Published October 19, 2003. All images and text copyright Peter Knego 2003 (unless otherwise noted).

Page Six: Top to Bottom Tour

THE TOPAZ, the last active former Canadian Pacific EMPRESS, makes a triumphant return to Canadian waters as she enters Vancouver harbor on the brilliant afternoon of Sunday, August 31, 2003. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Fortunately, the success of the Japanese-based Peaceboat Organization led to its need for a larger ship than its well-established, 16,631 gt 1976-built OLVIA (ex KARELIYA)

Same classic "EMPRESS" features. New logo. New purpose. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Regarding the organization, itself, the following has been culled from their web site (www.peaceboat.org):

"In the early 1980's, the Japanese government attempted to censor school history textbooks in order to play down the country's imperialist aggression in Asia, before and during World War II. This expression of nationalism alarmed and offended Asian people, including many Japanese, and it was under these circumstances that a group of young Japanese students founded Peace Boat in 1983. Their aim was to discover the truth about Japan's invasions of Asian countries by going directly to the places the Imperial Army had invaded and speaking directly to the people affected. Under the slogan 'reflect on past wars to build peace for the future', they chartered a ship and with approximately 150 people onboard sailed for the Pacific Islands. Through face to face exchange with people who had suffered under Japanese imperialism, participants gained another perspective on history and laid the foundation for future cooperation.

Despite the Cold War, Peace Boat continued to visit Asian countries and the Pacific islands throughout the 1980's, regardless of whether they were Western or Eastern Bloc. During this decade, seven voyages, each on a ship carrying between three and five hundred people, set sail to study contemporary issues and to promote people to people understanding.

In November 1990, Peace Boat organised its first voyage around the world, starting from Greece on a 15,000 tonne ship with 800 participants. The voyage marked the organisation's recognition of the importance of global environmental issues, human rights and the problem of North-South inequality. These issues have since become integral parts of the Peace Boat agenda."

Past Peaceboat ships in addition to the KARELIYA/OLVIA include the popular, since scrapped 1972-built MV SHIN SAKURA MARU and Royal Olympic Cruises' still elegant 1966-built MV WORLD RENAISSANCE (former RENAISSANCE, HOMERIC RENAISSANCE).

With the ship's Thomson career ending, Topaz International found a new venture for THE TOPAZ with Peaceboat and have chartered her through 2006, during which time the historic liner will continually circumnavigate the globe.

From top to bottom, THE TOPAZ is in fine form. Her decks are spotless and her bulkheads still glisten. Time and evolving purpose have seen the departure of some of her original vintage appointments, but parts of her have been lovingly preserved.

Aft from the port bridge wing. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The top levels both in the bridge housing and in the midships funnel housing are reserved for navigation and the ship's officers. Here, very little has changed since the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN's sea trials in 1956.

The monkey island is still protected by solid bulwarks and a features a small open air navigation platform with original brass equipment.

Facing starboard in the stunningly original wheelhouse. Modern radar consoles and computers augment the beautifully polished brass features. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Navigation Bridge Deck follows, with wheelhouse (and its museum quality fittings), chart room, and radio room.

Captain's Bridge Deck still houses captain's and staff captain's quarters. The midships portion of this level surrounding the funnel is now closed off to passenger access. A supplemental air conditioning unit has been added in recent years.

The Verandah Bar facing port. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Promenade Deck is basically split into two levels starting aft of the funnel. The open air Sunshine Bar was recently upgraded and given shelter under fixed awnings.

The Lido, facing forward. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The slightly stepped down Lido area follows just aft. Once home to no less than four pools (QUEEN ANNA MARIA, early CARNIVALE incarnations), it now contains the aft two pools in addition to a small whirlpool bath added during the 1997 THE TOPAZ conversion

The aft portion of Promenade Deck level, facing forward. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

A slightly elevated sunning platform/bandstand continues aft of the Lido. In the 1997 refit, it was expanded considerably aft with the addition of the Yacht Club, just below. In all of these areas, the decks have been recently refreshed with bright new blue and green surfacing.

Facing aft from forward/starboard Verandah Deck toward the beautifully sculpted midships bridge structure. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Verandah Deck begins atop the new cabin structure added to forward Upper Deck in 1997. This elevated observation platform is "open air" in its fore portion and somewhat sheltered by the original windscreen at the base of the bridge structure housing, where this level formerly began. This generous forward-facing observation area (a rare feature on ships of today) has also been resurfaced in new blue and green deck covering.

The Gym and Fitness Center, facing starboard. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The meditation space, facing aft. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

In the aft portion of the structure, itself, are two of THE TOPAZ' public areas. The starboard two-thirds (originally EMPRESS OF BRITAIN's first class Sun Lounge) is dedicated to the gym, while the port third is now a meditation room. Both feature full length windows that look out onto the sheltered games area just aft.

The games area, facing aft toward the funnel housing. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The games area, facing forward. The original architectural elements of the bridge structure have been left unchanged. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The games deck is sheltered forward by the three deck high bridge housing, windscreens on either side, and the funnel housing aft. It has been netted in and is now primarily used as a basketball court.

The port Verandah Deck promenade, facing forward. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Beautifully traditional open teak promenades link fore and aft portions of Verandah Deck underneath a canopy of lifeboats.

The Yacht Club, facing port. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

At the Verandah Deck level fantail, the once open air buffet terrace was rebuilt into the Yacht Club dining venue in 1997. The V-shaped room is formed around a galley area, offering food in a buffet-style manner. The aft portion of the Yacht Club is open deck and is partially sheltered underneath an awning.

Facing aft along the starboard portion of the Upper Deck promenade. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Upper Deck begins with the 29 modular cabins that were added in 1997. The ship's modernized promenades continue aft on either side of the former winter garden, which still has its slightly arced footprint from the original bulkhead structure that is behind the new cabins. Although the promenades lost a good deal of their traditional look in the 1990 Carnival refit, they are still wonderful places in which to stroll or sit and relax, with full-length windows looking out onto the sea.

The starboard annex, which looks onto the promenade via large brass-framed windows, facing forward. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The port annex, facing aft. Here, much of the original woodwork has been left intact. The chrome framed chairs date to the early CARNIVALE era. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

Facing port in the Disco. The bar area is still similar to its original incarnation, although much of the paneling has since been removed. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The former first class public areas on this deck have evolved considerably from the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN's Club and Drawing Rooms. However, some traces of the original ceiling and bits of beautiful paneling remain. The forward starboard annex to what was most recently THE TOPAZ' Sports Bar is now a meeting room. The port annex still opens up into the crescent-shaped bar area, which now features a large DJ booth aft of the dance floor. Beautiful etched glass panels and the original brass-framed doors were removed in the 1997 THE TOPAZ conversion, presumably to comply with new SOLAS regulations.

Facing forward in the still beautiful Windjammer Lounge. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The aft/port marquetry paneling in the Windjammer Lounge. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

   

Three detail views of the marquetry inlays. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The aft portion of the Windjammer Lounge, showing the etched glass panels and a portion of the brass bannister. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

The Windjammer Lounge, despite some revisions over the years, remains one of the grandest vintage rooms afloat. Its wonderful circular ceiling molding, stepped down dance floor, brass bannisters, beautiful marquetry paneling, and etched glass panes reveal its heritage as the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN's former first class ballroom.

Please click for page seven: THE TOPAZ Top to Bottom Tour, continued.

[THE TOPAZ page one]   [THE TOPAZ page two]   [THE TOPAZ page three]   [THE TOPAZ page four]   [THE TOPAZ page five]   [THE TOPAZ page seven]

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