The Titanic set off on its first journey with more than 2,200 passengers, but it wasn’t even full when it left the dock. People were on board for all sorts of reasons—some were businessmen on important trips, while others were on holiday. There were even families hoping to start fresh in America. Everyone had their own story, but those plans were tragically cut short when the ship struck an iceberg and sank into the ocean in the early hours of April 15, 1912.
Since then, many expeditions have ventured out to find what’s left of the Titanic. Recently, a new mission uncovered something significant—part of the ship’s famous bow deck was found to have been broken off by RMS Titanic Inc.
“After 13 days focused on the debris field, the Expedition team was excited to get their first glance at the Bow on July 29,” the company holding the salvage rights to the Titanic announced the find in a statement. “However, the moment of excitement and anticipation was immediately shaken by a significant change to the familiar silhouette. The once miraculously intact railing surrounding the Bow’s forecastle deck was missing a 15-foot-long section on the port side.”
James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic brought the ship’s bow deck into the spotlight, especially during that unforgettable scene where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jack, stands at the edge, arms wide, declaring himself “king of the world.” It’s a moment that’s become iconic, tied to the real-life ship’s legacy.
Looking back at the Titanic
In the early 1900s, the White Star Line was a major player in the shipping world, running both passenger and cargo trips between the UK and the US. With stiff competition from rival company Cunard, White Star Line’s chairman, J. Bruce Ismay, decided to up the game. He commissioned three massive ships, known as the Olympic-class liners, to outdo Cunard’s Lusitania and Mauretania in both size and luxury. These ships were the Olympic, launched in 1911, the Titanic in 1912 and the Britannic in 1914.
The Titanic’s design was mainly crafted by Alexander Carlisle, the chief naval architect at Harland & Wolff’s Belfast yard. While Thomas Andrews, the chief draftsman, is often credited, it was Carlisle who played a key role in designing all three of White Star Line’s Olympic-class ships. Starting his career as an apprentice at 16, Carlisle’s influence can be seen in everything from the bridge layout to the shape of the funnels. The construction of the Titanic began on March 31, 1909.
Construction of the vessel
The Titanic had 10 decks, with eight open to the passengers. At the very top was the Boat Deck, where lifeboats were kept and first-class passengers could access the grand staircase.
A Deck, also called the Promenade Deck, was for first-class guests only and had many of their cabins. Below that, B Deck, known as the Bridge Deck, featured six staterooms with private promenades, two restaurants and the second-class entrance hall and smoking room.
As one moved further into the Titanic, the C, D, E, F and G decks were home to more accommodations for passengers across all three classes, as well as space for the ship’s staff and crew. The Titanic was organized like a small city, with different areas designated for various activities and passenger classes.
A long corridor on E Deck, known as Crew Alleyway, stretched from one end of the ship to the other. It was nicknamed Scotland Road, after a busy street in Liverpool where the Titanic was registered, due to the heavy foot traffic from the crew. The final two decks, accessible only to crew members, were the Orlop Deck and the Tank Top. The Orlop Deck primarily served as cargo space, where passengers’ larger items and trunks were stored for the journey.
Travelling on the luxury liner
One of the most memorable features of the Titanic’s interior was the grand staircase, which descended seven levels from the Boat Deck to E Deck. It was the main way for first-class passengers to move between decks and led into many of the ship’s public rooms.
Built from solid Irish oak, the staircase had intricate wrought iron railings in a Louis XIV style, and was complemented by an entrance hall also finished in polished oak with detailed neoclassical carvings. At the bottom of the staircase, a gilded figure holding a torch cast a warm glow on the red hues of the wood.
Past the grand staircase, first-class passengers enjoyed a range of luxurious public rooms. There was a 54-foot reception room in a Jacobean style for social gatherings, and a spacious lounge decorated in Louis XV style, complete with woodwork, comfy armchairs and card tables. For quieter moments, men had access to a saloon room with rich Georgian-style mahogany paneling, while women could relax in the reading room.
The Titanic’s dining room was undoubtedly the height of luxury. Stretching 114 feet long, it was the biggest dining room ever put on a ship and could seat up to 532 passengers at once. Styled in the Jacobean fashion, with a carved ceiling, the room took inspiration from the grand interiors of Haddon Hall in England.
First-class passengers had the option to dine at the Café Parisien, a special restaurant not included in the standard fare. This new addition could seat up to 150 guests and offered a menu created by AP Luigi Gatti, an Italian restaurateur known for his other London eateries. The Café Parisien was decorated in Louis XVI style, with walls covered in carved French mahogany and touches of gold leaf.
In addition to the already luxurious first-class cabins, the Titanic had private suites available for the exceptionally wealthy. These suites were arranged to accommodate families, complete with adjoining bedrooms with en suites, dressing rooms, sitting areas and quarters for servants.
The most extravagant accommodations were the four parlour suites, two on B Deck and two on C Deck. The top-of-the-line options were the two B Deck suites, known as Deluxe or Promenade Suites, each with its own private promenade deck.
Along with the luxurious suites, the Titanic’s first-class accommodations had 39 private suites and 350 single-bed cabins for those looking for a more affordable option. The suites were decorated in a variety of styles, from Georgian to Italian Renaissance, and were outfitted with plush furniture, Royal Doulton china and high-quality toiletries. Staying in these accommodations could cost up to INR 96 thousand (£870), which would be about INR 87 lakh (£79,000) today.
Discovery by RMS Titanic
While the recent discovery might bring a sense of sadness to Titanic enthusiasts, the RMS Titanic team had some good news too. They unearthed a two-foot-tall statue of the Roman goddess Diana among the debris. This statue, known as “Diana of Versailles,” was originally placed in the Titanic’s first-class lounge, which got torn apart as the ship sank. It had only been photographed once before in 1986, so this is the first time since then that it’s been seen up close. RMS Titanic shared on Instagram, “Like the eternal Roman deities, she is timeless.”
Even after 112 years since the Titanic sank, the shipwreck still keeps us on our toes with its surprises and mysteries.
