Thursday September 11, 1930

Josephine, a “seasoned” ocean traveler by now, knew the routine of life aboard an ocean liner. On the passenger list of the SS America is the name Father Peter O’Dwyer. I am assuming he was a Catholic priest and that he said Mass for the Catholics on board, weekdays at 7 am and Sunday at 8 am.

So Josephine’s routine included daily Mass followed by breakfast.

Probably on this first full day aboard, Josephine spent time wandering around the public rooms of the ship, the deck, and the promenade.

There were many ways in which Josephine and her traveling companions could have spent their first day and subsequent days aboard the SS America. Some of these included:

Walking the deck a certain number of times to equal a mile (some days Josephine walked more than a mile);

Sitting in a deck chair, enjoying the sun (it cost $1.50 to rent a deck chair; this was one of the many expenses paid for by the government);

Writing letters to family and friends.

Mid-morning snack. As on the SS George Washington, there were constant meals. The first was breakfast, followed by a mid-morning snack.

Visiting with other mothers and widows

Reading in the library. Also, books could be checked out of the library by applying to the steward in charge of the library

Playing cards or playing Bingo.

Lunch.

Individual or group activities such as tours of the ship from her topmost deck to the hold. The passengers always seemed to enjoy touring the kitchen where so many meals were prepared daily.

Mid-afternoon snack of tea, cakes, and small sandwiches served by attentive stewards on the promenade deck promptly at 4 pm.

Quiet time in her cabin.

Dinner. The call to dinner was announced by the sound of lovely chimes, followed by: “Dinner is now being served in the Dining Room.” Lots of opulent food was served; there was nightly a printed dinner menu, including hor’doevres, soups, fish, entrees, roasts, vegetables, salads, deserts.

Evening entertainment for the passengers to enjoy. This included dancing every night in the ballroom, beginning each evening at 9 pm.

The ship’s orchestra played daily:
From1 pm to 2 pm in the Dining Room
From 4 pm to 5 pm in the Social Hall
From 7 pm to 8 pm in the Dining Room
From 9 pm to Midnight in the Social Hall (ballroom)

Also, probably movies were shown on deck every night.

Services the passengers enjoyed included:

Services by the barber, hair dresser, and manicurist every day from 8 am to 7 pm.

Boots and shoes were shined if left outside the stateroom door.

The ship’s surgeon was in his office from 9:30 to 10:30 am; from 4 to 5 pm; from 8:30 to 9:30 pm; and of course, any hour, in case of emergency.

So on this voyage back to America, Josephine found time to rest and relax after the jam-packed two weeks she had spent in France. And the SS America provided plenty of ways for her to do this.

Thanks for continuing to follow Josephine on her trip home.


Source: written by Carolyn Ourso