Shipboard Class
First Class Dining Room, 1906. Peabody Essex Museum, 13735.
Second Class Dining Room, 1906. Peabody Essex Museum, 30941.
Third Class Dining Room, 1906. Peabody Essex Museum, 20563.
Class divisions aboard the Empress mirrored the social structure of the age. Distinctions among First, Second and Third Class were shown in the division of dining amenities.
Second Class menu, June 20, 1910. Royal Alberta Museum, Western Canadian History collection.
First Class breakfast menu from the Empress of Britain, December 3, 1913. Royal Alberta Museum, Western Canadian History collection.
First Class passengers dined on gourmet meals served on fine china. The dining room décor exuded elegance, and the dining experience rivalled that of fine European restaurants. The menu, printed for each meal on a die-cut embossed card, included a wide range of food options. Second Class passengers received a simpler menu card for each meal.
Third Class passengers were served plain meals and washed their own dishes. They received a printed daily menu. Although the interior of the Third Class dining hall was simple, it was clean and comfortable. Critics praised the treatment Third Class passengers received aboard the Empress.
Canadian Pacific Railway First Class china. Royal Alberta Museum, Western Canadian History collection
Canadian Pacific Railway Second Class china. Royal Alberta Museum, Western Canadian History collection
Canadian Pacific Railway Third Class china. Royal Alberta Museum, Western Canadian History collection
Silver plate bowl.
Brass bugle.
last review/update: Feb. 6, 2009
