Titanic was the largest moving object in the world at the time; a sixth of a mile long and 175 feet high, with eleven decks and a maximum speed of 23 knots she was the epitome of style and class. She set sail from Southampton, England, on 10 April 1912, bound for  New York.

There were numerous first class suites on Titanic, but the four parlour suites on decks B and C were the grandest. They were comprised of a sitting room, two bedrooms, two wardrobe rooms and a private bathroom. Second class passengers had luxuries that would have rivalled first class on any other ship and were the first to use the electric elevator. Third class passengers had automatic flushing toilets – as it was thought they would not be used to bathroom plumbing and would not understand flushing the loo for themselves!

The Titanic’s maiden voyage was a much anticipated event and as such was reported in the daily newspapers.

‘The White Star Liner Titanic, the largest vessel in the world, left Southampton today on her maiden transatlantic voyage for New York. She is a vessel of 46,328 tons, and embodies the latest developments in shipbuilding skill.
Although essentially similar in design and construction to her sister ship, the Olympic, she is an improvement in many respects. She possesses greater first-class stateroom accommodation, both on the top or boat deck and the upper promenade deck. The passenger on the Titanic may keep himself fit by exercise in the gymnasium or by a game in the squash racquet court, proceeding to the Turkish, electric, or swimming baths and then finish with a two-mile stroll on the spacious decks, rising from one to the other by electric lifts.
The millionaire can have a parlour suite, consisting of two bedrooms, sitting room, private bath, and servants’ rooms, with a private promenade deck, at a cost of £870. The steerage passenger can travel to the country of his hopes for the modest sum of £7 15s, and at the same time have greater comforts than the first-class passenger had thirty years ago. The full complement of the Titanic is as follows:-
Saloon passengers 750
Second-class passengers 500
Steerage passegers 1100
Crew 800
Total 3150

All the magnificent decorations of the Olympic have been repeated on the Titanic. The huge first-class dining saloon will accommodate 550 passengers at a time, while the reception room and the restaurant represent the last word in luxurious furnishing.
There are, of course, many other lesser-priced suites, though the cost still runs into hundreds of pounds for the single voyage, which saloon passengers can lave; while for those who only require a first-class berth the lowest charge is £26 with meals, or £23 without meals.
The provisioning of so big a vessel runs into considerable figures. In the busy summer and early autumn season, when Americans are either coming to or returning from Europe, the stores needed for each trip are approximately as follows:-
Fresh meat (lbs) – 75,000
Fresh eggs – 35,000
Poultry (lbs) – 25,000
Potatoes (tons) – 40
Fresh milk (gals) 1,500
Fresh cream (qrts) – 1,200
Sugar (tons) – 5
Tea (lbs) 1,000
Flour (barrels) 250
Cereals (lbs) – 10,000
Minerals (bottles) 12,000
Ale & stout (do.) – 15,000
Wines (do.) – 1,000
Chinaware (pieces) – 25,000
Glass (do.) – 7,000
Electroplate (do.) – 26,000
Cutlery (do.) – 5,000
Plates and dishes (do.) – 21,000’

If you want to read about Titanic’s Hero Musicians click here.

Source: British Newspaper Archives

Image: Wikimedia Commons