Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1930
Cabin Class Smoking Romm on the SS Athenia, 1930s. To Europe by Donaldson Atlantic Brochure. GGA Image ID # 205abb008b
Passenger lists for 1930 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.
1930-01-29 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 January 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1930-02-22 SS Minnekahda Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 22 February 1930
Route: London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain J. Jensen
1930-02-27 SS Laurentic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 February 1930
Route: Mediterranean Cruise from New York to Madeira, Gibraltar, Algiers, Monaco, Naples, Athens, Constantinople, Haifa, Alexandria, Syracuse, Naples, Monaco, Gibraltar, Cherbourg, and Southampton.
Commander: Captain E. L. Trant, R.D. (Cmdr. R.N.R., Retd.)
1930-04-05 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 5 April 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1930-04-05 RMS Scythia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 5 April 1930
Route: Liverpool to Halifax, Boston, and New York via Belfast
Commander: Captain R. B. Irving, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1930-05-24 SS California Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 May 1930
Route:New York and Boston to Glasgow via Belfast
Commander: Captain Robert Smart
1930-05-31 RMS Scythia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 May 1930
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh) and Galway
Commander: Captain R. B. Irving
1930-06-07 SS Cleveland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg America Line / Hamburg-Amerika Linie (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 June 1930
Route: New York and Boston to Hamburg via Galway, and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. Hennecke
1930-06-12 SS Empress of Canada Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 12 June 1930
Route: Vancouver and Victoria to Manila via Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
1930-06-12 SS Paris Passenger List
Steamship Line: CGT French Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 12 June 1930
Route: New York to Le Havre via Plymouth
Commander: Captain René Pugnet
1930-06-12 SS Stuttgart Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 12 June 1930
Route: New York to Bremen via Cobh (Queenstown) and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Winter
1930-06-14 SS Baltic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 14 June 1930
Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain E. Davies
1930-06-19 SS Alesia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Fabre Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 19 June 1930
Route: New York and Providence, RI to Ponta Delgada (Azores), Madeira, Piraeus (Athens), Salonica (Thessaloniki), Constantinople (Istanbul), Constanza (Romania?), Jaffa (Haifa), Beirut, and Marseilles
Commander: Captain Edmond MacQuin
1930-06-20 RMS Aurania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 June 1930
Route: Montréal to London via Plymouth and Le Havre
Commander: Captain G. R. Dolphin, R.D., R.N.R.
1930-06-28 SS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin (STCA Passengers)
Date of Departure: 28 June 1930
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain Lieuwen
1930-07-04 SS Statendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Class and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 July 1930
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Krol, Lieut. Sr. Grade. R.N.R.
1930-07-05 SS Europa Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 5 July 1930
Route: New York to Bremen via Cherbourg and Southampton
Commander: Captain N. Johnsen
1930-07-12 RMS Ascania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 July 1930
Route: Southampton to Québec and Montréal via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. A. Hawkes, R.D., R.N.R.
1930-07-12 SS Minnekahda Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 July 1930
Route: London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain J. Jensen
1930-07-25 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 25 July 1930
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1930-07-26 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 26 July 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron
1930-07-26 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 26 July 1930
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Van Dulken
1930-07-26 RMS Tuscania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 26 July 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre
Commander: Captain William Rome
1930-08-02 RMS Mauretania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 2 August 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. Prothero
1930-08-02 SS Minnewaska Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 2 August 1930
Route: New York to Cherbourg and London
Commander: Captain Frank H. Claret, O.B.E., R.N.R
1930-08-05 SS George Washington Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 5 August 1930
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton, Cherbourg, and Cobh (Queenstown)
Commander: Captain A. B. Randall
1930-08-06 RMS Homeric First Class Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 6 August 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. B. Bulman
1930-08-06 RMS Homeric Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 6 August 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. B. Bulman
1930-08-08 RMS Belgenland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 8 August 1930
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. A. Morehouse
1930-08-09 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Cabin
Date of Departure: 9 August 1930
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen
1930-08-13 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 13 August 1930
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain L. Ziegenbein
1930-08-16 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 16 August 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, K.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1930-08-19 SS Vulcania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cosulich Line - Trieste
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Class
Date of Departure: 19 August 1930
Route: Naples to New York via Cannes
Commander: Captain Antonio Hreglich
1930-08-20 TSS California Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 August 1930
Route: Glasgow to New York via Belfast and Moville
Commander: Captain Robert Smart
1930-08-22 SS Deutschland First Class Passenger List
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 22 August 1930
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Buch
Note: First Class, Tourist Third Cabin, and Third Class each had their own passenger list booklet.
