Olympic's First Class, A Symbol of luxury

This section will discuss the luxurious interiors of the Majestic 'Olympic'; the floating palace. We will talk in detail about 'Olympic's' first class rooms and interiour and and show pictures of her elegant style and decor.

The First Class lounge on board of the R.M.S. Olympic. Olympic's lounge was nearly identical to Titanic's First Class lounge.

Titanic and Olympic's differences

Titanic's passenger facilities, fittings, deck plans and technical facilities were largely identical to Olympic, although with some small variations.

* A few variations were made to Titanic that where different from Olympic, but you had to know where to look for. The most noticeable of these differences was that the forward half of Titanic's A Deck promenade was enclosed by a steel screen with sliding windows, to provide additional shelter, whereas Olympic's promenade deck remained open along its whole length. Titanic had a tonnage of 46,328 tons over Olympic's 45,324 tons, which allowed Titanic to claim the title of largest ship in the world.

* The B-Deck First-Class promenade decks installed on Olympic had proven to be hardly used because of the huge promenade space on A-Deck. Thomas Andrews eliminated this feature on Titanic and built additional, enlarged staterooms with luxury bathrooms.

* A reception area for the restaurant was added in the foyer of the B-Deck on the Grand Staircase on Titanic, which did not exist on Olympic, and the main reception room on D-Deck was also slightly enlarged. 50-foot (15 m) private promenade decks were added to the two luxury parlour suites on B-Deck on Titanic, as well as additional First-Class gangway entrances on B-Deck. Cosmetic differences also existed between the two ships, most noticeably concerning the wider use of carpeting in Titanic's public rooms, as opposed to the linoleum flooring on Olympic.

* At the start of their careers Olympic had uneven windows and 16 portholes and Titanic even windows and 14 portholes. Later you will notice how Titanic got uneven windows and 16 portholes and Olympic even windows and 14 portholes.

Captain Smith walking to the stern on the First Class Promenade of the Olympic. The A Deck promenade was open the entire length on Olympic and closed on Titanic. Later, a wall was added on Olympic near the stairway, that lead to the Boat Deck, to prevent sea spray.

Olympic, A Symbol of luxury

Outstanding 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 in beatiful designs.

The Olympic was a popular and fashionable liner around 1911 and 1912 and was a symbol for tranquil luxury. Her First Class accommodations often attracted the famous. Her decor, with its medley of period styles, transported passengers back to Le Belle Époque (the term often given to a period of French and European history, usually dated to between 1880 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914) and the first great age of ocean travel from which she was born.

The first class passengers enjoyed the luxury of first class, something that White Star Line wanted to show. Instead of competing with speed, their ships would be the largest and the most luxurious. The luxury first class cabins full of dark brown oakwood, and some were equipped with private bathrooms. First-class passengers could have meals in the ship's large and luxurious dining saloon or in the more intimate A La Carte Restaurant. There was a Grand Staircase, built only for the Olympic-class ships, along with three lifts that ran behind the staircase down to E deck. The second-class facilities included: a Georgian-style smoking room, a Veranda Café decorated with palm trees, The Café Parisien, which was a Parisian-style cafe, which was promoted as a replica of a Parisian sidewalk cafe; a place where friends could meet for conversation with drinks (coffee or something stronger) a swimming pool, a luxury Turkish bath, a gymnasium, a smoking room, a library and spacious dining rooms. Villeroy & Boch tiles were used extravagantly from the engine rooms to the bathrooms in first class.

Villeroy & Boch, Tiles, 1900 – 1915

Ceramic

First Class Dining Saloon

Olympic's First Class dining salon

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.

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. 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.

Olympic's First Class Dining Room

The Grand Staircase

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.

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.

Olympic's First Class grand staircase

Olympic's Grand Staircase with statue

'Olympic's' First Class grand staircase, boat deck level

Olympic's First Class grand staircase under the glass dome visible

Olympic's Lifts

First Class Drawing Room

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', 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. Classical columns supported the ceiling which was also painted white and decorated with plaster reliefs typical of the mid 18th-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.

Potted palms 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. 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.

Olympic's First Class reading and writing room

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.

Olympic's First Class lounge

The Main Lounge, a very luxury way of living. The details in this room are just perfection. Elegant oakwood panels with ingraved ornaments, chic upholstered chairs with patterned motifs, A range of timbers for cladding it's wall panels as well as its ceilings. A beautiful big chandelier that you would only see in a palace, dark mahony tables with ingraved golden patterns, chic lamps, an elegant fireplace of light grey marmer. In all it had the finest furniture with the most exclusive and expensive carpets.

The chic chandelier in the First Class Lounge

Beautiful fireplace in the First Class lounge

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.

First Class Smoking Room

'Olympic's' First Class smoking room

Olympic's First Class smoking room with stained glass in all colors

The Smoking Room for First Class passengers was located further near the stern of the ship, near the Lounge beyond the 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.

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 and Palm Court

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.

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.

Olympic First Class verandah and palm court

The verandah and palm court looked like gardens

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 Dining Room

Á La Carte 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 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.

First Class á la carte restaurant with beautiful wooden panels, chic lamps, big chandeliers, upholsterd chairs with patters of flowers, red carpets, wooden pillars with golden ornaments, a wooden bar with ingraved patterns and golden decorations, the finest silver and china, everything was perfect.

On B Deck was the glamorous and exclusive Á La Carte Restaurant, which was only for First Class passengers who had pre-paid prior to departure. Charlie Chaplin regarded the Olympic’s Á La Carte Restaurant as his favourite place to eat, be it on land or at sea.

