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Long ago, in 16 century they used open fire in fair weather (with all possible precautions) on the deck to cook (ref. Morison, Admiral of the Ocean Sea). When the sea was rough, only cold food could be served. Later they used galleys of higher and higher sophistication, but still mostly in the good weather. There was no other way to heat oneself, except with a lot of cloth, blankets etc. Yes the travel was not very comfortable, even for the rich.

They rarely traveled in winter by the way, and for more important reasons than mere cold.

Recently I saw a film on YouTube of some re-enactment of a trip of Vikings in a replica of a Viking ship. The re-enactment was in summer, of course, and they used modern high-tech cloth. But the ship and its equipment was authentic as much as possible. Several people had to drop from the enterprise, and they were picked by an accompanying modern boat and evacuated. Because they could not tolerate the cold. (And being wet for 24 hours day after day.)

Such stories are abundant. One 20th century re-enactment of the Columbus voyage had to be abandoned completely because the crew could not endure the conditions and rebelled. I recall that Columbus own crew was also on the verge of rebellion when America was finally discovered.

My general impression is that people were tougher, and could endure more hardship then most of modern people. (And more people died from various reasons, of course. In particular during the sea travels.)

Remark: I sailed in the North Atlantic myself, in a 40 ft sail boat, in summer. There was no heating of any kind, of course. It was difficult to stand a 4 hour night watch, in ordinary cloths without a special modern high-tech sailing suit. But it was OK to sleep in a sleeping bag in a cabin. Standing these night watches I tried to imagine how people could stay on the deck at night under icy spray, wearing only wool, linen, leather etc. in the old times, and it was hard to imagine.

Long ago, in 16 century they used open fire in fair weather (with all possible precautions) on the deck to cook (ref. Morison, Admiral of the Ocean Sea). When the sea was rough, only cold food could be served. Later they used galleys of higher and higher sophistication, but still mostly in the good weather. There was no other way to heat oneself, except with a lot of cloth, blankets etc. Yes the travel was not very comfortable, even for the rich.

They rarely traveled in winter by the way, and for more important reasons than mere cold.

Recently I saw a film on YouTube of some re-enactment of a trip of Vikings in a replica of a Viking ship. The re-enactment was in summer, and they used modern high-tech cloth. But the ship and its equipment was authentic as much as possible. Several people had to drop from the enterprise, and they were picked by an accompanying modern boat and evacuated. Because they could not tolerate the cold. (And being wet for 24 hours day after day.)

Such stories are abundant. One 20th century re-enactment of the Columbus voyage had to be abandoned completely because the crew could not endure the conditions and rebelled. I recall that Columbus own crew was also on the verge of rebellion when America was finally discovered.

My general impression is that people were tougher, and could endure more hardship then most of modern people. (And more people died from various reasons, in particular during the sea travels.)

Remark: I sailed in the North Atlantic myself, in a 40 ft sail boat, in summer. There was no heating of any kind. It was difficult to stand a 4 hour night watch, in ordinary cloths without a special modern high-tech sailing suit. But it was OK to sleep in a sleeping bag in a cabin. Standing these night watches I tried to imagine how people could stay on the deck at night under icy spray, wearing only wool, linen, leather etc. in the old times, and it was hard to imagine.

Long ago, in 16 century they used open fire is fair weather (with all possible precautions) on the deck to cook (ref. Morison, Admiral of the Ocean Sea). When the sea was rough, only cold food could be served. Later they used galleys of higher and higher sophistication, but still mostly in the good weather. There was no other way to heat oneself, except with a lot of cloth, blankets etc. Yes the travel was not very comfortable, even for the rich.

They rarely traveled in winter by the way, and for more important reasons than mere cold.

Recently I saw a film in youtube of some re-enactment of a trip of Vikings in a replica of a Viking ship. The re-enactment was in summer, of course, and they used modern high-tech cloth. But the ship and its equipment was authentic as much as possible. Several people had to drop from the enterprise, and they were picked by an accompanying modern boat and evacuated. Because they could not tolerate the cold. (And being wet for 24 hours day after day.)

Such stories are abundant. One 20th century re-enactment of the Columbus voyage had to be abandoned completely because the crew could not endure the conditions and rebelled. I recall that Columbus own crew was also on the verge of rebellion when America was finally discovered.

My general impression is that people were tougher, and could endure more hardship then most of modern people. (And more people died from various reasons, of course. In particular during the sea travels.)

Remark. I sailed in the North Atlantic myself, in a 40 ft sail boat, in summer. There was no heating of any kind, of course. It was difficult to stand a 4 hour night watch, in ordinary cloths without a special modern high-tech sailing suit. But it was OK to sleep in a sleeping bag in a cabin. Standing these night watches I tried to imagine how people could stay on the deck at night under icy spray, wearing only wool, linen, leather etc. in the old times, and it was hard to imagine.

