Erinus,
The room you're describing is not part of the lift system but more like the central command area.
There are 4 lifts around the central Well. If you picture the Well as an ellipse, the lifts are grouped in pairs across from each other along the longer sides of the ellipse.
Those navigation arrows can be a bit fussy. You need to be positioned exactly to turn toward each elevator. The elevator you need is one of the two opposite the Pellerator (which you can't use yet). As you exit the Embarkation Lobby, step forward, turn left, then head around the well to the left. Lift 2 will be the first one on your right and the second will be Lift 1, the one you need. Your PET will tell you what lift you are facing. Use your Remote Thingummy to call the lift (highlight lift & click call). You can use Chat-o-Matic to tell the Liftbot your floor.
Lady K.