NEW ORIENT LINER

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 209, 4 September 1935, Page 5

NEW ORIENT LINER

ORION'S MAIDEN TRIP.

DISTINCTIVE APPEARANCE.

UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT.

With single funnel, solitary mast and hull painted corn yellow instead of the usual black, the new luxury liner Orion, latest addition to the fleet of the Orient Line, may be fairly described as a ship of distinctive appearance. Fully booked up, she set out on August 14 on her maiden voyage—a 24 days' cruise to the Mediterranean—from Southampton.

Built by Messrs. Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness, where she was launched by wireless from Brisbane by the Duke of Gloucester on December /, she has a length between perpendiculars' of C3Oft and a moulded breadth of 82ft. She is thus more than 30ft longer and about 7ft wider than the earlier vessels of the Orient Line now in commission, and'her gross tonnajre, 23.371, is more than 3000 tons greater. Her speed is 21 knots.

Internally her general layout resembles in broad outline that of her earlier sisters, but many improvements and refinements have been introduced. The interior decorations were carried out under the supervision and direction of Mr. Brian O'Rorke, a young New Zealander, and contribute in no small measure to the ship's quality of distinction and give the impression of solid comfort combined with beauty. He has planned the decorations as a whole, each part being a complement to the rest. Over 1100 Passengers. Spacious decks and public rooms and large well ventilated cabins —there is accommodation for 653 tourist and 480 iirst class passengers—are notable features of the fine vessel. There is a complete air-conditioning pljmt and sprinklers have been installed in case of fire. Fire-resisting paint has also been used freelv on the woodwork. The topmost or games deck presents Hip wide expanse usual in Orient ships, enhanced by the greater beam and space

saved through the absence of one funnel. The B deck contains most of the public rooms —the lounge forward, library, dancing space with, movable glass screens, cafe and verandah, which looks aft down on to the swimming pools.

The C deck extends right to the stem, giving a wide expanse for games. Here there are reading recesses and an up-to-date* children's nursery. A range of suites is contained in the next- or D deck, in which the conventional portholes have been replaced by a new type of window. On E deck are more first class cabins and on F deck are the dining saloons, with the oil-fired galley between them. There are 285 tourist class cabins, which are equipped with running cold water, wardrobes and 'ihests of drawers. The 315 first class cabins all have windows or portholes and are fitted with many modern refinements. The Orion sails on her first voyage to Australia on September 28.