The Empress of Ireland was a very beautiful ship and had many fine comforts aboard the ship. She had three classes of passenger accommodations - first, second and third. The first class cabins and furnishing on the Empress were quite grand for its rich and wealthy passengers. In many ways the decor was a small scaled-down version of another John Brown liner named Lusitania. The dining saloon was very exquisite with private tables and booths, leather upholstery, fine Minton's porcelain china etc. The second class catered to businessmen and wealthy individuals who did not want the attention that going first class brought to the passengers. The third class were usually immigrants and less wealthy individuals that wanted a good meal and bedding for their sailing across the Atlantic. Overall the Empress of Ireland was a favorite ship of Irish immigrants and the many Canadian passengers that returned to England on business or pleasure.
The weather was normally very cool on board the transatlantic journey. Most of the time, the Empress was engulfed in fog during its excursion through the rough landscape of the Canadian terrain. Strolling the deck was a favorite pastime of the passengers and it was not uncommon to see the passengers wrapped in blankets. The ship was stocked with good food and beverage where, even in third class, one received a hearty and delicious meal. Because of the Titanic disaster two years earlier, the Empress of Ireland had more than enough space in their lifeboats for all passengers and crew. Despite this reassuring fact, what lies ahead for this once-proud liner is so disastrous that all Canadians will never forget the tragedy of the Empress of Ireland.
Comments