‘THE 1930s
saw the evolution of whole DECKS DEVOTED to SPORTS’
travelling east. Thus the phrase POSH (Port Out, Starboard Home), usually associated with getting the more desirable, cooler cabins on P&O liners to India, could be claimed for transatlantic deckchairs! The deck steward also looked after the comfort of passengers on deck throughout the day, serving beef bouillon soup at 11am and afternoon tea at 4pm. Prior to the First World War, outdoor deck games were limited because ships were not only relatively narrow but also cluttered with ventilators and handling gear. Simple, amusing contests were usually organised, including sack and potato races, pillow fi ghting, threading the needle and even a cigarette race, in which a male passenger would run with an unlit cigarette and ask a lady for a light before returning to the start- ing line. Boxing matches between crew members were also popular.
I
n 1927, the fi rst outdoor swimming pool ap- peared on the new Italian liner Augustus. Also featuring a large lido area with tables and coloured beach umbrellas, this was the start of modern outdoor activities at sea. With the increased emphasis on fi tness and ex-
ercise, the 1930s saw the evolution of whole decks allocated to sports activities. Canadian Pacifi c’s Empress of Britain boasted not only a full-size ten- nis court but also a 40ft by 20ft indoor pool, one of the largest afl oat. On the run to Australia, the classic Orient liner
Orion had the numerous engine room ventilators on the boat deck clustered on an island surrounding the large single funnel. This arrangement provided ample, uninterrupted space for eight games courts for those in fi rst class. The games played included deck tennis, quoits and perennial shipboard favourite shuffl e board. These were taken very seriously; tournaments were arranged with competitors requested to wear name labels for identifi cation. Just like a school sports event, the Captain handed out prizes and trophies on the last night at sea.
Summer 2010 I WORLD OF CRUISING 55
NEWS AT SEA
Prior to the formation of Gugliemo Mar- coni’s marine radio company in 1900, passengers at sea were cut off from news at home and abroad. Cunard Line was the fi rst to install the new-fangled wire- less telegraph and the fi rst to publish a newspaper onboard. In 1903, the Cunard Bulletin was handed out to pas- sengers on express liner Lucania. The following year, the Cunard Daily Bul- letin appeared and, in later years, this became the Ocean Times. With access to the internet and
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