Récapitulation: 289 First Class, 375 Tourist Third Cabin, and 500 Third Class for a total of 1,164 Passengers and 47 Crew Members are listed for this voyage.
1930-08-22 RMS Doric Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 22 August 1930
Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal via Belfast and Glasgow
Commander: Captain W. H. P. Jackson
1930-08-22 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 22 August 1930
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1930-08-22 SS Megantic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 23 August 1930
Route: Le Havre and Southampton to Québec and Montréal
Commander: Captain R. Hume
1930-08-22 Letitia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor-Donaldson Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 22 August 1930
Route: Glasgow to Québec and Montréal via Liverpool and Belfast
Commander: Captain David Taylor
1930-08-29 SS Hamburg Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg-Amerika Linie / Hamburg America Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 August 1930
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Koch
1930-08-30 RMS Carmania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 30 August 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre
Commander: Captain J. C. Townley, R.D., R.N.R.
1930-09-06 RMS Lancastria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 6 September 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre
Commander: Captain B. B. Oram, R.D., R.N.R.
1930-09-08 SS America Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 September 1930
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg and Cobh (Queenstown)
Commander: Captain George Fried, U.S.N.R.
1930-09-17 SS President Harding Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 17 September 1930
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain John L. Beebe, USNR
1930-09-20 RMS Ausonia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 20 September 1930
Route: Southampton to Québec and Montréal via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain P. A. Murchie, R.D., R.N.R.
1930-09-20 RMS Scythia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 September 1930
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain R. B. Irving, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1930-09-25 SS George Washington Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 25 September 1930
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. B. Randall, U.S.N.R.
1930-09-27 SS Minnetonka Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 27 September 1930
Route: London to New York via Boulogne
Commander: Captain Thomas F. Gates
1930-09-27 SS Minnewaska Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 27 September 1930
Route: New York to Cherbourg and London via Halifax, NS
Commander: Captain Frank H. Claret
1930-09-27 TSS Statendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 September 1930
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Krol
1930-09-29 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 29 September 1930
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
1930-10-01 RMS Majestic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 1 October 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. R. White, R.D. (Cmdr., R.N.R., Retd.)
1930-10-03 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 3 October 1930
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain L. Ziegenbein
1930-10-25 RMS Carmania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 25 October 1930
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain J. C. Townley, R.D., R.N.R.
Other 1930 Passenger Lists Available at the GG Archives
- Tourist Class SS De Grasse of the CGT French Line, Departing 1930-05-22 from New York to Le Havre via Plymouth, Commanded by Captain Etienne Robert
- Cabin and Tourist Class SS Lafayette of the CGT French Line, Departing 1930-08-09 from Le Havre to New York via Plymouth, Commanded by Captain Jules Chabot
Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1930 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.
Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1930
The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1930 showcase a year of transition in ocean travel, as the effects of the Great Depression began to take hold. While the early months of 1930 still reflected the luxury and grandeur of the late 1920s, by the latter half of the year, economic strain started impacting passenger numbers, ship construction, and industry competition.
This period also saw an increase in tourist-class travel, continued rivalry between German, British, and American liners, and long-haul voyages that stretched beyond the Atlantic into the Mediterranean, Asia, and Africa.
Key Themes in 1930 Ocean Travel
1. The Great Depression Begins to Affect Ocean Travel
- The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 had an immediate impact on luxury travel, as fewer first-class passengers could afford transatlantic voyages.
- Tourist Third Cabin continued to grow, as middle-class travelers sought more affordable passage.
- Companies began to reduce ticket prices and expand budget-friendly accommodations to retain passengers.
Why It Matters: The decline in first-class travel signaled the end of the golden age of luxury liners, forcing companies to adapt their services for a changing economy.
