Silja Symphony interiors, December 2009-February 2010

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draft 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Silja Symphony and her older sister Silja Serenade were the result of Silja Line's attempt (and a successful one at that) to present something entirely new to the Northern Baltic cruiseferry scheme, in the form of the six-deck high centerline promenade, running through most of the lenght of the ship. The promenade is usually mentioned as a unique, never-before-seen feature, though it must be noted that Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique's ocean liner L'Atlantique from 1931 had a very similar arrangement, albeit only two decks high.

Silja Symphony & Serenade's design team was led by Harri Kulovaara and Kai Levander, with the design of the interior spaces being trusted to Rupert Gardner Design, FFNS Atkitekter, Studio Tomevsk, Leber Plan, Yran & Storbraaten and Vuokko Laakso. During their careers the interiors of both ships have been heavily rebuilt (most recent large-scale changes being carried out in early 2006). I have not been able to discover who were responsible for the current outlook of many of the spaces; only the promenade itself and the Atlantis Palace night club have been mostly unaltered since 1991.

Photographs below are from two cruises I made on the Silja Symphony in December 2009 and February 2010 (precise date appended under each photo). This is not a complete review of the ship's interiors, rather it's just a random selection of photos. Click on the image(s) to view full size.

Club Bali discotheque on the base of the funnel on deck 13, facing port. Photographed 4 December 2009.

Club Bali again, now facing starboard. 4 December 2009.

The funnel photographed frosted in the morning after a cold Februaury crossing. The green sofas of Club Bali are visible though the windows on the base of the funnel. 15 February 2010.

The Promenade facing forward, photographed from deck 12. 5 December 2009.

The forward starboard stair lobby on deck 11 retains the original 1991 carpeting. 5 December 2009.

The bow bar in the Atlantis Palace night club/casino complex, on the fore of deck 8. Although a very pleasant space, it's fairly small considering it's the only forward-facing public space for most of the 2800 passengers carried. 13 February 2010.

The dance floor and terraced seating in the Atlantis Palace. The dance floor can be hydraulically raised for twice-nightly cabaret acts. 13 February 2010.

Atlantis Palace's terraced seating, facing the dance floor. 13 February 2010.

Starboard bar in the Atlantis Palace on deck 8, with a ghost image of the photographer (who couldn't resist some long exposure fiddling) on the left. 13 February 2010.

The casino part of Atlantis Palace, located aft and partially below the night club section on deck 7. 13 February 2010.

And now for something completely different: the winding corridor leading down to the C-class cabins on deck 2. 4 December 2009.