Published April, 2003. All images and text copyright Peter Knego 2001, 2003, 2004 (unless otherwise noted).

Page Three:JEAN MERMOZ Tour, Part Two (Promenade to Third Deck)

 

JEAN MERMOZ' original Fabre Line funnel livery and as it appeared after 1965 when the ship became part of the Nouvelle Compagnie des Paquebots.

Owners: Louis Cruise Lines, Cyprus

Promenade Deck resumed aft of the first class public spaces with a platform of open space and a pool dedicated to Second Class.

Upper Deck began with two fourth class cabins, the fourth class/steerage Cafeteria, a sheltered fourth class/steerage promenade, fourth/steerage toilets, and an open fourth class promenade surrounding the well around the second cargo hold.

Forty seven first class cabins occupied the midships portion of Upper Deck looking out onto long narrow promenades along each side. The midships entrance hall included a purser's desk. Inboard of the far aft accommodation there was a beauty salon.

The handsome Second Class Smoking Room, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

Aft of the first class accommodation, there was an open well surrounding the third hold for second class use. Just beyond that a deck house contained the Second Class Smoking Room, a small foyer, and two very small second class reading and writing rooms. Beyond that, open space reserved for third class stretched to the fantail and included a small deck house with stairs leading down to the third class accommodation.

The first class dining room facing aft/starboard. Peter Knego collection.

Main Deck began with more fourth and steerage accommodation, the hospital, and crew accommodation. Twelve first class cabins followed, leading to the sumptuous First Class Dining Room, designed by Pierre Joussemet featuring tones of pearl, gray, yellow, and orange. Black and white panels in all four corners by Blasco-Mentor were key focal points along with a grand descending staircase underneath a double deck dome.

JEAN MERMOZ' galley, where culinary arts excelled. Peter Knego collection.

The Second Class Dining Room, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

A small galley on either side surrounded an inboard foyer just aft of the first class dining room. The second class dining room followed, and although it was half the size of its first class counterpart, it also stretched the full width of the ship.

A brochure image of a typical second class cabin on the JEAN MERMOZ. Peter Knego collection.

Beyond the second class dining room, there were twenty eight second class cabins on the port side and and twenty six on the starboard side. Inboard of the port and starboard passages, there were restrooms and baths. All second class cabins had air conditioning and portholes.

The Third Class Smoking Room facing starboard. Peter Knego collection.

The semi-circular Third Class Smoking Room wrapped itself around the stern portion of Main Deck.

The Third Class Dining Room, facing port. Peter Knego collection.

A third class cabin. Peter Knego collection.

Deck Two began with more dormitory accommodation for steerage class. It was followed by crew accommodation and the upper portion of the machinery spaces. Aft of the machinery spaces, a galley served the Third Class Dining Room, which stretched the width of the ship. Twenty eight third class cabins followed.

Deck Three began with dormitory accommodation for fourth class passengers. It also contained hold space, crew accommodation, and machinery space.

The JEAN MERMOZ sailed successfully on her West African service in her early years with Fabre Line, and was also a very popular cruise ship, sharing dual role duties with near sister, GENERAL MANGIN. But soon, the transport of African troops in steerage class was to diminish with the decolonization of the French African nations. Occupancy rates would drop from 100 to 90 to 68 percent by 1962. With high operating costs, the JEAN MERMOZ and her fleetmates were soon running at a loss.

In 1965, the ailing Fabre Line joined forces with Paquet and Chargeurs Reunis, forming the Nouvelle Compagnie de Paquebots. The reorganized fleet, which included FOUCALT, GENERAL LECLERC, FOCH, GENERAL MANGIN, JEAN MERMOZ, and ANCERVILLE eeked on for a few more years, but the age of the ocean liner was drawing to a close. The older vessels were ultimately sold off, leaving the JEAN MERMOZ (with her new black funnel livery featuring the NCP logo) and the sparkling new all-white1966-built RENAISSANCE. Although still modern, JEAN MERMOZ was no longer a competitive cruise ship with her cargo spaces and multi-class arrangements.

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