Ocean Liner Style

The Ile de France was an important vessel not for its size, speed, or technological innovation.  Her modern interiors—art deco—set a new trend in ocean liner style and made other ships look rather dated.   When she entered service in 1927, the era of “ocean liner style” began.  Ships began to look like ships—not imitation of landside resorts and manor houses.

1:1250 model by Mercator.

The ship made much use of indirect lighting in the large public rooms.  The recessed light panels in the first class dining saloon (the largest afloat in 1927) cast a pink glow and was said to make ladies look younger and vivacious.   The room featured fluted pilasters and themes from Greek temple architecture.  Passengers entered the room via a sweeping staircase and were seated at unique curved chairs.  The food, with 250 some dishes to savor, served the best food on the Atlantic.

Other features were unique.  Traditionally the Verandah Café, or Winter Garden on liners was high on the superstructure and faced aft, often overlooking first class promenade spaces.  The Ile’s Veranda Café was lower and faced forward.  It was a small space but gave fantastic views of the sea ahead.  She was a ship full of amenities:  a bowling alley, a chapel with pillars and seats for 100, a merry-go-round for children, and the longest bar afloat. 

A lovely ship viewed at any angle.

French Line publicists loved touting the luxuries of the Ile de France and consequently she was consistently booked even in the depths of the Depression.  The Ile was charmed with Parisian chic and was a favorite of actors, artists, and luminaries.  It was a ship for the youthful, adventurous, and famous.

The Ile de France was in New York at the start of the Second World War.   In 1940, she was chartered by the British Admiralty and began trooping duties in the south Pacific and ferrying Canadian troops to Greenock from Halifax.  After a thorough re-fit, including the removal of her third funnel (a dummy), she resumed her Le Harve-New York service in 1949 and sailed that route with the Liberte (ex-Europa).

Ile de France in harbor.

In July, 1956, the Ile de France played a role in the rescue of passengers from the SS Andrea Doria after colliding with the MS Stockholm off Nantucket.

In 1958, after 31 years of service, she was retired and sold to Japanese shipbreakers in Osaka.  Before demolition, filmmakers staged her destruction on-screen for a film, The Last Voyage.  Travelers recognized the Ile and were horrified by the scenes of destructions through mostly intact interior spaces. 

S.S. Ile de France (1927-1958) built for Compagnie General Transatlantique (CGT) by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France.  As built: 43,153 GRT, 791 feet long, 91 feet wide.  Steam turbines, quadruple screw.  Service speed 23.5 knots.  1,786 total passengers (537 first class, 603 second class, 646 third class).