User-friendly De Grasse: 1924 - Cabin Class Deck Plan From 1928 Save 65% Now [nK5dByxh]

French Line: A 25" by 32" tissue plan from 1928 showing Cabin Class (First Class) on the DE GRASSE, a rugged ship that had almost as many lives as the proverbial cat.

Four decks are shown in color-coded detail. Cabin Class carried 400 and unseen down below another 1,700 survived in Third Class. Although DE GRASSE was not as swanky as her bigger fleetmates, the French Line still kept up their standards. For example, children not only had a Playroom but a separate Punch and Judy Theatre and a special Dining Room. For adults the requisite "Grande Descente" led all the way from Promenade Deck down four decks into the Dining Saloon

Besides a portrait-at-sea, black and white photos show the Salon, Grande Descente, and two cabins.

The DE GRASSE was laid down in 1920 but a shortage of steel delayed her launching for four years. She served faithfully until the war. When the Germans invaded France in 1940, the ship was scuttled in shallow water. The Germans raised her and she served their cause until 1944 when she was scuttled again, this time by the retreating Germans.

But in September 1945 the DE GRASSE was raised yet again and rebuilt. For a short time the DE GRASSE became France's largest passenger liner and the first CGT ship to reenter North Atlantic service. In 1953 she was sold to Canadian Pacific to become their EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA. In 1956 she was bought by Sicula Oceanica who renamed her VENEZUELA for South American service. A date with rocks ended her career off Cannes in 1962, thirty-eight years and many adventures after her maiden voyage.

Excellent condition.