First Class on R.M.S. OlympicOutstanding features of her construction are the broad sweeps of her decks, the liberal size of her staterooms, and the beauty and dignity of her public apartments, in the finish of which English oak has been employed with a free hand. Olympic remained a popular and fashionable liner throughout the 1920s, maintaining a reputation for tranquil luxury. A veritable 'film star liner', her opulent First Class accommodations often attracted the famous. Her decor, with its medley of period styles, transported passengers back to Le Belle Époque and the first great age of ocean travel from which she was born.
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First Class Entrance
Passengers on the Grand Staircase between the Boat Deck and A-deck. "The Magnificent Trio: Majestic, Olympic, Homeric" Brochure.; c.1925.
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Proceeding from deck to deck aboard Olympic was an elegant experience, with every level of First Class accommodation being connected by a magnificent Grand Staircase. Carved from English oak, this sweeping structure was constructed in the neoclassical style popular during the reign of William III & Mary II. The banisters were fitted with intricately decorated ironwork panels centered with Louis XIV style ormolu swags. At the top of the Grand Staircase, connecting the Boat-deck with A-deck, a lofty two-story high Entrance Hall was crowned by a vast dome. This was constructed from glass and wrought iron and fitted with an extravagant crystal chandelier. Contained within a protective deckhouse on the top of the Boat-deck, this dome allowed natural light to flood the staircase during the day. By night, it was lit from behind by concealed light fixtures. The middle landing of this top level was fitted with an impressive clock, its carved decoration showing 'Honor and Glory Crowning Time'. At each landing of the staircase, passengers found themselves within a large Entrance Hall for every deck. On A-deck, a long corridor stretching aft connected passengers with Olympic's principal public apartments. The ceiling of this deck was raised half-height above the boat deck above, allowing these rooms to reach a lofty height of over twelve feet.
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Forward of the Grand Staircase, a set of three electric elevators carried passengers between A-deck and E-deck. An additional Grand Staircase was located further aft in the First Class accommodations. Situated between the Lounge and the Smoking Room, this staircase descended only three levels between A-deck and C-deck. The Aft Grand Staircase was simpler in style yet suitably elegant and crowned by a smaller glass dome. In an attempt to modernize her appearance, the Grand Staircases received a new colour scheme sometime in the early 1930s. The original oak was painted in an avocado green with gilded accents on the decorative detailing.
First Class Drawing Room
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The Drawing Room was the furthest forward of the principal public rooms on A-deck, reached from the long corridor which connected the Lounge with the Grand Staircase. Formerly designated as the 'Reading & Writing Room' in the pre-war years, this apartment provided a space to read, write, and relax in light conversation within a refined atmosphere. The walls were decorated with elegant white Georgian plasterwork embellished with delicate detailing in fruit and floral patterns. Tall columns in the Corinthian order supported the ceiling which was also painted white and decorated with gentle plaster reliefs typical of the mid-eighteenth century. The floor was covered with a plush velvet carpet, adding a soft and homely feeling to the room. A large marble mantelpiece surrounded a cosy electric fireplace, whilst mirrors and decorative sconces adorned the walls. The room was furnished with large armchairs upholstered in gentle shades of blue and yellow. Large potted ferns were placed within the corners to add to the elegant atmosphere. On the port side wall, a great bay window provided views out over the enclosed promenade deck. Generously sized writing desks furnished this bay. This arrangement allowed passengers to enjoy the view of the passing sea or gaze upon their fellow travelers outside whilst writing letters.
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Passengers on the enclosed A-deck promenade. "The Magnificent Trio: Majestic, Olympic, Homeric" Brochure. c.1925.
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When Olympic first entered service, this room had been larger, with an additional inner recess accessed through a large archway with oeil-de-boeuf windows, creating an L-shaped arrangement. Although a charming space, this additional area of the room had little popularity with passengers. During her refit of 1913, this space was removed in favour of four additional staterooms. The Drawing Room still remained an exceptionally spacious apartment.
