First Class Mens' Smoking Room

First Class gentleman are invited to partake in a relaxful evening of gentlemanly conversation in the Mens' Smoking Room located on A Deck in front of the first funnel. Like many of the public rooms aboard the Imperator, the Smoking Room has been designed with a distinctly European flavor and reflects the tradition of a late 14th century English Tudor house. No detail has been sparred in the outfitting of this warm and inviting setting which we like to think "could have been built four centuries ago when Columbus started his first trip over the Atlantic Ocean".

Set beneath a decorative skylight, the individual tables, seating two, four or six persons, are spaciously parted as to maintain an air of privacy for our guests. Each table is intimately lighted by small shaded electric lamps (not shown). And to evoke the spirit of the hunt, the Smoking Room is generously furnished with traditional hunt club style chairs and tiled throughout in dark marble wedges.

The defining attraction of the Smoking Room, however, has to be the huge stone fireplace of the Louis XVI persuasion. Between its broad settles a raging fire provides the utmost in relaxing after dinner atmosphere for the First Class gentlemen. The carved Oak mantle above the fireplace is set into decorative cross hatching brick work, on which hang a huge pair Elk antlers that are accented to the left and right by displays of traditional weaponry and armor.

(photo courtesy of Mike Norton.. retouched by Cameron)

For even more intimate meetings, there are private alcoves. The walls are fitted in heavy, decorative dark wood Oak panels, and above are huge sections of expensive hand-tooled and sculptured leather frieze showing forest scenes of hunters stalking their prey.

Ladies Salon and Library

For the Ladies there is the Ladies Salon on B Deck directly below the Men’s Smoking Room. The Ladies Salon is outfitted in a soothing color blend of ivory and dusky red befitting an upper class ladies attention. This room also has a small fireplace with a large vanity mirror above the mantle. The seating in the Ladies Salon is oak chairs, plush armchairs, and couches, all complemented with tables draped in fine linen and with small lamps. Attached to this salon was the ship’s library that carried 2400 books in German, English, and French.