Cruise Talk: Skywalkers removal from Grand Princess

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Skywalkers removal from Grand Princess

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Topic: Skywalkers removal from Grand Princess

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 12-08-2010 08:45 AM

I had confirmed that the engineering is all done to remove the often referred to "shopping cart handle" bar from Grand Princess during her April refit. The decision to go ahead still not confirmed to the crew, but plans are all ready. There are a few structural issues, but the main reasn for the removal comes from the Classification Society. Does anyone know the facts?
I'll try and find out more during the remaining 12 days of the voyage.
grant

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

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 12-08-2010 10:24 AM

There had been rumors for a long time of structural concerns of these appendages.

Posts: 757 | From: New York | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged

LaLa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5684

posted 12-08-2010 10:50 AM

that's a shame.. i always liked it there.. even though it does look silly.. i think it would look even more silly anywhere else.. is this going to happen to Golden/Star/Caribbean??

Posts: 132 | From: Delaware | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 12-08-2010 10:54 AM

I'm not surprised. To be honest, the feature was never really that impressive to begin with. It seemed like a gimmick for marketing purposes.

As a lounge it was small and unwelcoming during the day. The views were not great. I prefer observation rooms with high ceilings and tall windows...like RCI's newer Viking Crown Lounges, and the foward lounges on NCL and Celebrity ships.

Finally, Skywalkers blocked almost all sunlight from the aft decks and pool. This is why the lounge was moved on the later grand-class ships.

I only wonder what Grand will do for a nightclub. Will they insert a new skywalkers at the base of the funnel like on Diamond/Sapphire/Ventura/Azura? If done poorly it could really look bad.

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

Tom Burke
First Class Passenger
Member # 5238

posted 12-08-2010 12:20 PM

quote:
Finally, Skywalkers blocked almost all sunlight from the aft decks and pool.

This point has in fact persuaded us against looking at otherwise-tempting cruises n Grand Princess out of Southampton this year and next. On Ventura the Terrace is our favourite outside spot, and we definitely wouldn't want to have it shaded by some other structure.

I'll be interested to see if they go ahead with this, and if so, what they do in its place.

Posts: 1469 | From: Sheffield, UK | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Teva
First Class Passenger
Member # 5327

posted 12-08-2010 02:14 PM

When I first saw the Grand Princess reported on
TV news I thought "what an odd looking ship,and
what IS that thing on the rear end?"...

But having studied the design philosophy behind
the ship (a modern representation of a Spanish
Galleon)..it grew on me & now I really love the
Grand Class design...not any of the derivatives
but the first 3 Grand,Golden,Sun...

To have her lose one of the most interesting &
talked about features will be kind of sad..but if
it's deemed necessary then that's the way it's
got to be...Ships are almost like living beings
they change..evolve..age...just like we do..

I wonder where a new club will be built & how
much will Grand Princess's profile change as a
result..

Teva

Posts: 78 | From: Sydney,Australia | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 12-08-2010 10:51 PM

Seems disappointing if it is removed and all the more reason for me not to book on it.

The room is a good night club and in a good location.

If it goes will it be put in the position of the other newer Grand class ships.

Looks wise I always thought it looked alright.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 12-09-2010 12:42 AM

All I can think of when I see the 'shopping cart' type of structure is hearing: "Clean up on Aisle 7."

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

LaLa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5684

posted 12-09-2010 12:51 PM

now that i think of it... maybe they meant.. a redesign of the nightclub and a renaming..

Posts: 132 | From: Delaware | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

P&OOfficer
First Class Passenger
Member # 5124

posted 12-09-2010 03:24 PM

I think the fact that they block the sun out isn't such a bad thing.

Ships like Caribbean, without the covered pool, it gives some people the option to sit out of the sun.

Over all, I think it's a shame. Even though most people don't like it, at least they have an opinion, which is more than can be said of a lot of ships.

Posts: 122 | From: SE England | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 12-09-2010 03:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by P&OOfficer:
[...]
Over all, I think it's a shame. Even though most people don't like it, at least they have an opinion, which is more than can be said of a lot of ships.

