Olympics's Bdeck Promenade

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Nigel Bryant

Member
Many people have said that Olympic's B-deck first-class enclosed deck was never so popular, as there never was passenger traffic in this area. So Ismay implemented a few design changes to there next ship, Titanic, extending the deluxe suites outwards deleting this space. However on an Olympic newsreel footage of her departing these B-deck areas seem very populated. Is this because she is departing, and these areas would be less populated once the ship heads across the Atlantic? Was this deck not very popular right through out her life (1911-1935) For example there wern't many people strolling down this particular deck when the ship was out at sea and the only time it was crowded was when the ship was leaving/returning to port?

ALSO...

Were passengers allowed deckchairs on Olympic's enclosed B deck? The space seems quite narrow but what do you guys think?

All the best,

Nigel
 
Thanks Daniel. On the plan it seems to me that all the deck chairs have numbers to them. Were passengers given a number to which chair they were allowed to "rent"? I first thought that passengers could sit on any deck chair that they wish. But from a side plan or something it says that passengers can hire a deck chair for such an such a price. (can't remember the exact amount). What do you think?

All the best,

Nigel
 
Hi Nigel,

If I remember rightly, deck chairs could be 'reserved' for a price. There were some concerns that they took up too much B-deck promenade space on Olympic in 1911. I have several documents relating to this, yet sadly I haven't the time today. Perhaps later.

Best regards,

Mark.
 
Mark,

The deck plan is the same large one you saw, and as it was from June 1914, it seems that White Star were offering deck chairs for hire on Olympic's B deck.

Nidel,

As Mark said, the chairs had to be reserved, and the passenger held that spot for the entire voyage.

Daniel.
 
Thanks Daniel and Mark! There would of been more space in Titanic's glassed in section for deck chairs (looking at a plan) More nooks and cranies for chairs to be placed. Mark you mentioned that there were some conerns with deckchair space on Olympic, i guess the space would even be more restricted when passengers pulled the leg rests upwards from the deckchairs, blocking follow strollers. Just some thoughts.

Best,

Nigel.
 
Hi!

Certainly. On Aquitania, they raised part of the deck for deckchairs, so giving a better view out to the sea. It left the deck space clear elsewhere, while allowing light into rooms through 'deck windows' [sic?].

Best,

Mark.
 
Mark,

Interesting you mention that, about a part of the deck being raised to give the passengers in the deckchairs a better view.
On Britannic, I have the idea that they did the same; although they came up with a different way to do it!
In pictures of her open A-, and B, deck promenades one can see a steel handrail running along the sides, quite a bit above the wooden handrail. Until a couple of months ago, I had no idea about the reason for that. That was until I looked at a picture and noticed that the people sitting in the deckchairs could exactly between the steel and wooden handrails out on the ocean. I have the idea that the sides of the open promenade areas were lowered quite a bit on Britannic, because of the seaview. The bit of info you shared about Aquitania; seems to support my 'theory'. Another things which is in favor of this theory is that the promenade areas forward on the ship do not have the lower sides and steel handrail. So far forward would be a bad place to relax
happy.gif


What do you think?

Regards,
Remco
 
Hi!

Thanks for sharing your theories, Remco. If I remember correctly, there was also some discussion on the DF or old OBRC boards about the arrangements on the promenades between yourself and Russ Wild. I may be mistaken. I haven't really investigated it, but your theory would certainly sound logical to me. Do you have a rough measurement for the sides being lowered on the open promenades?

Britannic may certainly remain the 'ship of mystery.' So interesting because many areas of the hospital ship are a mystery still; and the same is true for the passenger configuration pre-1914. There's the pre-redesign ship, the pre-1914 ship, and post-1915 ship!

Best,

Mark.
 
Dear Mark, Daniel and Remco,

That information about how they lowered the walls slightly for deckchair sea views is interesting on Britannic. They seem to come up with everything for that ship. Even small luxuries like those! I guess thats another thing you guys could add to your R.M.S Britannic section. I am wondering if they got any compaints like that from her two other sisters- or any ship for that matter.I guess they could of just made taller deck chairs for Olympic to solve that problem.
Is that while they enlarged Britannic's A-deck windows for better sea views for deck chair sitters.

By the way could they put a canvas shade on Olympic and Britannic, identical to the one Titanic featured in Queenstown? Blocking the sun rays from passengers.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
Hello,

As for rough measurements on the height of the bulwarks on Titanic/Olympic and Britannic, I can only give an estimate based on body length.
The following 2 picture give a good idea; the top picture on page 163 of Sisters and for Britannic on page 15 of "Last voyage"(commenly known picture, also in other books; shows RAMC personnel and nurses on the starboardside aft on A-deck).
On Britannic the side is at about hip-height, while on the Olympic picture it is at about chest height.
It's still a theory though, nothing confirmed yet with documents or so..
sad.gif


As for a canvas sunscreen, Britannic had one for sure; I don't know for Olympic.
The screen on Britannic can be seen deployed in the picture which shows a couple of nurses 'skating' along A-deck.(page 23 of Last Voyage)

Regards,
Remco
 
Hello Diego,

Unless someone has permission to post a photo of Olympic's B Deck Promenade, it is not permitted on this site due to copyright issues. Otherwise, it could land that person in a lot of hot water; meaning in front of a judge in a court of law. It's something that we take very seriously on this board. I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but it beats getting sued.

Although, you should be able to find it in one of the many books that discuss the Olympic class ships.
 

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