Titanic's First Class Lounge was located on A-Deck.
Lay-out and appearance[]
The First Class Lounge was one of the most ornate public rooms on board the Titanic, modeled in the Louis XV style after the Palace of Versailles. It occupied a large space midships on A-Deck, offering views onto the Promenade Deck and the ocean beyond. Intricately carved English oak paneling with intermittent motifs of musical instruments were the dominant feature of the room. Bronze sconces and large rounded mirrors were installed throughout. A 49-light opaque glass and ormolu Electrolier with crystal embellishment occupied the central recess of the ceiling, which was itself elaborately molded with instrumental motifs. Adjoining the open seating area were cozy alcoves with inset mirrors and tall bay windows of leaded and stained glass.
The Lounge had an impressive height of 12 feet and 3 inch, enabled by raising the ceiling above the level of the Boat Deck. Groups of tables and chairs, sofas and armchairs upholstered in plush velvet with green and gold floral patterns were scattered throughout. The sofas had very dark bordeaux colored cushions. At the center of the forward wall was a gracefully carved grey marble decorative fireplace, which contained only an electric heater. A replica statue of the Diana of Versailles stood on the mantelpiece, with a large mirror above. On both sides of Diana were two goblets, with goldish sockels and mixed green/turqoise body, that looked like throphies.
At the opposite end the wall curved and contained a wide mahogany bookcase which functioned as a lending library for First Class passengers. It had two large, elegant clocks flanking it on both sides, in a blindingly gold frame, also Louis XV styled. Out of the cabinet, passengers could choose from a permanent collection of classics and the latest releases, which would be freshly stocked on every voyage, had Titanic survived.
Original drawing of how White Star Line had envisioned the First Class Lounge on their new liners.
Open daily between 8 A.M, and 11 P.M, the room was used primarily for socializing, playing cards, reading books, and the taking of tea, coffee and light refreshments before and after dinner (serviced by a small connecting bar). It was largely a female domain but available to both sexes; because of its size it was also convenient for holding concerts and other First Class events, as is attested on the Olympic.
On the Britannic, the starboard door to a pantry was removed. There were skylights in the ceiling and the room had a different design.
Beverages[]
The lounge had its own small pantry to allow First Class stewards to serve tea, liqueurs (alcoholic beverages with added sugar and flavorings of fruits, nuts or herbs), buttered toast and small sandwiches. Afternoon tea was served in the Lounge at 4 P.M. daily to offer First Class passengers a choice to have tea in this room instead of the Reception Room on D-Deck.
Types of Liqueurs listed that Titanic had available:
- Berry
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Cream
- Crème
- Flower
- Fruit
- Herbal
- Honey
- Nut-flavored
- Whisk
The sinking & wreck[]
More than 10 minutes after the collision with the iceberg, passengers gathered in the Lounge to avoid the biting cold while awaiting further instructions from the crew. Witnesses testified that Titanic's orchestra began their performance here, at 12:15 A.M.
At 2:15 A.M, the water was at the base of the second funnel. The Lounge was further aft, so she remained dry until Titanic's last 3 minutes. Titanic's Lounge was destroyed when the ship broke apart, with the aft end being severed. It's not unlikely that some swimmers where hanging on pieces of woodwork from the Lounge that were scattered when Titanic's structure became undone.
As it was located in an area where the midsection decks collapsed upon impact with the ocean floor, most of it wThe room was destroyed. Artifacts from the room can be found today in the debris field.
Several pieces of wreckage from the lounge have been identified in the debris field surrounding the wreck, including the Artemis statue, bronze sconces, and portions of the window frames. A beautifully carved piece of oak paneling that once hung above the forward entrance to the lounge was recovered as wreckage and can be seen at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, along with an oak leg from one of the Lounge tables.
Olympic[]
One of the two clocks that were next to the book cabinet in the First Class Lounge of the Olympic.
The paneling and fittings of the lounge on Titanic's sister ship Olympic, which were identical to those of the Titanic, have been largely preserved in the dining room of the White Swan Hotel in Alnwick, England. They were installed after being purchased at auction when the Olympic was scrapped in 1935. This room gives the best approximation of how the Lounge appeared on the Olympic and thereby the Titanic. The impressive Electrolier of the Olympic is also preserved at Cutler's Hall in Sheffield, England.
