Published December 1, 2003. All images and text copyright Peter Knego 2003 (unless otherwise noted).

Page Two: TAHITIEN, continued

Owners: Paradise Cruises, Limassol, Cyprus

The official Messageries Maritimes post card view of TAHITIEN. Peter Knego collection.

Pont C began ahead of the Pont B well with the gently sheered fo'c'sle and its array of mooring equipment, continuing with a small platform above the loading gear deckhouse and resuming aft of the well with the tourist class open deck space surrounding the third cargo hold. It was protected forward by a windscreen encasing a small enclosed sheltered area that led up via stairs to an open platform above or down to the tourist class accommodation and public areas on Pont B.

First class two or three berth cabin #1, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

The internal portion of Pont C was largely devoted to first class accommodation, all of which was outside. Up forward, the Beauty Salon and Barber Shop was sandwiched between port and starboard passageways. Just aft were public toilets and baths adjoining the landing of the main stairtower.

First class two/three berth cabin #1, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

Ten first class two and three berth cabins equipped with shower and toilet continued aft on either side, odd on starboard, even on port. Flanking the second stairtower on the port side was an infirmary, while the starboard side contained the purser's office.

Studio Cabin #21, facing starboard. It is configured as a day room in this photo. Peter Knego collection.

Four beautfully furnished studio cabins (#s 21 -- 24) two on either side, followed, representing the finest accommodation TAHITIEN had to offer. They had divan beds (that folded into couches by day) and folding beds that allowed the spaces to convert to day sitting rooms. And, of course, they had private toilets, full baths, and even bidets.

First class one/two berth cabin number 28, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

Pont C first class accommodation continued aft on the starboard side with a one/two berth cabin, (#25), and on the port side with three two/three berth (#s 26,30, 32) and one one/two berth cabin (#28).

The Children's Playroom, facing starboard. Peter Knego collection.

The aft/inboard portion of the accommodation area featured more public toilets and baths as well as an ironing room. On the aft/starboard side, there was a children's playroom that served both first and tourist class, which adjoined a sheltered children's terrace just aft. The playroom featured Disney animation characters rendered by Camille Hilaire. Pont C continued aft of the Pont B well deck with a crew accommodation block at the stern.

Pont B began forward with a small block of crew accommodation underneath the mooring equipment. The well space surrounding cargo holds one and two was the steerage class promenade. A small deck house supporting the forward mast and loading gear contained stairs leading down to the steerage accommodation on Pont A.

The tourist class Smoking Room, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

The starboard portion of the Smoking Room, also called the tourist class Lounge, facing starboard. Peter Knego collection.

Inside, Pont B started off with the handsome, if compact, tourist class Smoking Room. Spanning the width of the ship, the center secton featured a curved bar with seating alcoves on either side. Messageries Maritimes' literature from the TAHITIEN heyday called the starboard alcove the Lounge, but all in all, it was one continuous space. The pallette was red, violet, and yellow and key focal points included oil and lacquer "fantasy" motifs by Camille Hilaire.

A tourist class quadruple cabin, number 214, facing port. Christopher Kyte collection.

Six even numbered three and four berth cabins continued aft on the port side, while seven occupied the same portion along the starboard side. The third hold space was followed by public toilets and changing rooms. The beautiful main entrance hall spanned the width of the ship with embarkation doors on either side, a purser's desk forward, and the grand stairtower embankment aft. An ironing room continued on the port side, while six more multi-berth cabins were featured on either side.

A corner of the dining room with one of the Aujame panels. Peter Knego collection.

The very handsome dining room wrapped up the passenger portion of Pont B. It was shared by both first and tourist class passengers and spanned the width of the ship. It featured beautifully painted panels by Aujame depicting the four seasons. The first and tourist class galley and crew accommodation followed, surrounding the aft hold areas, and leading to the fantail.

The Pont A forepeak housed a steerage dormitory accommodating 76 surrounding the first hold. Eleven six and eight berth cabins followed, wrapping around the second hold, leading aft to a cafeteria on the starboard side of the third hold. Crew accommodation and cargo space followed from here.

The next lower levels of TAHITIEN were given over to her cargo areas, machinery, and tanks.

Please click for page three: From Liner to Cruise Ship: Enter ATALANTE

[ATALANTE page one]   [ATALANTE page three]   [ATALANTE page four]   [ATALANTE page five]   [ATALANTE page six]   [ATALANTE page seven]

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