Cruise Talk: Triumph v Queen Mary?

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

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...Seabourn Quest has returned to service following the most comprehensive interior refurbishment ever undertaken on a Seabourn vessel, with updates spanning suites, public areas, dining venues and the spa. The project, completed during a recent drydock, introduces redesigned spaces intended to create a more contemporary and residential onboard environment...

Latest News...Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas has begun its inaugural Alaska season following its arrival at the Port of Seattle in May. The deployment marks the first time the Voyager-class ship has operated in the region since entering service in 1999. Through early October, the 3,430-passenger vessel is sailing a series of seven-night itineraries from Seattle. Two routes are being...

Latest News...Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new pool area and updated brand identity for Isla Tropicale, its exclusive destination in Roatán, Honduras. The new Mangrove Bay complex adds 48,000 square feet of recreational space at the center of the destination, marking the latest phase of development at the site formerly known as Mahogany Bay. Mangrove Bay features a large pool with a swim-up bar, a dedicated splash...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Triumph v Queen Mary?

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Triumph v Queen Mary?

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-10-1999 08:20 AM

I have just read that Carnival Cruise Lines' new 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph has already made history, by carrying a record 3,413 passengers, the most ever on a single voyage. This was achieved on its Aug. 22 cruise from New York to eastern Canada.

However, being British, I would argue that a British ship holds the record! Carnival have excluded the Second World War transportation of troops. In July 1943, the Queen Mary carried a total of 16,683 persons (an entire division, plus staff) across the North Atlantic in five days.

Above the QM, nick-named the Grey Ghost, in wartime. The QM and Queen Elizabeth were too fast to be caught by the U-Boats, so often sailed without a convey. Churchil was quoted as saying that we would have lost the war without these two great ships. You can see that the decks are a 'little' crowded with troops!

(Picture borrowed from the very interesting web site: www.queenmary.com Click on 'information' for pictures).

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 10-11-1999).]

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

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 10-10-1999 12:13 PM

Bet the accommodtion wasn't as luxurious, though. Did they have a midnight buffet?????? Of course, Malcolm, I am being facetious.
I certainly would never want to travel on such a large ship as the Triumph or sail with that many passengers.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

blf49
First Class Passenger
Member # 502

posted 10-10-1999 12:56 PM

I don't know. I wouldn't want to be on the Triumph, but I would want to be, or have been on the Mary.

Posts: 56 | From: Seattle, WA, US | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 10-10-1999 01:05 PM

Wow, I wonder if Carnival has a limit to how many cabins they can sell to 3rd and 4th passengers. Once I tried booking (RCL) my child as the 3rd passenger in a cabin, but I was told by the travel agent that although a 3 passenger cabin was available the cruise line was requiring only 2 to a cabin because they were at capacity, and had already sold many cabins with 3 and 4 occupants.

I still like the mega ships, but when they're over capacity I could do without the crowds. Good luck finding and open spa, deck or theatre chair, or buffet table.

[This message has been edited by MagnmPI (edited 10-10-1999).]

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 10-10-1999 03:17 PM

Well Malcolm, truth be said, I would much rather be on almost any ship except on the Queen Mary when she was being used as a troop carrier. Knowing where you would be heading and wondering if you would be one of the lucky ones that would make the return trip. I was in the military for over twenty years and never looked forward to any of the policing actions that we were part of, never mind an all out WAR.

bethankfultothosethatgave:-)

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 10-11-1999 12:47 AM

Good one Malcolm! I don't know if Triumph could handle as many people as Queen Mary did during the war - Triumph would probably flip over belly up!

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 10-11-1999 04:55 PM

Never from choice will I travel Triumph style.
Being (born) British, I'm with Malcolm.
Barryboat's conjecture might well be true.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Joe at PwC
First Class Passenger
Member # 225

posted 10-13-1999 12:06 PM

Unfortunately, it appears as though the folks who write the news once again have left out material details. Carnival Triumph probably did in fact set a record, but only for peacetime civilian transportation. The source clearly didn't consider wartime situations, or possibly has not done all of his/her homework.

