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A WEEKEND IN THE MED, MAY 2006
PART TWO: JANAS AND NAPOLEON BONAPARTE (continued)
Text and all pictures © matt@hhvferry.com except where stated

Top: The Napoleon Bonaparte at Porto Torres.

Above: Boarding via the Napoleon Bonaparte's car deck. This is modern but relatively small for a ferry of her size.

The Napoleon Bonaparte is a most impressive ship. Many of her public spaces resemble the newbuild Brittany Ferries and Seafrance ships, and it comes as no surprise to discover that those stalwart BF interior designers and more recently behind the ‘Rodin’ and ‘Berlioz’, Architectes et Ingénieurs Associés (AIA) were heavily involved. In many respects, in décor parts of this ship represent that missing link between the more simple details of Normandie, Barfleur and Val de Loire and the top end styling of the Mont St Michel, Pont Aven and Seafrance Berlioz. So for UK travellers, the ship is in some ways very familiar; the setting however is obviously different and the ship is clearly designed for Mediterranean use being very extrovert with extensive use of large windows and fairly expansive sun decks. AIA have even referred to her somewhat immodestly in (French Line) Normandie-esque terms, “le Navire Lumière”, although the reasoning is rather different. The ship is also much more “cruise-like” than any of the Cross-Channel vessels, with the input of her builders, Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire also clearly playing a part. Indeed, she is used on a fairly extensive minicruise programme and was due to depart the following Monday evening on a three-nighter which would take in Corsica but also Elba. Other destinations showing in the 2006 Cruise brochure are Rome, Naples, Barcelona, Valencia, Majorca as well as a simple “Nuit de Fête”, leaving Marseille at 6pm and returning to the same port at 9 the following morning.

The largest and perhaps most notable space on board is the forward Galaxie Show Bar which covers two levels (Decks 10 and 11) and is a vast lounge with huge forward-looking picture windows and a large stage/dancefloor. Aft of this on its upper level is a sheltered area of outside deck ahead of the funnels linked to more space forward on the deck above. It has to be said the ship is no beauty externally, although clearly some attempt was made to tidy her up despite the sheer bulk. On board however, this is not so noticeable, and the huge funnel area with integral lounge at its base (RCI Viking Crown Lounge-style) can get beyond seeming just impressively huge to appearing quite sculptural from some vantage points on the outside decks. That lounge is actually up on Deck 12 and is a large but quite charming piano bar “La Vigie”, accessed primarily from a stylish spiral staircase aft leading up from Deck 11. The lounge was however closed to the public on this crossing and hardly needed on what was a lightly loaded sailing, although it was being tidied up by some crew members, presumably in preparation for the following day’s cruise and they let us in to have a look around and take some photographs. [continued below]

Click here to continue the report

Down on Deck 10, forward is the lower level of ‘Le Galaxie’ and heading aft along the port side is a long twin-level arcade with picture window of identical concept and very similar plan to that of the Seafrance ships so the inspiration for the latter is clear. In this form it is considerably increased in length, stretching all the way from the forward to the aft stairwells although the overall effect suffers, in a similar way to the Fantasy Promenade on Color Fantasy, from partial enclosure by fire door casings in its middle, effectively dividing the whole into two separate zones. Inboard of this on its upper level can be found forward a separate arcade winding its way over to starboard with a disco (closed), children’s play area, boutique and a splendid small circular reading room with skylight. This room’s real function was slightly unclear however as its glass walls looked directly into the play area which presumably is anything but peaceful when the ship is busy. [continued...]

Click above for a Napoleon Bonaparte deckplan

Above and below: The Galaxie Show Bar.

Above and below: Looking down from the upper level of 'Le Galaxie' showing (above) the large stage-cum-dance floor and (below) the forward-facing picture windows.

Above: The entrance to 'Le Galaxie' on Deck 10 from the forward lobby. All the hallways on board are fairly spacious with the four main stairwells located on either beam, two forward (as above) and two towards the stern.

Above: An evening view looking aft from Deck 12 level, across the sheltered deck space on the level below, towards the illuminated funnels with "La Vigie" Piano Bar at their base and, forward and below, the glazed roof and skylight of the swimming pool area.

Above and below: "La Vigie" Piano Bar.

Above: Possibly the worst positioned and most superfluous potted plant (and a fake one at that!) on a passenger ship. Without this clutter, the effect of the dedicated spiral staircase leading down from "La Vigie" to the aft lobby on Deck 11 would be delightfully mesmeric.

Above: Looking aft along the port-side arcade at its upper level showing the clear design similarities to the spaces on later Seafrance ships.

Above: The small circular reading room adjacent to the playroom, amidships on Deck 10.