Princess Charlotte 1908

On December 30 the splendid three-stacker Princess Charlotte steamed into Victoria harbor, 58 days out from Glasgow, where she was built by the Fairfield works. She was designed to run with the fast Princess Victoria on the Seattle-Victoria Vancouver “triangle” run.”

Princess Charlotte is one of the most elaborately furnished vessels to ever enter Victoria’s harbor. The entrance to the passenger accommodations was through watertight doors on the ship’s side on the shelter deck forward, leading to a spacious entrance hall, which is tastefully paneled in teak, the floor being laid with terra cotta and white rubber tiles. At the fore end of the entrance were the barber shop, baggage room, purser’s office, and at the extreme fore end of the vessel is a large smoking and sitting room for second -class passengers, with a stairway leading to lavatory and sleeping accommodations on the main and orlop decks. Aft of the main entrance was a large central hall, fitted with lounge seats upholstered in crimson plush. At the after end of this hall was the main staircase leading to passenger accommodations and public rooms on the promenade deck. On either side of the shelter deck there was accommodation for 176 first-class passengers in two and three berth rooms, fitted in the latest style with electric radiators, sofa beds, wash stands. There were four bridal chambers. This unusual number has gave Princess Charlotte the title of the ‘honeymoon boat.’ At the after end of the shelter deck was a central hall with a handsome ladies’ tea room. On the promenade deck there were two spacious halls in a large deck house, with a well in the center of each, providing ample light to the central hall below. On either side there were accommodations for 104 first-class passengers in two-berth rooms, finished in similar manner to the staterooms on the shelter deck. Entrance to the dining salon on the main deck aft was by a stairway from the central hall or shelter deck. The salon extends from ship’s side to ship’s side and was capable of seating 133 persons.”

The steamer’s twin screws were driven by inverted direct acting four-cylinder triple-expansion engines, 24, 38, 43, 43 x 33. She was a coal-burner, and remained so for the next 30 years. Her service speed was 18 knots, her dimensions 330 x 47 x 24 with a displacement of 3,926 tons. In day service she was certified to carry 1,200 passengers.