Second-class accommodation and facilities on board the Titanic were quite intricate and spacious in comparison to many first-class facilities on other ships of the time. Although the second- and third-class sections of the ship occupied a much smaller proportion of space overall than those of first class aboard the Titanic, there were several comfortable, large public rooms and elevators for the passengers to enjoy, so much in fact that the minority of the spaces provided were actually used during the voyage. 284 passengers boarded second class in a ship that could accommodate 410 second-class passengers.
Third-class accommodation was also comfortable by the standards of the time. A dining saloon provided steerage passengers with simple but hearty meals thrice daily, at a time when many ships forced third-class passengers to bring their own food provisions for the voyage.
Second class
Accommodation
The bulk of second-class passenger staterooms were located aft of midship, between D and F Decks. Second Class on E-Deck ran along the starboard side of the ship. Only the cabins all the way aft, E89 through E107, were considered "permanent" Second Class; E43 through E88 were considered "Second Class/Alternate First Class" cabins. This meant that they were furnished and equipped for Second Class, which they would normally accommodate, but on occasions of high demand could be used for First Class. Certain upgrades like heaters and carpeted floors (instead of linoleum) were added in these cabins, but otherwise all the furniture and conveniences were typical of Second Class. During the maiden voyage of Titanic, E43 through E68 served as First Class. Further forward along E-Deck, all but four staterooms between E1 and E42 were in turn classified as First Class "alternative" Second Class, meaning that they were furnished and intended for First Class use ordinarily but could be used for Second Class passengers.
Second-class staterooms were very comfortable, featuring oak paneling painted a glossy white, linoleum floors, and mahogany furniture usually consisting of a large sofa, wardrobe, and dressing table with washbasin, mirror, and storage shelves. Second Class washbasins were of the type known as a "Compactom" or "Clock". These were earthenware basins which could be folded back against the wall to drain them and save space when not in use. Second Class cabins were not connected to the ship's freshwater tanks; instead they had to be supplied with hot and cold water manually by a steward. The steward would fill the holding tank concealed in the washbasin cabinets and also empty used water from a "sluice tank" which the basin drained into. Shared staterooms were segregated by gender so that single women or men often shared staterooms with one another. Unlike in first class, which offered many staterooms with private bathrooms, second-class bathroom facilities were all shared. Communal lavatories and bathrooms were separated by companionways and divided by gender. A bath could be had on request to a steward and bed linen was changed daily.
Public areas
Second class offered passengers a spacious library/area, smoking room, outdoor promenade, and dining room. There was also a barber shop off the main staircase on E Deck and a purser's Office where passengers could store their valuables. There were two staircases for second-class passengers—the main forward one communicated between the boat deck all the way down to F Deck and featured an elevator, the first to be featured in second class aboard an ocean liner. The second ran between F and B Decks and directly accessed the Library and Smoking Room. Both stairways were more modestly designed than their first-class counterparts; the balustrades were made entirely of oak and the flooring was in white and red patterned linoleum.
Promenade Decks
There were three separate outdoor promenade areas for second class. The main one was a 145 ft long unsheltered stretch at the aft end of the boat deck that encompassed the raised roof of the first-class smoking room. A small deckhouse was installed acting as the second-class entrance, from where the elevator and main staircase were reached. There were wooden-slatted wrought iron benches installed along this deck and teak deck chairs could be rented for three shillings/1 dollar per person for the voyage.
The other two promenades were on B and C Decks, surrounding the smoking room and library. The C Deck level was 84 ft long and enclosed in steel framing with glass windows. It was generally used as a children's play area.