THE FRENCH LINE TL: SS Normandie survives fire converted into a WW2 troopship.
- Thread starter oca2073
- Start date
Tribunes? Or did you mean turbines, presumably wind?
Solar panels I can see being used for supplementing the power for the climate control, although I think you could get as much efficiency from natural draught airflow. You'd need some huge windmills on top of a ship to provide any meaningful power, most of which would be immediately offset by the weight.
Sadly most renewable energy sources aren't terribly efficient for their mass or bulk, which is fine for on land but kind of ruins their applicability for ship use. A solar roof is your best bet but it'll only be supplemental to the generators on board.
Solar panels I can see being used for supplementing the power for the climate control, although I think you could get as much efficiency from natural draught airflow. You'd need some huge windmills on top of a ship to provide any meaningful power, most of which would be immediately offset by the weight.
Sadly most renewable energy sources aren't terribly efficient for their mass or bulk, which is fine for on land but kind of ruins their applicability for ship use. A solar roof is your best bet but it'll only be supplemental to the generators on board.
Solar panels also take up too much deck space and you need that space on a modern passenger ship to offer outdoor activities + sunbathing areas. If the solar panels are taking in all the sun, passengers obviously won't be and they won't like it.
Example: no deck space here for any outdoor activities.
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (cabin accommodation)
There are two passenger restaurant categories, the lower Normandie passengers only have access to the Normandie restaurant and the main dining room. The upper Palace passengers have access to the main dining room and the two palace restaurants. In total, GTS L' Atlantique is designed to carry just over 2100 passengers. In keeping passenger capacity so low, the French Line hoped to differentiate themselves from their competitors by ensuring their passengers felt privileged and not in a commercialized environment typical of cruise ships.
Normandie passenger staterooms consist of interior cabins, porthole cabins, and window cabins.
Normandie interior cabin
Normandie porthole cabin
Normandie window cabin
Palace class passengers have the same type of rooms with the addition of balcony cabins and suites.
Palace interior cabin
Palace window cabin
Palace porthole cabin
Palace balcony cabin
Normandie passenger staterooms consist of interior cabins, porthole cabins, and window cabins.
Normandie interior cabin
Normandie porthole cabin
Normandie window cabin
Palace class passengers have the same type of rooms with the addition of balcony cabins and suites.
Palace interior cabin
Palace window cabin
Palace porthole cabin
Palace balcony cabin
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GTS L' Atlantique design plans (suites accommodation)
There are only 46 suites onboard GTS L' Atlantique, considerably fewer than QM2.
Demi-luxe suites offer a much larger balcony and more space than ordinary balcony cabins. There are 32 in total.
Luxe suites offer two separate rooms: one for living and dining and the other bedroom. They come complete with a private kitchen. There are 12 onboard the ship.
Finally there are 2 appartements de grande luxe. These are duplex suites with multiple rooms (including a personal study, gym and dressing/wardrobe room) and are two stories. By contrast, QM2 has five duplexes.
Demi-luxe suites offer a much larger balcony and more space than ordinary balcony cabins. There are 32 in total.
Luxe suites offer two separate rooms: one for living and dining and the other bedroom. They come complete with a private kitchen. There are 12 onboard the ship.
Finally there are 2 appartements de grande luxe. These are duplex suites with multiple rooms (including a personal study, gym and dressing/wardrobe room) and are two stories. By contrast, QM2 has five duplexes.
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (Grand Hall)
The Grand Hall is inspired by SS L' Atlantique's shopping mall and is a stunning futuristic landmark that will likely become iconic in the future.
The Grand Hall during nighttime
Its colour intensity changes throughout the day to create different moods
There are multiple levels of sitting areas around the spiral tower structure which houses the ship's passenger reception. Note the odd angles and proportions of the stairways, levels, and railings.
This dazzling landmark is a testament to the French Line's attempt to live up to SS Normandie's reputation and create a new "ship of light."
