Inside Titanic’s First Class

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams: Dining in First Class 

Titanic’s First Class dining was a culinary experience that rivalled the very best Edwardian restaurants. Passengers had several dining options, including an à la carte restaurant nicknamed “the Ritz”, which featured an à la carte menu designed by famed chef Auguste Escoffier.

Or if they wanted a light lunch, they could head to the Cafe Parisien on B-Deck and enjoy stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean while nibbling on finger sandwiches and sipping tea.

But the crown jewel of culinary experiences aboard Titanic was undoubtedly the 11-course tasting menus served each night in the opulent First Class dining saloon. Designed to resemble the most luxurious dining halls of the day, this sprawling restaurant featured glittering chandeliers, intricate wood panelling, and panoramic views.

The food was a huge part of the experience. One of the most celebrated meals is, of course, the last first-class dinner.

 Veronica Hinke, author of  The Last Night on the Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining, and Style,

At this meal, served only a few hours before the RMS Titanic was swallowed by the Atlantic, First Class passengers feasted on oysters, filet mignon, roast duckling, foie gras, and peaches in chartreuse jelly, among many other lavish courses. You can view the full menu below:

“Millionaire Suites” for the Super Rich 

Life on board Titanic was all about class division, and this extended even to the First Class decks. Of course, everyone who could afford to pay the minimum $30 ($3,800 in today’s money) to ride in First Class was rich, but there was a big difference between their accommodations and people like John Jacob Astor IV, who shelled out $1,000 ($130,000) for a so-called “millionaire suite”. There were only four of these suites on board, and they were essentially floating luxury apartments, featuring full-sized bedrooms with four-poster beds, marble fireplaces, ornate sitting rooms, and even private promenade decks. The super-rich who occupied these rooms had their own personal servants who attended to their every whim, ensuring that they didn’t have to mingle with other passengers if they didn’t want to.

Entertainment

 While the prospect of being trapped on a ship for the better part of a week might sound claustrophobic and boring, First Class passengers aboard the RMS Titanic were treated to a wide array of sophisticated entertainment. For starters, there were eight musicians on board who performed daily concerts in the lounge and reception room. These musicians took their jobs seriously too, famously playing right up until the moment the ship sank and they were consumed by waves.

One could also socialise in the First Class lounge, a lavish Georgian-style room featuring sumptuous armchairs and lush carpet. Here, guests would sip trendy cocktails and play games like bridge, poker, and baccarat.

For passengers interested in physical culture, there was a full gymnasium kitted out with all the latest equipment. The famous Margaret Brown, who Kathy Bates portrayed in the 1997 film “Titanic”, was said to enjoy boxing while on board.

Spa Treatment 

For a bit of rest and relaxation, Titanic’s First Class passengers could head to the ship’s state-of-the-art spa complex. This featured a Turkish bath designed in the traditional Moorish style with intricate tiling, ornate stained-glass windows, and carved wooden panels.

Here, guests could enjoy the steam room, take a dip in the cool plunge pool, or lie in a so-called “electric bath” - a precursor to the sauna.

There was also a saltwater swimming pool, one of the first to be built on a luxury liner.

A Gilded Tomb 

Today, all of these amenities lie two and a half miles below the Atlantic’s icy surface — a time capsule of Edwardian luxury. The Turkish Bath’s stained glass windows are now covered in algae, its tiled floor littered with ocean debris. The First Class Dining Saloon’s ceiling, once dotted by sparkling chandeliers, is draped in seaweed, the ornate windows rusted and contorted by the crushing pressure of the ocean. These remnants serve as reminders that even mankind’s greatest achievements are no match for the forces of nature.