Page four: STELLA SOLARIS Tour, continued.

The next level, Boat Deck, begins underneath the wheelhouse with a wide teak promenade that fully encircles the entire length of the deck. A rare feature on ships of today, it also has pronounced sheer, dipping downward somewhat in the center of the ship before rising upwards again toward the stern. This classic curvature not only enhances the external beauty of the STELLA SOLARIS, it also helps make her a smoother riding ship. The promenades are wide enough for both deck chairs and passersby, and the open railing allows those relaxing in the chairs to enjoy unencumbered vistas of the sea.

The internal portion of Boat Deck begins with thirty four of the ship's finest suites. One of the forwardmost, B6 (above), has an athwartship layout with separate sitting area, large picture windows, and twin beds. It also has a w/c with half tub/shower.

The midships Boat Deck suites are laid out in a forward to aft fashion, as shown above with B29. Warm gold, brown, and olive tones are trademark Sun Line colors.

Toward the aft portion of Boat Deck, there are six smaller athwartship suites.

Slightly off the beaten path at the far aft end of Boat Deck, there are two adjoining public rooms that can be separated by a retractable screen. The starboard side, the Card Room, is shown above. With eight tables, it seats 32.

The intimate port side Reading Room offers an assortment of books, plush seating, a large round table, and desks for postcard and letter writing. The bulkheads in this space are covered in beige hide panels with brass and glass accents. The combined capacity of both rooms is 45.

Solaris Deck begins with the galley, leading aft into the beautiful 420 seat Dining Room. Its slightly cambered ceiling and extra height come from the basic structure of CAMBODGE's former first class E Deck. The recessed lighting and pillars have a traditional ocean liner feel, but the picture windows give the room a contemporary edge.

The port side of the Dining Room extends slightly farther aft than the starboard side. The 65 seat Bar Grill is a favorite gathering place before meals and offers a clubby ambiance with its oval-shaped bar, leather bulkhead panels, and plaid carpeting.

Meanwhile, the Gallery continues aft of the Dining Room on the starboard side. The inboard portion is occupied by a shop while seating on the outboard side offers great views from large picture windows.

The Gallery and Bar Grill both spill into a midships foyer that contains the Purser's Office and reception area. A small casino is located in its aft/port corner.

The spacious 550 seat Solaris Lounge is accessed via the starboard side of the foyer. With slightly raised outer seating and sunken dance floor, it is a perfect setting for shipboard entertainment and enrichment lectures. The stage is on the port side of the room, which sports metal decorative figurines, plush richly-toned velour seats and elegant recessed lighting.

The Solaris Lounge is separated from the Piano Bar by a large metal screen that spans most of the ship's 72 foot beam. With stylized, intricate figures from ancient Greek mythology, it is one of the most impressive works to be found on board this or any ship.

The 100 seat Piano Bar wraps up the span of public areas on Solaris Deck. With only the screen to separate it from the Solaris Lounge, it is still within earshot of any large show or presentation, yet has an intimate atmosphere of its own. The forward portion now contains some gaming tables and the long aft-situated service bar is sunken and looks out onto the stern terrace via picture windows.

Click here to continue Maritime Matters tour of the SS STELLA SOLARIS