Designing Cruise Ship's Interior
Although we often overlook interior design as mere aesthetics (what looks good and what doesn't), there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than we may imagine. Interior design improves our attitude and well-being. For example, it is doubtful that we will thrive psychologically and mentally if we live in a setting with dark walls, no light, and little fresh air. Cruise ship interiors are not immune from these principles too.
Designers' primary objective is to ensure that the cruise ship's furnishings positively contribute to each guest's mood and enhances their experience. When someone walks into a restaurant, we might want them to feel hungry. Or a person walks into a spa and wants them to feel relaxed. However, how may these feelings be expressed through interior design? A designer can manipulate the space to the needs of the guest.
The design must have a good balance, proportion, symmetry, and rhythm. Once achieved, it can boost the harmony of the space and can help to improve the emotional quality of an interior. The designer accomplished it by unifying space, color, light, and texture to work together. However, each element has a different effect on the visitor's attitude.
We know that there is a finite space inside the cruise ship and with growing numbers of guests. Designers must maximize sections inside the cruise ship while keeping a delicate balance and connection between each thing shown. Due to limited space, we can easily overcrowd it with too much furniture or an abundance of objects. It might make guests feel hemmed. The designer must ensure that the places don't feel opulent, especially considering the growing trend toward interiors that feel like a home away from home.
Designers also play with colors to achieve the projected feel and ambiance of the space. They must carefully choose the color palettes in consultation with the cruise company or shipowner. Colors can make or break a passenger experience. Aside from colors, light is also a key element to achieve a cozy space for the guest inside a cruise ship. Often designers favor natural light to boost the feelings of happiness, and it can make it spacious.
With the limited spaces inside a cruise ship, designers play with texture to achieve the ambiance that enables guests to have the best cruise experience. The texture in our environment has the same emotional impact as space and light. Soft and silky textures can promote intimacy and romance, while raw, rugged textures add to the natural-looking of living space. The designer balances the layering of textures to get into the desired ambiance.
The cabin's interior design also boosts the guest experience. Guests have complained about the guest's ship cabin over the years. It is small and dark due to the lack of windows. Designers approach this situation by spreading the lighting source inside it. When a cabin is well-lit, it gives the guest an impression of being home. Hence every cabin can't have windows overlooking at sea; a designer can have windows facing the inside of the cruise ship, looking at the public space inside the cruise ship. The cabin has convertible and foldable furniture that gives the space flexibility. It can be a comfortable daytime area or a relaxing living space at night.
Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas
Photo Credit: Frommers
Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas
The Symphony of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship, which launches in April 2018. It remains at least until the new Oasis-class ship ships hit the shorelines in 2021. It houses a great selection of restaurants, performances, and activities ranging from surf simulator training to plunges down the world's longest dry slide. The cruise ship can accommodate 6,780 guests that can enjoy the long list of amenities and activities like a rock-climbing wall, ice rink, Flow Rider surf simulators, and Aqua Theater performances. Guest can try out 20 dining options that have different cuisines, designed by Michelin-starred chefs.
Although there are enough activities in the public spaces inside the ship, guests may be alluded to by the amenities in their lodging, which includes a ping-pong table, an air hockey table, and a slide. Some suites have a full-size whirlpool hot tub on the balcony with clear views of the sea. Besides, kids can also enjoy the Lego wall, 3F cinema room, and popcorn. The suites have vibrant colors and well-lit. These are key features of the cruise's Ultime Family Suite. The interior design of each suite is to be a space for families to come together during their cruise while having a spacious room to relax and enjoy the amenities.
Inside the Ultimate Family Suite of the Symphony of the Seas
Photo Credit: Roya Caribbean
Inside the Ultimate Family Suite of the Symphony of the Seas
Photo Credit: Roya Caribbean
Inside the Theather of the Symphony of the Seas
Photo Credit: Roya Caribbean
There is a stateroom for those on a budget and will not get the Ultimate Family Suite. The stateroom is tastefully decorated and has soft, comfortable mattresses. The restrooms are economical; hence it crammed in the corner but design to have as much floor space as possible for living. Some staterooms have virtual balconies, which streams live HD visuals of the ship's side. It is a better option if guests don't want an actual ocean-facing room. Besides, there are ocean-facing staterooms with the same design themes.
Harri Kulovaara is a Finnish naval architect specializing in passenger ships and designs cruise ships. It completely reinvents the cruising experience. Kulovaara is most known for building two innovative ferries for Silja Line with 150-metre-long, two-deck promenades with a massive window that lets in natural light while providing a colorful place for people to walk through. One influence from the Silja Line is the boardwalk amusement area. It is an open space with natural light and flanked by two rows of cabins that lead out to two 66-meter slides, Ultimate Abyss.
Inside the stateroom with virtual balcony
Photo Credit: Frommers
Inside the stateroom without virtual balcony
Photo Credit: Frommers
Inside the ocean-facing stateroom
Photo Credit: Frommers
The Ultimate Abyss
Photo Credit: Frommers
Guest can stroll through Symphony of the Seas' Central Park. The walk can feel exactly like going through the green hub of a small town to get a cup of coffee. There are over 12,000 plants to flourish healthily despite the apparent obstacles of keeping them in an optimal condition at sea. The plants' good condition is due to natural light shines in via the ship's split design. Tech lovers will surely hook to the cruise. The cruise has robot bartenders that can give guest drink using a tablet. Makr Shakr developed the Bionic Bar. Aside from bar robots, the ship interior has a total of 13,348 artworks. These artworks are conceptually intriguing and imaginative. It adds to the coziness of the space.
Guest can shop, eat, and stroll at the Royal Promenade, a two-level indoor mall of laidback casual eateries, shops, bars, and a Starbucks in the ship's deep interior. An artwork of artist and Indonesian lecturer Ichwan Noor is on display. He created it out of Volkswagen Beetle components near the bar. The cruise ship has a spa, which has natural wood and pleasant scents. It hosts wellness services to guests. The spa tub is ingeniously designed with novelty tubs to make up for the lack of a giant pool.
A novelty spa tub inside the Vitality spa in Symphony of the Seas
Photo Credit: Frommers
A pool deck in Symphony of the Seas
Photo Credit: Frommers
Royal Promenade
Photo Credit: Frommers
Conclusion
The interiors of cruise ships are designed to improve a guest's mood and well-being. To collaborate, designers must balance space, color, light, and texture. The designer must ensure that the spaces do not feel extravagant, especially with the growing trend toward home-like designs. The interior design of the cabin significantly improves the guest experience. When a room is well-lit, it gives the visitor the sensation that they are at home. The cabin's furniture is convertible and collapsible, giving the area flexibility. It might be a calm living room at night or a comfortable daytime place.
Readings
Stephanie Newton,The Psychology of Cruise Ship Interior Design
Abi McMahon, How interior design can increase the appeal of inside cabins
Jason Cochran, Symphony of the Seas by Royal Caribbean: A Tour (and the Cheapest Cabins)
Oliver Franklin-Wallis, The dizzying story of Symphony of the Seas, the largest and most ambitious cruise ship ever built
Royal Caribbean, Inside Look: The bold new features on board Symphony of the Seas
