RMS Ascania Collection

RMS Ascania of the Cunard Line. GGA Image ID # 118eeb3fc7

Ascania (1911) Cunard Line

Built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd., Wall- send-on-Tyne, England. Tonnage: 9,111. Dimensions: 466' X 56' 9482' (o,l.). Twin-screw, 13 knots. Triple expansion engines. Two masts and two funnels. Maiden Voyage: London-Southampton-Québec-Montréal, 23 May 1911. Fate: Wrecked off Cape Ray in 1918, with no loss of life. Note: Laid down as the Gerona for the Thomson Line, but was purchased by the Cunard Line before Completion. Previous Names: Ex-Gerona.

Ascania (1925) Cunard Line

Built by Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., Newcastle, England. Tonnage: 14,013. Dimensions: 520' x 65' (538' o.l.). Twin-screw, 15 knots. Four steam turbines. Two masts and one funnel. Launched: 20 December 1923. Passengers: 500 cabin, 1,200 third class. Accommodation later was changed to 198 first class and 498 tourist. Maiden Voyage: London-Southampton-Québec-Montréal, 22 May 1925. WWII Service: Taken over by British Government for war service in 1939. Post War Service: Resumed regular service in December 1947. Fate: Broken up for scrap at Newport, Mon., 1957. Sister Ships: Alaunia and Aurania. Similar to: Andania, Antonia, and Ausonia.

Ephemera for the RMS Ascania are available at the GG Archives, including Passenger Lists, Menus, Brochures, Event Programs, and more.

 

Passenger Lists

 

 

1911-08-29 RMS Ascania Passenger List

Second Cabin Passenger List for the TSS Ascania of the Cunard Line, Departing Tuesday, 29 August 1911 from Southampton to Quebec and Montreal, Commanded by Captain G. W. Melsom (Lt. RNR). Récapitulation: 195 Cabin Class, 349 Third Class, 544 Total Passengers.

 

 

1925-07-11 RMS Ascania Passenger List

Cabin Class Passenger List from the RMS Ascania of the Cunard Line, Departing 11 July 1925 from Montreal to London via Plymouth and Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain R. B. Irving, OBE, RD, RNR. Récaptitulation: 366 Cabin Class, 227 Third Class, 593 Total Passengers.

 

 

1930-07-12 RMS Ascania Passenger List

Tourist Third Cabin Passenger List from the RMS Ascania of the Cunard Line, Departing Saturday, 12 July 1930 from Southampton to Quebec and Montreal via Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain W. A. Hawkes, RD, RNR.

 

Brochures

 

 

1913 - Cunard Passenger Log Book

Rare Third-Class Accommodation on Cunard Liners featuring interior and exterior photographs of the ships and accommodations for third class/steerage passengers. Undated brochure circa 1913. Its contents were meant to entice the immigrants to book passage to the New World. Ships Featured: Lusitania and Mauretania, Caronia and Carmania, Franconia and Laconia, Campania, Ivernia and Saxonia, and the Ascania.

 

 

1920s - Cunard Tourist Third Cabin Accommodations

Tourist Third Cabin replaced the old Third Class on the Cunard Steamships, the refinished accommodations attracted students, professors, young business people, and bargain-hunters filling the cabins left mostly empty from the decline of the immigrant trade. This is a photo journal of the accommodations found in the new Tourist Third Cabin class. Ships Featured: Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Caronia and Carmania, Laconia, Samaria, Scythia, Tuscania, and Lancastria.

 

 

1926 - The New Anchor Line Fleet

Profusely illustrated brochure from 1926 documents the grand interiors of the Caledonia and Transylvania, the newest additions to the Anchor Line fleet with views of the California and Cameronia, transporting passengers between New York, Londonderry, and Glasgow. Ships Covered: Antonia, Ascania, Caledonia, California, Cameronia, Transylvania, and Tuscania.

 

Menus

 

 

1930-07-19 RMS Ascania Farewell Dinner Menu

Vintage Tourist Third Cabin Farewell Dinner Bill of Fare from Saturday, 19 July 1930 on board the RMS Ascania of the Cunard Line featured Boiled Salmon, Sauce Hollandaise, Roast Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, and Victoria Pudding for dessert.

 

Sailing Schedules

 

Cunard Canadian Service. Southampton to Quebec and Montreal Sailing Schedule from 11 July 1911 to 15 February 1912. Ships Include the Ascania, Albania, and Ausonia. GGA Image ID # 1db7311adf

 

Cunard Canadian Service Sailing Schedule from 16 May 1912 to 23 November 1912. Ships Include the Ascania, Ausonia, and Ultonia. The steamers are fine modern twin-screw vessels especially adapted in size and equipment to the service. The fares charged are the lowest of any line of steamers sailing from England to Canada. Second Cabin and Third Class passengers are only carried, which means that the accommodation set aside on board for both these classes is more commodious and spacious than would otherwise be the case. The Second Cabin accommodation is situated in the center of the ship, and the Third Class comprises small closed rooms. On the "Ascania" and "Ausonia," there are two separate dining rooms for Third Class passengers on each vessel. Experienced stewardesses look after the requirements of the women and children. Passengers resident in London or in places so situated that they have to pass through London to reach Southampton are provided with Free Conveyance (Third Class) from London to Southampton. GGA Image ID # 1dbc6cc8fc