Popular culture[]
1996 Miniseries Titanic[]
In the 1996 miniseries, which had a small budget, the Lounge and the Reading and Writing Room were combined into a "Tea Room" with two floors. In the room, there is a simple staircase and lots of cozy tables and chairs for passengers to socialize. Tea and light snacks were provided there for free. The orchestra also played in this room.
The room first appeared when Captain Smith was discussing his retirement plans with Margaret Brown. Soon Loraine Allison was running in the room and bumped into Mrs. Astor's maid, Marge Miller.
Meanwhile on the second floor, Madeleine Astor chatted with her friend Isabella Paradine while drinking tea.
The room reappeared during the evacuation process, where Captain Smith, who was helping evacuate passengers, was approached by Wynn Park, who asked how serious the damage was to the ship, only to be answered that the Titanic only had a couple hours to float.
Titanic: Adventure Out of Time[]
The lounge is inaccessible during the first part of the game, as it has closed for the night. When attempting to enter it, Smethells will appear to usher Carlson out.
|
Smethells: Yes? Carlson: Can I come in? Smethells: The lounge is closed for the night. We'd open it again only in an emergency... which we are not experiencing at the moment. Good night. |
Of course, the Titanic does experience an emergency, and the lounge is opened. This makes the lounge the only room that is only accessible during the sinking part of the game.
When attempting to enter the lounge after the collision, Claris Limehouse will appear, stating she's refusing to leave and wants to stay with Willi on the ship. She will give Carlson her shawl.
Several other passengers have gathered in the lounge, including Zeitel and Trask.
Trask will drop a hint to visit Buick Riviera in the Smoking Room for some very high stakes.
Zeitel, meanwhile, reveals he poisoned Lady Georgia, and holds the antidote to save her life. He'll demand Carlson give him the painting to trade for it. If the player hasn't managed to get the panting in the first part, Zeitel will order him to find it, saying he'll be waiting in the lounge.
After 1:30 A.M., Zeitel will abandon the lounge and move on the Boat Deck, where he waits at lifeboat 16 with Third Officer Morrow and Andrew Conkling.
At 1:55 A.M., Trask will abandon the lounge as well. A cutscene soon after will show the lounge flooding, though the room remains accessible until the end.
Titanic (1997)[]
In James Cameron's 1997 movie Titanic, it is in this room on Sunday, April 14th, 1912, that Rose DeWitt Bukater, Ruth DeWitt Bukater, the Countess of Rothes, and Lucile Lady Duff-Gordon take tea while Ruth tells them about Rose's wedding plans. She spoils how the invitations were sent back to the stationers (twice, in fact, much to their shock) and her distaste over Rose's choice of lavender gowns for her bridesmaids.
While the sun's rays glow orange and Ruth continues talking to the other ladies, the quintet can be heard playing Archibald Joyce's "Vision of Salome" waltz in the background.
During the sinking, a scene is shown where the body of a woman wearing a white dress is seen floating in the sunken room with the lit ceiling light in the background still on.
2012 Miniseries Titanic[]
In the 2012 Miniseries, both the lounge, smoking room, and reading and writing room are combined into a "general room". In this room, there are many tables and chairs that are often used by passengers for socializing, and for gambling. In addition, there is a bookcase that contains various books that passengers can always borrow. There is a dance floor that is often used by passengers to dance after dinner, while the orchestra plays interesting songs. Tea and some snacks are always provided free of charge.
Throughout the 4 episodes of the miniseries, this room appeared frequently. It first appeared when Captain Smith waited for the first class passengers who sat at his table, including Lord & Lady Manton and their daughter Georgiana, John Jacob Astor & Madeleine Astor, George & Eleanor Widener and their son Harry, Dorothy Gibson and her mother Pauline Caroline Gibson, Joseph & Grace Rushton, and Sir Cosmo & Lady Duff-Gordon.
During the sinking, Pauline Caroline Gibson was hysterical and didn't want to leave the room, until she was persuaded by Second Officer Lightoller. Meanwhile, Benjamin Guggenheim and his valet, Victor Giglio, remain in the room with Thomas Andrews. Lord Manton and his wife and daughter got lost in the room while looking for the lifeboats but were assisted by the Guggenheim who said there were still several lifeboats loaded on the A-Deck. Lord Manton thanked the Guggenheim, and asked if he would come with them. Guggenheim replied that he preferred to stay in the room, while Thomas Andrews was silent, staring at the wall.
Gallery[]
.png "First Class Lounge in Titanic (1997).png (1.05 MB)")
