I ask this because the new ships being built by Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and even NCL are offering things Princess is not. As far as technology Princess is the only line NOT opting to use podded proplusion. Princess ships do not have large atriums or public areas. They offer no rooms with great views of the sea (apart from the disco on Grand Princess). They only thing they seem to have in common with other lines are the high number of balconies.

I would have though we could regard the Grand and Golden princess as state-of-the-art ships, if only for there size! However, I agree that they were quickly eclipsed by the RCI newbuilds.

Maybe Princess are aware that giant Atriums (a waste of space?) podded propulsion (un-tested/unreliable?) exciting public areas (tasteless aircraft hangers?) do not impress everyone?

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Originally posted by skyej:
...while nice ships they are very closed in- and isolated from the sea...

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Originally posted by Fanatic:
I have never been a fan of this new explosion of balconies........
From an outside appearance, they make the newbuildings look like blocks of Stalinist flats. They have destroyed the "community" of departure. Whereas passengers use to line the rails of the promenades, an impressive experience........ Besides, when it's damp and windy,(balconies) they are useless anyway.

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Haveagoodday

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Originally posted by Malcolm:
......
I would have thought that a balcony on a transatlantic crossing would be about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike?

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Originally posted by Ceefa's Mate:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Malcolm:
[qb]Dont knock it until you've tried it Malcolm!

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Originally posted by gohaze:
Malcolm...you're not totally wrong.

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Oh well, I'm just a bit wrong!

I'm confused now? What routes is the QM2 likely to take if she is employed on the Southampton to New York run?

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Originally posted by LBL:
Personally, I like the Princess ships. I prefer small ships and we aren't likely to see any new ones. Princess tries to keep the feel of a smaller ship even with the bigger size. To me a cruise is a relaxing and pampered vacation so I want to be on a ship that reflects it.

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Its always the cold/foggy one for the QE2 i'm afraid!

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Originally posted by Malcolm:
What routes is the QM2 likely to take if she is employed on the Southampton to New York run?

[ 06-11-2001: Message edited by: Malcolm ]

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Originally posted by Fanatic:
I have never been a fan of this new explosion of balconies........
From an outside appearance, they make the
newbuildings look like blocks of Stalinist flats.
They have destroyed the "community" of
departure. Whereas passengers use to line the rails of the promenades, an impressive
experience........ Besides, when it's damp and
windy,(balconies) they are useless anyway.

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Fanatic, right on target with that, and thulewx adds another interesting point. It's rather depressing to think that people don't turn out for this anymore. I think maybe because security has become as major an issue as it has, and I suspect that this is particularly true here in the States, that people don't simply go to watch their friends and loved ones depart on an ocean voyage anymore because they're probably booked on the ship with them! It's the only way to have a real Bon Voyage party; take your friends with you.

Another possibility is that with the advance of technology, the likelihood of a sea disaster has diminished somewhat (not gone away entirely, unfortunately), and so maybe there's not as much of an association with one's last appearance on earth as there was back in the days of the transatlantics. So people don't feel that they need to be there.

And then of course, there's just plain apathy.

Malcolm, interesting line of thought regarding the possibility that Princess may be better in tune with those of us who find that state-of-the-art may be no more than blowing smoke after all. I'd like to think that's the case. Certainly, advancing technology has its points, but in the words of an internet acquaintance regarding a similar subject, where is the sound engineering reason for something like a giant atrium? There's no reason for four funnels today, and sure enough, there aren't any four-funnel vessels anymore.

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Originally posted by Malcolm:
Skej, a very Interesting question!

I would have though we could regard the Grand and Golden princess as state-of-the-art ships, if only for there size! However, I agree that they were quickly eclipsed by the RCI newbuilds.

Maybe Princess are aware that giant Atriums (a waste of space?) podded propulsion (un-tested/unreliable?) exciting public areas (tasteless aircraft hangers?) do not impress everyone?

Or am I talking rubbish again? Comments please!

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Originally posted by Fanatic:
Yup, it's true that the QE2's summer crossing route is rather cold and windy. As a matter of fact, it's very windy because of her high speed when crossing. When standing aft on the upper-most sundeck, it's like a hurricane. I remember only one day when it was actually tolerably warm enough on one crossing when passengers were able to use the very aft outdoor swimming pool, but you still had to make sure to sit within the protection of the wind screens. On the other hand, if the sun is at least out, it's quite refreshing to take a jaunt along the promenade of the boat deck. Just make sure you don't mind having your hair mussed-up a bit.

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