Long ago, in 16 century they used open fire in fair weather (with all possible precautions) on the deck to cook (ref. Morison, Admiral of the Ocean Sea). When the sea was rough, only cold food could be served. Later they used galleys of higher and higher sophistication, but still mostly in the good weather. There was no other way to heat oneself, except with a lot of cloth, blankets etc. Yes the travel was not very comfortable, even for the rich.

They rarely traveled in winter by the way, and for more important reasons than mere cold.

Recently I saw a film on YouTube of some re-enactment of a trip of Vikings in a replica of a Viking ship. The re-enactment was in summer, of course, and they used modern high-tech cloth. But the ship and its equipment was authentic as much as possible. Several people had to drop from the enterprise, and they were picked by an accompanying modern boat and evacuated. Because they could not tolerate the cold. (And being wet for 24 hours day after day.)

Such stories are abundant. One 20th century re-enactment of the Columbus voyage had to be abandoned completely because the crew could not endure the conditions and rebelled. I recall that Columbus own crew was also on the verge of rebellion when America was finally discovered.

My general impression is that people were tougher, and could endure more hardship then most of modern people. (And more people died from various reasons, of course. In particular during the sea travels.)

Remark: I sailed in the North Atlantic myself, in a 40 ft sail boat, in summer. There was no heating of any kind, of course. It was difficult to stand a 4 hour night watch, in ordinary cloths without a special modern high-tech sailing suit. But it was OK to sleep in a sleeping bag in a cabin. Standing these night watches I tried to imagine how people could stay on the deck at night under icy spray, wearing only wool, linen, leather etc. in the old times, and it was hard to imagine.

Long ago, in 16 century they used open fire is fair weather (with all possible precautions) on the deck to cook (ref. Morison, Admiral of the Ocean Sea). When the sea was rough, only cold food could be served. Later they used galleys of higher and higher sophistication, but still mostly in the good weather. There was no other way to heat oneself, except with a lot of cloth, blankets etc. Yes the travel was not very comfortable, even for the rich.

They rarely traveled in winter by the way, and for more important reasons than mere cold.

Recently I saw a film in youtube of some re-enactment of a trip of Vikings in a replica of a Viking ship. The re-enactment was in summer, of course, and they used modern high-tech cloth. But the ship and its equipment was authentic as much as possible. Several people had to drop from the enterprise, and they were picked by an accompanying modern boat and evacuated. Because they could not tolerate the cold. (And being wet for 24 hours day after day.)

Such stories are abundant. One 20th century re-enactment of the Columbus voyage had to be abandoned completely because the crew could not endure the conditions and rebelled. I recall that Columbus own crew was also on the verge of rebellion when America was finally discovered.

My general impression is that people were tougher, and could endure more hardship then most of modern people. (And more people died from various reasons, of course. In particular during the sea travels.)

Remark. I sailed in the North Atlantic myself, in a 40 ft sail boat, in summer. There was no heating of any kind, of course. It was difficult to stand a 4 hour night watch, in ordinary cloths without a special modern high-tech sailing suit. But it was OK to sleep in a sleeping bag in a cabin. But it was really hard to imagine how people could stay on the deck at night under icy spray, wearing only wool, linen, leather etc. in the old times.

Long ago, in 16 century they used open fire is fair weather (with all possible precautions) on the deck to cook (ref. Morison, Admiral of the Ocean Sea). When the sea was rough, only cold food could be served. Later they used galleys of higher and higher sophistication, but still mostly in the good weather. There was no other way to heat oneself, except with a lot of cloth, blankets etc. Yes the travel was not very comfortable, even for the rich.

They rarely traveled in winter by the way, and for more important reasons than mere cold.

Recently I saw a film in youtube of some re-enactment of a trip of Vikings in a replica of a Viking ship. The re-enactment was in summer, of course, and they used modern high-tech cloth. But the ship and its equipment was authentic as much as possible. Several people had to drop from the enterprise, and they were picked by an accompanying modern boat and evacuated. Because they could not tolerate the cold. (And being wet for 24 hours day after day.)

Such stories are abundant. One 20th century re-enactment of the Columbus voyage had to be abandoned completely because the crew could not endure the conditions and rebelled. I recall that Columbus own crew was also on the verge of rebellion when America was finally discovered.

My general impression is that people were tougher, and could endure more hardship then most of modern people. (And more people died from various reasons, of course. In particular during the sea travels.)

Remark. I sailed in the North Atlantic myself, in a 40 ft sail boat, in summer. There was no heating of any kind, of course. It was difficult to stand a 4 hour night watch, in ordinary cloths without a special modern high-tech sailing suit. But it was OK to sleep in a sleeping bag in a cabin. Standing these night watches I tried to imagine how people could stay on the deck at night under icy spray, wearing only wool, linen, leather etc. in the old times, and it was hard to imagine.