Cleanliness and health aboard Age of Sail warships

What were living conditions like in different Age of Sail navies?

Conditions varied, but Royal Navy ships were often notably clean because long-serving crews associated cleanliness with health.

Royal Navy ships could be kept exceptionally clean because crews associated constant cleaning with health during long periods at sea. Ships spending more time in port could tolerate dirtier living spaces because crews had greater access ashore. The audience prompt is broad, and conditions varied among navies and voyages. Cleanliness is therefore one useful comparison rather than a complete hierarchy of living standards.