One of the many amenities aboard Olympic and Titanic was a spa complex for the First Class passengers known as the Turkish Baths. Only one other White Star liner had this feature and that was the RMS Adriatic of 1907. The Turkish Baths were decorated in a mix of Arabic styles to evoke a Turkish hammam. There was a Hot Room, Temperate Room, Cooling Room, Steam Room, Electric Bath, and two Shampoo Rooms where massages were performed.
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Titanic's Cooling Room of the Turkish Baths, taken the day before the ship's departure from Southampton |
The Cooling Room was the central feature of the complex. The walls were adorned with glossy blue-green tiles, carved teak woodwork, and bronze lamps. Against one wall was a marble drinking fountain. The ceiling was deeply recessed and painted a deep crimson, with gilded beams and hanging lanterns, supported by pillars encased in teak. Unlike the Olympic, the Titanic's cooling room did not have an exterior wall but still included artificial portholes concealed by a carved Cairo style curtain. The doorways were adorned with gilded semi-domes to give an exotic effect. Throughout the room were teak folding chairs, Damascus tables and cushioned chaise lounges for relaxation. There were also small, curtained cubicles for changing. The Turkish Baths were segregated by sex, available to women between 9am and 12pm, and to men between 2pm and 6pm. There was a charge of 4 shillings or $1, per person for admission. That would be the equivalent of £21 or $30 today.
The Swimming Bath
Concept Drawing for the Swimming Bath for Titanic and Olympic |
Across the corridor from the Turkish Baths was a heated swimming pool, or what was called the Swimming Bath, measuring 30 feet by 14 feet with a depth of 7 feet. The water depth was 5 feet 4 inches at the deep end and 4 feet 6 inches at the shallow end. Heated salt water from a tank and cold sea water were pumped into the pool once the ship was out to sea. The room offered 13 changing cubicles and 2 shower stalls for convenience. The floors were tiled in blue and white linoleum, and a marble stair with teak footholds descended into the pool. The pool cost 1 shilling or $0.25 (£5 or $7.50 today) to use but was open to men free of charge between 6am and 8am for early morning exercise. Olympic featured two diving boards which proved to be a safety hazard for divers, so they were not installed on Titanic. When the ship was moving the amount of water which sloshed back and forth could make the diving end deceptively shallow.
Photograph of Titanic's Swimming Bath |
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Plan of F Deck showing the Turkish Baths and Swimming Bath. |
Rendering of Titanic's Cooling Room of the Turkish Baths (Provided By Titanic Honor & Glory) |
Rendering of Titanic's Hot Room of the Turkish Baths (Provided By Titanic Honor & Glory) |
Rendering of Titanic's Steam Room of the Turkish Baths (Provided By Titanic Honor & Glory) |
Rendering of Titanic's Temperate Room of the Turkish Baths (Provided By Titanic Honor & Glory) |
Photograph of Olympic's Cooling Room of the Turkish Baths |
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The "Blade Douche" |
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Style of Electric Bath that was used on Olympic and Titanic. |
Titanic's Cooling Room of the Turkish Baths Rediscovered in 2005. |