The Grand Hall during nighttime
Its colour intensity changes throughout the day to create different moods
There are multiple levels of sitting areas around the spiral tower structure which houses the ship's passenger reception. Note the odd angles and proportions of the stairways, levels, and railings.
This dazzling landmark is a testament to the French Line's attempt to live up to SS Normandie's reputation and create a new "ship of light."
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (Coffee shop and Grand Bistro)
Adjoining to the Grand Hall is the coffee shop where passengers can obtain refreshments and the Grand Bistro which is one of the two extra cost dining areas onboard the ship.
Coffee shop entrance
Run by an Italian company as the French infamously make poor coffee.
The Grand Bistro is a first on a French ocean liner in that it serves and explores French cuisine in the home/bourgeois style. The codification of haute cuisine happened in the late 19th century by Auguste Escoffier. However Escoffier left out much of the local culinary character to be found in the regions of France and his style was considered difficult to execute by home cooks. This restaurant deliberately explores and celebrates both the cuisine bourgeoise of urban inhabitants as well as the peasant cuisine of the French countryside and many regional styles traditionally considered marginal to French haute cuisine. If you ever wanted to try authentic French home cooking recipes, this is the place for you.
Le Grand Bistro
Decorated with numerous pots and pans.
The restaurant also features a popular boulangerie (bakery).
Coffee shop entrance
Run by an Italian company as the French infamously make poor coffee.
The Grand Bistro is a first on a French ocean liner in that it serves and explores French cuisine in the home/bourgeois style. The codification of haute cuisine happened in the late 19th century by Auguste Escoffier. However Escoffier left out much of the local culinary character to be found in the regions of France and his style was considered difficult to execute by home cooks. This restaurant deliberately explores and celebrates both the cuisine bourgeoise of urban inhabitants as well as the peasant cuisine of the French countryside and many regional styles traditionally considered marginal to French haute cuisine. If you ever wanted to try authentic French home cooking recipes, this is the place for you.
Le Grand Bistro
Decorated with numerous pots and pans.
The restaurant also features a popular boulangerie (bakery).
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Oh yes, the Normandie 2 is very stylish indeed!
(I refuse to drink there after trying it once, and my standards are VERY low)
This got a real chuckle out of me. At least it's not a Starbucks, I would argue that's not even coffee!
(I refuse to drink there after trying it once, and my standards are VERY low)
Sorry, typo.
I meant using the action of going through the water to drive hydro-turbines to generate power on-board. Not wind turbines, they would be ugly.
GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (Grand Staircase + Normandie restaurant)
The unconventional and futuristic staircase on GTS L' Atlantique was only made possible due to advances in computer 3D design which calculated the necessary engineering support precisely for such a peculiar design. Its nickname is the drooping staircase.
This 3 level staircase connects all three complementary restaurants onboard the ship. The Normandie restaurant for Normandie passengers is on the bottom floor and the two palace restaurants on the second and third floor respectively. The metallic cable and ball stretched across all 3 floors is both for aesthetic purposes as well as engineering support for the staircase.
The Normandie restaurant serves French cuisine from the nouvelle cuisine tradition, a movement that began in the 1960s as a reaction against Haute cuisine by Escoffier. It is characterized by lighter, more delicate dishes and an increased emphasis on natural ingredients and presentation. Normandie class passengers can eat Haute cuisine in the ship's main dining room.
The entrance to the Normandie restaurant from the bottom floor of the grand staircase.
The restaurant makes use of refractive glass panels coupled with light from unobtrusive glass chandeliers to create an elegant "restaurant of light"
The colour scheme and design is meant to evoke a Paris in springtime bloom.
The art throughout is a parody of the solemn Art Deco style found on Normandie.
