Emigrants on the Atlantic, life on board the Scandinavian America Line steamships - across the ocean in pictures

This is a working project. The aim of the project is to document life and conditions aboard the Scandinavian America Line steamships which brought such a great number of Scandinavian emigrants across the Atlantic. We are specially looking for pictures, descriptions and accounts from the daily life aboard, but any piece if information will be of great value. If you think you can contribute please contact: webmaster@norwayheritage.com

The Scandinavian America Line was started in 1898 as a new department of the Danish steamship company "DFDS". The company took over the Thingvalla Line and continued the service between Copenhagen and New York with the old Thingvalla Line ships but started a renewal of the fleet. By 1902 the S/S Oscar II was ready for service and soon after the S/S Hellig Olav and the S/S United States were introduced.

S/S Hekla (2) (ex Thingvalla Line)	S/S Thingvalla (ex Thingvalla Line)	S/S Island (ex Thingvalla Line)	S/S Norge (ex Thingvalla Line)
S/S Oscar II (b. 1901)	S/S Hellig Olav (b. 1902)	S/S United States (b. 1903)
S/S C. F. Tietgen (b. 1897 - ex Rotterdam)	S/S Frederik VIII (b. 1913)

The main route was from Copenhagen to New York via Kristiania (Oslo) and Kristiansand. The great majority of the passengers were emigrants. The Thingvalla Line had been the only Scandinavian steamship line offering a regular service between Scandinavian ports and North America since it entered service in 1880, and the Scandinavian America Line could continue this advantage for many years till the introduction of the Norwegian America Line in 1913 and the Swedish America Line in 1914. It was quite convenient emigrants from the Northern parts of Denmark, southern parts of Sweden and norway to travel directly, and it was considered to be a great advantage that the fares were slightly lower then the English and German lines, and the not to forget - the crew and food was Scandinavian.

Scandinavian America Line westward route, departing Copenhagen for Kristiania (now Oslo) and then calling at Kristiansand before crossing the Atlantic. The were trin connections from many other cities to the ports of departure

Scandinavian America Line S/S Oscar II at Copenhagen

Passengers boarding a Scandinavian America Line steamship at Copenhagen. The ships were berthed at "Frihavnen"

A policeman is checking the emigrant's papers before letting them enter the gangplank

The emigrant ship S/S United States of the Scandinavian America Line arrives Kristiania to take aboard passengers

Passengers, 3rd class (steerage), on a Scandinavian America Line steamship

Steerage passengers on deck of a Scandinavian America Line steamship

Picture of the 2nd class dining saloon on a Scandinavian America Line steamship

The 3rd class dining saloon on the Scandinavian America Line steamship Hellig Olav

The 3rd class dining saloon on the Scandinavian America Line steamship Hellig Olav

The barber saloon for 3rd class passengers on a Scandinavian America Line steamship

The Transatlantic Crossing:

This is the story about how the majority of emigrants going to America would travel. It also gives some insight to the amazing development in how ships were constructed and the transportation arranged     1:   Early Norwegian Emigrants     2:   Steerage - Between Decks     3:   By sail - daily life     4:   Children of the ocean     5:   Sailing ship provisions     6:   Health and sickness     7:   From sail to steam     8:   By steamship across the ocean     9:   The giant express steamers