Page five: CARIBE 1

CARIBE I at Miami on 21 February 1987. Note original architectural features such as the bow knuckle, rounded superstructure, and ribbed plating, despite the new funnel and paint scheme. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1987.

From top to bottom, here is a look at the most obvious changes made to the OLYMPIA when she was converted into the CARIBE I.

The OLYMPIA to CARIBE I conversion added more lido space, taking away one (and later, two) pools in the process. This view is facing aft from Sports Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1987.

The deck nomenclature remained the same, although the decks themselves were given varying degrees of modification.

Facing forward along the aft/starboard portion of Sports Deck in 1987. The skylight on the left had recently been fitted over the Sun Deck pool when the area was turned into the Mermaid Lounge. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1987.

Sports Deck level was slightly reconfigured with the relocation of the funnel, offering various sheltered games and observation areas.

The CARIBE I's wheelhouse in a starboard facing view. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1987.

Although much of its original equipment was retained, the wheelhouse was given a new console and supplemental navigation gear to work with the diesel machinery and the newly installed bow thruster units. Rich wood paneling (see REGAL EMPRESS tour) would be added later in the CARIBE I's career. Further aft, a small gym was added on Sun Deck just forward of the new uptakes.

Originally painted in a rainbow scheme, the funnel uptakes took on Commodore's revised gold and blue livery. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1987.

The accommodation area of Sun Deck remained virtually unchanged. The Aegean Club was initially renamed the Out Island Club, later taking on the name Commodore Club. Its V-shaped bar was removed and replaced with a pantry and an athwartships rectangular unit. The Aegean Pool was renamed Out Island Pool and the Olympic Gym and Sauna were replaced with the U-shaped Out Island Disco. This phase would be short-lived, however, and in 1984, the pool and disco areas were enclosed in one housing that became the Mermaid Lounge. With its glass skylight, the expanded deco-themed bar and disco quickly became one of CARIBE I's favorite public areas. Its polished wooden dance floor was located in the area once occupied by the OLYMPIA's first class pool.

Facing forward from the aft Sun Deck extension. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1987.

The after portion of Sun Deck was given a U-shaped extension in CARIBE I's conversion from OLYMPIA, providing more sunning area as well as a shelter for the Atlantic Bar, just below.

The forward portion of Promenade Deck, facing port. This space would later be divided into veranda balconies aboard REGAL EMPRESS. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1996.

Promenade Deck remained unaltered in its forward layout, still retaining its full wraparound glass enclosed promenades as well as OLYMPIA's cabin arrangements. Throughout the ship, not only were the deck names kept, but the cabins numbers were also left unchanged. The Library is today as it always was, paneled in beautiful dark mahogany.

Facing starboard in the upper level of the Cinema/Disco in its post 1988 configuration. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1994.

The Theater balcony was left intact until CARIBE I's 1988 refit when it was converted into a bar and balcony serving the refitted disco (which was also used as a lounge and theater).

Facing starboard in the former Atlantic Bar as it appeared during the CARIBE I and early REGAL EMPRESS eras. The starboard portion of the space was used as a children's playroom for several years. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1994.

The Atlantic Bar was renamed Atlantic Nightclub and left intact, save for the bar, which was removed to allow room for a dance floor. Just aft, the Atlantic Pool was plated over and an alfresco bar added underneath the canopy of the extended Sun Deck.

Facing forward from the aft Promenade Deck lido during a slight refurbishment. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1987.

The Lido Pool was left unchanged although the slide was removed and the Jacuzzis were replaced in 1988 with newer units.

On forward Upper Deck, The Drawing Room, Card Room, and Calypso Room were converted into large suites. The lavish Drawing and Card Room paneling was saved, however, and incorporated beautifully into Suites E and F and mini suites U90 and U91, respectively (These suites, as well as other public spaces and accommodation can be viewed in the REGAL EMPRESS pages that follow).

The Disco, facing aft, as it appeared after 1988 when the fixed seating was replaced with a dance floor and a bar. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1994.

The lower level of the Olympic Theater was renamed Theater and left untouched until the 1988 conversion that made it into a modern disco.

A showroom, the Grand Lounge, was created on aft Upper Deck with the conversion of the Winter Garden and Pavilion as well as unneeded open deck space. It is shown facing port/aft before the installation of fixed seating in 1988. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1987.

To create a proper showroom, the Winter Garden and Pavilion had to make way for the Grand Lounge, which also extended into the former deck space leading to the aft housing. The Grand Lounge would be completely remodeled in the 1988 refit with permanent booth seating that emanated in semicircles from the aft-situated stage. In the aft housing, the redundant playrooms became the new hospital and a small dive shop.

The CARIBE I, shown at Grand Cayman, with a proper funnel. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1991.

The Restaurant Deck accommodation was left unchanged, although the Small (former first class) Dining Saloon was assigned for the use of CARIBE I's officers. The beautiful Olympian Restaurant was unaltered, save for its name, which was changed to Caribbean Dining Room. The Scribe became a gift shop and The Bookworm was reconfigured as a boutique. The Derby Room and Taverna became the revenue-generating Monte Carlo Casino. Main, A, and B Deck cabins remained the same.

In May 1988, CARIBE I was sent to Norfolk, Virginia for a refit that saw the replacement of her funnel with a more attractive unit, as well as some of the interior modifications already mentioned.

CARIBE I was still peppered with clues to her Greek Line heritage, as seen in the left image. These foyer and stairtower plaques have since been pilfered, but the Greek Line crowns would eventually return in a much bigger way. The right image shows CARIBE I at Miami in a view taken from the towering observation deck of the SS NORWAY in 1992.

CARIBE I was an extremely popular ship on her seven night eastern and western Caribbean cruises from Miami, but there was fierce competition from the mega cruise conglomerates such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line. With a focus on its new, slightly more upscale (and short-lived) subsidiary, Crown Cruise Line, Commodore chartered off or sold its classic ships, beginning with the CARIBE I in 1993.

Continue REGAL EMPRESS tour: page six

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