Sport and recreation on board between 1922 and 1979
Life at sea has always been physically demanding. From cleaning and maintaining the vessel and its machinery to the strenuous work of shovelling coal, many jobs on board required considerable strength and endurance. Sport offered both passengers and crew a welcome change of pace. Travellers on Hapag and NDL ships passed the time with activities such as shuffleboard, while crew members played table tennis or even football to balance the demands of their daily work.
The footage brings together scenes from several ships and spans the period from 1922 to around 1979. It includes both promotional material and private recordings made by Captain Hugo Grabo, featuring the “Westfalia”, “Bremen”, “Columbus” and “Hamburg”.
Sport continues to provide a welcome balance to life and work at sea today. During their free time, crew members can make use of onboard gyms and workout spaces, while some vessels also offer opportunities for activities such as table tennis, basketball or swimming. The facilities may have changed over time, but the need to stay active, unwind and recharge remains much the same.
Click the video to discover how passengers and crew spent their free time on board through sport and recreation between 1922 and 1979.
Video and Text by: Hapag-Lloyd AG
Vide and Photos: Hapag-Lloyd AG; Some materials used in this video are of unclear copyright status. They are shown for editorial purposes under fair use or comparable provisions. If you hold rights or have relevant information, please contact us.
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