page three: OLYMPIA tour, continued.

The Winter Garden in a starboard-facing view. Peter Knego collection.

The after portion of OLYMPIA's Upper Deck was given over to tourist class public rooms. These began inboard of the accommodation with the lower level of the Olympic Theater. The 74 seat Winter Garden followed, spanning the width of the ship. With large picture windows, faux stone tiled floor and bulkheads and spindly wrought iron chairs, Greek Line offered it as a refuge for those who felt the Library "too quiet" and the Zebra Room "too noisy".

The Pavilion, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

The 105 seat Pavilion was directly aft, sporting an inverse layout of the Winter Garden. With plenty of teak deck space, this room was ideal for indoor sports, dancing, and a number of functions during inclement weather. It shared a glass screen with the Winter Garden and the two rooms served as informal gathering spaces that could be opened up into the aft deck area. The Pavilion had a soda fountain and piano among its facilities.

Wonderland, facing aft. Peter Knego collection.

Upper Deck continued aft with open deck surrounding the third cargo hatch, leading to a deck house that contained the L-shaped tourist children's playroom, Wonderland, on the starboard side. Among its facilities were a slide, seesaw, and a miniature shop area.

The Stadium, as seen facing aft. Peter Knego collection.

The port third of the same deck house was occupied by the tourist class gym, The Stadium. It featured murals of ancient Greek athletes in Waireite, rubber decking, and the latest equipment of the day. The aftermost portion of Upper Deck ended with an auxiliary steering station and a narrow platform extending to the fantail.

A tourist class triple cabin with private facilities. Peter Knego collection.

Main Deck began with storage holds and crew accommodation, followed by a block of twenty-eight tourist class cabins in single, double, and triple configurations.

The Main Entrance Hall facing port. Peter Knego collection.

The Main Entrance Hall spanned the width of the ship and provided access to the two first class dining rooms.

OLYMPIA's Large First Class Dining Room, facing aft. Peter Knego collection.

The larger of OLYMPIA's two first class dining rooms was located on the aft port side of the Main Entrance Hall. With a seating capacity of 96, it offered picture windows on the port side and panels of dyed inlaid African Copifera wood.

The Small First Class Dining Room in an aft-facing view. Peter Knego collection.

Meanwhile, the starboard/aft portion of the Main Entrance led to the Small First Class Dining Room which looked out onto the Olympian Galleries along its starboard side. With a capacity of 42, it sported quilted maple panels with inlaid veneers of edible animals.

The Olympian Galleries facing aft. Peter Knego collection.

A beautifully paneled narrow passage, The Olympian Galleries, led aft along the starboard side of midships Main Deck linking the Main Entrance with the tourist class dining room. Years before art galleries became the floating norm, this part of the ship was used to display works of art from both sides of the Atlantic.

The beautiful Olympian Hall in an aft-facing view. Peter Knego collection.

The Olympian Hall was at the aft end of the Olympian Galleries and the galley. Spanning the width of the ship and seating 580, it was one of the largest tourist class dining rooms afloat. With magnificent wood veneers, etched mirrored panes, marquetry panels, and an elegantly cambered ceiling, it was the height of 1950s shipboard style. Large impressionist oils graced the fore and aft bulkheads; the former of a Mediterranean hamlet, the latter of the New York skyline. Smaller oils mounted between conical gilt sconces on either side of the room depicted various European scenes.

The Scribe, facing forward. Peter Knego collection.

Just aft and starboard of the Olympian Hall, The Scribe served as the tourist class writing room. With large windows starboard, a faux fireplace forward, and an "upside down" desk on its port side, its decor was playful and modern.

The Bookworm, facing aft. Peter Knego collection.

Complimenting The Scribe, The Bookworm was located in its corresponding position on the port side. The tourist class library and writing room, it featured shelves on its inboard side and large windows to port.

The aft Main Deck Entrance facing port. Peter Knego collection.

The aft Main Deck Entrance was where the Olympian Hall, The Bookworm, and The Scribe converged. In its aft quadrant was a small shop fronted with an elegantly fashioned display case. Doors on either side led to sheltered promenades that continued to the fantail.

Facing starboard in the stylish Derby Room. Peter Knego collection.

The OLYMPIA's Derby Room was an outstanding example of deco revival style with its curved wooden screen, circular fixtures, and patterned linoleum decking. With seats for 74 passengers, it was used mainly for games and contests such as Bingo and horse racing.

The Taverna, facing aft/starboard. Peter Knego collection.

The Taverna concluded the public areas on aft Main Deck. Rustically Mediterranean with a Moorish slant, it featured brick and stone surfacing, a large bar forward, cocktail tables that resembled barrels, and a small fountain.

A tourist class cabin for four. Peter Knego collection.

A, B, and C Decks contained more tourist class accommodation in varying configurations as well as storage and crew accommodation. The hospital ward was on aft starboard A Deck and served both classes.

As the demand for North Atlantic sea travel peaked in the late 1950s and began its decline in the 1960s, OLYMPIA and ships of her generation gradually undertook more cruise service. With a new purpose, she would undergo some changes from her original configuration.

Continue here, OLYMPIA Goes Cruising: page four

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