RMS Olympic - Photo Page

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This is a colourised version of the original black and white photograph of the First Class Lounge

The artist who did the colourisation is unknown – *Please see the photo notes at bottom of page

Page Two

This page is all about the RMS Olympic, as well as some of Titanic’s magnificent and glamorous interiors as their Lounges were very much the same, some with just a few small differences, but they will be noted. Undoubtedly the Olympic offered the ultimate in First Class accommodations that were without doubt the finest in the world at the time. Second Class was considered to be as good as many first class venues on many other ships of the day. Although, Third Class was rather austere, but there were some cabins that did have a basin with running water, which was quite a luxury for this, the most modest class, where the vast majority were accommodated in dormitories, or eight, six, or four berth cabins.

But it were the splendid First Class Lounges, Smoke Rooms, Libraries, relaxed and elegant Palm Courts and the fine and dignified Restaurants that the RMS Olympic was famed for during her excellent twenty four year service to White Star Line and Cunard Line in her final few years. She offered vast Promenade and Sport Deck spaces and she was blessed with a Gym, Turkish Bath and even an Indoor Swimming Pool.

When White Star Line planned their Trio of new Olympic Class Liners, which were originally the Olympic, Titanic and the Gigantic (which after the tragedy of the Titanic, it was decided to name the Gigantic the Britannic as her original name sounded too similar to the lost liner), thus White Star ensured that every possible convenience and new up to date feature was included on their new grand liners, for they were making sure that these ships were going to set high and brand new standards that other companies would be forced to follow at great expense! White Star Line was going to be the World’s trendsetter at sea!

Apart from the copy above, the only other copy will be captions under each image that will describe the venue, deck or cabin, etc.

Photo Album

Please Note: Photographs on this page are from the author’s private collection unless stated otherwise!

Here we see the Olympic prior to the sinking of the Titanic

Photographer unknown – *Please see the photo notes at bottom of page

RMS Titanic – You can distinguish the Olympic and Titanic as the Titanic has windows up on A Deck, being the Upper Promenade

(the deck directly below the lifeboats) whereas the Olympic, as can seen in the image, has an open deck

Photographer unknown – *Please see the photo notes at bottom of page

First Class

The spacious portside Promenade Deck looking aft, the windows on the left is the First Class Writing and Reading Room

Above and below: Here we see the Olympic’s Grand Staircase seen on Promenade Deck looking up to Boat Deck

The image below is looking down from Boat Deck, please note the clock on the wall and its detail before continuing!

Above & below: Here we see the Titanic’s Grand Staircase seen from Promenade Deck

We know this because she had a far more decorative clock centrepiece on the forward wall

Note: The metal work on the balustrades, marble steps, the finest of timbers and the statuettes, and elegant detail used was sheer perfection

Interestingly the Olympic and Titanic staircases were almost identical except for a few minor decorative variations

Titanic’s Grand Staircase seen from the upper level being Boat Deck

This is the ultimate of luxury living – the Main Lounge, the detail in this room is just staggering, it has a sublime chandelier as well as the smaller ones on the sides

A range of timbers for cladding its wall panels as well as its ceilings. Then the hand crafted mahogany cupboards, the finest furniture

that man could make, with the most exclusive upholstery and deep plush all wool carpets. This room was fit for Royalty!

The Smoke Room was a much lighter venue than the Lounge, as its ceiling was in a light colour, although its walls were of a dark timber with pearl inlays and featuring

many large stained glass windows that were back lighted as well as mirrors. There are three images that show all areas of this fine room and will reveal its beauty!

The sheer beauty of this room is just amazing and we simply do not see anything like this these days

Here we see a night-time scene of this remarkable lounge

Here we see the writing and reading room, again sheer elegance and it is complete with a fireplace

On B Deck was the glamorous and exclusive Ala Carte Restaurant, which was only for First Class passengers who had pre-paid prior to departure

Charlie Chaplin regarded the Olympic’s Ala Carte Restaurant as his favourite place to eat, be it on land or at sea

After the Olympic was sold, interior fittings were auctioned off and many remain today, here we see the Ala Carte Restaurant’s Bar that is located somewhere in the UK

Sent in by a supporter, but the photographer is unknown – *Please see photo notes at bottom of page!

