The RMS Olympic was the first of White Star Line’s Olympic-class liners, alongside her sisters Titanic and Britannic. Launched in 1910 and entering service in 1911, she was the largest ocean liner in the world at the time and earned the nickname "Old Reliable" for her long and successful career.

Unlike her doomed sisters, Olympic served with distinction in World War I, transporting troops and famously ramming and sinking a German U-boat in 1918. She returned to passenger service post-war and remained popular through the 1920s.

By the 1930s, newer ships like the Queen Mary made her outdated. The Great Depression also severely reduced passenger numbers and revenue. In 1935, after 24 years of service, Olympic was retired and scrapped. Parts of her interior were salvaged—some of her furnishings and panelling were later installed in hotels, pubs, and private homes and can still be found in buildings across Britain today.