This is a draft of something I've been working on. I took info from the published material and made some changes that I thought made more sense. I'm still tweaking it, but I think you'll be able to see the direction its headed in.
Travel aboard starships
Starship passengers can be divided into four groups – those who can barely afford the passage and are willing to travel in cryosleep, those who can tolerate cramped quarters aboard a liner or tramp freighter, the ‘average’ passenger who wants to travel in a reasonably comfortable cabin, with decent food and entertainment to pass the time, and for rich or otherwise independently wealthy who can afford the most comfortable passage that credits can buy.
Much like the passenger service that travelled Earth’s oceans in the early part of the 20th century, ships offered different passages to those of different economic circumstances. First class passengers enjoyed the finest of everything – food, facilities and views. The passengers travelling in the middle saw less sumptuous food, reasonably appointed cabins and acceptable service from the crew. The unfortunate masses who travelled at the lowest scale of passage had no choice but to accept cramped quarters, edible food and almost no ships services or crew services beyond the bare minimum.
Starship travel is still tedious however. Most passengers must still pass through security at a starport, with many having to add in a shuttle trip to an orbital high port or directly to their ship.
Notes on Ship Passage
Small ships that are not pure passenger liners may not carry passengers higher than middle except under special circumstances (such as a private yacht/liner/courier). The reason for this is that they do not have the necessary amenities that higher passengers require and demand.
Ships that cater to higher class passengers must also have sufficient space and facilities to cater to wealthier passengers (not to mention they need to separate them from their money). Additional facilities include theatres, bars, casinos, and restaurants. Smaller ships may carry smaller versions, or in some cases, the facilities may be multiple use (restaurant during the day, casino at night after a quick conversion).
Liners earn their money through passenger fares, special cargo and mail. They may also earn additional revenue through sales of alcohol, gambling, shops with luxury goods, etc.
Stateroom Descriptions
Low / 3rd class – Typically found on small craft, intra-system liners, as low passage staterooms on starships or as troop quarters on military transports. They provide adequate but cramped space for 2 people in an over/under bunk, and include a small desk with a computer terminal. Storage space is adequate for 2 passengers and their clothing and small goods (every centimeter of the room is used for something). The rooms do not have their own fresher. Generally there is 1 fresher and shower (ea 1.5m x 1.5m) per 6 to 8 rooms. Older, lower TL (as well as military and paramilitary) ships typically use the 1 fresher/8 rooms. Starships carrying passengers usually adopt the 1 fresher per 6 rooms. These staterooms are meant for people travelling on a budget, but who have no desire to be frozen for the trip.
Middle / Crew / 2nd Class – Considered the standard sized stateroom for starships for both passengers and crew. They provide adequate, if somewhat sparse, quarters for the average person who cannot afford more lavish appointments (they are also sometimes used on intra-system liners for passengers wiling to upgrade). Each stateroom has a small desk with a computer terminal, storage lockers and a small fresher (1.5 x 1.5). Most Imperial military ships consider this to be a crew cabin for two individuals or a single cabin for junior officers.
High / 1st Class – Passengers travelling in a high passage cabin enjoy a comfortable journey from planet to planet. These rooms are well-appointed, often with synthetic textures and coverings for the walls as well as a plush carpet (lower class cabins have basic carpeting). There is a comfortable queen-sized bed that may be split into two singles if necessary, a small table with two chairs that also doubles as a computer terminal, and a comfortably sized fresher with both shower and toilet. The room is generally appointed with superior furnishings, trim, linens and such. This would be considered a senior officer’s cabin on most military ships (lower-ranking officers would typically double-up)
Luxury / Gold – Sumptuously appointed cabins that reek of luxury! They usually are divided into three sections – a sitting area, a sleeping area and a fresher. The sitting area has a couch that can sit three, a small table, and a built-wet bar (stocked with complimentary alcohol). The sleeping area has a large king-sized bed with a small table and two chairs. A computer workstation is also present (primarily activated using voice commands). The fresher area is divided with a toilet and sink in one area and a tub/shower in the 2nd area. The walls have many holographic frames that can be customized to display whatever the occupants wish to see. There is a 2m x 2m wall-mounted holographic display as well to watch movies and such on. The linens and towels are the finest available. On military ships these cabins would be reserved for VIP’s and officers of at least Captain rank or above.