2. Expansion of Long-Distance Cruise Voyages
- The RMS Laurentic (February 27, 1930) embarked on an extensive Mediterranean cruise, stopping in:
- Madeira, Gibraltar, Algiers, Monaco, Naples, Athens, Constantinople, Haifa, and Alexandria.
- The SS Alesia (June 19, 1930) took passengers on an even longer journey, sailing from New York to the Azores, Madeira, Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East.
- The SS Empress of Canada (June 12, 1930) offered a Pacific route from Vancouver to Manila via Asia.
Why It Matters: These long-haul voyages reflected a shift from simple transatlantic crossings to extended luxury cruises, a trend that would shape the future of ocean travel.
3. The Growing Importance of Tourist Third Cabin
- Many major liners introduced or expanded Tourist Third Cabin, a cheaper alternative to first-class and second-class travel.
- Ships catering to this market included:
- RMS Aquitania (January 29, 1930)
- RMS Laurentic (February 27, 1930)
- RMS Berengaria (July 26, 1930)
- This class attracted students, middle-class travelers, and immigrants still seeking opportunities in America despite the economic downturn.
Why It Matters: The growth of Tourist Third Cabin showed how the industry was adapting to the economic crisis, focusing on affordability over extravagance.
4. The Continuing Rivalry Among British, German, and American Liners
- Germany: The SS Bremen (October 3, 1930) and SS Columbus (September 29, 1930) continued to be strong competitors to British and American ships.
- Britain: Cunard and White Star maintained dominance with the RMS Majestic, RMS Aquitania, and RMS Berengaria.
- United States: The SS George Washington and SS President Harding kept America relevant in transatlantic travel.
Each nation’s fleet competed in speed, comfort, and affordability, with Germany making significant gains in technology and efficiency.
Why It Matters: The ongoing competition forced companies to innovate, but the looming economic depression meant that maintaining these luxury ships would soon become financially unsustainable.
Most Interesting Voyages of 1930
1. RMS Laurentic – A Grand Mediterranean Adventure (February 27, 1930)
- One of the most extensive cruise itineraries of the year.
- Covered Madeira, Gibraltar, Algiers, Monaco, Naples, Athens, Constantinople, Haifa, Alexandria, and more.
- Catered to wealthy travelers who could still afford long voyages despite the economy.
2. SS Alesia – A Journey Across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East (June 19, 1930)
- A rare, extended voyage from New York to Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East.
- Ports of call included Piraeus (Athens), Salonica, Istanbul, Constanza, Jaffa (Haifa), Beirut, and Marseilles.
3. SS Empress of Canada – A Transpacific Route to Asia (June 12, 1930)
- One of the few ships connecting North America to Asia.
- Sailed from Vancouver to Manila via Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
- Emphasized the growing influence of Canada in global ocean travel.
4. SS Bremen – Germany’s High-Speed Liner (October 3, 1930)
- One of the fastest transatlantic crossings of the year.
- Maintained Germany’s reputation for efficiency and engineering.
- Continued to challenge Cunard’s Mauretania and White Star’s Majestic.
Key Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1930
1. The Continued Effects of the Great Depression
- Transatlantic passenger numbers declined, especially in first-class travel.
- Immigration to the U.S. slowed down, reducing demand for steerage-class tickets.
- Many shipping companies struggled to maintain profitability as ticket sales decreased.
2. The Rise of Tourist Third Cabin
- Middle-class travelers turned to budget-friendly options.
- Many ships redesigned their interiors to accommodate more tourist-class passengers.
3. The Expansion of Luxury Cruising
- Cruise ships focused on exotic destinations like the Mediterranean, Asia, and Africa.
- Companies invested in extended leisure cruises as an alternative to traditional liner crossings.
Conclusion – 1930: A Year of Change
- The Great Depression began to impact ocean travel, leading to fewer first-class passengers and a rise in budget-conscious tourism.
- Tourist Third Cabin became the most important market for many liners.
- Luxury cruises to exotic destinations gained popularity.
- Germany’s SS Bremen and SS Columbus continued to challenge British and American supremacy in transatlantic travel.
While 1930 still retained some of the glamour of the previous decade, the industry was on the verge of major transformation. By 1931, many of these ships would see fewer passengers, economic hardship, and even early retirements.