Alongside the Ala Carte Restaurant is the very popular, rather upmarket Café Parisiene, which was added in 1913

This venue needs to be seen fully dressed with tablecloths, fine china and silver, etc!

The Palm Court was one of the most loved casual venues on board

Just alongside the Main Entrance Hall is the Reception Lounge for the Restaurant and passengers would come and gather here prior to dinner

In their fine evening gowns, their jewellery gleaming with diamonds, rubies or pearls, etc, and men looking smart in their tuxedos or dinner suits

The Grand Restaurant was a spacious venue, complete with a band stand and the cuisine and service here was considered as being some of the finest on the Atlantic

Boat Deck was most spacious

A Gym on a ship was quite a novelty, but this one was well used by the very rich and well known movie stars

The ultimate of luxuries was to be found forward on Middle Deck, being the “Turkish Baths” operated by what else - Turkish attendants of course

The Turkish Bath Area included a fully heated Indoor Swimming Pool, ideal for the Atlantic that would be frequently cool

Accommodations

Above & below: We see a double bedded Suite with a separate lounge (below)

Here is another Suite with a lounge, reached through the door

Here we see a deluxe single suite with a private lounge or it can be used as an adjoining room attached to one of the suites

Second Class

Above & below: Two fine views of the second Class Smoke Room

Featuring fine timber clad walls and ceiling beans, wool carpeting and leather seating

This venue would be as good as many first class lounges on other ships sailing the Atlantic

The lobby, stairs and lift on C Deck – The lift faces the second Class Library

Whilst both on port and starboard sides there were glass enclosed promenade Deck

From 1913 Second Class had two lifts at its disposal

The luxurious theme continues in the Library of fine timber and leather

The Main Lounge – Sadly there is no better image available

This is the aft stairwell seen from B Deck (below) looking up to A Deck above

The traditional men’s barbershop

Here we see one side of the Main Restaurant that stretches the full width of the ship.

It had long tables at both sides, but round tables in the centre of the venue

Accommodations

An inside one/two berth cabin with a convertible sofa bed with double basin having hot & cold running water

An outside twin bedded cabin, but without any facilities or water

A four berth cabin with two basins, but cold water only

Third Class

The Lobby on C Deck and stairwell - looking to the left is the Social Room, right is the Smoking Room

Above & below: Although both rooms had long benches to sit on, there were also intimate tables and chairs for individuals to be able to have a drink

But due to the massive number of passengers in this class, and these being the only main public venues they were always packed out

Thus it could never be considered to be a place where you could ever have a private time or a romantic drink with someone you love

The Social Room (below) also had long tables being ideal for writing and reading

The Restaurant was the full width of the ship, but a wall in the middle and a stairwell that came from one deck below.

One led to the forward section and the other to the aft section. Obviously a number of sittings were required to service all passengers

This is a menu from August 1, 1911, just a little under a month and a half after her maiden voyage

Here we see the “Poop Deck” which is the Third Class open Promenade Deck

Accommodations

Note that this four berth cabin has one very strange special facility, a toilet between the bunks. Two problems arise

1, certainly not very private, 2, and it could be very smelly, 3, fancy sitting or standing next to a sleeping person on the pillow?

See the close-up below

This is a close up of the two water basins in a three berth cabin, but these taps only provided cold water

RMS Olympic is seen at Southampton in the early 1930’s

Photographer unknown – *Please see the photo notes at bottom of page

Please Note: I intend adding another page in due course on the … HMT Britannic in due course.

RMS Olympic - INDEX:

Page One … Olympic’s History Page - in service 1911 to 1935

Page Two … Olympic’s Interior Photographs (This Page)

HMHS Britannic … The Britannic story - in service 1915 to 1916

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Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the author’s private collection. In addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals either refuse to provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!

This notice covers all pages, although, and I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!