Super Luxurious / Iridium – A suite fit for a king (or queen)! Each cabin offers passengers a luxurious oasis as they travel between the stars. The cabin is large and roomy, the bedroom has a large king-sized bed, a couch, sitting chair and table. There is a small toilet off the living area, and the main bathroom is accessible only through the bedroom, which includes both a roomy shower and a large tub (which offer both sonic and water-based options). The living room has a large comfortable sectional couch that easily sits 4 people, 2 chairs, 2 tables and a small wet bar.
General Stateroom Concepts
Any cabin may be sealed in an emergency to provide an air-tight compartment. Each 1 DT of space may support 1 person for 2hrs. Additional life support equipment may be added to offer survival-level atmosphere and water recycling at the cost of CR 10,000 for the first 24hrs and every additional 24hrs costs CR 1,000. Up to one week of emergency life support may be added to any cabin without additional displacement costs (the filtration and additional supply equipment takes up some of the available storage space and is also mounted in the floors/walls/ceilings).
All cabins have one emergency space suit for each occupant (typically 2 per any cabin, and additional ones will be added by ship’s stewards for small children, additional adults, etc. Rescue balls are provided for pets of a reasonable size). An emergency space suit consists of a touch plastic shell, and head/helmet area. The gloves are separate. The suit zips from the front. When the gloves are in place the suit can be pressurized, causing the front zipper to fuse, the wrist connections for the gloves also fuse. The helmet area is clear plastic and also hardens when pressurized. Life support is contained in an attached back-mounted unit. Suits are meant to be universal (will fit anyone 1m to 2.5m). The suits are naturally baggy and ill-fitting, but they are adequate to provide an air-tight suit for evacuation and emergencies. The suits offer 18hrs of life support, but no water, heating or toilet facilities. They are one-time use only, and cost CR 300. Rescue balls for small pets or children cost CR 200, and also include drugs designed to put the occupant in a very deep sleep for 24hrs (it includes the antidote inside). Suits for non-humans are also available.
General Starship Passenger Rules
Any ship that carries passenger-revenue traffic must be equipped with sufficient small craft or lifepods to evacuate all passengers and crew, and all passengers must be provided an emergency space suit for evacuations. This rule applies to any starship or spaceship that is more than 24hrs flight time at 2G from the nearest inhabited planet or station. Ships that are within the 24hr period, such as short-range shuttles, are not required to provide space suits or small craft evacuation capabilities.
Travel aboard starships
Starship passengers can be divided into four groups – those who can barely afford the passage and are willing to travel in cryosleep, those who can tolerate cramped quarters aboard a liner or tramp freighter, the ‘average’ passenger who wants to travel in a reasonably comfortable cabin, with decent food and entertainment to pass the time, and for rich or otherwise independently wealthy who can afford the most comfortable passage that credits can buy.
Much like the passenger service that travelled Earth’s oceans in the early part of the 20th century, ships offered different passages to those of different economic circumstances. First class passengers enjoyed the finest of everything – food, facilities and views. The passengers travelling in the middle saw less sumptuous food, reasonably appointed cabins and acceptable service from the crew. The unfortunate masses who travelled at the lowest scale of passage had no choice but to accept cramped quarters, edible food and almost no ships services or crew services beyond the bare minimum.
Starship travel is still tedious however. Most passengers must still pass through security at a starport, with many having to add in a shuttle trip to an orbital high port or directly to their ship.
Notes on Ship Passage
Small ships that are not pure passenger liners may not carry passengers higher than middle except under special circumstances (such as a private yacht/liner/courier). The reason for this is that they do not have the necessary amenities that higher passengers require and demand.
Ships that cater to higher class passengers must also have sufficient space and facilities to cater to wealthier passengers (not to mention they need to separate them from their money). Additional facilities include theatres, bars, casinos, and restaurants. Smaller ships may carry smaller versions, or in some cases, the facilities may be multiple use (restaurant during the day, casino at night after a quick conversion).
Liners earn their money through passenger fares, special cargo and mail. They may also earn additional revenue through sales of alcohol, gambling, shops with luxury goods, etc.
Stateroom Descriptions
Low / 3rd class – Typically found on small craft, intra-system liners, as low passage staterooms on starships or as troop quarters on military transports. They provide adequate but cramped space for 2 people in an over/under bunk, and include a small desk with a computer terminal. Storage space is adequate for 2 passengers and their clothing and small goods (every centimeter of the room is used for something). The rooms do not have their own fresher. Generally there is 1 fresher and shower (ea 1.5m x 1.5m) per 6 to 8 rooms. Older, lower TL (as well as military and paramilitary) ships typically use the 1 fresher/8 rooms. Starships carrying passengers usually adopt the 1 fresher per 6 rooms. These staterooms are meant for people travelling on a budget, but who have no desire to be frozen for the trip.
