EN Not just a cruise ship

s.s. Rotterdam: not just a cruise ship

ss Rotterdam is the largest passenger ship ever built in the Netherlands. She was regarded as the flagship of the Dutch merchant marine. Nowadays, with an ever growing cruise industry, the term "cruise ship" hardly evokes any emotion. However, one should realize that in the fifties ss Rotterdam had primairly been designed as a liner for the North Atlantic service. For many, the voyage to the New World meant a good deal more than just a holiday trip. Crossing the wild Atlantic on a tight schedule makes higher demands upon a ship than cruising in, for example, the Caribbean. The gracefully shaped hull and the high, sharp bow give ss Rotterdam an expression of seaworthiness and speed which modern cruise ships usually lack.

A crucial difference between an ocean liner and a cruise ship is the division of the passenger accommodation into several classes. As a liner, ss Rotterdam had two classes. Of course, the passengers of both classes had to be separated. However, the spaces were ingeniously interlaced, thus giving every passenger the illusion of having a complete ship at his disposal, from stem to stern. Central point in this system was the main staircase, where first and tourist class passengers went along each other without noticing. Onboard a dedicated cruise ship there is no class distinction; everybody really has the disposal of the complete accommodation.

In the mid-fifties, the designers of ss Rotterdam already anticipated the development of intercontinental air traffic. This would restrict the ship's role to cruising. All class separations around the main staircase therefore consist of sliding walls. Although permanently opened, these are still in place. This brilliant concept made ss Rotterdam one of the most successful passenger ships ever. Until the mid-sixties, ships were built that lacked this flexibility. Especially the Italian Michelangelo and Raffaelo were splendid ocean liners. However, they were not suitable as cruise ships and neither of the two still exist.

Admiring ss Rotterdam's classical shapes today, it is difficult to realize that at the time of building she presented an unprecedented revolutionary design. The two slender smoke uptakes placed "two thirds aft", instead of a large, conventional funnel made that many judged ss Rotterdam as unfinished. In fact, the designers had paid much attention to the ship's profile. The empty space amidships was filled with a striking deck house, containing the Sky Room and an observation platform. In this way an elegant but refreshingly new composition arose, which gave ss Rotterdam her own place in international marine architecture.

It is significant that this more than fourty years old ship has been in service until a year ago. But the fact that hardly anything was altered troughout the years makes her abolutly unique. Even today, the ship's interiors provide a true "fifties-design feast". All public spaces still have their own character. From the majestic, two decks high Odyssey- en La Fontaine Dining Rooms to the Queens Lounge with a more informal atmosphere. The Auditorium (with ca. 600 seats once the largest ship theatre in the world) greatly exceeds the theatre on board Queen Elizabeth 2 in decoration. Many works of art can be found in ss Rotterdam. These are integrated in the interior design. "Applique"-glass panels in the staircase, impressive murals, inlaid wooden fishery motives; all this was created by numerous artists from the Netherlands. In coöperation with the interior designers they worked towards a varied, but coherent ambience that beared great resemblance with the optimistic architecture of post-war reconstruction.

More than any other ship, ss Rotterdam has been mentioned in maritime magazines as the perfect cruise ship. And each time, one single lounge is praised as "the most beautiful room on any ship": the Ritz Carlton. Entering this magnificient, two decks high lounge for the first time evokes an impression that will last forever. Ascending the elegantly curved stairs to the balcony gives you a wonderful sensation. Here you will certainly come into a festive mood, even if nobody else is there.....