THE CHIC CHARTRES
Floating Gallery of French Art & Design
By Derek Longly
The Senlac although built in France was fitted out in distinctly British style, muted colours and a general feeling of no nonsense traditional solidity. When the Chartres first arrived, however, going on board her was almost a shock to the system in comparison as she brought with her bright colours, unusual seating arrangements and interesting art and sculpture.
The photos give an idea of this flair and exuberance. Most prominent feature of the ship was her enormous funnel, almost big enough to grace an Atlantic liner rather than a relatively small Channel ferry. Its design too was a significant departure from everything that had gone before. Her stern was equally unusual with its acutely slanting car deck door.
Internally her public rooms and bars boasted murals and woodcuts. There were swirling banquet seats in green in her lounge bar with eye popping bright yellow clover leaf shaped tables between, which were not the easiest colours to relax with when the sea was rough.
Her observation lounge, a feature sadly lacking on the Senlac, was a bright cheerful room and displayed another break with tradition by being fitted with multi coloured reclining seats.
Her interiors may not have been restful to look at but they were certainly thought provokingly 'hip.'
Please click on the thumbnail images to view the full sized photos. - Editor