 

Cunard Canadian Service from 26 August 1913 to 24 January 1914. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Ascania, and Ausonia. RMS Carmania Passenger List, 23 September 1913. GGA Image ID # 1dcaed5b2e

 

Proposed Sailings, Liverpool-Quebec-Montreal, Liverpool-Halifax, Southampton-Quebec-Montreal, and Southampton-Halifax, from 17 April 1925 to 12 September 1925. Ships included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Lancastria, and Letitia. RMS Andania Passenger List, 6 May 1925. GGA Image ID # 1e1063298c

 

Cunard Line Canadian Service, Liverpool-Canadian Ports, or Southampton to Canadian Ports, from 7 August 1925 to 28 January 1926. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Laconia, and Letitia. RMS Alaunia Passenger List, 21 August 1925. GGA Image ID # 1dff527901

 

Proposed Sailings, Cunard Line, Southampton-Cherbourg-New York, from 13 August 1925 to 3 February 1926. Ships Included the Albania, Andania, Aquitania, Ascania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Caronia, Lancastria, and Mauretania. RMS Alaunia Passenger List, 21 August 1925. GGA Image ID # 1dfef4697b

 

Proposed Sailings, Cunard Line, London-New York and Hamburg-New York (Joint Service Between American Line, Cunard, and White Star Line). from 19 August 1925 to 13 March 1926. Ships Included the Albania, Andania, Antonia, Arabic, Ascania, Ausonia, Caronia, and Lancastria. RMS Alaunia Passenger List, 21 August 1925. GGA Image ID # 1dff49d2fd

 

Sailing Schedule, London-Southampton-New York, from 17 November 1927 to 12 May 1928. Ships Included the Alaunia, Antonia, Ascania, Ausonia, Carmania, Lancastria, and Tuscania. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 26 November 1927. GGA Image ID # 1e1136df31

 

Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Canadian Ports, from 11 November 1927 to 9 April 1928. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Ascania, Athenia, Ausonia, Carmania, Lancastria, Letitia, Samaria, Scythia, and Tuscania. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 26 November 1927. GGA Image ID # 1e11e04456

 

Westbound Sailings of the White Star Line from 6 October 1934 to 2 February 1935. Ships Included the Alaunia, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Carinthia, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Lancastria, Laurentic, Letitia, Majestic, Olympic, Samaria, Scythia, and Transylvania. The Schedule Includes Originating, Calling, and Destination Ports for Each Voyage. RMS Britannic Passenger List, 6 October 1934. GGA Image ID # 1e3159e0ee

 

Eastbound Sailings of the White Star Line from 6 October 1934 to 14 February 1935. Ships Included the Alaunia, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Carinthia, Doric, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Lancastria, Laurentic, Letitia, Majestic, Olympic, Samaria, Scythia, and Transylvania. The Schedule Includes Originating, Calling, and Destination Ports for Each Voyage. RMS Britannic Passenger List, 6 October 1934. GGA Image ID # 1e3178f51a

 

Cunard White Star Westbound Sailing Schedule for September to November 1937. Ships Include the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. GGA Image ID # 1db7e0cf97

 

Cunard White Star Eastbound Sailing Schedule for September to November 1937. Ships Include the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. GGA Image ID # 1db80746e8

 

Westbound Sailing Schedule from 7 June 1939 to 16 August 1939. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Ascania, Athenia, Aquitania, Aurania, Ausonia, Britannic, Carinthia, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Mauretania, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 7 June 1939. GGA Image ID # 1e141a92c5

 

Eastbound Sailing Schedule from 7 June 1939 to 16 August 1939. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Britannic, Carinthia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Mauretania, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 7 June 1939. GGA Image ID # 1e1424c50b

 

Other Ephemera

 

Cunard Line Atlantic Services and Fleet List with Tonnage and Assigned Commanders, 1912. Ships Include the Mauretania, Lusitania, Campania, Carmania, Caronia, Franconia, Laconia, Ivernia, Saxonia, Carpathia, Pannonia, Ultonia, Ascania, Ausonia, and Albania. RMS Caronia Passenger List, 30 March 1912. GGA Image ID # 1dc9ece700

 

Excerpts from Information for Passengers

 

This Steamer is Fitted with Marconi's System of Wireless Telegraphy, Also with The Submarine Signalling Apparatus.

TSS Ascania Passenger List -- 29 August 1911

Public Telephone—While at Montreal, the steamer is equipped with a telephone, conveniently located, which may be used by passengers until disconnection (without notice) a few minutes before departure.

The Bar in the Cabin Smoke Room will be open not later than 11 p.m., but it is within the discretion of the Commander to close it during the voyage at any time should he consider this course desirable.

