Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1931
Passenger lists for 1931 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.
1931-01-10 SS France Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique / French Line (CGT)
Class of Passengers: First and Tourist
Date of Departure: 10 January 1931
Route: New York to Marseilles via Vigo, Casablanca, Rabat, Gibraltar, Naples, Capri, Monaco, and return via Le Havre or directly to New York
Commander: Captain G. Burosse
1931-01-10 RMS Scythia Passenger List
Steamship Line:
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 10 January 1931
Route: Liverpool to New York via Belfast and Halifax
Commander: Captain G. Gibbons, R.D., R.N.R.
1931-02-23 SS California Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Cruise
Date of Departure: 23 February 1931
Route: New York to Bermuda and Return
Commander: Captain Robert W. Smart
1931-03-28 SS Duchess of York Passenger List
Class of Passengers: First Class
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Date of Departure: 28 March 1931
Route: Cruise from New York to Hamilton, Bermuda
Commander: Captain R. N. Stuart
1931-03-31 SS Aurania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cruise
Date of Departure: 31 March 1931
Route: Boston and New York to Bermuda, Nassau, Havana, New York, and Boston
Commander: Captain G. R. Dolphin, R.D., R.N.R.
1931-04-25 SS Minnewaska Passenger List
Steamship Line: Atlantic Transport Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 25 April 1931
Route: Tilbury (London) to New York via Boulogne
Commander: Captain Frank H. Claret
1931-05-02 RMS Berengaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 2 May 1931
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. T. Britten
1931-05-02 SS Laconia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 2 May 1931
Route: New York and Boston to Liverpool via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain M. Doyle
1931-05-21 SS New York Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 21 May 1931
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Graalfs
1931-05-29 SS France Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 29 May 1931
Route: New York to Le Havre via Plymouth
Commander: Captain G. Burgosse
1931-05-29 SS Frederik VIII Passenger List
Cruise Line: Scandinavian America Line / Skandinavien-Amerika Linie
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 May 1931
Route: New York to Copenhagen via Kristiansand and Oslo
Commander: Captain F. Mechlenburg
1931-06-12 RMS Antonia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 June 1931
Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal via Greenock and Belfast
Commander: Captain W. C. Battle, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R.
1931-06-24 RMS Homeric Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 June 1931
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. B. Bulman
1931-07-11 TSS Cameronia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 11 July 1931
Route: New York to Glasgow via Londonderry
Commander: Captain William Gemmell
1931-07-18 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class and Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 18 July 1931
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain E. G. Diggle, R.D., R.N.R.
1931-07-28 SS America Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 28 July 1931
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. M. Moore, U.S.N.R.
1931-07-31 SS Baltic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 July 1931
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain E. Davies
1931-08-01 RMS Mauretania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 1 August 1931
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain R. V. Peel, R.D., R.N.R.
1931-08-22 RMS Adriatic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 22 August 1931
Route: Liverpool to New York via Belfast and Glasgow
Commander: Captain J. W. Binks, R.D. (Lt. Cmdr, R.N.R., Retd.)
1931-08-22 RMS Mauretania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 22 August 1931
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain R. V. Peel, R.D., R.N.R.
1931-08-27 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 27 August 1931
Route: Bremen to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain F. Brünings
1931-08-29 RMS Samaria Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 29 August 1931
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre and Cobh
Commander: Captain R. G. Malin, R.N.R.
1931-08-29 SS Sierra Ventana Passenger List
Steamship Line: Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 August 1931
Route: Bremen to New York
Commander: Captain D. Ballehr
1931-09-04 SS Duchess of Bedford Passenger List
- Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
- Class of Passengers: Cabin
- Date of Departure: 4 September 1931
- Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal via Belfast and Greenock
- Commander: Captain H. Sibbons
1931-09-08 SS George Washington Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 8 September 1931
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Geo. Fried, U.S.N.R.
1931-09-10 SS Lafayette Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 10 September 1931
Route: New York to Le Havre via Plymouth
Commander: Captain Luc de Malglaive
1931-09-12 RMS Caronia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 12 September 1931
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre and Cobh
Commander: Captain G. R. Dolphin, R.D., R.N.R.
1931-09-15 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 15 September 1931
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain L. Ziegenbein.
1931-10-08 SS New York Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 8 October 1931
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Graalfs
1931-10-09 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 9 October 1931
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen
1931-10-17 TSS Franconia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Furness-Bermuda Line
Class of Passengers: Not Stated
Date of Departure: 17 October 1931
Route: New York to Bermuda
Commander: Captain G. Gibbons, R.D., R.N.R
Other 1931 Passenger Lists Available at the GG Archives
- CGT-French Line SS France, 1931-01-10, Mediterranean Cruise, Commanded by Captain G. Burosse
- North German Lloyd SS General von Steuben, 1931-08-27, Bremen to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton, Commanded by Captain F. Brünings
- CGT-French Line SS De Grasse, 1931-09-08, Le Havre to New York via Plymouth, Commanded by Captain Etienne Robert
- CGT-French Line SS Lafayette, 1931-10-07, New York to Le Havre 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 1931 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.
Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1931
The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1931 reflect the growing effects of the Great Depression on transatlantic travel. While luxury liners still operated, passenger numbers in first-class declined, and tourist and third-class accommodations expanded. Cruising gained popularity, with voyages focusing on exotic destinations rather than simple transatlantic crossings.
Despite financial hardships, competition among British, German, French, and American steamship companies remained fierce, with liners seeking to attract passengers through comfort, affordability, and elaborate itineraries.
Key Themes in 1931 Ocean Travel
1. The Great Depression Deepens: Declining First-Class Passengers
- The economic downturn continued to affect luxury ocean travel.
- Fewer first-class passengers could afford crossings, and companies reduced services or shifted focus to more affordable classes.
- Many major liners saw increases in tourist-class travelers as people sought cheaper alternatives for transatlantic travel.
Why It Matters: This marked a shift in ocean liner priorities, with companies adjusting marketing, accommodations, and pricing to reflect economic conditions.
2. Expansion of Cruises as an Alternative to Transatlantic Voyages
- Several luxury liners focused on extended cruises to attract wealthier passengers still willing to travel.
- The SS France (January 10, 1931) sailed an extensive Mediterranean cruise, stopping in Vigo, Casablanca, Rabat, Gibraltar, Naples, Capri, and Monaco.
- The SS California (February 23, 1931) and SS Duchess of York (March 28, 1931) ran shorter cruises to Bermuda.
- The SS Aurania (March 31, 1931) introduced a new cruise route from Boston to Bermuda, Nassau, and Havana.
Why It Matters: The rise of cruising foreshadowed a major shift in ocean travel, as companies sought to compensate for declining transatlantic ticket sales.
3. The Continued Growth of Tourist and Third-Class Travel
- Tourist Third Cabin saw expansion as companies targeted middle-class travelers.
- Liners such as the RMS Mauretania, RMS Aquitania, and SS Bremen expanded tourist accommodations to fill ships.
- The SS New York (May 21, 1931) exclusively catered to tourist and third-class passengers.
Why It Matters: This reinforced the end of the golden age of luxury-only travel, as liners had to adapt to changing demographics and economic conditions.
4. The Competition Among Leading Liner Companies
- Germany's Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd) remained a strong competitor with the SS Bremen (August 27, 1931) and SS Sierra Ventana (August 29, 1931).
- British liners, including the RMS Berengaria (May 2, 1931) and RMS Homeric (June 24, 1931), maintained their traditional dominance.
- French and American ships also expanded their routes, particularly the SS France (May 29, 1931) and SS America (July 28, 1931).
Why It Matters: Despite the depression, national rivalries in ocean travel remained fierce, leading to continued innovation and adjustments to appeal to passengers.
Most Interesting Voyages of 1931
1. SS France – A Mediterranean Luxury Cruise (January 10, 1931)
- One of the longest and most elaborate cruise itineraries of the year.
- Covered Vigo, Casablanca, Rabat, Gibraltar, Naples, Capri, Monaco, and Marseilles.
- Aimed at wealthy passengers who still wanted to travel despite the depression.
2. SS Aurania – Boston to Havana Cruise (March 31, 1931)
- A short cruise from Boston and New York to Bermuda, Nassau, and Havana.
- Demonstrated a shift toward leisure cruises rather than long-distance crossings.
3. SS Antonia – A Transatlantic Route with Multiple Stops (June 12, 1931)
- A multi-stop voyage from Liverpool to Québec and Montréal via Greenock and Belfast.
- Showcased the importance of Canada in transatlantic travel.
4. SS Bremen – Germany’s Leading Liner (August 27, 1931)
- Maintained Germany’s reputation for speed and efficiency.
- A popular choice for travelers seeking tourist-class affordability.
Key Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1931
1. The Ongoing Economic Collapse
- Passenger numbers decreased, particularly among first-class travelers.
- Shipping companies struggled financially, and some considered reducing operations.
2. The Shift from Transatlantic Travel to Cruising
- Cruise routes became more common, particularly to the Mediterranean, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
- Companies marketed cruises as a way to escape economic hardships and enjoy affordable luxury.
3. The Expansion of Affordable Ocean Travel
- Tourist Third Cabin became the dominant travel class.
- Liners reconfigured spaces to allow more budget-conscious travelers.
Conclusion – 1931: A Year of Transition
- The Great Depression deeply affected ocean travel, forcing companies to adjust ticket prices and focus on affordability.
- Luxury cruising emerged as a viable alternative to transatlantic travel.
- Tourist and third-class passengers became the primary focus for many liners.
- Despite economic hardships, competition among British, German, French, and American liners remained strong.
By 1932, many of these adjustments would become permanent, as steamship companies sought new ways to remain profitable in an increasingly difficult financial climate.
