The 'Hote' ship worked relatively well, however there was still a distincet 'class' onboard....those in cabins on "A" deck and above for example always chose to 'mingle' in the Cellar Bar.....

Many thanks for all your comments. Adds a lot of interest to the photo. Cheers Tony.

Transvaal Castle was conceived as an experimental "hotel" ship, with all passenger accommodation in one class rather than the first and tourist split of the other mail ships. A further innovation was the use of female waiting staff, known as "stewardettes". These were later to be a feature of the other ships in the mail fleet, but the one class concept was restricted to this one ship, the others remaining two class to the end of their service.
The uniform was made in 1964 by Courtaulds Ltd.and worn by stewardettes on board the Union-Castle liners "Transvaal Castle" and "Edinburgh Castle". The dresses are made from lilac Courtelle jersey, with cap and apron in check nylon. The washability of Courtelle jersey, combined with its crease resistance make it an ideal fabric for use in uniforms. (courtesy of London College of Fashion)

If you look closely enough, she appears to carry the name SINDBAD in this picture.

Clive I got the information from the book "Passenger Liners" by Laurence Dunn, C 1965 Adlard ColesLtd.

I thought that it was Transvaal Castle that was the first Union-Castle liner to have 'stewardettes' in the dining room.

This is
PENDENNIS CASTLE IMO 5273808
1958 completed by Harland & Wolff, Belfast
for Union Castle Mail Steamship Co. Ltd., London
28.582GRT (as built), 15.976tdw, 46.000shp, 2 steam turbines geared, twin screws, 22.5kn service, passengers (as built) 197 1st, 473 tourists, stabilizers, partly air conditioned.

She was the first British liner to carry waitresses (so-called stewardettes)

1976 pa. OCEAN QUEEN
1976 laid up Hong Kong
1977 pa. SINDBAD
1980 broken up Hong Kong