{"product_id":"bianca-c-1949-very-large-1959-cruise-brochure-w-deck-plans","title":"BIANCA C: 1949 - Very large 1959 cruise brochure w\/ deck plans","description":"\u003cp\u003eCosta Line - A large, fold-out (32\" by 43\") cruise brochure from October 1959 for the BIANCA C, Costa's ill-fated cruise ship that burned and sank in 1961. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat a gorgeous ship!  The combination of the elaborate French décor from the 1940s and famed Italian designer Nino Zoncada's Italian modern touches worked very well. Half-tone photos show the Sun  Deck Swimming Pool, Ballroom, Winter Garden, Lounge, Jungle Card Room (check out the original Pierre Dunand lacquered panels still in place} , Night Owl Bar, a spacious cabin, and a suite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge plans show five decks in \"let your fingers do the walking\" scale. Notice that besides two suites on Verandah Decks, there are twenty cabins with private outdoor verandahs, that must-have feature popularized three decades later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ship was launched as Messageries Maritimes' LA MARSEILLAISE in 1949 for Far East service.  In 1957 Arosa bought the ship and ran her as their flagship AROSA SKY for a year and a half before the company collapsed.  Costa then bought her, and rebuilt the ship as BIANCA C for Caribbean service in 1959.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn October 22, 1961, the ship caught fire from an engine room explosion while moored off Grenada.  The passengers and crew escaped but the fire raged on for two days since there was no large firefighting equipment on the island.   Finally, a British frigate began towing the sinking ship away from the main harbor.  The convoy progressed only a few miles before the BIANCA C heeled over and sank.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday the ship is a popular scuba site.  The stern has ripped off and the decks have collapsed onto each other, but the starting point for guided dive tours begins at the Sun Deck swimming pool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"N","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52718326874393,"sku":"3129a","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2236\/1411\/files\/3129a.jpg?v=1782154046","url":"https:\/\/nautiques.net\/products\/bianca-c-1949-very-large-1959-cruise-brochure-w-deck-plans","provider":"Nautiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}