Anne's Travel Journal

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February 5, 1939, Sunday - on Board the Conte di Savoia

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We got up late, had breakfast and sat on deck – too rough to walk much.  There was a concert in the big Colonna Hall, and later in the morning a picture - Deana Durbin in “Mad about Music.”  We dressed for dinner.  There was another concert, horse races at 10:30 and dancing, but it was too rough to dance.  We went to bed early.

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The Stillmans joined about 223 other first class passengers on the Conte.  These passengers were treated to truly elegant surroundings designed by Italian architect Gustavo Pulitzer Finali, of Trieste.  The Conte di Savoia was among the first ships in the world to incorporate the concept of “arte integrata” (integrated art) in its interior design.  The theme was classical grandeur, and the ship certainly delivered it!

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                   1st Class Foyer                                               1st Class Dining Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

                                  1st Class Lounge                                                                                                                                                                                            Colonna Hall                                       

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The first class main lounge had a ceiling of burnished gold leaf, a fireplace in Roman travertine marble built of handmade dark brown and black bricks with a surround in gilded bronze. The dining room was a marvel which rose through two decks. Its walls were entirely covered with panels of travertine marble.   The Colonna Saloon was nearly a perfect copy of the seventeenth century ballroom in the Palazzo (Palace) Colonna and had a ceiling fresco by Italian artist, Lucchesini, representing the battle of Lepanto. The Winter Garden veranda boasted large windows and the Club Bar, called Il Circolo (The Circle) because of its rounded shape, above which was a large cupola in silver leaf with a representation of the constellations as seen on the day the ship was launched. Throughout the ship, passengers could admire marble statues in the classical Roman style, inlaid wood, marble, gold and silver leafing, tapestries and original pieces of artwork.

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Other first class amenities included a buffet bar, card room, writing room, library, glass enclosed promenade with view windows, gymnasium with adjoining "Roman bath," indoor swimming pool, outdoor swimming pool, sports deck and social deck.  There was also a chapel, beauty parlor and barber, masseuse and several shops.

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Passengers could spend their days at sea at leisure or take advantage of the numerous activities offered by the ship.  Movies, horse racing, concerts, lectures, bridge lessons and games, bingo, sport shooting on deck, ping pong and other deck games were just some of the amusements for first class passengers.  One activity which Anne and Paul enjoyed was dancing.  The ship offered dancing lessons with dancers from the Arthur Murray School of Dance, and nightly dancing in the Club Bar or Colonna Saloon. Here is a typical day's programme:

 

 

 

 

 

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Meals were just as lavish as the ship's décor: 

 

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Sailing on the Conte di Savoia was truly a luxury experience!

 

The Stillmans cruise continues on the next page.  Use the drop-down menu under 3, above, to turn to it