The Titanic Manifest
Passengers on the Titanic enjoyed a multitude of luxuries, many of which were implemented for the first time on an ocean vessel. A heated swimming pool, Turkish bath, squash court, gymnasium and libraries were all present for the enjoyment of the guests aboard the luxury liner. The swimming pool was the first to be included on a ship, today a common feature, and was reserved for first class passengers only. The six feet deep salt water pool cost $1 per person. Each of the 840 staterooms was equipped with electric lighting and heating, certainly a luxury in 1912.
The Titanic manifest even reveals the ship included a Parisian café with wait staff imported from France to add to the delight of the guests. Amateur photographers could try out their skills in the darkroom that had been fitted into the ship. Guests who wanted to communicate with family and friends on land could do so using the Marconi radio. Records reveal that over 250 telegrams were sent and received during the four days of the ship's voyage. The minimum fee for sending a wireless telegram from aboard the Titanic was $3.12. This cost included up to 10 words. Additional words were charged an extra fee. Guests could communicate on board with one another through the use of a 50 line telephone switchboard.
While a number of the luxuries on board the ship were reserved for the elite and famous passengers on the Titanic, several were open for use by all people in the Titanic, regardless of class. First, second and third class passengers could take advantage of the two barber shops; which were built with automatic hair drying appliances. This was certainly a luxury in 1912.
Images of the Titanic's grand staircase have been reproduced numerous times since the sinking of the ship. The massive staircase connected 7 decks aboard the ship and has become a symbol of the luxurious detailed appointed to the Titanic. Famous passengers on the Titanic who enjoyed the ship's luxurious facilities included Benjamin Guggenheim, John Jacob Astor IV, Molly Brown and Mr. and Mrs. Isidor Straus.
The Titanic manifest has revealed that in addition to the numerous luxury accommodations and amenities located throughout the ship, the Titanic also sailed with thousands of interesting objects. Some of the most fascinating include a Renault 35 horsepower automobile, five grand pianos and four cases of opium. When the ship sank to her watery grave, the expensive array of articles went with her, amounting to an untold loss of money.
Sadly, despite all of the luxurious amenities and finely crafted details included in maiden voyage of the Titanic the most important feature the Titanic lacked was a sufficient number of lifeboats. In reality, the ship should have contained at least 38 lifeboats to hold the ship's 2,227 passengers and crew. While original plans for the ship included 64 lifeboats, the final fitting of the ship saw only 32 lifeboats. The presence of the lifeboats was perceived to give the decks a 'cluttered' look and saw several of the boats were removed. In the end, the Titanic sailed with only 20 lifeboats.
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