Titanic was strictly divided into three classes and here follow a summary of them.
THIRD CLASS
A ticket across the atlantic was for many a beginning of a new life, and a ticket onboard Titanic was for many a glimpse of a new world even if travelling in third class. A ticket onboard Titanic cost $30, a large sum in 1912. It took years for a worker to save that kind of money, and the White Star Line made sure that they was spoken to with respect, even if most of them did not have a return ticket.
Titanic held good standard but was strict on questions that concerned morale. Any unsuitable affairs could was not allowed. It was rule that it should be quiet at night. (for the other classes there was no such rule) The sexes was also divided, single men slept close to the stem while single women and familys slept in the stern. Theese two quarters was separated by a long corridor along the ship.
A general room that served as a social meetingplace, it also had a piano and spontanous dancing was common. The room was panelled with pine and finished in enamel whith furniture in teak. Identical with the general room was the smoking room, the difference that the panelles and furnishes in oak and teak furniture. The promenade deck was located on the stem and sterm of the ship. Many found the journey boring, since it was so little to do, and as the weather got colder it was impossible to walk on deck.
But no one could complain about the food in Third Class! The White Star Line bragged about it on their commercial posters, they even had printed postcards with the menu as motive. The dining room was a spacious room that could take 470 people at a time, but not big enough to serve all third class passangers at one time. Three sittings was needed and each passanger was given a seating card. Each passanger had a chair of their own, the tables was covered by white tablecloth and the walls covered with posters of White Star Line's steamers. Meals was served three times a day - morning, midday and evening. There was also a possibility of getting a bit of soup and crackers at night.
The cabins held from two to six berths. Passangers was sometimes forced to share cabin with strangers but White Star Line did their best to match people that spoke the same language.
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SECOND CLASS
A second class ticket costed $175 but provided more contact with the ship compared to the istolated passangers in third class. Second class passangers could also take a tour in first class before the ship left Southampton.
A modest grand staircase and an elevator made it easy to move around the decks, the elevator was in fact the first in any second class section at sea. The promenade deck was located on boatdeck, but closer to the sterm that than first class.
The dining room could take 228 people in one sitting and was decorated with oak panels. To entertain at diners, a piano located in the room. The passangers could choose from different dishes of the menu. After dinner the men retired to the smoking room after dinner, a room decorated in Louis XVI style with oak panelling. Women could retire to the library, that also served as a general room. The library was a very popular place with mahogany furniture and silk curtains
Second class cabins were of two or four berths decorated in enamel white with mahogany furniture.
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FIRST CLASS
The first class space could easily be compared with the finest hotels in Paris or London. But luxery has a price, to cross the atlantic in a state room costed $4,350.
To move around the decks three elevators was available, but also a grand staircase. It was built in solid oak with carved panels in "William and Mary" style. On the top of the grand staircase a class dome let the light down on the stairs. A cherub light stood at the foot of the stairs with a wood carving clock behind. The dining room was the largest room onboard the ship and could take 532 passangers. Ther dinner was the most important event of the day, so it was decorated with extra care in "Jacobean" style with white walls and oak furniture.. In connection to the dining room was the reception, a popular place where people gathered before the meals for conversations. Also, orchestra played there regulary. Meals could also be taken in the a la carte restaurant, even though the meals there was not included in your ticket. If a passanger choosed to take all the meals there, it was possible to ask for a reduction on the ticket. The room was in "Louis XIV" style with light brown valnut panels, looing very regal.
After dinner the men retired to the smoking room, designed in "Georgian" style with mahogany panels. The windows were of painted glass with motives from ports around the world. The women retirned to the reading and wrighting room, designed especially to attract the ladies. The room featured huge bow windows so that one could observe life on the promenade deck.
Every class onboard has their own "general room" and it first class it became the lounge where one could conversate, drink tea and play cards. It was decorated in "Louis XV" style featuring elaborate woodern carvings on the walls.
In connection to the smoking room was the small Verandah Café, which led to the Palm Court. You could not be served a proper meal there, only have tea or biscuits. The verandah café was decorated in modern "Art Nouveau". Popular among the young was Cafe Parisien famous for it's french waitors.
In order to stay fit was a swimmingpool, gymnasium and squash court available. The were also a turkish bath. The first class promenade deck was on boatdeck, near the brige.
Titanic had 39 state rooms with private bathrooms, all uniqly designed in Louis XVI, Louis XV, Georgian and Queen Anne styles. Two of the state rooms also included private promenade deck. Besides the state rooms there were 350 standard cabins with single beds. Bathrooms could be found in the corridor.
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