First Class Lounge
Located amidships on A-deck, adjacent to the Drawing Room, the First Class Lounge was certainly the most ornately decorated of Olympic's public apartments. The decorative style adopted was Louis XV with stylistic similarities to the Palace of Versailles. The walls were panelled in English oak carved with intricate detailing in floral and musical themes. Decorative sconces, large mirrors, and wall clocks, all worked from ornate bronze, adorned the apartment. The most impressive feature of the room was the large ormolu Electrolier hung in the middle of the ceiling within an elegantly carved recess. Adorned with crystals, this striking light-fitting ensured the presence of soft lighting, supported by smaller companions of a similar style throughout the room.
Lounge. C. R. Hoffman Postcard 1161; c.1928.
A large marble fireplace was fitted at the forward end of the Lounge with a marble statue of Diane of Versailles placed on its mantel. The fireplace faced across to a large rounded recess at the aft end within which was placed an impressive curved bookcase made from rich mahogany. This held an extensive collection of classic novels and modern periodicals which were available to be browsed and borrowed by passengers. The furniture of the room was as impressive as its decor, comprising delicately carved card tables accompanied by French style settees and armchairs covered in plush velvet. The Lounge covered an impressive floor space of thirty-seven-hundred square feet. Four sizable bay windows surrounded the room. These were separated into individual alcoves by dividing walls containing stained-glass windows, thereby providing passengers with more intimate spaces. The Lounge was open from 8am until 11pm, serving as the principal space for all manner of social activities including reading, card games, concerts, and afternoon tea. In the late 1920s, a dance-floor and movable cinema screen was also fitted within this apartment.
First Class Smoking Room
A steward offers cigars in the Smoking Room. "The Magnificent Trio: Majestic, Olympic, Homeric" Brochure; c.1925.
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The Smoking Room for First Class passengers was located further aft of the Lounge beyond the Aft Grand Staircase within a large apartment covering four-thousand square feet. Its distinctive decorative style made this room one of the most unique and civilised spaces on the North Atlantic. The Smoking Room was Georgian in decor and panelled in the finest dark mahogany. The walls were richly carved and inlaid with mother-of-peal arranged in intricate designs. A series of impressively sized stained glass panels depicting nautical themes were placed on the inner walls and within the outer windows. These panels were illuminated from behind when closed, thereby provided elegant notes of colour to complement the darker tones of the wood panelling.
Here in this room, which combines the dignity of a club with the intimate comfort of a room at home, the passenger settles in well-cushioned chairs, content just to live and to enjoy life. White Star Line Brochure; "The Big Three: Olympic, Homeric, Majestic"; circa 1928
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The room was fitted with a real coal-burning fire surrounded by a white marble mantelpiece. The smoke from the fire was drawn up into the furthest aft smokestack located above this room. Above the fireplace hung the large painting 'Approach to the New World', depicting the sea entry into New York harbor. The room had been principally designed for gentleman, dedicated to the purposes of smoking, drinking, and playing cards. Mahogany card tables topped with green fabric were accompanied by comfortable armchairs upholstered in dark green leather. In keeping with the practical needs of the room, the floor was covered in linoleum tiles coloured in red and blue. This was contrasted with the plain white molded plaster ceiling, simpler than the rest of the decor and therefore providing an appropriate balance to the room. The Smoking Room was open from 8am until 11:30pm.
First Class Verandah & Palm Court
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At the farthest aft end of A-deck overlooking the stern, Olympic was fitted with two Verandah Cafés, otherwise referred to as the Verandah & Palm Court. These two apartments were light, airy, and elegant in style, creating the impression of outdoor sidewalk cafés and providing uninterrupted views over the sea outside. Decorated in the manner of winter gardens, the walls were fitted with dark green trellises supporting climbing ivy, accompanied by potted plants throughout the room. The Verandahs were furnished with large cream wicker furniture arranged intimately around tables for three or four people. Large arched windows flooded the rooms with natural light as well as provided the expansive views across the promenade which made them so popular with First Class passengers.
