Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Library blog. This blog mentions the SSUnited Stateswith some frequency, but I’m sure many people are curious what a typical day might be like aboard one of her Caribbean cruises. The Mariners’ Museum Library has a large collection of programs from the SSUnited States, which offer a glimpse into one of those days – but how does a cruise aboard the SSUnited Statescompare to a modern one? How would your average Tuesday differ from past to present? Using the below pictured program, we can compare its Tuesday in 1962 to a modern Carnival cruise line’s Tuesday in 2008, which can be viewed in its entiretyHERE. Both vessels arrive at St. Thomas on their respective Tuesdays, so let’s see how they compare!
On first inspection, the programs share some similarities: both have morning religious service followed by breakfast, a morning excursion to the island, lunch, dinner, and entertainment. However, a number of differences present themselves. First, the SSUnited Statesseems to have a much shorter program than the Carnival line. The SSUnited Statesprogram covers only the basic events of the day, while the Carnival program extensively lists each and every activity aboard ship by time and location. Carnival features a schedule teeming with family activities, sports, games, music and movies in large number: the SSUnited Statesprogram only has one movie, two cocktail hours, a swimming pool, afternoon tea and a dance.
The disparity on listed events indicates a very real difference between the lines: focus. The SSUnited Statesseems to have a far more adult focus than the Carnival line, and this difference can be seen in everything from the events listed to the artwork on the program itself. Cocktails, tea and a formal dance under the stars cater to a mature, urbane class of people. Even the artwork on the SSUnited States’ program shows well-dressed people in a formal setting. This difference can also explain the lack of events between the schedules – the more adult SSUnited States乘客可能不需要所有?led out for them in their program, whereas a modern family on a cruise would need to keep the children occupied and might rely on a heavily-scheduled day. Before signing off, I would remind the reader of one final difference: the SSUnited Stateswas made for transporting passengers across the Atlantic, and only later was it hastily converted into a cruise ship. A Carnival line ship, on the other hand, exists only to entertain guests on a cruise.
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