What does "took my berth" mean?
After a week in Cape Town, I made up my mind to go back to Durban by the Dunkeld, then lying in the docks waiting for the Edinburgh Castle to get in from England. I took my berth and went aboard, and that afternoon the passengers from England came on and we put to sea.

Does it mean he bought a ticket for the Dunkeld? It it means that he took his place, it doesn't make sense that then he went aboard.

Question

What does "took my berth" mean?
After a week in Cape Town, I made up my mind to go back to Durban by the Dunkeld, then lying in the docks waiting for the Edinburgh Castle to get in from England. I took my berth and went aboard, and that afternoon the passengers from England came on and we put to sea.

Does it mean he bought a ticket for the Dunkeld? It it means that he took his place, it doesn't make sense that then he went aboard.

Answer

Wow, Iris, you're really pushing your English to the limits! Respect! I had to look this up. I know berth as both a sleeping bunk and a mooring slip for a boat but apparently this is a ticket for a voyage by ship. If it was his sleeping place, it would have happened after going aboard. It's probably related to that, though. The ship is called Edinburgh Castle, it arrived from England, he bought his ticket, boarded, the English came later and they took off.

Answer

Thank you.

Answer

Yes, it means exactly as you asked. He bought a berth( a place) on the Dunkeld.