I think it is about time Airtours with the ageing Sundream, NCL with Norwegian Dream, and Thompson with their aging Topaz and Emerald (based in Europe) sent us some newer ships!

If they don’t, they will get left behind.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I think it is about time Airtours with the ageing Sundream, NCL with Norwegian Dream, and Thompson with their aging Topaz and Emerald (based in Europe) sent us some newer ships!

If they don’t, they will get left behind.

Comments please?

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Fine by me, I would love to sail the Topaz again w/o an air add on or jet lag. Bring us the Princessa Victoria too.

The Millenium class ships uglify the cruise terminal and the Hudson River.

Hmm... Malcom, you make it sound like Norwegian Dream is a European ship... Which she is not...

Anyhow, Costa and P&O are European and have fine ships that can hold their own against the American "invaders" and even some of the Festival ships are really very nice, but suffer from the arrogant and outrageous management of their company...

Thomson is upgrading somewhat with the new "Spirit" but that is a far cry from the American competition...

Sundream and Carousel are rather aged and uncompetitive... But Sunbird is a very fine vessel and has lots of life left in her... Really she was the first truly modern cruise ship, the first vessel where the lines really thought about things like passenger flow and design and really put a lot of thought into a ship that worked.

Of course that is because she marked the debut of the absolutely brilliant Njal Eide, who is the father of the modern megaship...

Steve, Harwich would be a very convenient port for me, it's a shame it's not used more. Aren't they refurbishing Mayflower? It's not the smartest of places, but thought they were doing something to it. I've only done a quick walkthrough at the QE2 terminal so never really got to see much of the inside. But Andrews are expensive for parking, even if it's a good and convenient service.

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Originally posted by sread:
I visited Harwich International Port for the first time the other week for the Brilliance -- what a superb port, much better than Southampton.

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Yes Harwich is very convenient for me, too. Regulars will know that I am very fond of Dover. Cruise Terminal One is probably one of the most charming terminals buildings in the world?

The boat train used to run right into the terminal, a decade or so ago. Unfortunately it is now stops at a station which is a bit of a hike. Never the less I probably like Dover better that Southampton.

Being a small Island, the UK has plenty of capacity for big ships. We just need some new terminals. It is nice to see Liverpool, Dublin(Ireland)and Greenock (Scotland)starting to be more regular ports of call again.

I've read about lots of Ideas about using Greenwich and the disused London docks again, as cruise ports.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

I've read about lots of Ideas about using Greenwich and the disused London docks again, as cruise ports.
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I know one of the R ships was laid up there for a while, but not sure if there's still a cruise terminal as such. Leith is also used, and qite a few ships include Falmouth & Plymouth in their itineraries.

Pam

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Originally posted by PamM:
My parents went on a cruise from Tilbury in 1996.

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Tilbury is still a busy cargo terminal and also very popular destination for Aslylum Seekers! I'm not aware that any cruise ships sail from there, these days.

Here in Holland We have several cruise terminals. The Felison Terminal in Ijmuiden is a nice terminal where mostly Cruise Ferry’s depart and now and then a cruise ship, but its clearly a young terminal which is still growing. Then of course PTA in Amsterdam where most of the cruise ships go to. You are actually in the city of Amsterdam which is a plus and PTA organizes events when the cruise season is over. And then there is the cruise terminal in Rotterdam. Once the terminal of the great Holland America Line now it seams they just cant get many cruise ships their just a couple per year. Although I like the city Rotterdam is clearly not a city that speaks to the cruise companies. I did hear that the QM2 in her introduction year will visit Rotterdam but this is because with her length of 345 meters she wont be able to make a 180 degree turn in the city of Amsterdam she would get stuck in the IJ. So this is probably why she will visit Rotterdam. QE2 also wont visit Amsterdam any more the last time was I believe 11 September 2000 because of her draft she could not lay at PTA so she had to lay at the Seres container terminal in the industrial harbor of Amsterdam. When I saw how those poor people had to embark between the containers end had to “enjoy” that “lovely” scenery and “nice” odor of burning rubbish I can surely imagine Cunard is not letting the QE2 go to Amsterdam again. How awful it was for the passengers I had actually a great opportunity to snap some nice pictures of the QE2. Well happily enough there is no bad water between Cunard and Amsterdam because somewhere in December I belief the Caronia is visiting Amsterdam at PTA. And you can guess who is making picture then!!!

