French Line’s SS Ile de France Cabin Class Experience (1951): A Deck Plan & Travel Guide
📌 Explore the elegance of the SS Ile de France’s Cabin Class (1951) with a detailed deck plan, stunning interiors, and a glimpse into mid-century transatlantic luxury. A valuable resource for teachers, students, genealogists, and maritime historians interested in ocean travel history.
Brochure Cover, Ilde de France Cabin Class Deck Plan. Published by the CGT French Line February 1951. GGA Image ID # 11b1af7b0f
The SS Ile de France Cabin Class Deck Plan (1951) – A Glimpse into Mid-Century Ocean Travel 🚢✨
The SS Ile de France, an iconic liner of the CGT-French Line, was one of the most beloved transatlantic ships of its era. Known for its Art Deco interiors, modern amenities, and innovative services, it redefined ocean travel in the mid-20th century.
This 1951 deck plan brochure provides a fascinating look at the ship’s Cabin Class accommodations, complete with detailed floor plans, photographs of interior spaces, and a glimpse into life aboard this famous vessel. The brochure is an essential historical document for teachers, students, genealogists, and maritime historians, offering insights into how passengers traveled between Europe and North America in the postwar years.
Illustrated brochure from 1951 provides colorful deck plans for areas occupied by cabin-class passengers and numerous interior and exterior photographs of the SS Ile de France of the CGT French Line.
French Line Service
CABIN CLASS: Large, airy, and luxurious are the public rooms, promenade decks and staterooms in Cabin Class. Located for the most part amidships, where ship motion is least felt, this class accommodates 454 passengers. These have full use of the Theatre and Swimming Pool. Fresh running hot and cold water goes with all baths and showers.
Ile de France, Rue de la Paix of the Atlantic, 45,330 Gross Tons. GGA Image ID # 11b1cb1875
Deck Plans
Ile de France Sundeck Deck Plan Includes Open Promenade. GGA Image ID # 11b25572fc. Click to View Larger Image.
Ile de France Boat Deck - Deck Plan. Public Rooms Include Open Promenade, Gymnasium, Foyer, and First Class Smoking Room. GGA Image ID # 11b27ee1bc. Click to View Larger Image.
Ile de France Promenade Deck Plan Showing Public Areas Including Cinema and Theatre, Children's Playroom, Library, Barber Shop and Beauty Parlor, and Drawing Room. GGA Image ID # 11b282eb89. Click to View Larger Image.
Ile de France Main Deck Plan Showing Cabin Passenger Cabins. GGA Image ID # 11b307b988. Click to View Larger Image.
Ile de France "A" Deck Plan Showing Cabin Passenger Cabins. GGA Image ID # 11b308c938. Click to View Larger Image.
Ile de France "B" Deck Plan Showing Public Rooms including Cabin Class Dining Room, Information Desk, Doctors Office, Baggage Master's Office. and Cabin Passenger Cabins. GGA Image ID # 11b312c190. Click to View Larger Image.
Ile de France "C" Deck Plan Showing Swimming Pool, Bar, and Cabin Passenger Staterooms. GGA Image ID # 11b3212af1. Click to View Larger Image.
Key - Index - Legend to Ile de France Cabin Class Deck Plans. GGA Image ID # 11b384e4d7. Click to View a Larger Image.
Interior Photographs of the Ile de France
Passengers Playing Deck Tennis on the Ile de France. GGA Image ID # 11b39643b6
Children's Playroom on the SS Ile de France. GGA Image ID # 11b3a7e6a1
Outside Cabin for Four on the SS Ile de France. GGA Image ID # 11b3b9dd11
Deck Scene - Young Couple on the Fantail of the SS Ile de France. GGA Image ID # 11b3c47a66
Cabin Class Dining Room on the SS Ile de France. GGA Image ID # 11b3ddd9f3
Ile de France Photo Collage. Top to Bottom: Salon; Inside Cabin for Two; and, Smoking Room. GGA Image ID # 11b3eea13a
Ile de France Swimming Pool. GGA Image ID # 11b40575bf
Bar of Swimming Pool on the SS Ile de France. GGA Image ID # 11b410a819
Brochure Information
- Publication Date: February 1951
- Publication Number: 77
- Printing: USA
- Construction: 2 Sheets, Printed on Both Sides, Folded in Eights.
- Deck Plans: Sundeck, Boat Deck, Promenade Deck, A. B. and C Decks
- Photographs: 13 (B&W)
- Dimensions: 76.8 cm x 21.3 cm
Who Should Read This & Why?
📚 Teachers & Students
✅ Great for lessons on postwar transatlantic travel and tourism
✅ Illustrates mid-20th-century ship design and social class distinctions
✅ Helps understand how ocean liners influenced global movement
🏡 Genealogists & Family Historians
✅ A valuable resource for those researching ancestors who sailed on the SS Ile de France
✅ Provides context on how different social classes traveled across the Atlantic
✅ Helps visualize what life was like for mid-century ocean travelers
⚓ Maritime Historians & Enthusiasts
✅ Showcases the transition from prewar luxury liners to more modern postwar travel
✅ Details ship design elements, including deck plans and public spaces
✅ Captures the French Line’s commitment to comfort, leisure, and elegance
Most Fascinating Aspects of the SS Ile de France (1951) 🚢✨
1. The SS Ile de France: A Ship That Bridged Two Eras ⚓
🔹 Originally launched in 1926, the Ile de France became one of the first ocean liners to feature Art Deco interiors.
