The AUGUSTUS had nine passenger decks, beginning just beneath the top of the house and in descending order with: Sun Deck, Lido Deck, Boat Deck, Promenade Deck, Upper Deck, Foyer Deck, A Deck, B Deck, and C Deck. Sun Deck was devoted exclusively to first class, beginning forward with the wheelhouse, chartroom, and radio room. A spacious sun deck followed aft along either side, encompassing the funnel casing, kennels, and the "robot" ventilator. Lido Deck began with a narrow full-wrap around promenade and officers' quarters, culminating aft with a bar, the first class pool (shown above), and changing rooms.

The Belvedere Lounge was striking in its simplicity and use of stark, modern lines and materials. Peter Knego collection.

Boat Deck began forward with another narrow promenade, opening into wider expanses underneath a canopy of davits and lifeboats along either side. Internally, this level started off with the striking and sheered first class Belvedere Observation Lounge, which was lined with a panorama of windows overlooking the ship's bow.

Murals depicting the life and times of the Roman emperor Augustus adorned the aft bulkheads of AUGUSTUS' first class
reading room and diminutive writing room (background). Peter Knego collection.

Continuing aft on the starboard side, there was a reading room. Immediately amidships of this space was the diminutive first class writing room. The uppermost level of the forward stairtower was just aft with its magnificently modern glass railings and burled panels. There was also an elevator that linked the first class decks in this portion of the ship. The deluxe suite accommodation followed along port and aft passageways, leading to a small gymnasium, playroom, solarium, and massage room on the starboard side.

The cabin pool, shown facing forward, survives to this day. Peter Knego collection.

The aft portion of Boat Deck was given over to cabin class which had its own pool, lido and bar.

The first class social hall is shown in a starboard-facing view. The constellation-like lighting arrangement and oval ceiling recess would be the only part of this room to carry over into the auditorium space which replaced this room in 1964. Peter Knego collection.

Promenade Deck began forward with a first class observation area encompassing hold number three, continuing aft via narrow links to the spacious glass-enclosed first class promenade. Internally, it began with the remarkable social hall with its rounded panorama of windows and an aft bulkhead that sported sculptures and reliefs in bronze by Mascherini. The ceiling in this sheered salon contained an ovalesque recess in which the lighting was arranged in a zodiac fashion. In 1964, this room was converted into an auditorium.

The forward stairtower as built in a port-facing view. Peter Knego collection.

The forward stairtower foyer continued aft with vestibules leading off on either side to the promenades and passageways that led aft to the first class ballroom. The stairtower, itself, was adorned with sculptures by Mascherini.

The modern first class ballroom is shown here is an aft/port-facing view. Peter Knego collection.

The ballroom was the epitome of post war modern decor with its deco-inspired ceiling fixture made of mahogany, some very stylish furniture, and a tapestry on the aft bulkhead by Antonio Music depicting destinations visited on Marco Polo's travels.

A view facing aft in the first class card room. Peter Knego collection.

Continuing aft along the starboard side, adjacent to the funnel casing, the first class card room had a mahogany ceiling fixture in a similar style to that of the ballroom. The inboard bulkhead of this gallery space featured an oil panel on granular glass by Nicolo Costanzi.

The first class bar is shown facing forward. Peter Knego collection.

Along the port funnel casing just aft of the ballroom was the first class bar. Mahogany paneling adorned the inboard portion of this space while the facade of the bar was beautifully and most uniquely punctuated by ceramic art inlays by Sbisa of Trieste.

 

The port cabin class promenade is shown facing aft. Peter Knego collection.

Promenade Deck continued aft with the cabin class public areas. The promenades, themselves, were divided into two separate finite portions for first and cabin class to correspond with the salons they encompassed. This entire portion of the ship would be merged with tourist class when cabin class was eliminated in 1964.

The cabin class lounge shown in a starboard/forward facing view. Peter Knego collection.

The cabin class public rooms began with the lounge, which featured a large dance floor in its center and a small bandstand aft.

The cabin class smoke room is shown facing port/forward. Peter Knego collection.

The Ugo Carra-designed cabin class smoke room followed aft, with its gilt ceiling and side panels.

The cabin class bar featured a Formica mural of Christopher Columbus, as shown in this aft-facing view. Peter Knego collection.

Adjoining the smoke room on its aft starboard side, the cabin class bar was a most inviting nook with its carved wooden facade and a panel depicting Christopher Columbus. A playroom, since converted into a small galley, was located on the port side. A foyer just aft included a stairwell leading to upper deck for access to the cabin dining room. A writing room, followed by a card room on its starboard side, coincided with a reading room and gymnasium on the port side.

The chapel is shown in a port facing view. Peter Knego collection.

All Italian liners had dedicated chapels, and AUGUSTUS was no exception. The aft portion of her Promenade Deck public rooms culminated in this space, which contained a large gilt panel of religious symbols and figurines and beautiful stained glass screens aft. The panel was moved to the theater (which would double as the chapel and a synagogue) in the 1964 conversion.

Continue here for page three: AUGUSTUS tour, ctd

Important reference material on Italian Line and the MV AUGUSTUS: THE LIDO FLEET by Peter C. Kohler, TRANSATLANTICI by Maurizio Eliseo.

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