Evidence of the FRANCE's cold-weather roots can be found in original French Line brochures and deck plans, where few illustrations of the 1035 foot ship's outer decks can be found.

This brochure cover view facing aft from the top of the FRANCE's radio mast capitalizes on the signature winged funnels that distinguised the FRANCE from all other ships. In fact, various artists' impressions of her funnels are featured on the cover of most documents pertaining to the famed ship.

The FRANCE's seven First Class decks spanned from top to bottom as follows: Sun Deck, with its selection of deluxe and single staterooms, a unique "patio" which afforded midships cabins with an "outside view" (shown in this image and later converted into a swimming pool in the NORWAY refit), a Sports Center (with bowling alley), and open promenades; Boat Deck, with a large selection of outside staterooms and more promenades; Verandah Deck, with its elegant public rooms and glass-enclosed promenades; Upper Deck with its wide range of cabins and suites; Main Deck, with more accommodation and the Main Foyer; A Deck, with cabins and the supremely elegant Chateau Chambord Dining Room; and D Deck, with its indoor pool and accompanying gym.

Even the afterdecks of the FRANCE were enclosed, with glass screens sheltering the sides of Verandah and Promenade Decks and a dome encasing the Tourist Class pool on aft Upper Deck. In this brochure image facing forward from the aft portion of the dome, the wings of the second funnel appear to emanate from the uppermost deck housing. In a public relations spectacle, a good portion of the ship's 1,100 crew members (60 officers, 890 deck and general service staff, and 100 chefs) are lined up along the narrow terraces. Peter Knego collection.

The FRANCE's Tourist Class decks ranged from top to bottom as follows: Observation Deck, which offered fantastic vistas over the bow from above the wheelhouse (for those brave enough to challenge the 30 knot winds when the ship was at full speed on the Atlantic); the forward portion of Verandah Deck, with a selection of cabin accommodation, Juniors' Playland, and the Childrens' Playland; Promenade Deck, with more cabins, long glass-enclosed promenades, and a virtual gallery of public rooms; Upper Deck, with a wide range of cabins, gym, and glass-enclosed pool adjoining an open-deck fantail (shown here in the ideal early 1960's publicity shot); Main Deck, with the Tourist Class Foyer, more cabins, and the upper level of the Versailles Dining Room; A Deck, with cabins and the lower portion of the Versailles Dining Room; B Deck, with its sweep of port side cabins; and, finally, D Deck, with a cluster of indoor cabins. Peter Knego collection.

A prime example of what has often been termed "60's deco revival", the opulent Smoking Room on aft Verandah Deck was one of the FRANCE's most appealing First Class areas. Now devoid of its aft "Terrace" portion (which featured glorious views over the ship's fantail) , it survives in a modified form as NORWAY's Club Internationale. While the layout and structure are much the same, the bold murals and angular furnishings have been replaced with "softer" appointments. Peter Knego collection.

Another handsome space, the intimate First Class Library was located just forward of the Smoking Room on the port side of Verandah Deck. With windows that looked out onto the glass-enclosed promenade, it lasted until the NORWAY's 1996 refit, when it was sadly supplanted with a shop. Peter Knego collection.

While its seating capacity has been larely increased, its furnishings replaced with lighter substitutes, and the lighting in its "celestial" dome modified, the NORWAY's Windward Dining Room looks much as it did in its heyday as the FRANCE's Chambord Restaurant. With a central grand descent, it carried on in French Line's First Class tradition that allowed the elegantly attired to make a proper "entrance". The cuisine and service were legendary, and passengers reputedly could order anything to their heart's delight and rarely be disappointed. It was billed "The finest restaurant in the world" by The Foremost New York Food Critic. Peter Knego collection.

While First Class may have been the seat of elegance, Tourist Class on the FRANCE was where most of the fun was to be had. Indeed, the rooms were a bit less chic, but they were, nonetheless, studies in modern post war style, and fitting backdrops for the cavorts of early day "baby boomers". This is the bar in the Grand Salon on aft Promenade Deck, billed as "the longest bar afloat" (with license taken, for it had three sides). Peter Knego collection.

The mimimist but vibrant Tourist Class Smoking Room occupied the midships portion of Promenade Deck. It was completely revamped, and is now NORWAY's Monte Carlo Casino (which was expanded aft along the starboard side in late 1996, displacing the shops, which displaced the former First Class Library, etc). Peter Knego collection.

The largest theater afloat until the advent of the most recent "super" ships, the FRANCE's Salle Spectacle could seat 660 in its two levels. Of course, the Verandah Deck balcony was for First Class and the Promenade Deck main level was for Tourist. Structurally, not much has changed other than the balcony extensions on either side and a larger stage. As NORWAY's Saga Theater, it gave birth to the show palaces seen aboard the modern fleet of cruise ships, with NCL's unprecedented stage productions. Peter Knego collection.

[Norway/France page]   [Index of ships]   [Table of Contents]   [Home page]