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

Page Four: ATALANTE Up To The Minute Tour (Sun and Boat Decks)

Owners: Paradise Cruises, Limassol, Cyprus

A fascinating study of the HOMERICUS to ATALANTE "morphing". While at Piraeus on 8 November 1991, the starboard side of ATALANTE is ready to take on Paradise Cruises colors while her port side has recently had HOMERICUS painted out as the last remnants of Epirotiki's livery is covered up for good. Photo and copyright Clive Harvey 1991.

Paradise Cruises' recently rebuilt ATALANTE arrives at Limassol on 1 October 1994. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1994.

The plaque from the ATALANTE's rebuilding in 1994. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

ATALANTE was reconfigured for $7 million USD by the naval architectural firm of Chris Simopoulos during the winter of 1993/4 for her new Cypriot owners, Mediterranean Queen Line's Paradise Cruises division.

A study of ATALANTE's rebuilt midships structure. Note the three blue stripes and the "Q" for Mediterranean Queen Lines. This was how the livery appeared in the ship's first few years for Paradise.

The most obvious external modifications were the extension of her forward superstructure to accommodate more cabins and an expanded show lounge. To provide more weather protection for her former first class pool lido, glass screens were extended aft, giving the ship a fuller profile, and balancing the forward extension. A larger restaurant replaced part of the original galley, as well as the Belvedere and Lucullus Dining Rooms. And a new deck of cabins was added in former garage space.

The Paradise logo on ATALANTE's unchanged funnel. Note the ventilators fore and aft, a common European naval feature from the 1950s and 1960s to help force the exhaust skyward. Among the many notable passenger ships that shared this trait: ANDREA DORIA, CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, BADOUINVILLE, JADOTVILLE, PROVENCE, BRETAGNE, and the INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1997.

ATALANTE, no longer wearing a "Q" around her middle flanks, during her 1997 winter layup at Limassol. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1997.

An up to date view of the photogenic ATALANTE at Tinos on 28 September 2003, with just the two stripes remaining. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

By 1997, the "Q" was dispensed with, and in a further cosmetic evolution, by 2001, the darkest of the three stripes was eliminated. There is some discussion about painting her hull a shade of navy blue for her upcoming season, which would be a very nice tribute to the ship's combi-liner origins.

The view over the bow from ATALANTE's Sun Deck showing the Show Lounge extension. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Sun Deck facing aft from port. Note the sculpted form of the ship's funnel and its base as well as the open vents to help push exhaust away from the decks. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

From Sun Deck facing aft over ATALANTE's generous lido area. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Let's begin our tour from top to bottom, starting at Sun Deck level, which is not open to passengers. This level is entirely "as built," and while it is off limits, it does afford a wonderful view of the ATALANTE's unique funnel and a bird's eye view over her well-tended afterdecks and two tiered lido.

The wheelhouse facing starboard. The windows to the right look into the chart room. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

   

Various original navigation fixtures, still with their French signage. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Boat Deck is also not for passenger use. The forward portion is actually the top of the show lounge extension, which meshes into the bridge structure. ATALANTE's wheelhouse is one of the most fascinating afloat, combining the necessary new fixtures and a lovely array of brass instruments within a windowed, wood-paneled environment. Directly aft and port, the wheelhouse is adjoined by the Chart Room. On the port side, the captain's office and quarters lead further aft to other officers' quarters. The furnishings and fittings in this part of the ship largely date to the Messageries Maritimes TAHITIEN era.

Port Boat Deck, facing forward. Architecturally unchanged since the Messageries Maritimes era, this deck is private space for officers' use only. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Facing forward/port from the aft/starboard Boat Deck extension added in 1994. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Externally, Boat Deck continues aft of the open bridge wings with traditional teak lined promenades underneath the canopy of life boats. This area is not for passenger use but is included to show some of ATALANTE's amazing vintage architectural features. The promenades converge at the stern with a small terrace and stairs leading up to Sun Deck. The aft portions of Boat Deck are the extensions built in 1994 to shelter the pool and lido area below. There were plans to expand on this with a magrodome over the pool, but they were ultimately ruled out.

Please click for page five: ATALANTE Tour, continued

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

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