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Port-side 'Smoking' Verandah adjoining the Smoking Room. "White Star Line: Olympic, Homeric, Majestic" brochure. c.1928
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It looks out across the illimitable ocean, stretching in the sunshine or the deep blue under the stars. In this attractive spot, with the tang of salt air filling its cosy protection, passengers enjoy many an hour of content and good fellowship.
White Star Line Brochure; "The Big Three: Olympic, Homeric, Majestic"; circa 1928
The Verandahs were both accessible from the promenade deck through sets of double sliding French windows. These could be left open during the summer season, allowing passengers to enjoy the fresh sea-air whilst remaining sheltered from the elements. The two sections were divided between smoking and non-smoking use, located on the port and starboard sides of the Smoking Room respectively. Whilst the non-smoking Verandah was only accessible from outside on the deck, a revolving door connected the smoking section with the adjoining Smoking Room. The result of this arrangement was the frequently deserted state of the starboard Verandah. This room found a more frequent use as a playroom by mothers and children as there was no dedicated facility for this aboard the ship.
First Class Reception Room
After-dinner coffee being served in the Reception Room. "The Magnificent Trio: Majestic, Olympic, Homeric" brochure; c.1925.
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Descending the Grand Staircase to arrive at D-deck, passengers found themselves within a capacious Reception Room adjacent to the main Dining Saloon. Extending over almost five-thousand square feet, this impressive apartment was the first space that most First Class passengers would encounter aboard Olympic, having boarded through one of the two entrance vestibules at either side of the room. This room was the principal meeting place before and after dinner with the ship's orchestra playing as passengers gathered. During the day, it served as an additional lounge and social space, with afternoon tea being served here most days during a voyage. The walls were covered in elegant white Jacobean woodwork in continuity with the adjoining Dining Saloon. The portholes were stacked double height to improve the presence of natural light. These were hidden by Luxfer tiled glass windows with painted panels. These windows were lit from behind during the evening to enhance the bright atmosphere of the room.
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As passengers descended the Grand Staircase, they were greeted by an impressive electric candelabra on the lower balustrade. Directly across from the staircase hung a large Aubusson tapestry. The room was furnished with large cushioned wicker chairs along with grandfather chairs upholstered in green damask. Large planters throughout the room held tall potted ferns, adding a fresh and welcoming atmosphere. A Steinway grand piano was also fitted next to the starboard vestibule. The Reception Room was open from 8am and its lights were extinguished at 11pm.
First Class Staterooms
The staterooms offered to Olympic's First Class passengers were amongst the most comfortable available on any transatlantic liner. The finest staterooms and suits were located on B-deck and C-deck, the most extensive being the four 'Parlour' suites which each embraced two bedrooms with wardrobes rooms, a private sitting room, and a private bathroom and water-closet. Each deck had two such suites, one located on the port and starboard side respectively. Further aft of these suites, Olympic was fitted with an extensive number of staterooms of superior size and comfort. Connecting doors were fitted between these staterooms, allowing them to be grouped into any suite configuration desired by the passengers. A further six suites of rooms could be arranged on each deck, each embracing three bedrooms and a private bedroom connected by a small corridor. Private bathrooms facilities were considered a high luxury in Olympic's first years of service. Although she had been fitted with an extensive number by the standards of her time, the White Star Line found it necessary to introduce further staterooms with private bathrooms to match ever increasing demand. By 1928, a further thirty-four such staterooms were available across both B-deck and C-deck. Staterooms of a more standard variety were located across A-deck, D-deck, and E-deck.
The bedrooms in these suites are designed to suit those accustomed to luxury and good taste in their homes [...] such are the bedrooms that ensure to the passenger that deep and refreshing sleep which is an essential part of the voyage.
