31. THE BACKSTORY
In order to truly appreciate the story of RMS Titanic, it’s helpful to go back to the very beginning. The word “Titanic” is from Greek Mythology, which means “gigantic” in English. With over 2,000 passengers, the cruise was set to sail on April 10, 1912.
Since the start of construction, the $7,5000,000 ship was well-publicized. Everyone was excited to see the largest ship in the world. Apart from its size, White Star Line also boasted innovative features, luxurious interior, and a world-class experience. The popularity of the RMS Titanic gained the attention of almost every person in town, especially those who own insurance companies.
32. THE LUXURIOUS SHIP
When we hear the word “Titanic,” the scene that instantly enters our mind is the collision between the ship and the iceberg. No one expected the famous vessel to sink four days into its voyage. But aside from tragedy, what was the Titanic experience like?
The Titanic was only for the rich and privileged with impressive credit scores. Anyone who rode first class enjoyed the most luxurious part of the ship. For those who weren’t so lucky, like people who belonged in the third class, it was a nightmare. Passengers were divided into the 325 first-class, 284 second-class, and the 709 third-class.
33. THE FAMOUS BAND
The band that played for the passengers of Titanic became increasingly popular after the tragedy, with credit given to a photo that was retrieved during the investigation. Even as the ship was sinking, the band played on, filling the vessel with music. As the men played together, none of them knew that it would be their last song.
Consisting of eight members, the band decided together to keep playing for the passengers. They wanted to comfort the passengers as much as they could. It was their leader, Wallace Hartley, who first said that he would stay. The other members followed suit.
34. THE GRAND STAIRCASE
The Titanic movie did an incredible job in replicating the actual staircase that connected multiple decks in the ship. It was one of the most beautiful features of the RMS Titanic, and anyone would swipe tons of credit cards just to marvel at it.
Although it seemed from the movie that everyone was welcome to climb the stairs, it was actually open only to those in first class. All the other passengers only got a glimpse of its beauty. Much importance was given to the staircase, as the builders intended it to be the “pièce de resistance” of the Titanic.
35. THE GYM
When you think of a cruise ship, you would imagine fancy dining halls and lively dance floors. The RMS Titanic had all that, and surprisingly, a gym. Like any other room in the ship, the gym was luxurious and held only the best fitness technology during its time. Equipment like camels and cycling machines powered by electricity were readily available only for the first class.
The gym also had to visit schedules depending on gender – it was open from 9 am to 12 pm for the ladies, and 2 pm to 6 pm for the gentlemen. It was an uncommon feature, but one greatly enjoyed, nonetheless.
36. PLAYING GAMES
White Star Line expected children to board the luxurious ship, and they gladly accommodated this by including features that were for their leisure. Among the 2,000 passengers were 126 children. Sadly, almost half did not survive, the majority of which belonged to the second and third class.
There was plenty of space in the RMS Titanic for children to roam around and enjoy themselves. In fact, even the gym was open for the young ones from 1 pm to 3 pm. Such attention to every type of passenger made it seem like White Star Line wasn’t fearing bankruptcy at all.
37. FIRST-CLASS LOUNGE
Every part of the Titanic was filled with breath-taking décor, but there was one room designed in a way that separates it from the rest of the vessel. The first-class lounge, located in Deck A, was meant for influential people to smoke and interact with each other. Of course, others also chose to spend their lunches and leisure time here. For the business-minded individuals, the first-class lounge was the perfect meeting room.
The design details of the lounge made it look like it wouldn’t ever need a roof repair. The price for enjoying the Palace of Versailles-inspired luxury was at $1700.
38. TWO BARBER SHOPS
Anyone aboard the Titanic wouldn’t run out of things to do. White Star Line made sure of this. This could be why they also included two barbershops inside the RMS Titanic. One was for the first-class passengers, and the other was for the second-class people. None was made for those in third-class.
The investment planning for the ship’s interior features must have truly taken some time, with everything specified down to the last detail. The barbershops were designed in resemblance to the souvenir shops of today. In addition to haircuts, the shops sold dolls, hats, ribbons, and trinkets.
39. CAFÉ PARISIEN
No luxury ship worth the payday loans would be complete without an outdoor café. For the RMS Titanic, it was the Café Parisien. Passengers who wanted a breath of fresh air could sit down at the outdoor tables and enjoy conversations with peers. The café was the first ever to be built on an ocean liner. You could only imagine how popular this got among the younger passengers in first-class.
If you were looking for something a little heavier, you could still go to the café as it doubled as a restaurant. Its menu featured only the most exquisite dishes, like oysters, salmon, and vanilla êclairs.
40. THE FIRST-CLASS CABINS
The sleeping quarters in the RMS Titanic were no less than picture-perfect too. It didn’t fall behind the luxurious lounges, gyms, and restaurants. Anyone who could have the chance to sleep in such a glamorous room would be insane to refuse.
The first-class sleeping quarters were indeed well-made. If these were subject to mortgage rates, it would have been extremely expensive. Some even had their own private deck. The rooms featured in the Titanic movie were ultra-private rooms. Every first-class cabin was situated on the B deck. Sadly, this area was where most passengers stayed while the ship was sinking.