MARITIME MATTERS Ocean liner history and cruise ship news
[Home] [Table of Contents] [Shipping Mall] [Index of ships]
PAGE TWO: Tour of Incres Line's MV VICTORIA
[PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 1] [PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 3] [PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 4] [PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 5] [PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 6]
A romantic sunset impression of the MV VICTORIA from early Incres Line's literature. Peter Knego collection.
With her Union-Castle cargo holds reclaimed by Incres' luxury cabins and more passenger space, there was plenty of room for a sports deck just in front of VICTORIA's graciously sculpted superstructure. Peter Knego collection.
Although the MV VICTORIA's passenger capacity remained close to her Union Castle total, during the ship's 1959 conversion at Rotterdam, she became one of the most spacious ships in the world. A good deal of this extra room was created from her former cargo holds and the addition of superstructure both fore and aft, giving her 430 passengers a good deal of ship to enjoy.
This lido scene can be witnessed to this day as PRINCESA VICTORIA's inviting twin pools beckon during her short sea time enroute to and from Cyprus, the Holy Land and Egypt.
The VICTORIA had one of the most beautifully realized lido areas of any passenger ship of her time. Although one pool would have been adequate, Incres opted for two! With its small footbridge, overlooked by the panoramic windows of the Riviera Ballroom and framed by two spiral staircases leading up to Boat Deck, this view was a favorite in Incres Lines promotional material.
The El Patio Lounge is shown here in its original configuration. The chairs and railings remain to this day, although the shell-like ceiling fixture is now gone. Peter Knego collection.
The VICTORIA's public rooms were conceived and decorated by renowned Italian designer Gustavo Pulitzer. Beginning on forward Rendezvous Deck, just aft of the games area, the El Patio Lounge had views on three sides from picture windows, a brass dance floor and an elevated perimeter that was separated from the sunken midsection by brass balustrades. The El Patio served as a ballroom at night and as a concert lounge for afternoon tea.
This view is facing forward along VICTORIA's shopping gallery, which began just aft of the El Patio Lounge on the port side. Peter Knego collection.
The port side of the El Patio Lounge was accessed from aft via the shopping gallery. During the ship's Chandris years, it was remodeled considerably. A small Card Room in the aft/port corner of the El Patio was eventually made into a casino by Chandris. Meanwhile, on the starboard side, the handsome Galleon Bar featured wood paneling, a marquetry panel of a galleon, and etched glass mirrors as well as full picture windows that looked out to sea.
The VICTORIA's starboard promenade made a very nice Winter Garden, as shown in this forward facing image. Peter Knego collection.
Rendezvous Deck continued aft on the starboard side with a richly paneled Library (later relegated to slot machines) and a large lobby that opened up on either side to sheltered promenades. On the starboard side, this was occupied by the Winter Garden, while the port side featured deck chairs with an open air view.
The Riviera Ballroom rounded out the public rooms on Riviera Deck. Its extra ceiling height was reclaimed from part of the DUNNOTTAR CASTLE's original tween deck area. In the aft starboard corner was the Beguine Bar. In the mid-1980's, the entire room was considerably remodeled by Chandris. Peter Knego collection.
On the port side of the lobby, there was a stairway that led up to Boat Deck, while the starboard stairway led down to Sapphire Deck. Aft, the Riviera Ballroom, was the largest of the VICTORIA's lounges and featured large floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the Lido. At night, Incres literature described its attire as "strictly dinner jacket."
The VICTORIA's 250 seat Auditorium was among the largest afloat for many years. This view is facing forward from the starboard upper level on Sapphire Deck. Peter Knego collection.
Sapphire Deck primarily was dedicated to passenger accommodation which was sandwiched between two stunning public areas. The forward portion of this deck housed the upper level of the Auditorium, a facility that boasted a Cinemascope movie screen and stereo sound. Here, movies were shown, lectures given, and concerts held.
One of the VICTORIA's suites is shown with its original soft fittings. Peter Knego collection.
Flanking the central passageway leading aft from the upper level of the Auditorium were the VICTORIA's finest cabins. Although a merely adequate cabin was hard to find on this particular ship, these were by far the biggest, with separate sitting area, w/c with full sized bath tubs, and twin portholes. The suites were named for Bahamian and Caribbean islands: Bimini, Eleuthera, Abaco, Antigua, Inagua, and Andros. The Main Hall followed just aft, leading to passageways on either side with large outside cabins. There was a second lobby further aft and then more cabins.
The Bamboo Club is shown here in a aft-facing view. Peter Knego collection.
Another fine creation by Gustavo Pulitzer, the Bamboo Club rounded out the aft portion of Sapphire Deck. Primarily a sophisticated nightclub, it could also be chartered out for private functions. The Miramar, just aft, was the name given to the open fantail area it looked out upon.
One of the many luxurious cabins aboard the MV VICTORIA. Peter Knego collection.
Emerald Deck contained more cabin accommodation in addition to the lower level of the Auditorium.
Another cabin with a different palette. Peter Knego collection.
Cabin accommodation continued all the way down to Coral and Amber Decks. One nice touch was that the passageways of each deck had carpet and railings that reflected its deck name to make sure no one went astray. Not only were the VICTORIA's cabins all outside, they featured individually controlled air conditioning and private facilities. Also, the majority of them had interconnecting doors to the cabin next door, allowing those with the means for booking both cabins to utilize one as a bedroom and the other as a living room.
The Roman Restaurant is shown here in a forward/port facing view from the Coral Deck level. Peter Knego collection.
The handsome Roman Restaurant was not unlike the Odyssey and La Fontaine dining rooms of the likewise Dutch-built SS ROTTERDAM of the same era. With a barrel-shaped dome over its center and a musician's balcony from which to serenade its guests, it was one of the most elegant rooms of its era. Because of its forward location in the ship, it had notable sheer.
Continue here for a look at this ship as the MV THE VICTORIA for Chandris Cruises Page Three
[PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 1] [PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 3] [PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 4] [PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 5] [PRINCESA VICTORIA Page 6]