Under the lower deck were spaces for water, provisions, coal, and magazines for shell and powder.

These were covered by an armoured deck, 1.5 inches (38 mm) thick and approximately 100 ft (30 m) long.

The tops of the coal bunkers, which projected above deck level, were used for seating at the mess tables.

[10] On 18 December 1878, Cleopatra ran into the steamship Lord Gough in the Clyde, severely damaging her.

[15][16] Her winter cruise from late January to April 1903 took her to Arosa Bay, Gibraltar, Port Mahon, Palma, Cadiz and Vigo.