Original R.M.S. 'Olympic's' 1st Class Á La Carte original solid walnut, hand carved dinning chair. circa 1911

These superb chairs were specifically made for the fine but small restaurant that served the finest French cuisine for 1st Class passengers. The restaurant was lavishly decorated in Walnut panelling with deep relief carvings and gold leaf filigree and these hand carved chairs - of which there were about 100 - were designed to compliment the decor.

Eight months later when the sister ship Titanic was launched it was decided, due to the Olympic restaurant’s popularity, that a similar restaurant be put on the Titanic but twice the size. The exact chairs and lavish decor was mirrored for the Titanic and made in the same workshop by Harland & Wolff.

Approximately 300 of these hand made chairs were commissioned for both ships. When finally they scrapped the Titanic (that became the Olympic in 1912) in 1935 after the restaurant had the most famous people dining there - the likes of Charle Chaplin & Douglas Fairbanks amongst many others. Chaplin was quoted as describing it as ‘the best restaurant in the world’. This chair was purchased on the quay side in 1935 by a Belfast family and was sold by them some years ago. The whole exquisite interior of the Olympic (Titanic) was sold in numerous auctions along the quay side next to the ship, as all the interior was taken of this floating palace, the RMS Olympic

Wooden ingraved patterns of an original Á La Carte chair, solid Walnut carve from the famous and iconic R.M.S. 'Olympic'

Details of carved patterns of 'Olympic's' First Class dining chairs

The Á La Carte 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. Designed to seat one-hundred-and-thirty-seven diners. On starboard side, the new Café Parisien was installed, a feature that had been previously adopted on 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.

Tables with golden decorations

The bar that was present in the Á La Carte Restaurant. Funiture and wooden panels from the 'Olympic' where sold in auctions after it's destruction in 1935. The bar is somewhere located in the UK.

'Olympic's' wooden panels and furniture in the White Swan Hotel, Alnwick, UK

'Olympic's' wooden ornaments, Alnwick, White Swan Hotel, UK

Fireplace and wooden panels from 'Olympic', Alnwick, White Swan Hotel, UK

The 'Olympic' Restaurant. The woodwork, windows, moulding, and fine details have been restored to their 1911 splendor, Alnwick, White Swan Hotel, UK

Original details: stained-glass, windows, moulding, woodwork

Stained-glass windows

Some of the walls and ceilings on display

Woodwork details and ornaments

China of the Á La Carte Restaurant. White Star Line. Titanic had the same silver and china.

Beautiful plate of the Á La Carte Restaurant. White Star Line

Olympic's Á La Carte Resturant Menu: Carte Du Jour (menu of the day) with the best dinners

Alongside the Á La Carte Restaurant, is the very popular: Café Parisien. The tables where dressed with tablecloths, fine china and the finest silver. The café was added in 1913 after Titanic's likeness.

Olympic's First Class Reception Room

First Class Reception Room and Staircase

First Class Reception Room

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 many 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.

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 State Rooms

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.

Olympic's First Class Stateroom suite with bed, sofa, stained glass windows, beautiful wallpaper with patterns

First Class Suite

A double bedded suite with a separate lounge (see below)

The seperate suite connected to the First Class bedroom

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.

The parlour suite were one of the finest quarters for passengers to stay in. They were so luxurious and expensive that they were reserved only for the First Class passengers. The parlour suite consisted of a sitting room, two bedrooms, two wardrobe rooms and a private bath and toilet. They were decorated and fitted out with the most fashionable and modern décor and furniture of the time. The sitting room within the suite for example was decorated using a range of styles from different periods including Louis Seize (XVI) and Louis Quatorze (XIV). All the furniture would of course be bolted down to the floor to stop them from moving when the ship swayed with the sea. The occupants of the rooms vas even given a free inside cabin for his or her servants. These staterooms cost £870 to stay in in 1912. The First Class parlours like all the other rooms on board Olympic had very similar designs to her sister ship's Titanic and Britannic. Not all the passenger's rooms were like this however. In fact there were only two of these parlour suites on board Olympic and her sister ship Titanic. This was because they were so expensive to rent out. The rooms of the rest of the First Class passenger's were not quite as luxurious as this. They did all however have a bed (or several according to the number of occupants), a wardrobe and dresser, a bathroom, and an electric heater. The Second Class rooms were much more simpler and modest than the first class rooms, whilst the third class rooms were extremely primitive and plain.

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

First Class Prive State Bedroom

First Class Prive Suite

First Class Prive Suite, with all the luxury and comfort you need

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 Leisure Facilities

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.

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

Olympic's Turkish Baths

Olympic's Turkish Baths Postcard

Along the Starboard side of F-Deck was a spa complex for first-class passengers known as the Turkish Baths. Besides the Titanic, only the White Star liners RMS Adriatic (1906) and the RMS Olympic (1911) featured Turkish baths on board. There was a Temperate Room, Cool Room, Hot Room, Steam Room, electric bath and two Shampoo Rooms where massage was performed.

The Baths were segregated by sex, available to women between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and to men between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. There was a charge of (£25 in 2021)

The Cool Room was the central feature of the Turkish Baths, decorated in a mix of Arabic styles to evoke a Turkish bathhouse/place. The walls were adorned with glossy blue-green tiles, richly carved teak, and bronze lamps. Against one wall was a marble drinking fountain. The ceiling was deeply recessed and painted a deep crimson, with gilded beams and hanging lanterns, supported by pillars encased in teak. Unlike the Olympic, the Titanic's cooling room did not have an exterior wall but still included "fake" portholes concealed by a carved Cairo curtain. The doorways were adorned with gilded semi-domes to lend an exotic effect. Throughout the room were teak folding chairs, Damascus tables and cushioned chaise longues for relaxation. There were also small curtained cubicles for changing clothes.