MARGARITA L./ WINDSOR CASTLE, tour by Peter Knego, page 1 of 3

Updated, September 2005: The SS RITA (former WINDSOR CASTLE, MARGARITA L) is currently being demolished at Alang, India.

Maritime Matters' contributing editor, Peter Knego was given a rare opportunity to document MARGARITA L. / WINDSOR CASTLE at her anchorage in the northwestern waters of Eleusis outside of Piraeus, Greece. An illustrated tour follows:

A 3/4 starboard bow view taken on the morning of 14 December 1998 is shown in this image. Before we boarded the majestic liner, our boatman was kind enough to circle the ship for different photographic angles. In great contrast with the boxy new generation of cruise ships, the MARGARITA L's superstructure gracefully builds toward midships, tapering downward in a similar fashion aft. In certain respects, she was a continuation of the look first seen with the Orient Line trio ORCADES, ORONSAY, and ORSOVA of the late 1940's/early 1950's. Photos by and copyright Peter Knego.

The port side of the former WINDSOR CASTLE was partially obscurred by the graceful, seemingly dimunitive MARIANNA 9 (originally the Portugese liner PRINCIPE PERFEITO of 1961). Both liners take their names from Mr. Latsis' two daughters, who have scores of vessels (mostly tankers) named after them. Mr. Latsis' wife, HENRIETTA, also has had a number of vessels to share her appellation, including the 1930's built former P&O liners STRATHMORE and STRATHEDEN, which were scrapped in 1969. Photos by and copyright Peter Knego.

Once aboard, fellow visitor Mike Masino and I went straight to the ship's uppermost deck to start a systematic program of documenting the liner from top to bottom, beginning with exteriors while the weather (which threatened freezing rain) would allow. Masino is far better with heights, so he is to be commended for this stunning view of MARGARITA L's funnel and afterdecks from the top level of her radio mast. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright Peter Knego.

Like a wedding cake, the forward superstructure unfolds in a progression of layers from this bird's-eye perspective. The First Class Sun Deck, forward Boat Deck, Tourist Class Sun Deck, and fo'c'sle areas form a remarkable series of concentric rings and architectural angles. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright Peter Knego.

This view is facing forward from what was originally the aft First Class Promenade Deck aboard WINDSOR CASTLE. Beyond the pool, the row of windows form the after portion of the First Class Lido. Just above on Boat Deck, the First Class Children's Playroom is located just beneath the funnel, amidst officers' accommodation. While the class distinctions were eliminated when the ship was purchased by Latsis, very few structural changes were made. Perhaps the most noticeable of the alterations was the enclosure of the aft portion of this deck (not in view) for a storage compartment that is topped by a helipad. Photo by and copyright Peter Knego.

The Promenade Deck was originally dedicated to the WINDSOR CASTLE's First Class public rooms. Within its elevated height, two handsome, traditional open promenades stretched their way along the vessel's midships length. This view is facing forward along the starboard side, where the planking has been protected from the sun and is in remarkable condition. The circular bay window in the center houses the rotunda-shaped First Class Card Room. Photo by and copyright Peter Knego.

The view aft from the long fo'c'sle offers another study of the former mail ship's classic superstructure. The same bell that was rung during docking maneuvers in WINDSOR CASTLE's heyday still hangs from its post in the center foreground. Photo by and copyright Peter Knego.

Once the last of the ship's deck areas was complete, we began our documentation of her interiors. From its near midships position high atop the MARGARITA L's superstructure, the Wheelhouse was even more spectacular than I had imagined it to be. Its centerpiece was the original large brass wheel and wooden binnacle, as seen in this image facing port. In the Chart Room, just aft, the ship's official books and charts were still marked "RMS WINDSOR CASTLE". Photo by and copyright Peter Knego.

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