Exactly.

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

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 12-09-2010 09:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DAMBROSI2:
All I can think of when I see the 'shopping cart' type of structure is hearing: "Clean up on Aisle 7."

Does she also have one of those wonky wheels like a cart that only goes to the left? (sorry port). Maybe for a new activity Princess can start turkey bowling onboard .... you know that that is it is where the supermarket clerks use the frozen turkey to slide down the aisles to knock down soda bottles ....

Posts: 757 | From: New York | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 12-09-2010 09:45 PM

Shade is a good thing and even I dont like beng in the blazing sun all day long on a ship. Being in the shade in a pool can be quite relaxing.

So if Grand Princess loses it then that would still leave Star Princess and Golden Princess with it for some time before they go into refit.

I think its a unique feature on a ship that no other cruise line has and its something they should keep.

The original Grand class ships are the only good new ships Princess has worth sailing on. I intend to keep well away from the oversized ones.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 12-10-2010 01:18 AM

There were structural issues with it almost from day 1 with cracks etc in the main support struts although one assumes these had been addressed.

It is a great space but little used during the day mainly due to its space theme decor (which doesn't work in the daylight) and that there is no bar etc open.

If they do move it they should find it relatively easy to build it around the current lift lobby at the bottom of the skywalk.

They might then also decide to remove the gaming centre and replace it with a new restaurant ?

The Grand has still not had the additional cabins/suites added and the move of the casino etc that Golden and Star have already had I think ?

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 12-10-2010 09:11 AM

quote:
SSTraveler: Does she also have one of those wonky wheels like a cart that only goes to the left? (sorry port). Maybe for a new activity Princess can start turkey bowling onboard .... you know that that is it is where the supermarket clerks use the frozen turkey to slide down the aisles to knock down soda bottles ....

LOL LOL, now that's comedy.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 12-10-2010 09:16 AM

quote:
Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:

Does she also have one of those wonky wheels like a cart that only goes to the left? (sorry port). [...]

That's actually her sister. Lesson learned: One needs a proper handle to safely steer a shopping cart.

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

GregD
First Class Passenger
Member # 4176

posted 12-10-2010 08:30 PM

I swear that I am the only one that isnt appalled by the design of Skywalkers. And I've seen her in person too and kinda like it.

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

DEIx15x8
First Class Passenger
Member # 14958

posted 12-11-2010 03:11 PM

The Oasis and Allure have a similar structure with the way the sports deck is built over the gap of the Boardwalk at the very aft of the ship. Any chance they could run into similar issues later on?

Posts: 521 | From: Kutztown, PA | Registered: Apr 2008 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-11-2010 06:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by GregD:
I swear that I am the only one that isnt appalled by the design of Skywalkers. And I've seen her in person too and kinda like it.

I liked it too. It's unique, but I was surprised how small it was on the inside.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Tom Burke
First Class Passenger
Member # 5238

posted 12-12-2010 06:49 AM

How does the 'trolley-handle' Skywalkers compare with the venue on the later ships? I'm familiar with the relevant space on Ventura, and found it to be a welcoming and 'buzzy' place in the evening, especially the later evening. (Not good during the day, however; pretty obviously a closed night-club...). But I don't really know how this compares with the original Skywalkers, nor in fact how Ventura's Metropolis compares with the same space on the later Grand-class ships.

Posts: 1469 | From: Sheffield, UK | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 12-12-2010 06:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
The Oasis and Allure have a similar structure with the way the sports deck is built over the gap of the Boardwalk at the very aft of the ship. Any chance they could run into similar issues later on?

My bet is the structures on the OASIS/ALLURE are better supported since they are merely overhangs. They have more lateral support from the superstructure on both sides than GRAND PRINCESS (and her sisters that sports the trolley design), which are merely supported from a pole on each end.

I hope they relocate Skywalkers. I was on the CROWN PRINCESS a few years ago, and enjoyed that spot. Not a bad spot to enjoy a late afternoon departure, and watch the wake during days at sea!

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 02-10-2011 06:37 PM

why did it take them so long to let all of us know!!!
grant

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

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