'Original' Crystal Bar design

[Michael Gallagher]

The original plans for the new Crystal Bar (1994 'Project Lifestyle') had a raised section in the centre of the room (seen in this impression) but cost cutting deleted this section...

[Chris]

The Crystal Bar was my favourite aboard QE2. Always enjoyed the evening drinks there by the huge windows.


Michael why did they never revert to a forward observation bar? Surely they could have rearranged the galley to somehow release the space?

[Michael Gallagher]

I have no definitive proof of this, and I have asked a few former Masters, but I think it was realised QE2 probably shouldn't have had large windows at that level / height looking forward as they originally did in the Observation Bar. So a Bar / lounge could have been reinstated but the windows would have been much smaller and that defeats the whole point of an Observation Bar.

I have also come to the conclusion, again with no definitive proof, that the block extension helped strengthen the whole front superstructure.

[Rob Lightbody]

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I have also come to the conclusion, again with no definitive proof, that the block extension helped strengthen the whole front superstructure.

Yes!  I've been saying that for ages. Given how the Superstructure was elsewhere, and some of the waves are encountered!  It's a massive structure, I spent quite a while nosing around it in Dubai, inside and out

[Chris]

Very interesting. The block suited her but she also looked so elegant and streamlined without it.

[Mike Mason (Mick)]

Never heard the forward upper deck extension called the Block before I find it quite amusing, then looking at it that's what it was. Housed the quarter deck upper deck stairwell, a couple of Skillets and some other kit, for the Britannia Service kitchen.