Evening star., 1954-12-10
Farouk River Yacht
Converted for Use
AsCairo Hotel Annex


CAIRO, Dec. 10 tNANA).--A
royal pleasure barge that would
bring blush to the cheek OF
Cleopatra wallows today along
the east bank of the Nile, moored
in front of the plushiest hotel
in Cairo.
The barge-or river yacht
was once owned by one OF Cleo
patra's successors to the ancient
throne of Egypt. King Farouk. a
monarch less illustrious perhaps
than the legendary queen OF the
Nile, but certainly a good deal
heavier.
No longer the floating play
ground of royalty. the yacht now
pursues less exciting, but more
utilitarian. career. 1t serves as
an annex to the lofty Hotel
Semiramis.
Instead of eastern potentates.
blue -blooded sightseers, and
dancing girls who have caught
the royal eye. the yachts 81
cabins house British tourists,
French businessmen and even a
few officials of the revolutionary
Egyptian government.
Sip Tea, Now.
The broad decks no longer
support Farouk's wild parties or
his considerable bulk. Instead.
sedate visitors from all over the
world sit quietly at round tables.
slipping their tea or thick Turkish
coffee. while they stare at the
glittering lights OF the revolu-
tionary council headquarters IN
Giza across the river. Ironically,
the same headquarters stand at
the spot the yacht was anchored
In it's days of royal glory.
The 23O-foot vessel. IS feet in
the beam, is actually one OF
pair built by Farouk's father,
King Fuad, and completed in
Glasgow in 1925 at cost OF
about $1,200,000.
The Semiramis annex was
named the 'Kassed-khelr." ."
which in Arabic means aiming
toward the good The sister
ship. The Star" is now an
chored at Inchas. up the Nile
from Cairo. at the site of an old
Farouk palace which has been
converted into a gambling
casino.
King Fuad spared no expense
when it came to building for
himself and his luxury-loving
family. Each guest cabin, about
the size of cabin on an ocean
liner. is we'll furnished. But the
royal suite is lavish.
In Lavish Taste.
The monarch's sitting room.
plassed on two sides. about 80
feet long and 20 feet wide. has
been converted into a small gift
shop. In addition. there is
large modern kitchen. a huge
semicircular dining room and a
piano room with an inlaid grand
piano and wood-burning fire
place. All the rooms are furn-
ished in lavish, if not particu-
larly good, taste.
Farouk, of course. was a man
who shared most of his accom-
modations with his guests. But
even an emperor likes little
privacy and, in this respect at
least, Farouk was no different
than Charlemagne.
His inner Sanctum was
chastely barred from the out
side by a paneled door dis
creetly marked with bronze
coat of arms. Inside, the rare
visitor would find small sitting
room with fatty overstuffed fur
niture. Next, there was the bed
room with a flashily veneered
dressing table and puffy bed
with royal crest embroidered
into the satin of the headboard.
Then the bathroom and finally
the King or his visitor would
step into dressing room domi-
mated by an immense closet.
Inside the closet door there was
wide fhl-length mirror which,
on many occasions. undoubtedly
reflected back at his majesty the
expanse of his many sailing cos
tunes.
Despite the accommodations.
the King used the vessel only
about two weeks year and then
only for voyages on the Nile from
Aswan and Luxor In upper Egypt
to palace just north of Cairo.
For ocean voyages beyond the
Nile, Farouk would call into
service one of his three ocean,
going yachts.
More often. the river yachts
we're loaned to visiting rulers.
King Victor Emmanuel II of
Italy took cruise on the Kassed-
Kheir in 1885 and King Abdul
Assiz of Saudi Arabia went sail
ing on the same ship for week
or so in l948.