Cruise Ships Interior Décor

A while back I wrote an article entitled ‘Do Looks Matter’, which focussed on the external appearance of modern cruise ships. After debating the subject with myself, I came to the conclusion that ‘Yes’ they do matter, if you are a ship aficionado, and ‘No’ they probably don’t if you are just interested in a holiday afloat.

QM2 Grand Lobby

In the interest of thoroughness, I have decided to revisit the subject – but this time from a slightly different perspective. Specifically, let’s take a look at the question: “Does the internal décor of a cruise ship matter”?

Initially one might think “No”; surely it is the overall experience (food, entertainment, ports of call etc.) that is important. However, most cruise lines must think that the interiors of their vessels really do matter, as they all spend a fortune on the internal decoration of their ships.

Interestingly the average mass-market Hotel will often have quite unexciting, possibly ‘bland’ décor. However, the average mass market cruise ships are an explosion of glitz, colour, neon and art works. Just have a look at images of the interiors of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC and Norwegian Cruise line vessels.

So why is this?

Carnival Supper Club

Traditionally ship travel has always been associated as being the pursuit of the very well off (…overlooking for unpleasant experiences of the millions of steerage passengers). We have all seen the photographs and movies of the rich occupying Titanic or Queen Mary’s opulent public rooms and enjoying the finest food and service. Even today the word ‘Cruise’ is still associated in the publics mind with ‘luxury’. The modern cruise lines are happy to perpetuate this association. In fact they are often keen to ‘exceed our expectations’ and deliver a product that is bigger and brighter than we could imagine.

It was the American cruise lines that made cruising the global mass-market pursuit that it is today. In order to make the product more accessible to the general public, the cruise lines replaced the more traditional styles of maritime décor to ones that emulated ‘Las Vegas’, ‘Hotel Resorts’ and ‘Theme Parks’. After all, that’s who they are directly competing with when they sell cruises to the masses.

The master of such décor was Joe Farcus who creates his mind-blowing “entertainment-architecture” for the Carnival Cruise Line and the Costa Cruises. It is astonishing, over-the-top, mega-glitzy, inspiring, confusing, and migraine inducing, all at once! It really has to be seen to be believed. The intention is to not only physically transport you to exotic ports, but to mentally transport you to a fantasy world. For example, Carnival Legend has a theme of ‘Myth and Legends’, which are depicted in the fantasy décor.

In fact, in recent years we have increasingly seen the creation of ‘themed’ ships. There are the ‘Disney’ ships for example, NCL have an ‘American’ themed ship (Pride of America – with public rooms based on the USA’s great landmarks). Cunard’s ‘Queen Victoria’, Queen Elizabeth’ and ‘Queen Mary 2’ have ‘an Ocean Liner’ theme.

Most modern cruise ships also have vast amounts of art on-board, giving the passengers the feeling that they are in a ‘classy’ floating Art Gallery. MSC’s ‘Grandiosa’ (2019) is a great example.

Each deck of Grandiosa is named after a famous artist: 5 Caravaggio, 6 Leonardo da Vinci, 7 Michelangelo, 8 Monet, 9 Van Gogh, 10 Mirò, 11 Dalì, 12 Raffaello, 13 Goya, 14 Magritte, 15 Cezanne, 16 Velàzquez, 18 Gauguin and 19 Degas. Reproduction art (or in the case of Dali, art ‘in the style-of’ ) line the corridors and public rooms. However, the ‘Atelier Bistrot’, the French alternative restaurant on-board, has the ‘Art Wall’. This is a collection of 26 original drawings from the French master, Degas. These are his of his favourite theme of ballet dancers.

Interestingly, you do not need to understand interior design, or art for that matter, for it to have an affect on you. We are all sensitive to our environment. Interior design has the power to inspire you or leave you decidedly unimpressed. Some ships and their public rooms will be to your liking and feel very welcoming and others will not.

Now I would not go as far as saying a ships décor alone could make or break a cruise. However, I do think it is important when choosing a cruise to match the on-board experience, which includes the décor, to your personal tastes. In short ‘loud’ décor often means a ‘loud’ cruise, likewise understated décor signifies a more refined experience.

Taste Dining Room, Norwegian Epic

Ask yourself if you would be happy to spend a week on a floating ‘Las Vegas’ (possibly Carnival, RCI, MS and NCL) or would you prefer a more sedate or traditionally decorated ship (maybe HAL or Cunard)?

Fortunately there are a whole host of ships/lines out there to choose from, each offering a different onboard experience.

Malcolm Oliver