The Crew Quarters and Working Spaces in the bow- One of the benefits of running the S.S. United States on the waterfront is the opportunity to offer a guided tour program covering all different aspects of the ship, including those that her passengers never had the opportunity to see when the ship was in service. One of the routes of such a guided tour program should be a tour of the crew accommodations and working spaces. The bow areas of Promenade, Upper, Main, A, and B decks have enough variety as originally built to offer a very satisfying tour of crew life on the ship. The sheer of the deck in these areas would certainly be a talking point and show a contrast to the officers accommodations. These areas can also be easily tied to the proposed ship museum via B deck, yet also be isolated enough not to intrude on the proposed hotel and hospitality amenities.

Tourist Class Cabins- Many of the tourist class cabin spaces are too isolated to be used with the proposed hotel amenities, particularly the lack of access to the pool, gymnasium, and lounges that should be restored to create a shipboard experience for guests. With this in mind, a small section of Tourist Class cabins can and should be restored on Upper Deck as part of the guided tour program and museum operation. This area is isolated from the proposed hotel by the original class barriers and both the crew and tourist class tours would have a great starting point from the proposed tour staging areas on Promenade Deck.

Tourist Barber Shop and Beauty Parlor- All three classes of passenger accommodation had a barber shop and beauty parlor. The tourist class amenity seems the most likely candidate for full restoration as an exhibit since the first and cabin class counterparts would be in the middle of a working hotel. The tourist class shops can be seen on the proposed guided tour of tourist class accommodations as originally furnished.

Tourist Playroom- As with the tourist barber shop and beauty parlor, the tourist playroom is the most likely candidate for detailed restoration due to its location out of the proposed working public areas. It can also be shown on a guided tour of tourist class.

First Class Staterooms and Suites- Promotional materials describe the staterooms: 'All rooms are spacious and pleasing in their proportions, with every comfort. With full-length mirrors and dressing tables, each First Class stateroom has its own bathroom with tub and/or shower bath and toilet plus ultra modern air conditioned ventilation with individual thermostatic control to be regulated according to each passenger's comfort.'

The suites are described as: 'Spacious rooms, rich furnishings, and unusual facilities for passenger comfort aboard the liner characterize the handsome suites on the Upper and Main Decks. They consist of large living rooms joined with generous sized bedrooms. Each Suite also includes two or three full baths and trunk room, with 'climate control' air conditioning in every room. The passenger also has the added luxury of piped in music either from the ship's orchestra or from records by simply pressing a button.'

The First Class cabin spaces on Upper and Main decks are a natural to restore for an onboard hotel operation. While the interiors of the ship were auctioned off several years ago and some consider this a 'blank state', one must remember that the appeal of a hotel on the ship will be the desire of guests to experience the amenities of a classic ocean liner. This means not only staying in a cabin, but also hotel guests having access to original lounges, a swimming pool, gymnasium, etc. This oversight is sorely missing from the Queen Mary today. Most of the first class staterooms were a very good size and can be restored to their original dimensions since the 'scars' on the deck still mark where the partitions were removed and the linoleum flooring survives in many areas of the ship. A decor evocative of the original design mixed with modern luxuries is easily achievable. The result would be a unique, upscale hotel.

Cabin Class Staterooms- The promotional brochures describe the accommodations: 'Spacious staterooms with all the comforts and looks of home. Matching bedspreads and curtains are fire-resistant as well as attractive. As in the entire ship, all furnishings are fireproof or fire-resisting. Every stateroom has its own private shower and toilet. Beds have deep innerspring mattresses and individual bed lamps. You'll rest assured in every way-for, before you even unpack, you'll sense the complete contentment that makes a voyage on the S.S. United States so memorable.'

The stateroom areas of Cabin Class on the upper decks should be added to an onboard hotel to take advantage of the private shipboard amenities at the back of the ship (lounges, pool, gymnasium, etc.). The Cabin Class staterooms themselves would likely be seen as too small for an upscale hotel, however, First Class sized staterooms can be created out of them by combining the space of two or three Cabin Class rooms (see deck plans). As a nod to their Cabin Class origin, the bathrooms in the original Cabin Class areas can be equipped with a shower only with tubs remaining exclusive to the First Class areas.

Cabin Class Library & Writing Room- This was a small, cozy room at the back of Upper Deck where passengers in Cabin Class could read a book from the well stocked library or write correspondence in an intimate, quiet atmosphere.

This room is perfect in size and function by design to be restored and adapted as a business center for an onboard hotel operation. The photo below shows how the room restored to its original decor and furnished with computers might function as a nice, quiet room for hotels guests to catch up on emails for business or pleasure.

Cabin Class Playroom- Promotional materials describe the playrooms: 'A private world for youngsters. Designed by a child psychologist, each playroom has child-size furniture, lavatory facilities, and a drinking fountain. Color schemes are cheerful and bright.'

Since kids and teens with their families would be a fact of life on the ship in port, as it was at sea, they should also enjoy a taste of the original shipboard amenities. While the original playrooms were supervised and mainly for younger children, the Cabin Class playroom could be restored and adapted for modern use as a game room for kids and teens to enjoy. The decor of the room can be restored as it was while incorporating modern video game stations (NOT the huge arcade machines). Holland America Line does this very well on their ships today.

Cabin Class Lounge- Promotional brochures describe the room: 'The Lounge, with covered decks bordering two sides is a spacious, cheerful room that encourages recreation or quiet relaxation. Attractive chairs, sofas, and modern damask curtains give it a living room look. Thick carpet covers the floor which has a stage at one end. A dramatic mural of the Mississippi River and its tributaries is highlighted by indirect lighting. A large central section converts to a dance floor for evening dancing to the rhythms of a Meyer Davis orchestra.'

Recreating the shipboard experience that passengers knew when the great ships were at sea should be the goal of a hotel operation aboard the S.S. United States. The Cabin Class public rooms and amenities at the back of the ship are perfectly sited to do that. The Cabin Lounge on aft Upper Deck could be the hub of the hotel guest public spaces. Together with a business center in the former library and writing room, as well as a kids game room in the former playroom, Upper Deck alone would be a great start to recreating the passenger experience. The lounge itself can once again be used as a social gathering place, a venue for showing nightly films, and an organized indoor activities program. This room could also be available to hotel guests to rent as a venue for weddings and receptions where drinks and tray foods are served (it would remain a public lounge when not in this use). Reception and banqueting use should only apply to rooms associated with hotel and NOT every public room on the entire ship.

Cabin Class Aft Deck- This outdoor deck was a private area reserved for Cabin Class. It is well positioned to be a private deck for hotel guest use once refurnished with deck chairs. Considering the fact that this deck can support the weight of the ship’s propellers, perhaps it might one day support a hot tub or two for hotel guests in this very private area of the ship.