| Above: A delightfully posed Sealink publicity picture in the VSOE (Orient Express) Lounge aboard the Hengist or Horsa in the late 1980s. |
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| THE FORWARD (LATER VSOE) LOUNGE © matt@hhvferry.com |
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| As built, the forward lounge on B Deck had no bar, and was fitted with rows and rows of fixed seating. Originally available for all passengers, the 234-seat space (the largest on board) was later to become the designated Motorists' Lounge. With the resurrection of the Venice Simplon Orient Express luxury train in May 1982, Folkestone-Boulogne was the cross-channel route that linked the UK leg from Victoria to the continental section from Boulogne's Gare Maritime. For the crossings when the train was in operation, the forward lounge, still in its original layout, was reserved for the VSOE passengers. With the acquisition of Sealink in July 1984 by Sea Containers Limited, the ferry company fell into the hands of the same owners as the train, and in the major 1986 refit the forward lounge was fitted out in the style of the train itself, a new bar counter also appearing at the aft end. When the train was not running, the lounge was available, as before, for the use of motorists and their passengers. |
| Top: Looking aft in the Orient Express Lounge, just after the 1986 refit, showing the new bar servery and the extensive wooden panelling fitted throughout. |
| Below: A tatty image, but one showing the forward end of the VSOE lounge, where blue seating was located beneath a series of display cabinets advertising duty free goods. In the original configuration, there had been windows overlooking the bows here although in practice, these appear to have spent the majority of time obscured by permanent heavy-weather covers. |
| Below: At some stage after the move to Greece, the VSOE lounge was comprehensively refurbished, although this appears to have only occurred in fairly recent years. This is the view aboard Panagia Ekatontapiliani in July 2003, looking aft to the bar servery. The VSOE seating has been entirely removed, replaced by free-standing chairs and new frosted glass-topped circular tables. The ceiling woodwork however remains from the previous arrangement, whilst the red Everest signage has merely been added on top of the VSOE panelling. |
| Below: A view looking forward - the display cabinets have now disappeared from this end of the lounge, and the windows have been reinstated via circular portholes, although they remain stubbornly covered by their steel shutters on the outside. |
| Below: This view, looking forward on the starboard side, shows the true extent of the remaining wooden panelling. The small watercolour prints are also relics from the Sealink days. |
| Below: More incongruous, these small VSOE wall lanterns also remain, now somewhat out of place. |
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