Explanation of Recommendations for Sun Deck

If the officers’ quarters are fully restored on Sports Deck, these areas would be redundant as exhibits. They were not significantly different from the deck officers’ accommodations.

First Class Cabins- When the S.S. United States was at sea, the majority of space on Sun Deck was made up of first class cabins.

In a permanent dockside role, restoring the cabins to this deck as part of an onboard hotel poses a problem since Sun Deck is separated from the rest of the original cabin decks by Promenade Deck, the most public deck of the ship. Another issue is that any hotel cabins here would not have direct access to the original shipboard amenities such as the Pool, Gymnasium, and Cabin Lounges in the private aft areas of the ship that need to be part of the hotel guest experience. In addition, the exposed and very public nature of Sun Deck makes it natural for visitors to roam. With this in mind, an onboard casino operation proposed by the S.S. United States Conservancy, would have a perfect home on Sun Deck. There is enough space on this deck to house a boutique casino as well as one of the ship’s restaurants. The original pantry space can be enlarged into a kitchen, providing for both the restaurant as well as service for the casino.

At first, some may look to the lower decks to house a casino. The trouble with putting a casino operation there is that it would be separated from the rest of the restored entertainment and hospitality amenities on the upper decks and turning it essentially into a separate entity that has nothing to do with the rest of the ship. It would also be difficult, if not impossible, to not have interference in the hotel amenities and tour programs that need to happen on the lower decks to show off some of the most interesting features of the ship. Lastly, the ship’s original working alleyway on B Deck needs to be retained as the main service and supply center for the entire ship, otherwise the result is the logistic nightmare such as that aboard the Queen Mary that has caused severe damage to that ship. A casino and café on Sun Deck however, in conjunction with the other restaurant, bar, and entertainment offerings of a restored Promenade Deck, could very well make the ship a hot spot for nightlife on the waterfront and make the most of her original public areas on the upper decks.