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Topic: First ship w/ floor to ceiling bridge windows?

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 11-18-2010 02:28 PM

Any idea what cruise ship was the first to feature floor to ceiling bridge windows? My quick search found that Sun Princess and Carnival Destiny, both delivered in 1995 by Fincantieri, may be the first. Any earlier ships come to mind?

Sun Princess bridge interior:

Carnival Destiny bridge:

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

nycruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 960

posted 11-18-2010 09:29 PM

Would Carnival's Holiday class count or Celebrity's Horizon? Are these considered floor to celieng?

[ 11-18-2010: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Posts: 665 | From: Westchester County, NY | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

GregD
First Class Passenger
Member # 4176

posted 11-18-2010 10:11 PM

Personally, I wouldn't consider them Floor-Ceiling. Nor would I consider the Tropicale's. Just off the top of my head, the Royal Majesty comes to mind.

Posts: 548 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

Frank X. Prudent
First Class Passenger
Member # 1723

posted 11-19-2010 01:44 AM

The Str. MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, which was designed by James Gardner, had floor to ceiling windows in her pilothouse. As far as I can figure, this was a first on American rivers when she came out in 1976.

Posts: 577 | From: Covington, Kentucky, U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 11-19-2010 03:14 AM

My first instinct was HORIZON but I guess those are not quite floor to ceiling. So I have to go with ROYAL MAJESTY.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 11-19-2010 05:02 AM

Having worked on the Zenith, those bridge windows were not floor to ceiling. Carnival Destiny looks like a winner though.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 11-19-2010 11:25 AM

I think we have a winner!

Royal Majesty (1992) was built with floor to ceiling bridge windows when delivered to Majesty Cruise Line. But she had been originally ordered for Birka Line as the MS Birka Queen. Her original use in the Baltic may explain the bridge design with closed wings and large windows.

Later sold to NCL she became Norwegian Majesty and now sails for Louis as Louis Majesty.

Built in 1992, she predates Carnival Destiny by 3 years. Here are some images of her bridge:

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

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 11-19-2010 11:54 AM

There are plenty of Baltic ferries with floor to ceiling windows long before any cruise ships. Some with just the centre section floor to ceiling and some with split top and bottom windows. The 1989 Viking Line Athena went to Star Cruises for a while, now Pearl of Scandinavia. 1988 the split version.

However the winner could be 1986 Sea Diamond, originally Birka Princess.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

GregD
First Class Passenger
Member # 4176

posted 11-19-2010 04:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PamM:
There are plenty of Baltic ferries with floor to ceiling windows long before any cruise ships. Some with just the centre section floor to ceiling and some with split top and bottom windows. The 1989 Viking Line Athena went to Star Cruises for a while, now Pearl of Scandinavia. 1988 the split version.
However the winner could be 1986 Sea Diamond, originally Birka Princess.
Pam

Pam,
To play devil's advocate here, the sea diamond and Athena had floor to ceiling only on the center-most section of the bridge.
But i do agree with you that the baltic ferries probably are where we will find our answer.
-Greg

Posts: 548 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 11-19-2010 05:16 PM

I can't disagreee with you

Ferries which are still ferries with all floor to ceiling are
1985 Svea and her sister Wellamo. [A 1981 centre section one is Queen of Scandinavia, and her sister].

By 1989/90 it was common place with Cinderella, the Silja Symphony/Serenade duo etc.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

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