Chairs may be hired at a cost of $1.00 each, and Rugs $1.00 each, on application to the Deck Steward. Each rug is contained in a sealed cardboard box, and bears a serial number worked into the material so that passengers will have no difficulty in identifying their rugs. At the end of each voyage, the rugs which have been in use arc sent to the store and thoroughly cleaned, before being re-issued.

Baggage—Passengers are recommended to insure their baggage, as the Company's liability is strictly limited in accordance with Contract Ticket. All enquiries regarding baggage on board ship should be addressed to the Baggage Master.

Only handbags and steamer trunks which will fit underneath the berths are allowed in the staterooms.

Valuables—The Company is not responsible for valuables or money kept in the staterooms. These should be placed in charge of the Purser for deposit in the Ship's safe, and receipt will be given on the Company’s form. As no charge is made for carriage, the Company cannot accept, any responsibility for loss or damage, however arising, but passengers can protect themselves by insurance.

The Surgeon is authorized to make customary charges, subject to the approval of the Commander, for treating any passengers, at their request, for any illness not. originating on board the ship. In case of sickness arising on board no charge will be made, and medicine will be provided free.

Professional Gamblers—Passengers are informed that Professional Gamblers are reported as frequently crossing on Atlantic Steamers and are warned to take precautions accordingly.

Customs—Tobacco, cigars, etc., wines, spirits and perfumery are subject to duty on being brought into the United Kingdom, and the smallest quantities should be declared to the Customs Authorities. When required, reprints of copyright books and music will be confiscated.

Arrivals at Cherbourg—Under normal conditions passengers arc landed by tender up to 10 P. M., but if the ship arrives later, they will disembark after breakfast next morning.

Disembarkation of Passengers at Cherbourg

1. In the event of the steamer not being able to land passengers sufficiently early to allow their reaching Paris before the early hours of the following morning, there is at Cherbourg a comfortable hotel, the Casino, which can accommodate anyone who wishes to stay overnight in Cherbourg, and travel to Paris <luring the daytime. The Purser can arrange reservations by wireless.
2. Passengers disembarking at Cherbourg, who intend traveling beyond Paris, are particularly requested to see that their baggage is properly labelled for destination. Under no circumstances should “Paris’” labels be placed on such baggage as delay in forwarding as well as loss may result therefrom.
3. Hand-baggage is carried from the steamer to the tender by the stewards. Passengers are informed that from the time their hand-baggage is on the render, they are solely responsible for it, and they must see that it is passed through the Customs and placed on the special train in their carriage.
4. All hand-baggage not claimed on the tender or left in the Customs is collected and included with registered baggage for Paris. For these packages there is a charge of Fes. 20.00 per package, Cherbourg—Paris.
5. Passengers are advised that the Cunard Company cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage caused by neglect on the part of passengers not claiming their hand-baggage on the render.
6. All baggage registered for CHEBOURG only, if not claimed at the port, is forwarded direct to Paris, a charge of Fes. 20.00 per package being made irrespective of size or weight. (Heavy nailed case or bulky packages will be charged as freight.)

Arrivals at Plymouth—Passengers will he disembarked immediately on arrival of the steamer.

Passengers on arrival will find representatives of well- known firms in the shed alongside the steamer, and if their special services are utilized for the handling of baggage they are authorized to charge according to tariff.

Airplane Service—Arrangements have been made with the Haudley-Page Transport Ltd and with the Compagnie Aerienne Française, whereby a regular aeroplane service will be maintained for the hooking of passengers on board our steamers for their Air Services, London - Paris, Paris - London, and Paris Cherbourg, Cherbourg - Paris.

Money Exchange—As a convenience to passengers the Purser has been authorized to carry binds for Exchange purposes but owing to fluctuations it is not possible to make any fixed Rate of Exchange.

Ocean letters are accepted for transmission to a vessel proceeding in an opposite direction. They will be forwarded to destination by registered post from first port of call of the vessel after reception. A charge of 5s. 6d., which includes postage, is made for mi Ocean Letter of thirty words. For each additional word in excess of thirty the sum of one penny will be charged. 100 words is the maximum allowed in one Ocean Letter.

RMS Ascania Passenger List -- 11 July 1925

 

Photographs

 

Corner of the Third Class Social Hall - RMS Ascania. GGA Image ID # 118efc006d

 

Tourist Third Cabin Two-Berth Room on the Ascania. GGA Image ID # 1194af61a3

 

 

The Shipbuilder 1906 - 1914: Volume 1

Reprinted from The Shipbuilder Magazine, Volume One Distinguished Liners include: Empress of Ireland, Oriana, Oronsa, Volturno, Falaba, Amazon, Araguaya, Avon, Adriatic, President Lincoln, Lusitania, Mauretania, California, Rotterdam, Lapland, George Washingon, Laurentic, Megantic, Edinburgh Castle, Garth Castle, Balmoral Castle, Storstad, Galway Castle, Nomadic, Traffic, Zeelandic, Cameronia, Olympic, Titanic, France, Carmania, Paul LeCat, Reina Victoria-Eugenia, Ascania, Alaunia, Empress of Russia, Empress of Asia, Ceramic, Missanabie, Metagama.