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (the palace restaurants + the grill-room)
Palace passengers have access to the two palace restaurants: Versailles and Fontainebleau. Versailles serves Nouvelle cuisine and Fontainebleau specializes in Haute cuisine. Of course, Palace passengers may also dine in the main dining room, but in Versailles they get free table wine and in Fontainebleau everyone is allowed a helping of free caviar. Versailles is located on the second floor of the grand staircase and Fontainebleau on the top third floor.
Intricacy and minimalism together. The intricacy recalls Baroque designs while the mirrors and chandelier-like lights are meant to evoke Versailles.
Depending on the time of day or night, the restaurant's atmosphere changes dramatically.
Fontainebleau focuses on flower motifs and emphasizes blue in white to represent water flowing through a fountain.
The grill-room or café grille is the second extra cost restaurant on the ship. Futuristic in style, its decor reflects the kind of cuisine it specializes in. During the 90s, a third wave of change in French cuisine occurred. Nouvelle cuisine had become stale and lacking in innovation. The 90s saw new fusion styles as Asian influences were accepted and incorporated into traditional French recipes. Traditionalists rejected this development of course, but this restaurant specializes in and celebrates this growing trend.
Intricacy and minimalism together. The intricacy recalls Baroque designs while the mirrors and chandelier-like lights are meant to evoke Versailles.
Depending on the time of day or night, the restaurant's atmosphere changes dramatically.
Fontainebleau focuses on flower motifs and emphasizes blue in white to represent water flowing through a fountain.
The grill-room or café grille is the second extra cost restaurant on the ship. Futuristic in style, its decor reflects the kind of cuisine it specializes in. During the 90s, a third wave of change in French cuisine occurred. Nouvelle cuisine had become stale and lacking in innovation. The 90s saw new fusion styles as Asian influences were accepted and incorporated into traditional French recipes. Traditionalists rejected this development of course, but this restaurant specializes in and celebrates this growing trend.
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (main dining room)
Officially named Chambord after the famous French castle, this is perhaps a reference to its monumental size being like both a castle and futuristic spaceship. It seats over 1200 and serves traditional French haute cuisine. Bretagne's first class dining room was also popularly nicknamed Chambord by passengers and crew during its time in service.
The main dining room Chambord incorporates elements from the dining rooms of the two French Line cruise ships: MS Paris and MS France, but also distantly SS Bretagne.
MS France and MS Paris
Merging the designs of the two cruise ships gives you the main dining room: Chambord of GTS L' Atlantique.
Continuing with the motif of light, the main light is accentuated by all the hanging reflective metallic balls, which from a distance merge as a single solid form.
The view from one of the stairway entrances.
The main dining room Chambord incorporates elements from the dining rooms of the two French Line cruise ships: MS Paris and MS France, but also distantly SS Bretagne.
MS France and MS Paris
Merging the designs of the two cruise ships gives you the main dining room: Chambord of GTS L' Atlantique.
Continuing with the motif of light, the main light is accentuated by all the hanging reflective metallic balls, which from a distance merge as a single solid form.
The view from one of the stairway entrances.
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (spa)
The French Line had learned their lesson during the QE2-Bretagne rivalry in how the advantage of onboard spa services made a ship drastically more popular among top-end passengers. They were determined not to repeat this mistake and set about building the most extensive spa ever seen in an ocean liner, comparable to the best equipped ones found on the most modern cruise ships. But more than that, it had to be elegant and artistic to the highest degree like any other room onboard the ship. QM2 had a beautiful spa and the level of competition was high.
The entrance to the spa onboard GTS L' Atlantique
Beauty parlour
Foot spa
The hydrotherapy room
The masseur
Victorian Turkish baths (hot dry air)
Steam baths
Waterfall shower therapy
Sauna
The entrance to the spa onboard GTS L' Atlantique
Beauty parlour
Foot spa
The hydrotherapy room
The masseur
Victorian Turkish baths (hot dry air)
Steam baths
Waterfall shower therapy
Sauna
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (magrodome + café veranda)
One advantage of having such a long ship (365 m) (while minimizing its height above water (57 m) to travel through Panama) was the extensive open deck space that could be used for various purposes. L' Atlantique had enough space for two major lido areas + an extensive sports deck. Running from the fore to stern of the ship you had: the winter garden and solarium, the magrodome area and cafe veranda, then the sports deck (behind the funnel), and finally the thalassotherapy pool. Thus in total there are 4 pools on L' Atlantique, including the indoor spa hydrotherapy pool.
