Kronprinz Wilhelm Chapter Two

The fabulous interiors of the ship, designed by Johannes Poppe:

Poppe was the mastermind behind the lavish decorations, whilst the trusted firms : J C. Pfaff in Berlin and A. Bembé in Mainz were assigned to bring those drawings to reality. As for the many paintings that adorned the walls and ceilings of the public rooms, the master painters Otto Bollhagen and Professor Hans Fecher are credited for those.

First Class Dining Saloon [i]
First Class Dining Saloon
First Class Dining Saloon (Author’s Collection)
First Class Dining Saloon [i]

First Class Dining Saloon:

The First Class Dining Saloon was an architectural and artistic masterpiece by Johann Poppe. This two-deck high open space was located in between the distinctive gap of the four funnels, supplemented by a glass lightwell that led into the Lounge above and was topped off by another one above it on the Boat Deck. The room could seat 414 guests at once. In three of the four corners was a smaller dining saloon, that came with screens so a private party could be sectioned off by themselves. Each corner was also decorated with beautiful oil landscape paintings of the palaces where Kronprinz Wilhelm himself had lived, as well as places where he had spent his student days, such as the cadet school at Plön. Aft of this room was an antechamber, and an impressive pantry serviced by 51 kitchen staff.

First Class Promenade [i]
Wiener Cafe
Christmas in the First Class Dining Saloon [i]
2nd Class Dining Saloon (Author’s Collection)
First Class Lounge [i]
First Class Lounge
First Class Lounge [i]
First Class Lounge [i]

First Class Lounge:

Also known as the Music Room or Social Hall, this room was located on the Promenade Deck between second and third funnels with the adjoining First Class Staircase behind it. The star of the room was the life-sized portrait of Kronprinz Wilhelm of Prussia, painted by Professor Hans Fechner and located in the centre of the room. Every Kaiser Class ship would have a painting of the monarch they were named after in the exact same spot in this room. The hall was decorated impressively with tapestries and paintings of Prussian cities.

First Class Smoking Room [i]
First Class Smoking Room
First Class Smoking Room [i]
First Class Smoking Room [i]

First Class Smoking Room:

The First Class Smoking Room was U-shaped and located around the casing of the fourth funnel on the Promenade Deck. The room was decorated in the Renaissance style with an oak-panelled ceiling and walls. It had proved very popular on the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, so the washroom and small bar had been removed on the Kronprinz to extend the room and provide extra seating space. The two giant double doors beneath the skylight led to a corridor between the casings of the two engines.

First Class Library [i]
First Class Library
First Class Library
First Class Library [i]

First Class Library:

Also known as the Ladies’ Room and the Reading and Writing Room, this elegant space was decorated in the Baroque Renaissance style. The room was located on the Promenade Deck, at the very front of the forecastle. Reading desks and a well-stocked library were provided and paintings graced the ceilings. During the maiden voyage of the Kronprinz, this room would receive a very rude awakening as discussed in the next chapter.

Imperial Suite
(Author’s Collection)
Mahogany Cabin de Luxe (Author’s Collection)
Pullman Room
(Author’s Collection)
Stateroom with Bath (Author’s Collection)

Passenger Cabins and Quarters:

The quarters for First Class passengers aboard the Kronprinz were all located amidships on the Main, Upper and Promenade Decks – All equipped with the highest comfort available at the time. The best rooms on the ship were the four luxury Imperial suites – which consisted of a bedroom, living room and bathroom. There were eight other staterooms that contained contained a bedroom and private bathroom. The Pullman rooms were of special design too, as the sofas had the ability of being converted into beds just by being rotated upwards. The Second Class Cabins located in the stern also offered every modern convenience, but in a more scaled-down version than First Class. Third Class was disappointing however, and each Kaiser Class ship was designed to carry less of them than the last. They slept in sparsely-decorated dormitories, located in the bow.

Private Bathroom (Author’s Collection)
Kitchen [i]
Chief Steward’s Office (Author’s Collection)
Preservatives Storage (Author’s Collection)

Additional Features:

The Kronprinz would feature an advanced telephone service that would be installed in cabins as well as public rooms. A special line would connect the Captain from his room with the officers on the bridge and the chiefs of the various departments of the liner at any moments notice. New to the Kronprinz compared to the Kaiser would be the Chief Steward’s office. This was located on the Upper Deck and was just like that of a modern hotel, where passengers could secure information about tickets, baggage, accommodation, facilities etc. Another newer innovation would include putting the ladder for the crow’s nest inside the mast, rather than having crew members scale the outside as well as providing them with a speaking tube connected directly to the bridge. Another problem alleviated was the differing in the times between clocks on liners, but all the ones aboard the Kronprinz were connected to a master time piece in the chart room, keeping every clock aboard accurate. A device that would prove instrumental towards the Kronprinz’s success across her entire career was the Marconi wireless radio set, which the Kronprinz was one of the very first liners ever fitted aboard.

Forecastle
(Author’s Collection)
Sun Deck
(Author’s Collection)
Marconi Wireless Room (Author’s Collection)
Bridge
(Author’s Collection)

Bibliography: