Bathing Facilities of the Modern Steamship - 1913
By Day Allen Willey
Of all the great industries in the world, it is a question if any has made more progress than the construction of the great floating hotels, which carry hundreds of thousands of people across the Atlantic Ocean at all seasons of the year. Even ten years ago, extensive as the passenger traffic was, the vessels were small in size compared with the great craft of today, some of which carry fully twice as many as the liner in service back in two.
But the most notable feature has been the improvements made for the care and comfort of the passenger, no matter whether he occupies the first cabin or the steerage. The arrangements made for the passenger are so far superior to the accommodations provided even ten years ago that it is difficult to compare them.
Type Of Bath Tubs And Wash Basins Provided For Immigrant Passengers on Modern Steamships. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fa910644
The term floating hotels is indeed merited, for today, the vessels of the principal companies going across the Atlantic have all of the conveniences of modern hotels, and in some of the newer ships, the passenger has perhaps more facilities for enjoying himself than in one of the greater New York hostelries.
The fact is that nothing has apparently been omitted in providing the modern steamship with everything the passenger actually needs to make the time pass quickly and pleasantly.
The Manicure Parlor On A Modern Steamship. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21faea30ba
So it is that the tour across the ocean, instead of being a week or so, possibly, of misery, a clue to small staterooms, perhaps crowded with persons, foul air due to poor ventilation, poor food with the only lounging places dingy cabins when the weather prevents going on deck, has now become one of the pleasantest features of a trip abroad, and is looked forward to by the traveler in most cases who expects to obtain as much if not more enjoyment from it than he does in going overland from resort to resort.
The most expert artists, decorators, and skilled artisans have been employed to fit out these vessels so that their interiors are not only beautiful but artistic in ornamentation. The old social halls have been supplanted by actual parlors elegantly furnished in various styles. The floors are covered with rich carpeting, and the room is lighted by gas or electricity, possibly both forms of illumination.
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Restroom in Connection With a Turkish Bath. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21faffbff6
As already stated, the dining saloons vary in appointments and design from those of the best hotels and, in some cases, are more attractive, while the table service is of the finest. If one chanced into the culinary department, one might be surprised at the modern appliances for cooking, both by gas and electricity, which are in service, the refrigerated chambers with their great food supplies—all as complete as one could find in the same department of any of the greater hotels of the country.
Another feature, however, that is of special importance is the provision of bathing and sanitation facilities. The little dark, cramped stateroom has been enlarged until, on the modern vessel, the passenger can have what is actually a bedroom of comfortable proportions, heated by steam and amply ventilated so that he has plenty of pure air. Hot and cold water is also provided by appliances that represent the most modern design in plumbing.
Entrance to One of the Swimming Pools on a Modern Steamship, Showing One of the Shower Baths in Connection With It. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fb118ebb
The plumber's work is an ornamental feature of the average stateroom. It is a revolution compared to the installations of even a few years ago. Nowadays, steamships are placed in large tanks holding fresh and salt water, as well as water heated to different temperatures, so that a vessel carrying five hundred people gives ample opportunity for bathing, cleansing, and using the salt water for health purposes if desired.
However, in addition to the equipment of the stateroom, the modern steamship without a special bath department is a rarity since companies find that this is in great demand by the average tourist. Turkish baths have now become a necessity and are expected in steamship travel.
The Elaborate Electric Light Bath Which Forms a Portion of the Equipment of the Modern Steamship. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fb37f6a4
Electric Light Baths are excellent for rheumatism. They consist of a Turkish bath cabinet lined with incandescent or fluorescent lamps. Free perspiration is produced, which probably accomplishes the greater part of the beneficial effect.
These apartments are provided with elaborate systems and a corps of skilled attendants, and some of them are of such proportions that they rival in capacity some of the Turkish baths in the large cities. Shower baths also form part of the bathing equipment. They are of special importance in the steerage compartment, where they do much to maintain the health and cleanliness of the lower-grade passengers, such as immigrants.
Finally, the swimming pool also made its appearance on the steamship. In the old days, in answer to the demand of the passengers, the captain sometimes flooded a well on the lower deck and turned this into an open-air pool, which formed one of the most notable features of life on the ship-one might find passengers using it from morning to night.
Gymnastic Apparatus Utilized for Taking Exercise After the Bath on a Steamship. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fb402f91
But crude and inconvenient as it was, much enjoyment was obtained. The makeshift plunge bath probably led to the installation of the modern swimming bath. This is a permanent feature of most 1)1 the latest steamships, such as the George Washington of the North German Lloyd Line, the Adriatic of the White Star Line, and several Compagnie Generale Transatlantic vessels.
These pools are finished very similarly to pools in land bath houses. They are lined with white tile, and the walls are tinted in an appropriate color. While they vary in size, some of them are large enough to accommodate fifty or sixty persons at one time so that before the voyage is over, the entire ship's company has an opportunity to utilize the bath.
View of the Bathroom in Connection With a First Class Suite of Apartments on a North German Lloyd Liner, Showing the Plumbing Fixtures. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fb65d6d5
While the outlay for bathing facilities on today's vessels is substantial, the companies admit that it is well spent since the public has shown its hardy appreciation. Staterooms with baths now form a large proportion of the larger liners' rooms.
The prices for these rooms have been raised due to the addition of the bath, but they are most in demand and are quickly taken at any time of the year.
The Surgeons Operating Room on a Modern Steamship. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fb99d850
Apparently, the tourist does not object to a reasonable additional expense so that he can have the same opportunities for private bathing that he has on shore; in short, the stateroom with bath has become just as essential as the chamber with bath in the hotel and is now expected by the one who contemplates crossing the ocean.
According to the records of the principal companies having regular steamship lines in service between New York and the principal ports of Great Britain and Europe, fully fifty thousand first-class cabin passengers travel from America to Europe during the first four months of each year, merely to spend the summer abroad and return in the fall.
Barber Shop Showing Washstand Supplied With Hot and Cold Water in a Second Class Cabin of an Atlantic Liner. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fbe4fbf8
View of Washroom for Steerage Passengers on a North German Lloyd Steamship. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fc1229ba
Another View of Washroom for Steerage Passengers on a North German Lloyd Steamship. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fc20bc00
Section of Bathroom in Steerage Compartment of a Steamship, Showing the Marble Bowls and Ornamental Fittings. Modern Sanitation, September 1913. GGA Image ID # 21fc85497a
Another very large number are making tours of different kinds in the Old World, crossing the Atlantic to reach their destination. At the same time, the tide of winter travel—tourists who spend a portion of the year between December and April in Europe — is also very extensive.
The total number of ocean travelers far exceeds a hundred thousand a year, nearly doubling within the last ten years. Even at that time, the attractions of Europe were well known. Still, the discomfort, even hardship, which attended the voyage in many cases caused people to give up sea travel.
Tourist agents and other experts believe that the remarkable increase in this migration across the sea yearly is largely due to the already intimated fact that the modern vessels have been so carefully planned and so thoroughly provided with comforts and conveniences, while they are of such size that that dread of ocean travel—seasickness—is reduced to a minimum.
Day Allen Willey, "Bathing Facilities of the Modern Steamship," in Modern Sanitation, Vol. X september, 1913 no. 9.
Review and Summary of "Bathing Facilities of the Modern Steamship" (1913)
This 1913 article by Day Allen Willey provides a fascinating historical perspective on the rapid improvements in bathing facilities aboard ocean liners, highlighting how steamships evolved into floating hotels with luxurious, hotel-like amenities. The comparison between early 20th-century bathing facilities and those from just a decade earlier showcases the technological and social progress in ocean travel, particularly in hygiene, passenger comfort, and class distinctions.
For teachers, students, genealogists, historians, and maritime enthusiasts, this article is an excellent resource for studying the evolution of maritime travel, sanitation, and the social hierarchies aboard ships.
Relevance to Different Fields of Study
1. For Educators & Students: A Study in Maritime Innovation and Social Progress
📌 Key Themes: Public Health, Industrial Engineering, Social Class Divides, Technological Progress
This article is a valuable case study in how technological advancements improved quality of life aboard transatlantic ships. It examines:
- The transition from cramped, unsanitary conditions to luxurious, hotel-like accommodations.
- The introduction of modern plumbing, heated water, and private baths, significantly improving hygiene and passenger experience.
- The rise of Turkish baths, electric light baths, and swimming pools, which were seen as both health benefits and luxury offerings.
🔎 Classroom Discussion Ideas:
- How did advances in maritime hygiene and sanitation impact the popularity of ocean travel?
- Why did first-class passengers receive vastly superior bathing facilities compared to steerage?
- What role did business competition among steamship companies play in improving onboard amenities?
2. For Genealogists: Insights into the Hygiene and Living Conditions of Passengers
📌 Key Themes: Immigration, Steerage Conditions, Social Class Distinctions
For those researching ancestral ocean voyages, this article provides critical insights into living conditions aboard early 20th-century steamships:
- First-class passengers enjoyed luxurious private bathrooms, often more advanced than hotel accommodations.
- Steerage passengers, mainly immigrants, had access to shared shower baths, which significantly improved hygiene but remained vastly inferior to first-class offerings.
- Sanitation upgrades helped reduce disease outbreaks, making voyages safer for immigrants traveling in overcrowded conditions.
📖 Genealogy Tip:
- If your ancestors traveled in steerage before 1910, they likely had minimal bathing access and poor hygiene conditions.
- After 1910, newer ships began introducing shared washrooms and showers, improving immigrant experiences.
- Ship manifests and passenger records may indicate hygiene-related illnesses or quarantine requirements upon arrival.
3. For Historians: Evolution of Passenger Comfort and Public Health at Sea
📌 Key Themes: Luxury Travel, Hygiene Standards, Class Differences
This article offers a detailed look at the transformation of ocean liners into "floating hotels", showcasing:
- The growing importance of passenger comfort, leading to the installation of amenities such as manicure parlors, barber shops, and Turkish baths.
- The introduction of electric light baths, an early therapeutic treatment for rheumatism and other ailments.
- The transition from makeshift swimming pools to permanent onboard pools, making swimming an elite leisure activity at sea.
📖 Historical Research Tip:
- Compare the bathing facilities of 1913 to those aboard earlier steamships like the Titanic (1912)—what differences or improvements stand out?
- Investigate how public health concerns influenced steamship sanitation regulations and immigration policies.
Most Interesting and Unique Content in the Article
1. The Rise of Turkish Baths and Electric Light Baths
💦 Why It’s Interesting:
- Turkish baths became a necessity rather than a luxury, with dedicated attendants and large bathhouse-like facilities aboard major ocean liners.
- Electric light baths used heat lamps to promote sweating and health benefits, particularly for passengers suffering from rheumatism.
- These innovations mirrored health and wellness trends on land, showing how steamships followed elite spa culture of the early 20th century.
📖 Why It’s Useful:
- Demonstrates how luxury amenities became standard on ocean liners, reflecting broader societal trends in health, beauty, and wellness.
- Offers insight into early health treatments, predating modern sauna and light therapy techniques.
2. The Transformation of Steerage Conditions
🚢 Why It’s Interesting:
- The article emphasizes improvements in bathing access for steerage passengers, a significant change from earlier decades.
- Steerage washrooms featured communal marble sinks and showers, helping reduce disease and improve immigrant hygiene.
- The shift towards private family rooms in steerage marked an effort to attract wealthier immigrants and improve health standards.
📖 Why It’s Useful:
- Challenges the assumption that steerage remained entirely unsanitary, showing a gradual shift toward better hygiene regulations.
- Provides a clearer picture of immigrant experiences, helping genealogists understand their ancestors’ voyage conditions.
3. The Expansion of Swimming Pools on Ocean Liners
🏊 Why It’s Interesting:
- Swimming pools began as makeshift flooded deck wells, but by 1913, they became permanent, tiled, and heated facilities.
- Ships like the Adriatic (White Star Line) and George Washington (North German Lloyd Line) boasted full-size pools, allowing passengers to recreate an upscale hotel experience at sea.
- Pools became a central attraction, reinforcing the idea that transatlantic travel was no longer just about reaching a destination—it was about the journey itself.
📖 Why It’s Useful:
- Illustrates how ocean liners competed for elite passengers by offering luxury amenities.
- Provides insight into early leisure activities aboard ships, which evolved into the modern cruise experience.
Final Thoughts: A Major Step Toward Luxury Ocean Travel
This 1913 article on bathing facilities aboard modern steamships is a crucial historical record that reveals how ocean liners transitioned from being simple means of transportation to luxury experiences.
✔ For educators, it is an excellent resource for discussing industrial advancements, social class, and maritime hygiene.
✔ For genealogists, it provides critical context for understanding the travel conditions of ancestors, especially immigrants.
✔ For historians, it showcases how hygiene and passenger comfort evolved aboard steamships.
✔ For maritime enthusiasts, it highlights the early origins of cruise ship amenities and the transformation of ocean travel.
Ultimately, the improvements in bathing facilities and sanitation during this era reflect a broader cultural shift toward luxury, hygiene, and health-conscious travel, shaping the modern cruise industry we know today.