The view of the beautiful two-level magrodome lido during sunset from above. You can see the extensive sitting area on the upper deck and the beginning of the café veranda area behind the spiral staircase which is partially exposed and partially indoors.
The frontal area contains a pool and three raised whirlpool baths. The screen is comprised of gold-coloured beads as opposed to the vulgar giant screen TVs found on most contemporary cruise ships.
Note the stunning sea views afforded by the side windows on both levels. The sacrifice for this is GTS L' Atlantique has fewer balcony suites than QM2.
The magrodome area seen with the roof closed.
Situated just behind the magrodome lido area, it is similar to Cunard's King's Court onboard QM2. The French Line realized they needed more informal dining options and a greater variety of cuisine to appeal to a wider range of passengers. This buffet area (called Café Veranda) serves cosmopolitan buffet cuisine with excellent sea views. This includes British, American, Italian, Greek Mediterranean, Japanese, Thai, Vegan options.
The view of the beautiful two-level magrodome lido during sunset from above. You can see the extensive sitting area on the upper deck and the beginning of the café veranda area behind the spiral staircase which is partially exposed and partially indoors.
The frontal area contains a pool and three raised whirlpool baths. The screen is comprised of gold-coloured beads as opposed to the vulgar giant screen TVs found on most contemporary cruise ships.
Note the stunning sea views afforded by the side windows on both levels. The sacrifice for this is GTS L' Atlantique has fewer balcony suites than QM2.
The magrodome area seen with the roof closed.
Situated just behind the magrodome lido area, it is similar to Cunard's King's Court onboard QM2. The French Line realized they needed more informal dining options and a greater variety of cuisine to appeal to a wider range of passengers. This buffet area (called Café Veranda) serves cosmopolitan buffet cuisine with excellent sea views. This includes British, American, Italian, Greek Mediterranean, Japanese, Thai, Vegan options.
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (solarium + winter garden + saltwater pool)
This is the second major lido area located behind the funnel and magrodome area.
The solarium is a quiet one-level sun room for relaxation and swimming. In front is the winter garden with slide doors that can be opened, connecting the two areas.
The roof of the solarium can be opened in hot weather.
The winter garden is so-called due to the artistic wooden mock tree trunks and trellis hanging branches on the sun roof that cast interesting shadows in the area below.
The winter garden with a bar is a popular place for parties in the evening.
The two-level stylish thalassotherapy (salt water) pool is located at the stern of the ship.
The solarium is a quiet one-level sun room for relaxation and swimming. In front is the winter garden with slide doors that can be opened, connecting the two areas.
The roof of the solarium can be opened in hot weather.
The winter garden is so-called due to the artistic wooden mock tree trunks and trellis hanging branches on the sun roof that cast interesting shadows in the area below.
The winter garden with a bar is a popular place for parties in the evening.
The two-level stylish thalassotherapy (salt water) pool is located at the stern of the ship.
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (sports deck)
Apart from an area set aside for traditional deck games, the sports deck features a full-sized tennis court, squash court, and a miniature golf course.
L' Atlantique boasts a full-sized tennis court onboard, the only passenger ship in the world to have such a facility but not the first. The original SS Normandie also had this feature. Normally only palace passengers may use this facility, but on long cruises it is open to all passengers.
The see-through squash court where squash players can play under the sun.
The wind-sheltered miniature golf course.
L' Atlantique boasts a full-sized tennis court onboard, the only passenger ship in the world to have such a facility but not the first. The original SS Normandie also had this feature. Normally only palace passengers may use this facility, but on long cruises it is open to all passengers.
