Turkish Bath

The Turkish Baths were an exclusive First Class Accommodation aboard Olympic and Titanic. They were located on F Deck between the Swimming Bath and the Third Class Dining Room. The baths were designed in a Moorish style with heating blankets and service waiters. Passengers had to visit the Purser's Office on C Deck to get a ticket in order to gain admission to Titanic's Turkish Baths.

The Baths were segregated by sex, available to women between 9:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M, while the men could enjoy the place between 2:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. There was a charge of 4 shillings (£25 as by 2023) or $1 ($31 as by 2023), per person for admission.

The Cooling Room was the central feature of the Turkish Baths, decorated in a mix of Moorish/Arabic styles to evoke a Turkish hammam. The walls were adorned with glossy blue-green tiles, richly carved teak, and bronze lamps. A similar kind of teak can be found in the Deluxe Parlour suites on B Deck. 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 lounges for relaxation. There were also small curtained cubicles for changing.

Unfinished[]

Something that hasn't often been told about the Turkish Baths is that they weren't ready for use at the start of her voyage. It was a complete mess and half-eaten sandwiches were lieing around everywhere. Masseuse Maude Slocombe has told about it firsthand. She had to clean a lot of the rooms before it could be opened for business, so it couldn't be used until April 14 (though this couldn't be entirely true, as Daisy Spedden accounts to have used the Turkish Bath on the morning of the 11th of April).

Sinking[]

The seawater entering the ship flowed into the Turkish Bath around 12:15 A.M.

Art[]

Ken Marschall has illustrated many parts of the Titanic including the Turkish Baths. Other artists, such as an unnamed artist in 1911, have drawn similar rooms, like the Turkish Baths on the Olympic.

Wreck[]

The Turkish Baths were flooded slowly during the sinking and weren't damaged and the place is still in good condition today. James Cameron once visited the wreck site and the walls as well as the tiles were all still intact.

In Popular Culture[]

So far the only movie featuring the Turkish Bath is S.O.S. Titanic (1979), which shows First Class passengers Irene Harris and Margaret Brown taking an electric bath, while attendent Maude Slocombe is massaging passengers, while the Countess of Rothes and Madeleine Astor are relaxing. At the same time, Milton Long and Jack Thayer were taking a peak.