Caronia's 1st Class Public Rooms
Observation Lounge
Caronia's principle public rooms are situated on the Promenade deck. The wide elliptical sweep of the superstructure under the bridge encloses the Observation Lounge, whose large screen windows command seaward views. A pleasant Cocktail Bar follows the same wide sweep as the bridge front and is sited inboard of the Observation Lounge. Continuing aft, across the stairwell square is the entrance to the main lounge.
The Main Lounge
[Right:]
Looking toward the stage. The magnificent grand piano was not in the usual highly-varnished
black, but fully veneered in an exquisitely patterned wood.
Seventy-two feet in length and, with a high central roof, the Main Lounge is a particularly splendid and comfortably furnished room. The distinctive deep-pile carpet had been specially woven for this area.
The final portrait of HM The Queen and Prince Philip is installed and dominates the space. Clearly, for the Americans on board, there was no doubting that this is a British ship!
The Main Lounge views (b) & (c) (seen left) are looking forward and aft respectively along the centre atrium. The art-deco styling and 1940s chic is set off by displays of fine woods and diffused strip-lighting.
In the view looking forward, the detail of the panel above the entry doors is sadly lost - see Art & Industry Tour for a close-up of this.
In picture (c) the cameraman has rotated 180deg from where picture (b) was taken. The temporary portrait of HM The Queen and Prince Philip is tiny by comparison with the one that replaced it, as seen in the pictures above.
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