Cruise Talk: Diamond Princess photo

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Topic: Diamond Princess photo

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 06-11-2002 03:08 PM

Here is a picture of the Diamond Princess being floated out of the Mitsubishi shipyard in Japan. She looks nearly identical to the Grand/Golden/Star Princess BUT notice the funnel with the two tubes where the gas turbines are located- and the skywalker disco is lowered to the aft base of the funnel.

Click for larger version

Another view of the ship - builder's model...

[ 06-11-2002: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Darrell
First Class Passenger
Member # 113

posted 06-11-2002 04:25 PM

Ok, What are those things that look like 1970's jet engines off a 737-200? They're up by the funnel, just weird looking.

Darrell

Posts: 78 | From: Washington, DC, USA | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 06-11-2002 04:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Darrell:
Ok, What are those things that look like 1970's jet engines off a 737-200? They're up by the funnel, just weird looking.

Hahaha... You're right, that's what they look like... Old JT8Ds...

I am under the impression that they are there simply for purposes of decoration. Coral has them too. When I first showed my father a drawing of this ship, and I explained Skywalkers (he calls it the 'handle' and says Grand looks like a shopping cart) wasn't there because of the gas turbine in the funnel, he thought that those were the turbines! But, alas, no...

Happy Cruising,
Cruiseny

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Zero Signal
First Class Passenger
Member # 2151

posted 06-11-2002 11:42 PM

After viewing those photos I've come to the conclusion that Pricess has perfected the art of making ugly ships.

Posts: 30 | From: Canada | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Michael534
First Class Passenger
Member # 2953

posted 06-12-2002 12:11 AM

Well, as far as I know, those ARE the gas turbines that you see on the funnel. What I can't remember is what exactly they do!? Can you clue me in?

Cruiseny, thank your father for the laugh. I see what he means about the shopping cart. He must have a great sense of humor.

Smooth seas,
Michael534

Posts: 483 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

RuthPerk
First Class Passenger
Member # 1609

posted 06-12-2002 08:53 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Zero Signal:
After viewing those photos I've come to the conclusion that Pricess has perfected the art of making ugly ships.

I agree completely! Before they started using shopping carts for their design, they were nice looking ships.

Posts: 329 | From: Victor, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 06-12-2002 09:38 AM

those jet engine-looking things on the funnel are indeed gas turbine engines- HOWEVER they do not function like jet engines. They do not actually push the ship. The turbines are used to generate electricity which is used to operate the motors that turn the screws. The placement of the turbines in the funnel was chosen to save space in the hull for more cabins and public spaces. It also saves the hassel of running more exhaust pipes through the ship. Sitting atop the funnel the turbines can expell their exhaust directly behind the ship (which explains why Skywalkers disco had to be lowered).

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 06-12-2002 10:39 AM

Hello,

Oh, those things are the turbines themselves? I was under the impression that they were hidden within the funnel housing, as they will be on QM2.

So I guess that is why they look like old airplane engines!

Regardless, I think that this new - uh, floating thing - hard to say ship - is extraordinarily ugly. I was blown over by her external ugliness when I first saw Grand, but this - whew! I'll say they've perfected that art!

Happy Cruising,
Cruiseny

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

recab
First Class Passenger
Member # 1677

posted 06-12-2002 12:50 PM

Hi cruiseny,
I think you are right about the turbines being hidden within the funnel housing.

Posts: 730 | From: Aland, Finland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Britanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 2912

posted 06-12-2002 02:26 PM

I think it was mentioned in a previous thread that those jet engines are purely decorative, the turbines are housed in a sound-proof room at the base of the funnel. Of course, that would put Skywalkers right next to the turbines which it was lowered to avoid, so maybe those jet-like things are turbines? Well, I'm confused. Let's just say this is one ugly ship and leave it at that.

Posts: 944 | From: Philadelphia, USA- former home of International Merchantile and Marine Co. | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 06-12-2002 03:43 PM

I really do not think the turbines are inside the funnel- they are located inside those silly tubes atop the funnel. here is why.

1. All the new princess ships with gas turbines have those pontoons on the funnel (coral, island, diamond, and sapphire princess)

2. There would be no reason for lowering Skywalkers disco if those tubes are merely decorative- but if they do have the turbines with exhaust coming out the aft- skywalkers would have to be lowered.

3. Those funnel tubes are so incredibly ugly they must serve a function- no one would put them there just for beauty's sake.

By the way- I think these new Princess funnel designs rank right up there with the World of Residensea as the ugliest funnels afloat. I had so wished that Princess would return to an elegant funnel design with their new ships- a funnel like Royal Princess's. So sleek, clean, unique, and beautiful. Instead we get these nasty industrial looking boxes with cigars on top.

[ 06-12-2002: Message edited by: skyej ]

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Britanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 2912

posted 06-12-2002 10:24 PM

Princess should just give up on funnels altogether, a simple exhaust pipe (a la Rotterdam, Brasil, & Argentina) would be better than that monstrosity!

Posts: 944 | From: Philadelphia, USA- former home of International Merchantile and Marine Co. | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 06-13-2002 12:06 AM

It would be interesting to know if the piece on the leading edge of the funnel is just an air intake for the turbine, with the actual turbine located in the funnel housing. If that was the case the aft end of the "tube" like structure could be the exhaust of the turbine. To put it in aeronautical terms, is the "tube" like the engine in the tail of a DC10/MD11, or, is it like the air intake for the jet engine like what we see with the 727 and L1011, which had the actual engine in the centre line of the fuselage rather than up in the tail assembley.
While I have not cruised aboard a turbine powered vessel yet, I have been up close when they have sailed past. There is a very noticable whine and hum coming from the ship; rather annoying I would think if you were soaking up the rays on an otherwise quiet deck!

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 06-13-2002 10:10 AM

If I recall correctly, the new Princess ships will use diesel power for most cruising, and will only employ the gas turbines when extra power is needed, or when cruising in environmentally sensitive areas (aka- Alaska). That explains why Princess is moving their non-gas turbine ships to the Caribbean and Europe, and placing Diamond, Sapphire, Coral, and Island in Alaska.

So, most passengers will not be effected by the gas turbine engine noise. But the placement of the turbines high above the funnel and sun deck makes sense if the engines are loud. Locating them inside the funnel, lower and closer to passengers on deck, would increase the noise and vibration felt by passengers- not a good idea if they are trying to enjoy the scenery of the inside passage or glacier bay.

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 06-13-2002 11:33 AM

Sailing on the Millenium, I never noticed the Turbine noise. There was vibration, but that was either from the Pods or the hull design, not the Turbines. The engines were utterly smooth. I too think that the Princess Funnels are so unattractive that they must be functional. All in all these new Princess designs are exceedingly unattractive.

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

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