RMS Adriatic

The Adriatic was built by Harland and Wolff under keel number 358. She was launched on 20 September 1906 and completed on 25 April 1907. She was 729 feet long with a beam of 73 feet and had a gross tonnage of 24,541. She had seven decks and propelled by two quadruple expansion steam engines with twin propellers. She could attain an average speed of 17 knots.

The Adriatic could accommodate 2825 passengers: 425 First Class, 500 Second Class and 1900 Third Class. The Adriatic was the first liner to have a Turkish Bath on board.

The Adriatic’s maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York commenced on the 8 May 1907 under Captain Smith. Following her maiden voyage, the WSL took the Adriatic off the Liverpool to New York route and placed her on the Southampton to New York route. The Adriatic was the first liner to use the new dock at Southampton which was called the White Star Dock.

On 4 November 1909, whilst under the command of Captain Smith she ran aground on a sandbank at the south edge of the Ambrose Channel and could not move for several hours.

She returned to the Liverpool to New York service when the Olympic took over the route in 1911. Some surviving passengers from the Titanic returned to England on the Adriatic in April 1912, including Joseph Bruce Ismay and Millvina Dean.

Like her sisters, she was required by the Admiralty during the First World War to serve as a troopship but encountered no incidents.

A common problem for shipping lines was that coal, needed to fire the boilers, is very flammable, especially coal dust. Many ships had small or even large fires on board, even the Titanic had one when she set sail. The Adriatic was no exception There was an explosion in one of the coal bunker killing four people on 11 August 1922.

In 1928, she was converted as a “Cabin class” ship. In 1934 she was chartered by the Boy Scouts Girl Guides for a Mediterranean cruise. Numerous mechanical problems kept putting the Adriatic2 out of service costing the company to lose money. When the Cunard Line (Cunard) merged with WSL in 1934, she was scrapped a year later.

An RMS Adriatic2 promotional leaflet circa 1913

The promotional leaflet from the White Star Line outlines the luxury of the “Big Four.”

"Travellers who frequently cross the Atlantic nearly always acquire a preference for a certain ship, admiring it, perhaps with many good qualities, such as steadiness in all weathers, solid comfort, splendid cuisine, pleasant officials and an efficient staff, or any of a dozen other equally good reasons. Every one of the White Star Line’s famous “Big Four” - the favourite mammoth steamers Adriatic, Baltic, Cedric and Celtic – can boast of hosts of such passengers who choose these vessels the journey after journey, knowing that upon them – in any class – will be found exactly the satisfactory service and the perfection of courtesy they have so thoroughly enjoyed before.

The famous “Big Four” are the largest steamers sailing regularly between New York and Liverpool, calling at Queenstown both Eastbound and Westbound. They are of staunch, sturdy build, with graceful, stately lines, and if there is one comment about them had more often than another, it is at these vessels are “so very steady.” The Adriatic and the Baltic are each 720 feet long, the Cedric and the Celtic being 700 feet in length; all were constructed of the same model, and the accommodations are spacious, airy, and attractive throughout.

The public rooms on board these four steamers are all excellently located to ensure comfort and are tastefully decorated and furnished. The First Class Lounge is perhaps the chief indoor gathering place – always excepting the ever popular dining saloon! The cheery surroundings of the lounge make it an ideal spot for cards or conversation for the leisurely after dinner demi-tasse, and, with the ship’s own orchestra of professional musicians discoursing catchy airs in the main foyer of the steamer, just outside the lounge doors, a pleasant sense of camaraderie is certain to be developed among the passengers, although they hail from many corners of the globe.

In the drawing room, with its air of cozy comfort, the easy chairs beguile one to while away the passing hours amid these pleasant surroundings. Here is a cosy retreat, with evidences of the best taste and refinement and elegance in all its surroundings. Soft Oriental rugs, often bright in their colouring, a glowing fireplace, beautiful hangings at the windows – all these please the eye and add to the attractiveness of this apartment.

The ships smoking room always holds its own little world of interest for a man at sea. Here the raconteur exchanges quips and stories for the daring adventure tales of the hunter returning home after new conquests. Here also the man of business forgets his cares and rests himself amid the congenial fellowship of other followers of the world’s marts.

There is also on each ship a cosy and well appointed writing room, or combination writing room and drawing room.

On board the Adriatic, the Writing Room is an example of harmony and beauty in design and furnishings, contributing to restful ease. The large windows are characteristic of the writing rooms on White Star ships. The general effect strikes a distinct note of elegance.

The First Class accommodations are situated in the middle third of the ship, the part least subject to motion at sea. They have three passenger deck promenades, that are unusually spacious. Their state rooms are of generous proportions, and are furnished in a style of substantial comfort.

An abiding first impression of the ships is one of great size, solidity and dignity, and of good taste and tone in their general effect. The Travellers good opinion of his ship is strengthened on a voyage by the atmosphere of refinement and quiet on board, by the well chosen menus and excellent cooking, and by the perfection of service in every department.

Everything runs like clockwork´ is a comment sometimes heard from appreciative passengers – a tribute to the efficiency of White Star standards, maintained through a half century of successful catering to steamship travellers.

Amusements on the ships are a little less stressed, perhaps, than on the fashionable expressed liners, but they are not lacking. Each ship carries a well – chosen orchestra, which gives daily concerts, and also plays the dancing. Games of various kinds are played in the lounge and smoking room, and there is a generous deck space for outdoor sports.

Each ship has a carefully selected library, and carries the leading current periodicals, both American and European.

The ships of the “Big Four” carry First, Second and Third Class passengers. The Second Class cabin accommodations are spacious and comfortable, and are popular with travellers who are gratified to find that in this Class they get much in return for moderate rates.

While not driven at the speed of the express steamers plying to Cherbourg and Southampton, the ships of the “Big Four” have abundant power for reliable, steady performance, which enables them to complete their voyages with the regularity of through trains on a railroad.

Passengers by this route are landed at Queenstown by tender and at Liverpool directly at the Riverside landing stage, from which special boat trains depart for London directly after the arrival of each ship. The running time to London is about four hours. Frequent express trains also depart from Liverpool the various tourist centres, the English Lake District, the Shakespeare country and the Welsh mountains being within easy reach.

Two Americans planning a tour of places of scenic and historic interest in Great Britain, the White Star Line’s “Big Four” ships cannot be too highly recommended.”