Thank you (so much!) for searching for and finding the identity of the actual ship used used by Charlie Chan and son to sail to New York City! That information will be added eventually to this humble site.
I must say I was inspired to take my first ship cruise based on all the times Charlie traveled by same. Of course my cabin was not quite as elegant as his usually were. I just watched CC in Shanghai and was amused by prominent sign on boat that warned second class passengers not to venture onto main deck.
Yes, in those bygone days, 1st Class (Cabin), Tourist, and Third Class passenger areas were strictly separated. This is a "180" from today's cruise liners.
~Teil