page_title: First-class facilities of the Titanic
section_title: Smoking room
hierarchical_section_title: First-class facilities of the Titanic / Gathering places / Smoking room
caption_attribution_description: H1548 R.W. English: The RMS Olympic 's smoke room, very similar to Titanic 's. A picture taken from the starboard side of the first class smoke room, reserved for gentlemen only. This room was also the place where Harland &amp; Wolff director Thomas Andrews was last seen as the Titanic sank. Français&#160;: Le fumoir de l'Olympic, photographié depuis le flanc tribord. Il se distingue principalement de son jumeau à bord du Titanic par le sujet du tableau figurant au dessus de la cheminée.
context_page_description: Reflecting the White Star Line's reputation for superior comfort and luxury, the RMS Titanic had extensive facilities for first-class passengers which were widely regarded as the finest of her time. In contrast to her French and German competitors, whose interiors were extravagantly decorated and heavily adorned, the Titanic emphasized comfort and subdued elegance more in the style of a British country manor or luxury hotel. Titanic's enormous size enabled her to feature unusually large rooms, all equipped with the latest technologies for comfort, hygiene, and convenience. Staterooms and public spaces recreated historic styles with a painstaking attention to detail and accuracy. There was a wide range of recreational and sporting facilities in addition which provided ample opportunity for amusement during a voyage.
  Although closely similar to her sister ship and predecessor the RMS Olympic, Titanic featured additional first-class staterooms, augmented public rooms, and myriad minor improvements to enhance her luxury and comfort.
context_section_description: First-class male passengers could enjoy a Georgian style smoking room, found at the aft end of A Deck just off the aft grand staircase. In keeping with social conventions of the time, the room was exclusive to men. In order to recreate the same atmosphere of a gentlemen's club, the room was decorated with dark mahogany panelling inlaid with mother-of-pearl and richly carved. Numerous large stained-glass windows were installed in pedimented niches within the panelling, illuminated from behind. Like the lounge, the ceilings and windows were raised above the level of the Boat Deck for increased height and the room was flanked by alcoves with bay windows, also in stained-glass.
  The floor was laid with blue and red linoleum tiles and the plaster ceiling was moulded with plaster medallions. In the centre of the far-back wall was a Norman Wilkinson painting, Plymouth Harbor, which hung over a coal-burning fireplace in white marble. This was the only real fireplace on board: the others were installed with electric heaters. Square tables with raised edges (to prevent drink spillage in rough weather) dotted the room, surrounded by round club chairs upholstered in leather, of an unknown colour (probably green or burgundy).
  To the right of the fireplace was a revolving door which led to the Verandah Café. The room was U-shaped because the ventilation shaft from the Turbine Engine Room occupied the forward end. This area also included bathrooms.
  The Smoking Room was the preferred spot of gamblers who crossed the Atlantic. Professional card sharps also travelled on board under aliases, and the purser could do nothing but warn passengers about these swindlers, since passengers played at their own risk. At least four professional players travelled on board the Titanic. Cigars and drinks could be made available upon request of the passengers, and were provided by the stewards of the adjacent bar. The bar stopped serving at 11:30 pm and the Smoking Room itself closed at midnight.
caption: First-class smoking room on the RMS Olympic
exif: {}