🔹 After serving as a troop transport in World War II, she was rebuilt and modernized in the late 1940s to cater to the new wave of transatlantic travelers.
🔹 By 1951, she was one of the most stylish and comfortable ships crossing the Atlantic, balancing classic elegance with modern postwar conveniences.
💡 Why It’s Interesting: The Ile de France was a survivor, adapting to major world changes while maintaining its reputation as one of the finest liners of its time.
2. The Cabin Class Experience: Comfort, Space, & Elegance 🌟
🔹 Cabin Class on the Ile de France was designed for 454 passengers, offering a blend of affordability and luxury.
🔹 Staterooms were spacious, well-lit, and located amidships to minimize motion discomfort.
🔹 The Cabin Class public rooms included a stylish drawing room, a smoking lounge, and a beautifully decorated dining room.
🔹 Passengers had full access to first-class amenities such as the ship’s theatre and swimming pool.
🔹 Noteworthy images:
📸 Outside Cabin for Four: Showcases the spacious accommodations, perfect for families or small groups.
📸 Cabin Class Dining Room: Highlights the stylish yet comfortable dining area.
📸 Swimming Pool & Bar: A rare feature for mid-century Cabin Class passengers, showing the ship’s focus on leisure.
💡 Why It’s Interesting: The SS Ile de France was one of the first ships to elevate Cabin Class travel, making it a preferred choice for well-to-do travelers who wanted comfort without the extravagance of First Class.
3. Entertainment & Leisure at Sea: A Floating Resort 🎭🏊
🔹 The Ile de France catered to passengers’ entertainment needs with a theatre, cinema, and a well-stocked library.
🔹 The ship featured a dedicated Children’s Playroom, ensuring younger travelers had a space of their own.
🔹 The large open promenade decks encouraged outdoor activities, including deck tennis and sunbathing.
🔹 A bar adjacent to the swimming pool created a more relaxed, resort-like atmosphere.
🔹 Noteworthy images:
📸 Passengers Playing Deck Tennis: A snapshot of life at sea, showing how travelers stayed active.
📸 Children’s Playroom: A rare look at how the French Line accommodated families aboard.
📸 Deck Scene – Young Couple on the Fantail: Evokes the romance of ocean travel.
💡 Why It’s Interesting: The ship’s amenities reflected a growing trend toward “travel as leisure,” a shift that would later influence the rise of the modern cruise industry.
4. The Deck Plans: A Window into Ship Design 🛳️
🔹 The 1951 deck plan brochure provides a detailed layout of the ship, showcasing the different public rooms, cabin locations, and recreational spaces.
🔹 The Sundeck, Boat Deck, and Promenade Decks housed the primary leisure areas, including the cinema, theatre, and drawing room.
🔹 The Main, A, B, and C Decks were primarily dedicated to passenger accommodations, with strategically placed stairwells and passageways for ease of movement.
🔹 The Swimming Pool was uniquely placed on C Deck, making it easily accessible to all passengers.
🔹 Noteworthy images:
📸 Promenade Deck Plan: Shows the public spaces, including the theatre, library, and children’s playroom.
📸 B Deck Plan: Highlights key passenger areas such as the dining room and information desk.
📸 C Deck Plan: Features the swimming pool and bar—an unusual addition for Cabin Class travelers.
💡 Why It’s Interesting: The deck plans offer a rare glimpse into how space was allocated on a mid-century ocean liner, reflecting both practicality and luxury.
Key Takeaways for Research & Essay Writing
📌 For Students & Teachers:
🔹 Offers real-world examples of mid-century tourism and global movement.
🔹 Helps understand the impact of ocean liners on cultural exchange.
🔹 Showcases the evolution of ship design and passenger accommodations.
📌 For Genealogists & Family Historians:
🔹 Provides historical context for ancestors who may have traveled on the SS Ile de France.
🔹 Highlights how different social classes experienced transatlantic travel.
📌 For Maritime Historians & Enthusiasts:
🔹 Captures the transition from Art Deco luxury liners to more modern postwar ships.
🔹 Demonstrates how passenger demands shaped ship design and onboard experiences.
Final Thoughts: The SS Ile de France – A Timeless Icon of Ocean Travel 🚢💫
The SS Ile de France (1951) was a testament to the French Line’s commitment to elegance, comfort, and innovation. As one of the most beloved transatlantic ships of the mid-20th century, it set new standards for Cabin Class travel, ensuring that passengers of all social standings could enjoy a luxurious voyage.
🌍 How do you think mid-century ocean travel compares to modern-day cruises? What aspects of the SS Ile de France’s design would you love to see on today’s ships?
📖 Explore this fascinating chapter of maritime history and experience the golden age of transatlantic travel! 🚢✨