White Star Line Brochure; "The Big Three: Olympic, Homeric, Majestic"; circa 1928
Harking back to the elegance of the Edwardian era, the most exclusive staterooms were decorated in a stunning range of period styles including Empire, Regency, Adams, Louis XIV, and Italian Renaissance. All staterooms were fitted with large dressing tables, marble washstands with hot and cold running water, plush settees, capacious wardrobes, and freestanding brass or wooden bedsteads. The homely private sitting rooms of the 'Parlour' suites were supplied with furniture matching the period style of the room, including plush armchairs, large sideboards, and private dining tables. Each sitting room was fitted with an electric fireplace placed within a handsomely carved mantelpiece. The majority of staterooms were finished in a simpler yet highly attractive decor, being panelled in white and fitted with oak furniture. Further improving her impressive accommodations, the White Star Line fitted Olympic with an additional sixteen suite staterooms in 1928. These were located at the forward end of B-deck, replacing twenty-eight smaller staterooms. The decorative scheme of these new staterooms adopted historical styles popular at the time such as Queen Anne, Colonial, and Tudor, thereby introducing a modern touch whilst remaining true to the ship's period theme. All were fitted with private bathrooms and were large enough to include roomy private sitting spaces.
First Class Restaurant
First Class passengers were not restricted to dining within the main Dining Saloon. The first of its kind aboard a British liner in 1911, Olympic was fitted with an exclusive Á La Carte Reataurant which served haute cuisine throughout the day. The Restaurant was located at the far end of the First Class accommodations on B-deck within immediate proximity of the finest suites and staterooms available aboard. Serving meals from 8am until 11pm, passengers were expected to arrange table reservations with the Restaurant manager. Meals taken in the Restaurant were not included in the price of travel but rather ordered individually priced from the menu. However, if a passenger elected to take all their meals in the Restaurant, an allowance ($25 in 1928) was taken from the price of their ticket. The Restaurant was the most exclusive location aboard the ship and dining here was an extravagance even for the average First Class passenger. Those who could afford to dine in the Restaurant could be assured of the finest of French cuisine, with Charlie Chaplin once declaring it to be his favourite Restaurant anywhere on land or at sea.
Restaurant. C. R. Hoffmann Postcard 1171. c.1928.
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Restaurant Carte du Jour. 1922.
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The Restaurant was lavishly decorated in the Louis XVI style with wall panelling elegantly carved from French walnut. The panelling was finished with gilded details, whilst gold ribbons encircled the fluted pillars which neatly divided the room. Inner wall panelling created intimate alcoves around the room and the tables were arranged for between two and six people. The chairs were upholstered with Aubusson tapestry in pink-rose patterns. The ceiling was delicately decorated with soft floral plasterwork whilst the floor was fitted with a rich pile Axminster carpet. Although originally designed to seat one-hundred-and-thirty-seven diners, the Restaurant was so popular that in 1913 it was extended further port to seat an additional thirty-nine diners. On the starboard side, the new Café Parisienne was installed, a feature that had been previously adopted on her ill-fated sister Titanic. Decorated in fresh colour tones with tall indoor trellises and light wicker furniture, this handsome apartment gave the impression of a Parisian sidewalk café directly overlooking the sea. By the 1920s, this room was more commonly referred to as the Garden Café and its decorative scheme was modernised with darker tones to match the adjoining Restaurant.
First Class Dining Saloon
Passengers in the Dining Saloon. "The Magnificent Trio: Majestic, Olympic, Homeric" Brochure; c.1925.
