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Topic: Waaay too many huge ships

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 05-08-2000 10:29 AM

Don't all of you think there are
way too many big ships out there
now? Would'nt now be a good time
to say, this is it for about
a good year or 2?

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 05-08-2000 01:15 PM

I agree with you Dambrosi. Look at Hal. They are getting rid of one ship this year and bringing out 2 new ones - Zaandam last week and Amsterdam in the fall. There are about 3-4 new ones on the drawing boards. Where do they think they are going to get the people to fill these huge ships?

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

JDCasey
First Class Passenger
Member # 1065

posted 05-08-2000 01:29 PM

I wouldn't complain to much. I was going to book a cruise for the spring of next year. My travel agent said wait until January or February of '01 because he expects a glut of cabins with all the new ships coming on line. There will, in all probability be deep discounts available on ships over five years old, starting in April of '01 running through December.

Posts: 48 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-08-2000 03:36 PM

I wouldn't think buying stock in a cruise line would be very good right now. I too think there will be a glut of cabins available. Who knows? If the economy stays strong and more and more people start cruising??? I DO think it will mean some good last minute prices! Good for us in the short term, anyway. I just saw a fantastic last minute price on the Mercury to Alaska and another on Princess. Much cheaper than last year.

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-08-2000 06:30 PM

Dambrosi..I think the tide will eventually turn (so to speak)! Ships will not get infinately bigger..I think we might be reaching a limit within the next few years.

I certainly think we will see more adventerous destinations. For example, Antartica may become as popular as Alaska! The trend for faster ships will mean more varried ports of call.

In the future we may see a return to smaller ships? However, I think there is some growth left in the market yet!

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 05-08-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 05-08-2000 10:29 PM

I was watching a video about the making of Voyager and the Chief Desingner said that he wanted to add another 30 feet to the hull so it wouldn't look so stocky but couldn't because she wouldn't fit in many ports. So at least for now maybe they won't get any bigger.

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 05-09-2000 01:53 PM

This in today from Ocean Cruise News:
"Why are the cruise lines builing so many ships? Industry executives cite these reasons:
1. Great Potential. Cruising comprises just 2% of the vacation market, while studies indicate strong consumer interest in taking a cruise.
2. Demographics. Baby boomers are now reaching their retirement years and have the money and time to spend on a cruise.
3. Capacity drives demand. Historically, cruise lines have been able to stimulate demand by introducing exciting, new ships. (But not all ships fill at the prices desired.)"

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Joe at PwC
First Class Passenger
Member # 225

posted 05-10-2000 01:22 PM

And unfortunately, industry executives continue to make the possibly incorrect assumption that cruising is for everyone. There are some people who refuse to set foot on a ship, therefore, cruising is not necessarily for everyone.

Be prepared, at the very least, for some bargain-basement deals, because not every huge ship can possibly be filled.

Posts: 385 | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-10-2000 03:10 PM

Joe, the giants such as 'Voyager' and 'Destiny' are the most popular with the masses. They are also the least like 'ships', in a traditional sense. Externally they look like floating tower blocks. Inside they are floating cities with Las Vegas decore and shopping malls. Onboard most mega-vessels it's not even easy to get near to the sea.

Don't get me wrong, they are fantastic vessels - but they are a long way from the original concept of the Ocean Liner.

Most cruise customers are more interested in 'fun' rather than the sea and maritime history. Maybe, in part, these giants do appeal to those who would not dream of setting abroad a ship.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

JoeO
First Class Passenger
Member # 224

posted 05-10-2000 08:23 PM

As I reported in another CRUISETALK subject, there are over 60 Cruise ships to be delivered in the next 5 years. The vast majority of them MEGALINERS. More Voyager Class, more Grand Princess Class, More Milleniums etc. One line has a 150,000 ton ship on the drawing boards.

Obviously, the cruiseing public love them. They love the way they look outside, inside, their facilities, their brass and glitz, etc. That's why they fill them up all the time and couldn't care less that they don't have the "old time look of ocean liners".

The cruise lines will keep on building and building until proven wrong. So far they've been right.

Posts: 93 | From: St Aaugustine, Fl., U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 98 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-11-2000 08:44 AM

Spot on JoeO. If they did not think that they could fill them, they would not build them!

Voyager of the Seas arrives at Miami. (Photo from the RCCL web site)

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

JohnM
First Class Passenger
Member # 1246

posted 05-11-2000 12:04 PM

As far as cruising is concerned, bigger ships aren't better in my opinion. Newer isn't better either. If you want a fancy hotel, look in the Nevada desert. In the last year I've been on the almost 50 year old Independence and the almost year old Disney Wonder. Guess which one I enjoyed more.

Posts: 40 | From: Georgia, USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-13-2000 08:53 AM

I think many of us ship fantatics would agree with you JohnM.

However, the general public seems to respond most positively to each mega-giant that is launched. Fortunately, the market is diverse enough to sustain the old and the new.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 05-13-2000 10:31 AM

Well, seeing the responses it's pretty mixed out there with everyone. To me, it just seems like
it's getting out of hand. Like a
wildfire, out of control. Sure, it'll be great to see the prices go
down. But some of us out here like
to stick to ships not too much larger than 40,000 tons. If a liner
is too big for my husband to get
around. Then it's too BIG.

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 05-13-2000 12:18 PM

Bigger is better and newer is nicer.

The bigger the ship, the more the options or activities. John M, Disney is for families.
My wife and I wouldn't enjoy that either.

Newer means more amenities, more elevators,
layouts that have been tested and retested.

You know they have to replace the old ships sometime. The market is growing and we don't want to be fighting for rooms on old fourty ton ships do we? I would think everyone would be pleased with the current resurgence
of ship building.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

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