Then again, I guess that any trip westward at the war's end would probably constitute peacetime transportation, but I'm not up to speed on my numbers on those voyages.

[This message has been edited by Joe at PwC (edited 10-13-1999).]

Posts: 385 | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-13-1999 03:19 PM

I realise that I am being pedantic...but I enjoy it. Carnival should have wrote that it was a record for a 'Cruise'.

Here’s an interesting and true story:

During the‘Falkland Island’ crisis of 1982, Cunard's QE2 delivered troops to South georgia, a safe port. The troops were then transported by P&O's 'Canberra' to Port Stanley - the war zone. This is because the British Government dare not subject a ship that bore the name of the current Sovereign, to enemy fire – the risk of losing the ship was just too much to bear.

Although the ‘Canberra’ WAS exposed to enemy fire, Admiral Lord Lewin said in a very British voice “the fact that the Canberra was exposed did not really matter, after all she was only the capital of Australia”.

The QE2 may well of beat 'Triumphs' record too, during the Falklands war?

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 10-15-1999).]

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

Joe at PwC
First Class Passenger
Member # 225

posted 10-14-1999 04:11 PM

I probably would not be surprised given her size.

Posts: 385 | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 10-15-1999 10:54 PM

Let us not forget the Queen Elizabeth. She also carried troops at the same time the Queen Mary did. My mother sailed on one of her last regular crossings before that.

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-24-1999 07:33 AM

Yes of course Mercy. As I said earlier "Churchill was quoted as saying that we would have lost the war without these two great ships" - the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.

It will be interesting to see if in the future, any of the modern Cruise Ships are ever used for troop transportation, during times of conflict. I wonder how many troops would fit onto 'Voyager of the Seas'?

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 10-24-1999).]

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

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 10-24-1999 09:11 AM

Let us hope that we don't have future conflicts that take millions of innocent lives.

WW1 The Big One.
WW2 The War to End all Wars.
WW3 Lets hope cooler heads prevail because it would make WW2 look like the shootout at the OK corral.

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-29-1999 11:22 AM

Hi Ctrail, I do hope that you are right! I realise that this is not a history forum, but I understand that there has not been a single day of peace in the World for 1000's of years. Unfortunately, there is always a conflict somewhere in the World. Even today ships often play a vital role.

Maybe 'Total war' has been replaced by 'fragmented conflicts'?

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 10-29-1999).]

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

Randoow
Just Boarded
Member # 907

posted 11-16-1999 11:08 AM

I was on Triumph for the 10-23-99 Western Caribbean 7 day cruise. I think we only had about 2,900 passengers on board plus crew of around 1,100. The ship did not seem crowded to me at all. We found that deck three had areas that were quiet and unpopulated with the most comfortable padded lounge chairs on the ship. The misconception that just because there are 4,000 plus people on a ship that it must be cramped are not true. It may be due to the 14 decks that allow for the diverse range of passengers to select an area of the ship that suits them and this spreads out the crowd over the entire ship rather than one or two common deck areas on smaller ships. Just an observation from a first time cruiser who went big first and am now spoiled by the size,selection and entertainment of a ship like the Triumph. Randoow

Posts: 1 | From: NT,NY,US | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 11-16-1999 05:06 PM

Very good observation Randoow. Even better that this is not conjecture but instead first hand experience. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Nowgohaveyourgreatestcruise:-)

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

jake14
First Class Passenger
Member # 602

posted 11-16-1999 08:36 PM

hi i bought captain warwick's qe2 book it said qe2 carryed 4,015 with crew in the falklands war and my grandpa was on mauretania one in world war II he told me they had 12,000

[This message has been edited by jake14 (edited 11-16-1999).]

Posts: 136 | From: susanville ca us | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...