How did peole get aboard ships in the olden days.?

Question

You know the big passenger ships like the Mayflower? How did people get on them? Was it the same as today or did they use row boats like I see in movies sometimes?

Answer 1

Gangways.  Old as time...

Answer 2

They put wooden boards from the dock to the boat and walked onto the boat.

Answer 3

or the "gang-plank" and then there were stairs and docks.. and ladders.

Answer 4

They built a dock the same height as the boat as it sat in the water. Then they used a plank/bridge to cross over. Rope ladders could have been used as-well, but generally people didn't ride dinghies up to passenger ships.