Class within a class ?

[ScottyBK]

It seems that within First Class there was quite a cross section, we have the ultra high rollers like JJ Astor, Guggenheim, Strauss et al, and then we have some more medicore folks. The Cafe Parisian was designed (it seems) to seperate the real "first class" from the pretenders and also-rans.

What other differences were there between "high first" and let's call it "regular first"?

I'd assume dinners with Capt Smith are for high first only, for example. Ditto for stuff like bridge tours, etc. High first I'd imagine was a pretty tight clique.

Say imagine a 2nd classer like Beesly right before sailing says "sod it" and upgrades to the cheapest 1st class room there is. I can't believe he'd get to eat at the Captain's Table or even be welcome in Cafe Parisian. How out of place in other ways would he feel? Would he regret upgrading since all he really is is a 2nd classer pretending to be 1st class? I wonder if his ticket would be like checked all the time and the other 1st classers sort of "reporting" him to stewards etc. as a suspected imposter in 1st class? To the point where Beesly might stick with 2nd class next trip since no one in 1st really wants anything to do with him.

 

[Thomas Krom]

The café Parisien was just an extension of the á la carte restaurant and was served by the same waiters of Gaspare "Luigi" Antonio Pietro Gatti his staff. And what you mentioned is indeed true, the á la carte restaurant and café Parisien both were there for those first class passengers who were willing to pay an additional fee outside their tickets. The first class accomodation plan of the Titanic reported as followed on the restaurant:

Restaurant. In addition to the Regular Dining Saloon there is a large modern á la carte Restaurant, on Deck B, where meals may be obtained at all times between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. at fixed charges, as shown on the bill of fare issued from day to day.
The Restaurant Is Under The Management Of The Company, Who Have Appointed Mr. L Gatti Late of Oodenino’s Imperial Restaurant, London, As Manager.
Passengers wishing to use the Restaurant should apply on board to the Manager for the reservation of seats.
If the passage is taken entirely without meals in the regular Dining Saloon, an allowance of £3 per adult will be made off the ocean rate, expecting that on rates of £35 per adults and upwards, the allowance will be £5 per adult.

This reduction in fare, however, can only be granted when passengers announce their intention to book without meals, and of making use of the Restaurant, at the time of purchasing their ticket, and no rebate or reduction can be made under any other circumstances

It seems that within First Class there was quite a cross section, we have the ultra high rollers like JJ Astor, Guggenheim, Strauss et al, and then we have some more medicore folks.

Isidor and Ida Straus never ate in the restaurant or á la carte restaurant, we know this because their saloon steward, William Burke who was the Second saloon steward of the first class dining saloon, told so at the American Senate Inquiry. The matter of where the Astor's ate is debtable, however it is suspected that Benjamin Guggenheim and his mistress indeed ate in the á la carte restaurant.

I'd assume dinners with Capt Smith are for high first only, for example.

The captain had his own table in the first class dining saloon, this being table 106 which was a six seating table near the Steinway piano. We know he ate there on a few nights with the Thayer's being his usual guests. However on the 14th of April he was invited by the Wideners to attend a dining party in the á la carte restaurant. Attendees included as followed:
Henry "Harry" Anderson (1869-1951)
Major Archibald Willingham Butt (1865-1912)
William Ernest Carter (1875-1940) and Lucile Carter (1875-1934)
Captain Edward John Smith (1850-1912)
John Borland Thayer Jr (1862-1912) and Marian Longstreth Thayer (1872-1944)
George Dunton Widener (1861-1912), Eleanor Widener (1861-1937) and Harry Elkins Widener (1885-1912)

There are a number of other passengers which dined in the á la carte restaurant as well, such as Margaret Brown (1867-1932) together with Emma Eliza Bucknell (1853-1927) and Dr. Arthur Jackson Brewe (1866-1912), Joseph Bruce Ismay (1862-1937) together with the ship's surgeon Dr. William Francis Norman O’Loughlin (1849-1912), Sir Cosmo Edmund Duff Gordon (1831-1931) and Lady Lucy Christiana Duff Gordon (1863-1935) together with her secretary Laura Mabel Francatelli (1880-1967) to name a few examples.

Ditto for stuff like bridge tours, etc. High first I'd imagine was a pretty tight clique.

The bridge by the way was off limits to passengers, to cite the officers hand book:

19.-Passengers not allowed on Bridge, &c

Passengers are not to be allowed on the bridge or in the chart room or wheel house, nor are they to visit the quarters of the navigating or engineering staff, or the Chief Steward's room, when the steamers are under weigh, or when embarking or disembarking.

 

[Thomas Krom]

Isidor and Ida Straus never ate in the restaurant or á la carte restaurant

Reading back I noticed I made a mistake, it should say "the café Parisien or á la carte restaurant".

 

[ScottyBK]

Interesting. So maybe an ordinary bloke like Beesly wouldn't attract so much attention. I wonder how much better the a la carte food really was vs. the regular dining room. I also wonder if passengers could tour the kitchen galley? I'd love to do that and see all the chefs making all that fancy food.