Interiors RMS Lusitania

painting of lusitania norman wilkinson

at time of introduction onto north atlantic, both lusitania , mauretania possessed among luxurious, spacious , comfortable interiors afloat. scottish architect james miller chosen design lusitania s interiors, while harold peto chosen design mauretania. miller chose use plasterwork create interiors whereas peto made extensive use of wooden panelling, result overall impression given lusitania brighter mauretania. lusitania s designs proved more popular.

the ship s passenger accommodation spread across 6 decks; top deck down waterline boat deck (a deck), promenade deck (b deck), shelter deck (c deck), upper deck (d deck), main deck (e deck) , lower deck (f deck), each of 3 passenger classes being allotted own space on ship. seen aboard passenger liners of era, first, second , third class passengers strictly segregated 1 another. according original configuration in 1907, designed carry 2,198 passengers , 827 crew members. cunard line prided record passenger satisfaction.

lusitania s first class accommodation in centre section of ship on 5 uppermost decks, concentrated between first , fourth funnels. when booked, lusitania cater 552 first class passengers. in common major liners of period, lusitania s first class interiors decorated mélange of historical styles. first class dining saloon grandest of ship s public rooms; arranged on 2 decks open circular @ centre , crowned elaborate dome measuring 29 feet (8.8 m), decorated frescos in style of françois boucher, elegantly realised throughout in neoclassical louis xvi style. lower floor measuring 85 feet (26 m) seat 323, further 147 on 65-foot (20 m) upper floor. walls finished white , gilt carved mahogany panels, corinthian decorated columns required support floor above. 1 concession seaborne life furniture bolted floor, meaning passengers not rearrange seating personal convenience.

promotional material showing first class dining room



finished first class dining room

all other first class public rooms situated on boat deck , comprised lounge, reading , writing room, smoking room , veranda café. last innovation on cunard liner and, in warm weather, 1 side of café opened give impression of sitting outdoors. have been used feature given inclement weather of north atlantic.

the first class lounge decorated in georgian style inlaid mahogany panels surrounding jade green carpet yellow floral pattern, measuring overall 68 feet (21 m). had barrel vaulted skylight rising 20 feet (6.1 m) stained glass windows each representing 1 month of year.

each end of lounge had 14-foot (4.3 m) high green marble fireplace incorporating enamelled panels alexander fisher. design linked overall decorative plasterwork. library walls decorated carved pilasters , mouldings marking out panels of grey , cream silk brocade. carpet rose, rose du barry silk curtains , upholstery. chairs , writing desks mahogany, , windows featured etched glass. smoking room queen anne style, italian walnut panelling , italian red furnishings. grand stairway linked 6 decks of passenger accommodation wide hallways on each level , 2 lifts. first class cabins ranged 1 shared room through various ensuite arrangements in choice of decorative styles culminating in 2 regal suites each had 2 bedrooms, dining room, parlour , bathroom. port suite decoration modelled on petit trianon.

lusitania s second class accommodation confined stern, behind aft mast, quarters 460 second class passengers located. second class public rooms situated on partitioned sections of boat , promenade decks housed in separate section of superstructure aft of first class passenger quarters. design work deputised robert whyte, architect employed john brown. although smaller , plainer, design of dining room reflected of first class, 1 floor of diners under ceiling smaller dome , balcony. walls panelled , carved decorated pillars, in white. seen in first class, dining room situated lower down in ship on saloon deck. smoking , ladies rooms occupied accommodation space of second class promenade deck, lounge on boat deck.

cunard had not provided separate lounge second class; 42-foot (13 m) room had mahogany tables, chairs , settees set on rose carpet. smoking room 52 feet (16 m) mahogany panelling, white plasterwork ceiling , dome. 1 wall had mosaic of river scene in brittany, while sliding windows blue tinted. second class passengers allotted shared, yet comfortable 2 , 4 berth cabins arranged on shelter, upper , main decks.

noted being prime breadwinner trans-atlantic shipping lines, third class aboard lusitania praised improvement in travel conditions provided emigrant passengers, , lusitania proved quite popular ship immigrants. in days before lusitania , still during years in lusitania in service, third class accommodation consisted of large open spaces hundreds of people share open berths , hastily constructed public spaces, consisting of no more small portion of open deck space , few tables constructed within sleeping quarters. in attempt break mould, cunard line began designing ships such lusitania more comfortable third class accommodation.

as on cunard passenger liners, third class accommodation aboard lusitania located @ forward end of ship on shelter, upper, main , lower decks, , in comparison other ships of period, comfortable , spacious. 79-foot (24 m) dining room @ bow of ship on saloon deck, finished in polished pine other 2 third class public rooms, being smoke room , ladies room on shelter deck.

when lusitania booked in third class, smoking , ladies room converted overflow dining rooms added convenience. meals eaten @ long tables swivel chairs , there 2 sittings meals. piano provided passenger use. appealed immigrants , lower class travelers instead of being confined open berth dormitories, aboard lusitania honeycomb of two, four, 6 , 8 berth cabins allotted third class passengers on main , lower decks.

the bromsgrove guild had designed , constructed of trim on lusitania. waring , gillow tendered contract furnish whole ship, failing obtain still supplied number of furnishings.