Promenade

[Matthew R. Boswell]

Why didn't White Star enclose the Olympic's promenade? The reason the Titanic had it enclosed was that passengers complained of the harsh weather. The Britannic had one, so why didn't, when they took her out of service for renovation, they enclose her promenade?

 

[Brent Holt]

Probably because the arrangement of lifeboats post-Titanic on the Boat Deck for Olympic took away a great deal of deck/viewing space there and enclosing the Promenade Deck like on Titanic and Britannic would have cut the viewing area down even more. (The gantry davits on Britannic freed up more of that space on the Boat Deck. Olympic's decks were not built to withstand the weight of the new style davits.)
Brent

 

[Mark Chirnside]

Hi!

Bill Sauder wrote a detailed analysis on this forum back in 2000 or 2001, perhaps you can find it through the search function. Brent's reasoning is also persuasive.

There was at least one 'glass enclosed promenade' proposal in Olympic's later years -- 1929 I think -- but that's another story.

Best wishes,

Mark.

 

[Jeremy Lee]

>>There was at least one 'glass enclosed promenade' proposal in Olympic's later years -- 1929 I think<<

Luckily the plans never went through, most of the later additions White Star did to the Olympic made it look worse.

 

[Nigel Bryant]

Mark,

Do you have any more information about this proposal of glassing in Olympic's open promenade?

All the best,

Nigel

 

[Mark Chirnside]

Hi Nigel,

There's not really much to tell. IIRC, the proposal from 1929 was considered too expensive. This even at a time when Olympic was still generating considerable profits. Majestic's promenade was glass-enclosed in 1928, in part anyway. I put what information I had in my Olympic book.

Best wishes,

Mark.

 

[João Carlos Pereira Martins]

It may be a stupid question but I saw an Olympic's deck plan and the B-deck had an enclosed promenade and I would love to be reassured!

Best, João

 

[João Carlos Pereira Martins]

I do apologize to disturb you, but a question to my answer would be appreciate!

Best, JC

 

[Matthew R. Boswell]

I do believe that the Olympic had an enclosed promenade on B-Deck. On Titanic, this area was used instead to make room for suites, such as B-52-54-56.

 

[Mark Chirnside]

Hi JC, Matthew;

I do believe that the Olympic had an enclosed promenade on B-Deck.

That's quite true. From 1911 until her winter 1912-13 refit, Olympic's B-deck was a promenade for its entire length. However, it is noteworthy that on Olympic's early voyages there were apparently very few passengers who used this space. Rather, A-deck proved popular, and to a lesser extent the boat deck where deck chairs were not in use (at least they were not allowed by her third voyage, and I'd assume this held true for the maiden voyage). That being the case, as you rightly say this space on Titanic could be used for enlarged first class suites.

The expansion of the a la carte restaurant and addition of the cafe parisian on Olympic reduced its size after 1913. By the end of the 1920s, the B-deck promenade forward of the grand staircase had been eliminated with the addition of new suites, but a promenade amidships remained.

Best wishes,

Mark.