The main Dining Saloon for First Class passengers was located amidships on D-deck. This apartment was immense in its proportions, covering a floor space of ten-thousand square feet and extended the full width of the ship. The decorative scheme was Jacobean with influences taken from the great English houses of the early seventeenth century. The walls were panelled with mahogany painted in bright white enamel and carved in low relief with elegant decorative features. A series of pillars, curving into the ceiling at the top, created distinctive sections to the room. A central dining hall ran down the middle with beautifully carved oak buffet recesses located at either end. The forward recess contained an upright piano, allowing the Dining Saloon to be used for divine service on Sundays. Either side of the room was divided into a series of compartments by inner walls fitted with decorative archways. This arrangement created more privacy for the diners, positively detracting from the enormity of the space. The seating arrangements varied with anything from two to twelve diners being seated at any table. The room was furnished with oak furniture and the dining chairs were upholstered in studded green leather. The double-height portholes were concealed by Luxfer windows with painted glass tiles. These were lit from behind during the evening to enhance the light and elegant atmosphere of the room.
A later view Dining Saloon showing the new dance-floor and decorative alterations. C. R. Hoffman Postcard 1157. c.1928.
In contrast to the Á La Carte Reataurant on B-deck, meals were served at fixed times during the day in the traditional manner once standard at sea. Passengers were informed of mealtimes in their passenger list. Further in-keeping with tradition, a bugle call of 'Roast Beef of Old England' was sounded half-an-hour before lunch and dinner, allowing passengers time to change. This traditional style and sense of pre-war elegance were attractive features to Olympic's clientele but this nevertheless did not prevent White Star Line from adapting her to suit modern tastes. With dancing becoming an ever more popular activity, a large dance-floor was fitted within the central hall of the Dining Saloon in 1928. This reduced the capacity of the room somewhat although this was mitigated by moving the forward wall further forward into the Reception Room to accommodate additional tables. The chairs were also fitted with white backrests decorated with seventeenth century motifs in concordance with the decorative style of the wall panelling. Modern light fixtures in moderne style were also added to the ceiling, improving the lightning available for the dance-floor in addition to adding a more contemporary touch to the room's appearance.
First Class Leisure Facilities
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Facilities for leisure and fitness were extensive aboard Olympic. White Star Line had previously introduced the world's first ocean-going fitness suite with the Turkish Baths, Plunge Pool and Gymnasium aboard Adriatic. Building upon their success, the company offered a greatly expanded range of facilities on their Olympic-Class Liners, placing them ahead of their competitors including many subsequent vessels. Located on F-deck, accessed down a simpler section of the Grand Staircase, First Class passengers had access to a large Swimming Pool and Turkish Baths. The Swimming Pool measured thirty feet in length and was provided with thirteen changing cubicles along its edge. The Turkish Baths consisted of a hot room, temperate room, shampooing rooms, and cooling room. Whilst the former three rooms and the Swimming Pool were decorated quite plainly, the cooling room by contrast was stunning in its decor. Decorated in the Arabian style of the seventeenth century, its walls were tiled in deep blue and green, with gilded detailing adorning the cornice and beams on the ceiling. The room furnished with low couches and neatly divided by teak columns intricately carved with Moorish designs. An electric bath was also fitted as part of the Turkish Bath facilities, located within its own small apartment adjacent to the cooling room.
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An instructor demonstrates use of the Gymnasium's mechanical horse. "The Magnificent Trio: Majestic, Olympic, Homeric" Brochure; c.1925.
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Further forward of these facilities was a large indoor squash/racket court. This was located on G-deck and fitted with a viewing gallery on F-deck above. The squash court was accessed further forward of the Grand Staircase down a plain set of stairs which connected it with the three decks above. Olympic was also fitted with a large and full-equipped Gymnasium. In contrast to the arrangement of her younger sibling Adriatic, this was located on the Boat Deck, far apart from the other leisure facilities several decks below. The Gymnasium was fitted with large lightly-frosted arched windows, providing plentiful natural light from the Boat Deck. All leisure facilities operated in fixed times throughout the days with distinct slots open to gentlemen, ladies, and children. Tickets were purchased from the First Class Enquiries Office on C-deck. Trained attendants were on hand within each of these facilities including a trained tennis and squash instructor in charge of the squash/racket court. On the C-deck landing at the foot of the Aft Grand Staircase, passengers had access to a Barbers' Shop as well as a new Ladies Hairdressing Salon.