The see-through squash court where squash players can play under the sun.
The wind-sheltered miniature golf course.
GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (lounges)
The lounge onboard L' Atlantique emphasizes comfort, nature and harmony. It is a demonstration of the intimate, small scale designs that the French Line have become renowned for, which they evidently have not forgotten as they also pursued grand Normandie-scale structures. However some were unimpressed by the plain design and dubbed it the "Ikea room." Some believe the French may have been excessively concerned about vulgar gaudiness and overcompensated in their efforts somewhat.
The much smaller lounge for palace passengers is of a similar vein.
The much smaller lounge for palace passengers is of a similar vein.
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GTS L' Atlantique interior design plans (drawing rooms + bar + shopping locations + smoking rooms + library)
If the lounges were designed for serene comfort, the drawing rooms were designed for more festive occasions and conversation. It is a complete aesthetic contrast to the lounge. We get a hint of art deco, but the bright flamboyance is balanced out by the symmetry of how the chairs and lights are arranged and the fact they are plain and unadorned. The motif of light is very important for this ship (which would earn it the nickname Ship of Light) and these rooms are all brightly lit.
Next to the drawing room is the ship's bar. In front of the bar, is one of the two shopping locations onboard L' Atlantique. The boutiques next to the bar tend to be cheaper, more casual French brands that would be of interest to everyone.
The more expensive and exclusive French brands are displayed in another section and open only to palace passengers.
Palace passengers also have a small drawing room that manages to confer both playfulness, intimacy as well as luxury and tradition at the same time. Notably, there is a mock fireplace and a small painted and lit up glass dome roof. This drawing room is connected with an outdoor oceanview balcony.
This private bar can be reserved by a small group of passengers.
The French Line was relatively late to restrict smoking onboard the ships. As late as the 2000s, one could smoke anywhere with the exception of the dining room during meals. However, they now realized this approach had cost them a lot of customers who preferred other smoke-free cruise ships. In L' Atlantique, they updated their policy to ban smoking in all public rooms except for the smoking room.
Smoking room (despite having wood-based interiors, it departs from the traditional smoking room aesthetic)
Last of the regular day rooms is the library. It has an unconventional futuristic style rather than the wood-based libraries seen universally on passenger ships, from QM2 to other cruise ships.
Two stories high with side balconies, it aims for ultimate comfort by being very generous with space. The upper level (dimmed out) shelves are displays only. This is one of three sides of book shelves that surround the room.
The other two sides with books.
Next to the drawing room is the ship's bar. In front of the bar, is one of the two shopping locations onboard L' Atlantique. The boutiques next to the bar tend to be cheaper, more casual French brands that would be of interest to everyone.
The more expensive and exclusive French brands are displayed in another section and open only to palace passengers.
Palace passengers also have a small drawing room that manages to confer both playfulness, intimacy as well as luxury and tradition at the same time. Notably, there is a mock fireplace and a small painted and lit up glass dome roof. This drawing room is connected with an outdoor oceanview balcony.
This private bar can be reserved by a small group of passengers.
The French Line was relatively late to restrict smoking onboard the ships. As late as the 2000s, one could smoke anywhere with the exception of the dining room during meals. However, they now realized this approach had cost them a lot of customers who preferred other smoke-free cruise ships. In L' Atlantique, they updated their policy to ban smoking in all public rooms except for the smoking room.
Smoking room (despite having wood-based interiors, it departs from the traditional smoking room aesthetic)
Last of the regular day rooms is the library. It has an unconventional futuristic style rather than the wood-based libraries seen universally on passenger ships, from QM2 to other cruise ships.
Two stories high with side balconies, it aims for ultimate comfort by being very generous with space. The upper level (dimmed out) shelves are displays only. This is one of three sides of book shelves that surround the room.
The other two sides with books.
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