Hi Jim and Samuel -
As you know I am one of those of the dinosaur age. LOL. I understand these things have improved since
Question in regards to deck plan area labeled "Firemen's".
Was this the berthing areas with bunks (?) and maybe lockers ?
This looks like much like those which were on the 1950's vintage USN ship on which I served.
Were berthing areas and arrangements for the crews on passenger ships better or worse than ships of the British RN's ?
I am assuming the areas marked "Firemen's W.C's " were just that ?
Were there are any showers or wash basins for the crews ?
I think Captain Smith had his own private Bath Tub ?
Aye, auld Smith had his own bath which was visible on the wreck in years gone by. Unfortunately it appears that it has since disintegrated if recent reports from the wreck are true.
There were indeed showers and wash basins provided for the firemen* on D Deck, E Deck and G Deck in the bow. Visits to the wreck have also shown the firemen even had drinking fountains in their mess room.
As for the rest of the crew....
On the Boat Deck there is one bath shown in a room between the officers lavatory, the oil skins store and the deck stewards quarters which looks like it was meant for the use of the officers.
On E Deck, it looks like there were three baths provided for the use of the stewards.Two adjoining their quarters aft and then another one closer to the bow. Another bath in the room next to the latter seems to have been for the use of the senior ratings of the deck dept.
On F Deck aft, there are three baths provided for the engineers, electricians and boilermakers. One is solely for the Chief Engineer. The other two are located, one on the starboard side and another on the port side.
The female crew don't appear to have had their own wash basins and lavatories set aside, so one must logically presume that they were given leave to use the communal facilities of the female passengers.
*Considering the grimy nature of their work, it's only common sense that trimmers and greasers must have shared them too.