The Indoor Swimming Pools (6-deck and 7-deck)

[Rob Lightbody]

127-02w by Captain Martini, on Flickr


221-09w by Captain Martini, on Flickr

[Rod]

The top pic shows the pool after the Golden Door took over and put the gratings on the bottom of the pool so they could do their aerobics, Bottom pic I do not recognize all the fitness equipment but the pool is either being emptied or filled. Optimist or pessimist?

[Rob Lightbody]

Yes QM2 has an indoor  swimming pool, I think it is on deck 12 but would need to check.

Its quite different to the ones on the old liners, though, being up-top and under a glass roof.  As a child, QE2's indoor swimming pool scared me, as I imagined it was just a hole in the bottom of the ship... !

[Alan Snelson]

Before the Golden Door Spa took over the area our darkroom was on six deck at the bottom of F stairwell and right next to the swimming pool. We were usually able to tell what the weather was forecast to be over the next few days by looking at the level of the water. If it was going to be rough they would drain water from the pool, If it was empty hold on tight!!

[Bob C.]

Its quite different to the ones on the old liners, though, being up-top and under a glass roof.  As a child, QE2's indoor swimming pool scared me, as I imagined it was just a hole in the bottom of the ship... !

That's what I meant: in the bowels of the ship.  I think that this sort of pool is as historic as the liners that had them.

[jdl]

Its quite different to the ones on the old liners, though, being up-top and under a glass roof.  As a child, QE2's indoor swimming pool scared me, as I imagined it was just a hole in the bottom of the ship... !

Totally agree Rob, during all 4 of my QE2 trips I only ventured down for a look not a swim - I don't think that the narrow staircase (for the last coupl of decks from memory) helped either!  It was a very hemmed in space

Jdl

[Hank Hargrove]

127-02w by Captain Martini, on Flickr


221-09w by Captain Martini, on Flickr

Thank you for posting the photos of the indoor swimming pools. I've always been interested by indoor swimming pools on old liners. Especially the ones deep down in the ship. I wish we had more options for swimming pools on cruise ships. All of them get crowded on nice days...

[Trevor Harris]

Would have loved to swim in that pool!   

[Chris Thompson]

I also don't think Casinos should have windows. They should be relocated deep down - people who want to gamble will go anywhere to get to them - without windows. Having them in public thoroughfares may attract the odd game machiner but the serious gamblers will go to wherever the casino is.

From the operational side that would be a good idea, on the Midnight Sun cruises you could never get the pax to leave!!!!!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

QE2 at her launch must have been paradise for those who like a dip : two outdoor pools, two indoor pools, plus a sauna and Turkish baths... bliss!

Lynda, in your research on the public rooms, it will be interesting to see how most of them disappeared in the course of the years...

When was the last remaining indoor pool, with its wonderful thalassotherapy, created?

[Malcolm]

The QE2 used sea water in all her swimming pools. The first time I went swimming on land after having been using her pools for a while I was amazed at how much I missed the buoyant effect of the sea water

[Rob Lightbody]

The QE2 used sea water in all her swimming pools. The first time I went swimming on land after having been using her pools for a while I was amazed at how much I missed the buoyant effect of the sea water

As someone who can't swim, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could, in QE2's outdoor pool, due to the extra buoyancy.  That evening in the pool in the med with the rumble of the engines and props below, is one of my favourite memories of my life.  I'd have loved to try the indoor pool, but never did.

[Chris Thompson]

Classic pax comment regarding the pools....."Is that seawater in the pool Mabel ?........Course it is Mildred, there are waves in it!!!!"

[Lynda Bradford]

The Six Deck Pool indoor swimming pool was designed by Jon Bannenberg.  He wanted to avoid the white tiles look that was popular in so many swimming pools.  Instead the pool had Glamorock walls and cantilevered seats.  The red fibreglass changing booths were circular. 

The Seven Deck Pool designed by Dennis Lennon with the aim of giving a sunny atmosphere to the pool area using yellow formica panelling and yellow and white tiles. 

I have attached a copy of the description from the 1969 Press Guide "The New Cunarder Queen Elizabeth 2"

It would be good if we could post some photos from early brochures.

[Lynda Bradford]

I found a picture in the Pride of British Industry booklet (1969) that shows the Jon Bannenberg, Six Deck Pool

You can just see the red pillar at the back of the pictures which is the circular changing rooms and you get an idea of the concept of the pool area,  which would have been very modern in the 1960's.