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Originally posted by Onno:
I think it’s great to see the giants of the sea coming to Europe, but it’s so darn difficult to get a big ship in one picture frame!

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It's a pitty that the PTA has that big tower-block that dominates the cruise ship photographs.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
It's a pitty that the PTA has that big tower-block that dominates the cruise ship photographs.

I did like the PTA internally.

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Yes you absolutely right Malcolm, the tower block is a big obstacle indeed although now with the greenish windows installed its better and more tranquil then a year ago with the open construction and cranes visible. What I hate most of that building is that it blocks the sun. Now when you make a picture you always have a big black stroke of shadow running over the ships which look very strange on pictures. For a school project I did some studies of what is going to be build around PTA and you wont like it. On the other side of the terminal is also coming a similar tower of the same height which is going to be a hotel and next to that a music hall so gone is the great view from out the whale shaped roof of PTA. On the other side where also the old “pakhuizen” buildings are is going to be a bus terminal. So all the nice open spaces are going to be build on. (I hope many projects get postponed)

As for PTA it surely is a nice and multifunctional building which on its own looks quit nice especially when a cruise ship lays behind it and you can see the ship trough the transparent roof of PTA.

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Originally posted by moodus2:
american invasion! none of the ships you mentioned fly the american flag.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Point taken! However, Celebrity, NCL, Carnival and RCI all offer an American experience, with US dollars being the onboard currency.

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I welcome the new American ships coming to the UK and Europe. In fact I’ve just returned from one.

There was a time that we only got the older/smaller American ships operating from UK ports. I am suggesting that many of the older European based ships can no longer compete with the American ships in terms of facilities and creature comforts.

I'm not talking currency used on board or even in what language the announcements are made.......even the Head Chef does not really set the tone.

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Originally posted by sread:
Eric's right about comedy struggling to cross the Atlantic.

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I don't think so myself, I like British humor. Oh well, that's just me though ...

As for bacon, I only eat it if all of the fat has been burned off. I can't stand any visible fat in meat.

I like ham (or Canadian Bacon - what makes that different from ham?) better than bacon altogether.

I've had both British and American sausages and I don't really know what the difference is? I like sausages in general, but German ones are the best, with some brown mustard and sauerkraut.

I think Americans and British take our fish and chips the same way - but then again I think here in the US this might be a regional thing contained to locations convenient to North Atlantic waters? I mean, I like haddock, in the Pacific Northwest they like salmon which I don't care for. Of course they don't fry it and serve it with french fries/chips (at least I don't think so). And a whole different set of fish in the south. Like the stuff they eat in New Orleans - I hate it myself. But I suppose it is great to the people who are used to everything "blackened"!

The thought that salmon might be so treated makes me cringe - poached or smoked is the only way to treat such a delicacy.

Talking bacon - Americans make it 'finger food' - how crisp is crisp?

Sausages - nothing like a good, cutable beef or pork sausage - mashed potatoes, lots of onions and a couple of rashers of Danish bacon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll take the chips too! Peas? If you insist! Dash of HP on the side, please!

Enough.......... this is a cruise page!

P.S. Locally, my favourite provider of such 'Fish n' Chips' is a little restaurant run by a Korean couple - they do it to perfection!

[ 07-28-2002: Message edited by: Green ]

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Originally posted by Green:
Fish an' Chips - Brit style - means to me Halibut, in a nice batter - nothing else will do! - Cider vinegar and salt! Cod may be a subsitute for some - but not me!

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I thought it was haddock, not halibut. Maybe I've gotten the two confused, both 'h' words, but I think when I was in the UK it was haddock.

How does one eat a sausage that is not cutable? Are you referring to those awful ones that airlines used to give out in what I am sure must have been plastic casings ?