page two: OLYMPIA, ctd.

Facing forward along the OLYMPIA's port enclosed promenade. Peter Knego collection.

Promenade Deck level started with an open observation area surrounding hatch number two. A glass enclosed promenade began within the superstructure, stretching aft along either side to fully encompass the first class accommodation.

The Mycenean Lounge facing forward/starboard. Peter Knego collection.

The semi-circular Mycenean Lounge was located on forward Promenade Deck, accommodating 95 people. This first class room had a large dance floor forward and space for a small orchestra. Sparsely modern and stylish, its artistic theme was based on the Mycenean Palace of Minos at Knossos. Inlaid red, white, and black veneers punctuated large wooden panels on the forward and aft bulkheads as well as the labrynth-inspired linoleum decking.

The Agora, facing forward/starboard. Peter Knego collection.

Inboard port and starboard passageways led aft to the elliptically-shaped first class entrance hall, which was named The Agora. A gift shop was in its forward quadrant; a barber shop starboard; a beauty shop port; and the first class main stairtower just aft.

This image shows a typical large Promenade Deck first class cabin. Peter Knego collection.

Fifteen outside first class cabins followed along either side of the ship, each with a large brass window that opened up onto the promenades.

The OLYMPIA's beautiful first class Library, facing forward. Peter Knego collection.

The first class Library was tucked away inboard of the aftermost accommodation on Promenade Deck. Almost appearing Edwardian with its dark woodwork and ornately patterened soft fittings, it was very old-fashioned in comparison to some of the sleeker, more modern public areas on the ship.

The Olympic Theater is shown in the larger image facing starboard from the Promenade Deck level and in the inset facing forward from the Upper Deck level. Peter Knego collection.

Promenade Deck continued with the upper level of the 300 seat Olympic Theater. With the balcony devoted to first class and the lower level for tourist, early Greek Line literature touted its superior acoustics and hide covered seats. Initally, it was billed as the only two storey theater at sea, however the introduction of Cunard's SAXONIA in 1954 ended this claim. Glass enclosed promenades outboard of the theater balcony were for tourist class circulation.

The handsome Atlantic Bar in a starboard/aft facing view. Peter Knego collection.

The 74 seat Atlantic Bar was in the after portion of Promenade Deck, adjacent to the tourist class Atlantic Pool and lido. Where could one find a more perfect example of 1950's British art deco style with its highly polished metal and wooden surfaces, crescent shaped bar, wave patterned stairtower balustrades, hourglass brass door frames, and angled ray-patterened linoleum decking?

The Atlantic Pool as seen facing starboard from aft Sun Deck. The aft windows of the Atlantic Bar are to the left. Peter Knego collection.

This portion of Promenade Deck terminated with the tourist class Atlantic Pool area. A deck house aft of the third hold would provide a second observation and sunning area on this level during the OLYMPIA's early years.

Almack's, facing forward. Peter Knego collection.

Forward Main Deck began with OLYMPIA's gracefully sheered fo'c'sle, leading aft to the rounded superstructure casing and two corresponding wedge-shaped tourist class public rooms. On the starboard side, Almacks began with an arc of large wooden framed glass panels, much as one would find on an old galleon or clipper. Rich wood paneling, heavy beams, and lantern-like lighting added to the atmosphere of this 33 seat room, named for a famous 18th century gaming club.

The Drawing Room in an aft-facing view. Peter Knego collection.

The corresponding space on the port side, The Drawing Room, occupied an identically-sized area. With similar glass panels, beams, and wood veneers, its mood was staid and pseudo-Edwardian.

The Zebra Room, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

OLYMPIA was both praised and condemned for her diverse decorative schemes. The product of several interior designers, she was an interesting combination of old world and trendsetting, staid and giddy. If Almacks and The Drawing Room were stuffy and quiet, just aft of them, the 252 seat Zebra Club could be likened to early Joe Farcus with its zebra patterened chairs and table tops. Spanning the width of the ship, the outer portions sported large brass framed windows while a stepped down center section had a trapezoidal harlequin patterned parquet dancefloor. This was offset by a sea of vividly styled linoleum decking underneath an obtusely recessed deckhead. The Zebra Club was the tourist class equivalent of the chic Mycenean Club while the two rooms forward could easily correspond with the first class Library.

An outside tourist class double cabin on Upper Deck. Peter Knego collection.

The Purser's Square followed just aft, with its spacious wood paneled vestibule offering a beauty salon and barber shop on its port side. A large portion of cabins followed along either side, in configurations one, two, and three deep. Some of the better cabins could be allocated to first class, as demand required. Over half of OLYMPIA's tourist class cabins had private facilities, which was a major coup for the time.

A standard inside tourist double cabin on Upper Deck. Peter Knego collection.

The inboard cabins on Upper Deck consisted of doubles in either a two lower configuration or an upper/lower configuration.

Continue here for OLYMPIA tour: Page three

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