Evening star., 1936-03-15
CHANGES IMPROVE
LINER NORMAND|E
Dining Space Is Enlarged.
New Facilities for Tour
iSt Class.

HAVRE. March IA. - Extensive
changes have been made in various
sections of the Normandie, taken out
of service last october % after IL
crossings.
The three blade propellers which
drove the ship across the Atlantic to
two new world records, and won for
her the Hales blue ribbon trophy,
have been replaced by new specially
made four blade screws. This and
other technical improvements, French
line officials say, have eliminated the
vibration of the earlier voyages.
Dining Space Enlarged.
Last seasons experience showed
that additional places were needed in
the main dining room. 1t had been
expected that certain percentage OF
the first class passengers would wish
to lunch and dine in the glass-encloSed
cafe-grill high on the boat deck,
particularly during the crowded Sum-
mer season, and for that reason the
main dining room was planned to ac-
commodate less than the full number
of a capacity list Of first class pas
sengerS. 1t was found. however, that
even though many did wish to take
meals in the cafe-grill, they wanted
to have a definite table assignment
in the main dining room. To achieve
greater seating capacity there, several
of the internally Lighted decorative
glass standards affixed to the dining
room floor, have been removed, and
the additional space thus made avail
able. A new device for Illuminating
the art-glaSs walls has been installed.
The wide open spaces of the vast
sun deck, found to be too windy for
real comfort in moderate blow, have
now been divided by longitudinal
glass partition between tunnels, Gre
ating a protected area sheltered from
the wind.
The acoustics of the permanent
theater aboard have been improved,
and the newest type of sound motion
picture projection equipment has been
installed.
Larger Bar Installed.
The enclosed bar, located just on
the cafe-grill, proved to be so popular
a gathering-spot that it was found to
be entirely too small, and it has been
transferred to a much larger space in
a better location. The Winter Garden,
decorated with growing plants and
flowers, song-birdS and fountains, has
been given new type OF furniture
more adapted to the room, which is
in effect a huge sun-parlor and con-
rd hpnPqth
bridge and affording an extensive view
OF the ocean ahead and to both sides.
The beauty salon and the Turkish
baths have been allotted more space,
found necessary because of the large
numbers of passengers using those
facilities, and the ventilation of both.
important where one could so easily
catch cold, has been scientifically
studied and improved.
Tourist class has received consider
able attention A new grand staircase
has been constructed to improve COM
munlcation between the various decks.
This was found to be needed not so
much while the ship was at sea. but
rather to reduce congestion on stairs
and in corridors at sailing time, due to
the great numbers of visitors who
came aboard.
New Salon Built.
The large interior salon in tourist
class has been torn out, and in the
space formerly occupied by it have
been built a number Of double cabins,
each with private toilet and shower.
A new and larger salon, with great
windows opening out onto the sea,
has been built aft on the boat deck,
where the first class terraced deck
used to be. The after end Of this
salon is a cafe terrace for lounging
and dancing. The roof of the new
salon is devoted to sports deck for
tourist class, thus greatly increasing
the area for outdoor exercise, SUM-
bathing and promenading.