The Lure and Lore

The Lure and Lore

Class Segregation
The passenger accommodation was spread among the top seven decks, A to G, and was strictly segregated according to class with the most affluent housed on the upper levels. A descent into the bowels of the liner equated with a descent on the social ladder. The different classes in separate dining-rooms, read and talked in separate lounges, smoked in separate smoking rooms, enjoyed the outdoors on separate promenades, had their hair cut in separate barbers’ shop, and used different gangways to find their ways around the ship. The long, wide passage that ran along the port side of E deck and was a popular route with the crew and steerage passengers, was nicknamed "Scotland Road" after the bustling, working-class thoroughfare in Liverpool, the Titanic’s port of registration. Meanwhile, a narrower passage on the starboard side of E deck, which was for first-class use, was known as "park Lane" after the fashionable street in London’s Mayfair. Virtually all the liner’s most impressive facilities were solely for the use of the first-class.

Exemplary Luxury
White Star Lines illustrated a picture of the Titanic vertically to show how at 882.5 feet long, she compared to many of world’s tallest buildings, such as New York’s New Woolworth Building (750 feet), it’s Metropolitan Tower (700 feet), the Washington Monument (555 feet), and Cologne Cathedral (516 feet). Even though she had immense size, her size was more than matched by her interior, which was furnished and carpeted with the finest quality of furnishings and artwork. No expense was spared to make the Titanic the most luxurious vessel ever to have taken to the seas. By treating first-class ticket-holders like royalty, creating second-class accommodations that could not fail to impress the pickiest of people and by providing third-class amenities that would surpass those of second-class amenities on other ocean liners- White Star calculated that the public would not be able to resist the Titanic.

All accommodations reserved for first-class passengers were on the decks A, B, and C. The finest were the staterooms, in particular the two parlor suites, which were located on either side of the grand entrance, which was at the bow of the boat on deck C, and the two promenade suites, that occupied similar positions on deck B. At 870 pounds, the promenade suites were the most expensive rooms on the Titanic and according to the shipbuilder, had been "fitted out with unparalleled luxury." The parlor and promenade suites each consisted of a sitting room, 2 bedrooms, 2 wardrobe rooms, and a private bath and lavatory, while the promenade suites also had their own private decks, for going out on and breathing in the fresh sea air. Great attention was concentrated on detail. The sitting rooms were decorated in different styles and periods, including Louis Seize (XVI) and Louis Quatorze (XIV). Many of the light fittings cost hundreds of pounds a piece and were totally authentic to the period. And when booking the promenade suites, the occupant was given a free inside cabin for their servants – an irresistible offer.

Many of the other first-class staterooms were also decorated in different styles and periods, such as- Italian Renaissance, Empire, Adams, Luis Quize, Georgian, Regency, Queen Anne, Modern Dutch, and Old Dutch. All the staterooms were linked by long imposing corridors. On each deck there were 6 suites that joined the parlor and promenade suites. Each of these suites had 3 combined bed-and-sitting-rooms with connecting doors, 2 wardrobe rooms, plus private bath and lavatory. There was a wide variety of staterooms which included up to 3 berths (bedrooms) designed to cater to every taste. Some featured an adjoining cabin for their personal servant. They boasted electric heaters, four-foot wide brass bed, wicker armchairs, horsehair sofas, marble washstands, and fans in the ceiling. Also a green mesh net hung from the wall for the storage of valuables at night, undoubtedly a luxury of the highest order.

All first class accommodations were situated amidship to limit the swaying or roughness of the water. Access from one deck to another was by two grand staircases or by three electric lifts that ran between decks A and E. Befitting a ship of her stature, the staircases were not ordinary. They were decorated in late seventeenth century English style, but the heavily carved balustrade, with its wrought iron scroll work leaned more towards Louis XIV with walls covered in oak paneling.

The largest room on the Titanic was the first-class dining room on deck D, which was the entire width of the ship (92 ft.). The length consisted of 114 ft. and catered 550 diners at one time (compared to the Olympic’s ship diner which seated 532). It was made to look like the great Jacobean stately homes. A number of recessed bays enabled passengers to dine in privacy, while the lighting was designed so the whole room appeared to be bathed in permanent sunshine. The Captain’s table sat six that was positioned at the forward end of this vast room, which was central to the ship. The official description of the dinning saloon spared no adjective: "It is an immense room decorated in a style peculiarly English, reminiscent of early Jacobean times; but instead of the somber oak of the 16^th and 17^th centuries, it is painted a soft, rich white, which with the coved and richly-molded ceilings and the spacious character of the apartment, would satisfy the most aesthetic critic. The furniture is of oak designed to harmonize with its surroundings." One of the few events that were the same for all classes on the Titanic was dining hours. Breakfast was served from 8:30am to 10:30am, lunch was served from 1:00pm to 2:30pm, and dinner was from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. However certain first-class facilities, such as the restaurant, remained open longer.

Adjoining the dining saloon was a 54-foot-long reception room where first-class passengers gathered before dining. This also (like the dining saloon) occupied the full width of the ship. The floor of the reception room was covered in a rich Axminster carpet and the furniture included sumptuous Chesterfields, can chairs, and a grand piano.