So what's caught our eye now? Read on.
The Bar - Silver Shadow, Silversea Cruises
The cozy, welcoming entrance to The Bar
aboard Silver Shadow.
Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders
Carrying just under three hundred fortunate passengers, Silversea's Silver Shadow is a wonder to behold. Part cruise ship, part luxury yacht, Silver Shadow manages to successfully blend all the amenities you'd expect of a larger cruise ship with the intimate, spacious and comfortable feel of a smaller ship. Indeed, she boasts one of the highest passenger-to-space ratios in the industry. With itineraries ranging in duration from seven days to the incredible month-long circumnavigation of Australia we told you about last weekend, this is a ship that has to be comfortable at all times.
Intimate, ocean-view seating or comfortable group conversation?
It's your choice when you amble into The Bar.
Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders
A variety of seating can also be found here, from intimate tables for two by the large picture windows, to more social group tables clustered in the center of the room. Wood-paneled support columns and a wood-paneled bar, complimented by fresh floral arrangements, help to further lend the room an atmosphere that blends traditional sensibilities with clean, modern lines in an understated way. Whether you're here with a good book during the day or laughing over a cognac in the evening, you're sure to enjoy your time at The Bar.
The Normandie Restaraunt - Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Cruises
A photo of the restaurant's namesake:
The SS Normandie.
Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders
Anyone who read the review of my recent cruise aboard Celebrity Summit knows I found the ship lacking in many areas. While I'm not terribly eager to jump aboard another Celebrity cruise, there's no denying that the interior design of the Millennium-class vessels is quite striking, and Celebrity hit gold with the design of their specialty restaurants.
Aboard Celebrity Summit, the specialty restaurant on Plaza Deck 3 is known as The Normandie, and with good reason: its entire design was inspired by the great Compagnie Générale Transatlantique vessel, the SS Normandie. Once the fastest and most powerful transatlantic liner afloat, the Normandie surpassed even the great Cunard liners and left them in its dust. The ship boasted many features never seen aboard a ship, such as a dining room longer than the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Not only was it 305 feet long, it towered almost thirty feet in height - an accomplishment not bested until Royal Caribbean unveiled their "Royal Promenade" aboard Voyager of the Seas in 1999.
The Normandie Restaraunt aboard Celebrity Summit.
Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders
Unfortunately, the Normandie burned and sank at her New York pier during the Second World War as she was being converted to a troop ship. Fortunately for history buffs, some of the incredible art deco paneling survived the inferno and still exists today, and passengers aboard Celebrity Summit can view artifacts from the ship, including actual panels from the Normandie.
The design of the room itself is akin to stepping back into the 1930's. Art Deco is the theme here, right down to the support columns that line the room, creating a separate space for guests to walk in and to their tables without disturbing other diners.
If you're looking for an enjoyable culinary experience and a bit of history at the same time, this is the place to be.
Stair Towers A, B, C and D - Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line
A landing on Queen Mary 2's 'A'-Staircase.
Photo © Aaron Saunders
When you're building a ship that is over 1,100 feet in length and an incredible 236 feet in height, minimizing passenger confusion is paramount. Which is why Cunard came up with a unique solution to the question: how can passengers get their bearings?
Stairwell 'B' aboard QM2.
Photo © Aaron Saunders
Most megaships boast three staircases and elevator banks: forward, midships, and aft. Queen Mary 2 is so large she boasts four: Stairwells A, B, C and D. Of course, on a ship so large, it can be easy to get turned around. But remember: this is the ship that features an honest-to-God planetarium onboard. And true to form, they executed the staircases perfectly. In order for passengers to be able to distinguish where they were, they made each staircase unique: each has its own color scheme that is represented in the artwork, wall panelling, and even the carpeting.
Stairwell 'C' aboard QM2.
Photo © Aaron Saunders
So how do you know where you are? Here's the rundown.
Staircase 'A' - Grey carpeting; light cherry walls; ocean-themed paintings.
Staircase 'B' - Highly polished dark cherry walls; grey-green carpeting; ocean liner paintings.
Staircase 'C' - Lighter, reddish wood walls; grey carpeting; completely different stair arrangement.
Staircase 'D' - Canary yellow carpeting and walls; abstract paintings.
Stairwell 'D' aboard QM2.
Photo © Aaron Saunders
The next time you sail aboard Queen Mary 2, be on the lookout for this and other design features that the attentive team at Cunard put in to this incredible vessel.
Explorer's Lounge - MS Rotterdam, Holland America Line
Good by day, great by night: the Explorer's Lounge
aboard the Rotterdam.
Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders
A staple aboard every Holland America Line ship, the Explorer's Lounge is characterized by its comfortable, low-back seating, soft mood lighting, and an impressive painting that usually runs for a substantial length of the wall bordering the funnel uptake casing adjacent to the room. On the Rotterdam, while the room looks very inviting during daylight hours, it is at night that it truly comes alive.
The Explorer's Lounge aboard Rotterdam.
Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders
With its bright red carpeting and indirect lighting, at night the room becomes at once cozy and inviting, no matter what the conditions outside. Classical music is often performed after dinner here and a selection of ports and cognacs combines to make the room an irresistible stop for those on their way to or from dinner. Despite being adjacent to the main passageway leading to the dining room further aft, the room is remarkably quiet and retains its intimate atmosphere. Indeed, it's hard to believe you're cruising with over 1,300 passengers: like the Explorer's Lounge, the rest of the ship is so well laid out that it's never difficult to find that perfect space to call your own.
Unlike hotels, it's incredible how much diversity and personality are given to the interior design of each ship. It's all part of what makes cruising the most magical vacation you can take.
What are your favorite public rooms?
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