S.S. Lahn, Norddeutscher Lloyd

On the upper-deck the ship had a long passage, with the upper part of the engines, the funnels, and the first-class kitchens on the side towards the middle of the ship, and the officers' quarters, the bakery, and some passengers' special deck-cabins towards the outside. This arrangement was the same on both port and starboard sides of the vessel, except that the space devoted to the bakery on the starboard side was allotted to the engineers' quarters on the port side. At the end of the passages were the entrances to a sort of vestibule, from which a wide staircase lead down into the saloon, while a narrower flight mounted to the promenade-deck above. Doors to the right and left of the main staircase led to the ladies' room, described as “a pretty -circus of light figured silk and gold of elaborate finish”, which formed a gallery to the main saloon.

The wide staircase leading down into the saloon had an olive plush handrail and wrought-iron balustrade of rich and, fanciful pattern, completely gilt, so as to look like solid gold. The saloon was disposed as on board the other steamers of the Line, with two main tables running down the central portion, the sides divided into nooks with small cross-tables. All the fittings were rich with carving in black and gold, the piano, the bookcases, the doors, the ceiling, and the woodwork of the revolving armchairs surrounding the tables.


The table-covers, the curtains and the lounges along the sides under the port-holes, were all olive-green in color, and either of rich plush or other sumptuous-looking material. Small bevel-edged mirrors had been introduced to enhance the effect. But the greatest part of the effect was contributed by the ceiling, where the cross-beams, girders and framing, which supported the deck above, had all been cased in magnificent scroll-work of black and gold, and arranged in panels, on which were painted creatures in bold outline. Among all this the electric lamps had been so disposed as best to add to the general gorgeous effect by day and to intensify it by night. On the same deck as the saloon, running fore and aft of it, were the state-rooms, described as spacious, airy, and painted white enamel, with fittings in American walnut. There were also the barber's shop, the lavatories, and the bath-rooms. The first-class smoking-room was on the promenade-deck, and its appointments were on the same lavish scale. The paneling was of carved American walnut, with paintings introduced here and there. The small tables were of dark oak. The surrounding divans were covered with green Morocco leather, and, in addition, there was a liberal supply of quaint, low, and exceedingly comfortable armchairs, completely covered with the same material. The room also included a little bar for supplying the liquors.

First-class passengers enjoyed the central third of the vessel, on the main, upper, and promenade decks. Second-class passengers had reserved for their sole use the after-part of the ship, with a large smoking-room forward of their upper-deck space. The after saloon was in American walnut and light oak. The after state-rooms were equally handsome, and all the after accommodation, including the ladies' room and the smoking-room, was described as being thought extravagantly luxurious. The steerage passengers were accommodated on the middle and fore part of the lower deck.