport ship, reflecting Canada’s growing role in transatlantic migration.

 

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7. RMS Ausonia (Cunard Line) – 15 August 1925

• Route: Southampton to Québec and Montréal via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: Tourist
• Commander: Captain G. Gibbons, R.D., R.N.R.
• Significance:
  • Brought tourists and immigrants to Canada, showing Montreal and Quebec’s importance as major ports.

 

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Key Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1925

1. The Tourist Cabin Boom

• 1925 saw the rise of "Tourist Third Cabin", a rebranded version of steerage, making transatlantic travel more accessible to students, middle-class travelers, and seasonal workers.

 

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2. Expansion of U.S. Shipping

• United States Lines aggressively expanded, challenging British and German dominance in transatlantic travel.
• Ships like SS Leviathan and SS George Washington symbolized America’s growing influence in global trade and tourism.

 

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3. Canada's Role as an Immigration Gateway

• With U.S. immigration limits in place, Canada became a major entry point for Europeans.
• Canadian Pacific and White Star-Dominion Line thrived, transporting migrants and settlers to Québec and Montréal.

 

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Conclusion – 1925: A Year of Transition

• Tourist travel and cruise tourism expanded, signaling the evolution of ocean travel from immigration transport to leisure and business voyages.
• The U.S. solidified its place as a dominant shipping power, challenging British and German ocean liners.
• Canada continued to play a crucial role in immigration.
• The golden age of transatlantic ocean liners was shifting toward a new audience—middle-class travelers seeking affordable luxury.

By the mid-1920s, the grand ocean liners were no longer just gateways for immigrants—they were symbols of status, leisure, and international commerce.