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page five: MS PHILIPPINES Ship Tour, ctd. Boat Deck, ctd. to forward Promenade Deck.
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Facing down from Boat Deck level into the stairwell of the former first class ascent. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
In the vestibule just aft of the forward Boat Deck public rooms, the former first class stairtower begins its four deck descent. Wrapping around a rectangular void, the stairs sport beautiful backlit burled wooden panels in the corners of the aft landings. However, sculpted figures by Mascherini no longer adorn its tempered glass balustrades.
The starboard portion of Boat Deck, facing aft. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
Stretching aft from the narrow observation terrace, the outer portion of Boat Deck continues with expansive promenades underneath a traditional arrangement of lifeboats.
Boat Deck cabin 717 was undergoing renovation during our brief time aboard the MS PHILIPPINES. With bathroom and tub, it is not one of the ship's larger rooms, but in the Italian Line era, it was desirable for its convenient location and brass-framed window looking out onto the promenade. The beds, light fixtures and carpeting are new, but the original (freshly revarnished) woodwork and furniture thankfully remain. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
A range of deluxe cabins follow, all of which were being renovated during our visit. Original dark wood paneling was being carefully revarnished, bulkheads repainted, and all soft furnishings replaced. The large, adjoining midships suites (710 through 13 and 726 through 729) had been refurbished in the late 1970s fittings. Changing rooms on the port side, and an old sauna and sun room starboard, are all the way aft.
No longer pertinent Italian, Spanish, and English signage designates the separation of first from tourist class portions of Boat Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
The outboard promenades were once exclusively first class, while the after decks contain the former cabin (later tourist) class pool and lido (where signs still say "tourist class limit" in Italian, Spanish, and English).
Facing forward toward cargo hold number four and the former cabin class pool from aft Boat Deck in November 1999. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
Aft Boat Deck contains the smaller of two pools on board MS PHILIPPINES. During our visit, refurbishment of this area had just begun.
The larger of the two pools on aft Promenade Deck, as seen from aft Boat Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
From Boat Deck, the view over the stern shows the now expanded original tourist class pool and the extension of Promenade Deck to the fantail.
The MS PHILIPPINES superstructure as seen from forward Promenade Deck. The sculpted nuances and curves would influence Italian passenger ship architecture through the mid-1960s, culminating with Home Line's state-of-the-art OCEANIC. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
Promenade Deck (6) begins with an observation area and cargo hold number three, which is presided over by two large boons. Remarkably, the ship's huge, square Cantieri builders plate is still mounted in the center of the bulkhead.
Facing aft along the starboard promenade. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
The entire midships length of Promenade Deck is traversed by wide, traditional promenades. With vertically sliding glass windows and no longer divided by class infrastructure, they are now fully air-conditioned. Each promenade can hold up to 1,000 people for exhibitions and banquets.
Facing starboard in the sheered Cinema. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
The elliptical 250 seat Chapel/Cinema, (until 1964, AUGUSTUS' first class Ballroom) begins the lineup of public rooms. Its red leather seats and the elliptical backlit ceiling recess with zodiac lighting arrangement have thankfully been retained.
The screen was formerly in the Chapel on aft Promenade Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
There is also a magnificent gilt panel forward of the proscenium, engraved with ancient Christian symbols.
Facing forward toward the lift and the magnificent panel in the forward Promenade Deck vestibule. The lighting fixtures were a recent addition, styled after larger chandeliers in the Manila Hotel. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
The Promenade Deck stairwell landing has the largest of the burled wood panels, spanning the inboard width of the vestibule around the elevator.
The view facing aft in the Barrio Fiesta Ballroom reveals that at least a good portion of the original first class Lounge remains hidden underneath new paint work, a new tapestry, and vivid soft fittings. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
The 150 seat Barrio Fiesta Ballroom, originally the first class Lounge, follows. While Italia's large tapestry depicting the voyage of Marco Polo is gone (or hidden underneath new artwork), the space retains its stylized wooden ceiling fixture.
Facing forward from the aft/port corner, the most visible changes to the former first class Lounge are cosmetic and not structural. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
The bulkheads are now covered in velour and mirrored surfacing. Heavy rounded early 1950s velvet seating is framed by a large mural of a Philippine countryside on the aft bulkhead. Handsome brass-framed windows in the aft part of the room look out onto the promenades, while a circular wooden dance floor and small bandstand occupy the center portion.
Facing aft in the Magellan Card Room. The mahogany ceiling fixture has curiously been painted over. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
Two gallery-style rooms conclude the former first class portion of Promenade Deck. On the starboard side the Magellan Card Room has some of its original 50s furniture, but the outboard mahogany ceiling fixture has been painted over and Nicolo Costanzi's inboard oil on granular glass has been replaced with a Spanish colonial painting. The bulkheads are still trimmed in their original gilt surfacing.
Facing forward in the magnificent Rajah Bar. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1999.
On the port side, the 60 seat Rajah Bar has new bright orange bar stools and modern chairs and tables. The magnificent mahogany wood paneling has been left untouched, and still sports pearlescent porcelain inlays of abstract sea life, where "EMS Sbisa/Trieste" reads on the signature piece.
A close-up view of two of the Sbisa bar inlays, with the signature piece on the left.
An athwartship passageway runs between the former first class and the former cabin class (tourist after 1964) public areas, although all barriers have long since been opened up to provide full access to the entire deck.
Continue here for page six and Maritimematters' tour of the MS PHILIPPINES
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