This comes from a recording of a kitchen concert that took place at our friends Annie Dearman and Steve Harrison’s home this weekend, and I think it has a ring of truth about it.
Having observed human nature over many decades now, I’m quite sure this kind of thing happened on board sailing ships, as well as on the steamers and motor ships that came later.
The image is of the packet ship Montezuma and is taken from the Wikipedia, which has more on the packet ship trade here.