Passenger Sea Travel Post-American Civil War

culmo80

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
135
Reaction score
12
Location
Alexandria, VA
I have a story that involves traveling via steamer from North America to South America circa 1865-1870.
Does anyone know anything about how civilians traveled?

For instance, 50 years ago, if you wanted to travel by sea, you would go to a travel office or the ticketing booth for one of the various lines (White Star for example) and then you traveled.

Did this system exist in the time period noted above?
What were some passenger lines operating in the US at the time?
Finally, how long would a voyage take - on average - for a steamer from the US to Brazil?

Pretty obscure topic and lots of questions, so my thanks to anyone who can give me some information.
 

King Neptune

Banned
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
4,253
Reaction score
372
Location
The Oceans
There were regularly scheduled ships going to some South and Central American ports as early as the late 1830's by Commodore Vanderbilt's company. Considering communications and land travel, one would have had to go to the office of the company or the ship to book a trip. Other than Vanderbilt's operation, I can't think of any companies, but there were lines going to California, and there was competition.

check this site: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/log.htm