Cruise Talk: Evolution of the "Birdcage" funnel

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Evolution of the "Birdcage" funnel

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Topic: Evolution of the "Birdcage" funnel

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 11-21-2010 11:35 PM

It seems like virtually every new ship now has a "birdcage" funnel casing. By this I mean a funnel that is not a solid structure but comprised of tubes/slats or a design that allows air and wind to pass through the structure--thus reducing the ship's exposure to the wind.

But when did this design become so popular? I looking for help tracing the beginning and evolution of this funnel design.

My memory begins with the Italian Line ship Michelangelo...her two caged funnels were very odd and stylish for 1965. But that ship really didn't start a trend. I can't think of another ship with a birdcage funnel design for many years.

Next in my memory is Celebrity Cruises' 1990 Horizon. Her funnel incorporated the lines' logo "X" with the horizontal lines of the birdcage funnel matching the horizontal lines of the logo.

Then came Sun Princess (1995) which kicked off Princess Cruises' birdcage funnels that we still see on their newbuilds today.

We now see birdcages funnels on many, many ships including Oasis/Allure, MSC newbuilds, The World, Azura/Ventura, all NCL ships since Nor. Star, and more.

And there are many other ships with at least partial birdcage funnels like the Solstice class:

HAL's Vista-class:

And RCI's Radiance class:

Thankfully there are some lines that still have the classic solid funnel casing.

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

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 11-21-2010 11:38 PM

Here are the three ugliest birdcages IMO:

Coral/Island Princess:

The World:

Azura/Ventura:

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

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 11-21-2010 11:41 PM

Finally, Horizon's funnel today...not nearly as attractive. But can anyone think of a modern cruise ship before Horizon (1990) with a true birdcage funnel design? Was she really the first?

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

cruiser98
First Class Passenger
Member # 41863

posted 11-21-2010 11:55 PM

Another 'birdcage' funnel on SuperStar Virgo and Norwegian Spirit.

Norwegian Spirit

[ 11-22-2010: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Posts: 11 | From: Singapore, Singapore | Registered: Nov 2010 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 11-22-2010 07:44 AM

I would suggest after MICHELANGELO and RAFFAELLO of 1965, came in 1968-69 with German-Atlantic Line's HAMBURG.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 11-22-2010 09:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by NAL:
I would suggest after MICHELANGELO and RAFFAELLO of 1965, came in 1968-69 with German-Atlantic Line's HAMBURG.

I do not agree with that since Hamburg's funnel is based on a different 'principle' (of course, Michelangelo and Raffaelo's funnel are also slightly different to contemporary 'cage' funnels).

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 11-22-2010 11:27 AM

I'm not asking you to agree with me on Hamburg's funnel. It's my opinion and you're free to disagree.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 11-22-2010 11:31 AM

quote:
Originally posted by NAL:
I'm not asking you to agree with me on Hamburg's funnel. It's my opinion and you're free to disagree.

Well, but Hamburg had no 'cage funnel'. This is simply a different (technical) approach and that's not a matter of opinion.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 11-22-2010 11:40 AM

One of my (few) favorite birdcage funnels...MSC Fantasia/Splendida:

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

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 11-22-2010 01:53 PM

How about SONG OF AMERICA?

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

linerguy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4289

posted 11-22-2010 03:15 PM

The 'birdcage funnel' design dates back way before the Michelangelo and Raffaello....all the way back to early Dreadnought designs.

-Russ

Posts: 1486 | From: Bright, Indiana | Registered: Dec 2003 | IP: Logged

Magic Pipe
First Class Passenger
Member # 6994

posted 11-22-2010 06:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by linerguy:
The 'birdcage funnel' design dates back way before the Michelangelo and Raffaello....all the way back to early Dreadnought designs.
-Russ

That's actually a mast - not a funnel.

Posts: 213 | From: NYC | Registered: Jul 2006 | IP: Logged

GregD
First Class Passenger
Member # 4176

posted 11-22-2010 08:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Fairsky:
One of my (few) favorite birdcage funnels...MSC Fantasia/Splendida:

Im my opinion, the MSC fleet are just some of my favorite mega ships, exterior wise!

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

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 11-22-2010 08:46 PM

What about Angelina Lauro's funnel...
same design vintage as Michelangelo

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 11-23-2010 02:24 AM

Bird Cage? I thought the Michelangelo/Raffaello funnels were upside down waste-paper baskets.

I recently read on some website (can't remember which one though) that Cantieri Riuniti originally designed those bird cage funnels for Galileo Galillei and Guglielmo Marconi but Lloyd Triestino rejected the design. OTOH, Italia liked them so the design was used on Mike and Ralph.

Since I read it on the web, one really should treat the claim with some degree of scepticism. Heck, I even found a huge faux pas on the Italia Maritimi (formerly Lloyd Triestino) web site the other day. In its history section it has a photo which they identify as being of the Victoria of 1953. It's actually a photo of Europa with the name blanked out.

Brian

[ 11-23-2010: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

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