Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.
>>> Reader Reviews >>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery >>> Join Our Cruise Club.
Latest News...Celebrity Cruises reveals four brand new venues, creating even more ways to restore and explore while on vacation on Celebrity XcelSM. Guests can make the most of every moment on board Celebrity's latest ship with new experiences that make the journey just as exciting as the destination, including an enhanced poolside paradise, an arcade lounge under neon lights, and new spa experiences to unwind...
Latest News...The Norwegian Breakaway and the Norwegian Prima will swap homeports for the 2026-27 winter season, Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement.After announcing the cancellation of over 40 sailings onboard the ships, the company said that the Breakaway will now offer itineraries from New Orleans, while the Prima will sail from Puerto Rico.Due to a fleet redeployment....
Latest News...In honor of America's 250th birthday in 2026, Holland America Line is sailing a landmark cruise roundtrip from Boston — the epicenter of the American Revolution. The seven-day "America's 250th Celebration: Stars & Stripes Voyage" aboard Zuiderdam departs July 4, 2026, and includes a visit to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, an overnight visit to New York City, as well as a special call...
I can remember (im very sure) that while QM2 was on the drawing board , one of the highlighted features was going to be a special viewing Bar on board.This Bar was going to have either a glass wall or glass floor that you could view the engine room in action.Can anyone else remember reading about this?........
Might have proved useful on Aurora, though.....
quote:Meldrew of the Seas wrote:A glass floor to watch the propellors running might be an idea, though after a minute or two it's probably less interesting than watching a washing machine in action.
With all the vibration down there would it be wise to have a glass floor? And the seals? Mmmh, probably not. It may also be a little dark unless the props are lit up, but I agree, after a while it would just get boring.
quote:Might have proved useful on Aurora, though.....
Brilliant mate...touché!
******
Cheers
quote:Originally posted by Meldrew of the Seas:A glass floor to watch the propellors running might be an idea, though after a minute or two it's probably less interesting than watching a washing machine in action.Might have proved useful on Aurora, though.....
During trials small windows to observe the propeller are sometimes installed - but not a glass floor! (keep in mind: This is precisely where most of the vibration you feel in the ship is coming from!)
I would imagine the engine room has very little worth looking at, just big generators and a couple of gas turbines. I assume that there are few moving parts to view?
The props are on the end of pods quite a long way under the sea. Maybe diving gear could be made available?
M
quote:Malcolm wrote:Maybe diving gear could be made available?
Will you be the first (victim) to dive down there while the props (azipods) are running?
It is finally the same with these open bridges (or observation windows to the bridge like on the Voyager Class) - as much as I enjoy this as s passenger - I can only imagine how anoying this can be for the people who work there. At the end of the day I prefere that the crew has a nice relaxed atmosphere to work and is not sitting in an enclosure.
quote:Ernst wrote:Beside the fact that there is not a lot to see in a modern engine room...
People still want to see what's under the hood of a car even if they know there are no moving parts (besides the fan belt). The same applies with cruise ship engine rooms.
quote:Originally posted by bulbousbow:People still want to see what's under the hood of a car even if they know there are no moving parts (besides the fan belt). The same applies with cruise ship engine rooms.******Cheers
I agree - like many here I am always very keen to get a tour trough the engine room when aboard a ship. But I guess finally guided tour to the engine room (or bridge) ar the better solution. Maybe one could consider that in the design of the engine room or the bridge and make it more easily acessible for such tours. (I understand that it is not possible on some ships - steep stairs, hot parts, no hadrails etc.)
quote:Originally posted by Ernst:......... I can only imagine how anoying this can be for the people who work there..............
Especially when the passengers keep tapping on the glass and waving.............
quote:Originally posted by Meldrew of the Seas:Especially when the passengers keep tapping on the glass and waving.............
The Voyager clas has an external window at the bow, on deck which you look down onto the bridge. It looks like very thick tinted glass. I think it is always open? I do not recall any signs prohibiting anything.
On the QM2 the window is behind the bridge, on the same level. It is only open on sea days. A notice says it's on a 'trial period'. There are also signs about not using 'flash' and being quiet.
It would appear that Voyagers Peek-a-boo bridge is less distracting for the crew than the QM2's.
quote:Originally posted by LeBarryboat:[...] They could however, build a bar with no windows, that has large flat-screen monitors of the engine room areas, and the room where the pods are attached.
A photo is probably the same effect.
Regards Linerdan
Ultimate Bulletin BoardTM 6.1.0.3
More Vacation & Cruise Specials...