RMS MAJESTIC: AN INTERIOR GLIMPSEMajestic’s career as a passenger liner lasted a mere fourteen years, yet during that time she was always one of the most popular liners afloat - and sometimes the most popular. In 1923, her first full year of service, she carried more first class passengers than any other liner and this was due in no small part to the impressive first class accommodation. It is worth taking a short look at the magnificence in the heart of a ship that has long since ceased to exist. Shortly after she entered service in 1922, the White Star Line described Majestic’s first class dining saloon:
Oddly enough, the seating capacity was lower than the 678 seats given in other brochures, although it did come closer to the figure of ‘650 Sitzplatze’ (seats) noted for the first class Speisesaal (dining room) in a German blueprint produced by Blohm & Vosss in October 1921. Perhaps some additional seating capacity was included at a later date, as first class passengers flocked to the ship. In January 1936, John Havers toured Majestic. He examined the first class dining saloon - by then, the ship’s deck designation letters had been altered, and F-deck had changed to D-deck (RMS Majestic: The ‘Magic Stick’ pages 80-81):
Even as she neared the end of her career, she retained her essential character and beauty.
Above: Majestic’s first class dining saloon accommodated no fewer than 678 first class passengers at a single sitting. Its layout is seen here in a 1933 deckplan. The split funnel uptakes not only created space amidships, as passengers entered the saloon from the first class entrance at the forward end, but their placement ensured additional privacy for passengers dining to the port and starboard sides of the main entrance. (Author’s Collection.)
Above: The elegant á la carte restaurant proved popular with first class passengers, and its appearance was distinct from that of the main dining saloon. The chairs were very different, too. Following cutbacks as the depression worsened in the early 1930s, after the Cunard White Star merger the restaurant was closed in October 1934. Although the first class dining saloon menu was improved at that time, the catering could not match the choice passengers had in Majestic’s heydey. In February 1935, items from the restaurant galley’s equipment were considered surplus to requirements and removed (see RMS Olympic: Titanic’s Sister, page 261). (Author’s Collection.) Home / Books Index / Interviews Index / Articles Index / News Index / Updates / Sitemap Mark Chirnside's Reception Room ©2004- |