The poorer families could not afford a cabin, so they had to sleep below in the steerage with hundreds of other families. The steerage was a large area under the deck of the ship. Since so many families had to live together there was no privacy. It was damp, crowded and noisy. There was no fresh air to breathe.
In bad weather the waves tossed the ship about. People became seasick and were unable to eat. Many brought their own food. Food spoiled and was unsafe to eat. On some ships food was served to the passengers. People slept in bunks that were put up along the side walls of the ship.Their belongings were placed on the bunks during the day and on the floor at night. There were only a few toilets and washbasins provided. The passengers were unable to wash themselves or wash their clothes. They wore the same clothes for days.
People fell ill because of the cold and the dampness in the steerage. Diseases spread among the passengers. Some did not survive the voyage.Crossing the ocean took anywhere from ten days to a month depending on the weather and the type of ship. To pass the time, the immigrants went up on the deck when the weather was nice. They played cards, sang and talked with others.
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web page by J.Giannetta 2003, updated 2011
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