Middle / Crew / 2nd Class – Considered the standard sized stateroom for starships for both passengers and crew. They provide adequate, if somewhat sparse, quarters for the average person who cannot afford more lavish appointments (they are also sometimes used on intra-system liners for passengers wiling to upgrade). Each stateroom has a small desk with a computer terminal, storage lockers and a small fresher (1.5 x 1.5). Most Imperial military ships consider this to be a crew cabin for two individuals or a single cabin for junior officers.
High / 1st Class – Passengers travelling in a high passage cabin enjoy a comfortable journey from planet to planet. These rooms are well-appointed, often with synthetic textures and coverings for the walls as well as a plush carpet (lower class cabins have basic carpeting). There is a comfortable queen-sized bed that may be split into two singles if necessary, a small table with two chairs that also doubles as a computer terminal, and a comfortably sized fresher with both shower and toilet. The room is generally appointed with superior furnishings, trim, linens and such. This would be considered a senior officer’s cabin on most military ships (lower-ranking officers would typically double-up)
Luxury / Gold – Sumptuously appointed cabins that reek of luxury! They usually are divided into three sections – a sitting area, a sleeping area and a fresher. The sitting area has a couch that can sit three, a small table, and a built-wet bar (stocked with complimentary alcohol). The sleeping area has a large king-sized bed with a small table and two chairs. A computer workstation is also present (primarily activated using voice commands). The fresher area is divided with a toilet and sink in one area and a tub/shower in the 2nd area. The walls have many holographic frames that can be customized to display whatever the occupants wish to see. There is a 2m x 2m wall-mounted holographic display as well to watch movies and such on. The linens and towels are the finest available. On military ships these cabins would be reserved for VIP’s and officers of at least Captain rank or above.
Super Luxurious / Iridium – A suite fit for a king (or queen)! Each cabin offers passengers a luxurious oasis as they travel between the stars. The cabin is large and roomy, the bedroom has a large king-sized bed, a couch, sitting chair and table. There is a small toilet off the living area, and the main bathroom is accessible only through the bedroom, which includes both a roomy shower and a large tub (which offer both sonic and water-based options). The living room has a large comfortable sectional couch that easily sits 4 people, 2 chairs, 2 tables and a small wet bar.
General Stateroom Concepts
Any cabin may be sealed in an emergency to provide an air-tight compartment. Each 1 DT of space may support 1 person for 2hrs. Additional life support equipment may be added to offer survival-level atmosphere and water recycling at the cost of CR 10,000 for the first 24hrs and every additional 24hrs costs CR 1,000. Up to one week of emergency life support may be added to any cabin without additional displacement costs (the filtration and additional supply equipment takes up some of the available storage space and is also mounted in the floors/walls/ceilings).
All cabins have one emergency space suit for each occupant (typically 2 per any cabin, and additional ones will be added by ship’s stewards for small children, additional adults, etc. Rescue balls are provided for pets of a reasonable size). An emergency space suit consists of a touch plastic shell, and head/helmet area. The gloves are separate. The suit zips from the front. When the gloves are in place the suit can be pressurized, causing the front zipper to fuse, the wrist connections for the gloves also fuse. The helmet area is clear plastic and also hardens when pressurized. Life support is contained in an attached back-mounted unit. Suits are meant to be universal (will fit anyone 1m to 2.5m). The suits are naturally baggy and ill-fitting, but they are adequate to provide an air-tight suit for evacuation and emergencies. The suits offer 18hrs of life support, but no water, heating or toilet facilities. They are one-time use only, and cost CR 300. Rescue balls for small pets or children cost CR 200, and also include drugs designed to put the occupant in a very deep sleep for 24hrs (it includes the antidote inside). Suits for non-humans are also available.
General Starship Passenger Rules
Any ship that carries passenger-revenue traffic must be equipped with sufficient small craft or lifepods to evacuate all passengers and crew, and all passengers must be provided an emergency space suit for evacuations. This rule applies to any starship or spaceship that is more than 24hrs flight time at 2G from the nearest inhabited planet or station. Ships that are within the 24hr period, such as short-range shuttles, are not required to provide space suits or small craft evacuation capabilities.