*Will Titanic II really be a cruise ship just looking like an Ocean Liner?

*I wonder if her maximum speed will just be around the normal 23 knots? (Three ‘pods’ seems a lot for a small ship).

*Does he plan to use it on regular transatlantic crossing?

*I assume that it will not be able to handle winter crossings like the QM2?

*I wonder if her maximum speed will just be around the normal 23 knots? (Three ‘pods’ seems a lot for a small ship).

*How ‘steerage’ will the steerage cabins will be?

*How will the class divide work in terms of dining and public rooms?

*Can Mr. Palmer’s design really omit having TV’s, Internet, Wi-fi, a Spa and an outdoor pool?

*How can you have a replica bridge in front of the real bridge?

*Won’t the ship be very crowded indeed, given that its 56,000 GT (estimated) with 2,435 passengers?

*Can the Chinese ship yard really build such a specialty ship given their track record of only building bulk carriers etc?

*Isn't the design totally unsuitable for hot climates?

I just read that Tit2 will have a speed of 23 knots and cross in 6 days, according to Palmer.

That makes her sound like a cruise ship and NOT a real Ocean Liner to me. She will have no power in reserve if she meets an Atlantic storm, half way.

In contrast the QM2 can achieve around 30 knots if needed to make up time.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]

*Will Titanic II really be a cruise ship just looking like an Ocean Liner?[....]

---

What is the difference? How does a cruise ship look like opposed to a 'liner'?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
*I wonder if her maximum speed will just be around the normal 23 knots?[...] That makes her sound like a cruise ship and NOT a real Ocean Liner to me. [....]

---

And why is that so? Which speed is required for the 'distinction' 'ocean liner'? 23.1 knots? 29.9 knots? As tacky as that thing might be - it will be a passenger ship sailing the oceans.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
(Three ‘pods’ seems a lot for a small ship).[....]

---

It is not efficient and unelegant but of course possible. Not all pods are the same size - these could be smaller units.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
*I assume that it will not be able to handle winter crossings like the QM2?[....]

---

Just the size will be a disadvantage and of course it's not ideal to be constrained by the replica aspect (which is maybe also the reason for the three pods). However, if she is allowed to sail on the open ocean she must be able to survive that.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
*Can Mr. Palmer’s design really omit having TV’s, Internet, Wi-fi, a Spa and an outdoor pool?[....]

---

There are cruise ships without all that - even rather luxurious cruise ships.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
*How can you have a replica bridge in front of the real bridge?[....]

---

This is indeed odd at best. I would not be prepared to make such a compromise just for the 'show' effect.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
*Won’t the ship be very crowded indeed, given that its 56,000 GT (estimated) with 2,435 passengers?[....]

---

I have just been on a vessel of approximately that size carrying a similar number of passengers. Yes, it was crowed but it was bearable.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
*Can the Chinese ship yard really build such a specialty ship given their track record of only building bulk carriers etc?[....]

---

Time will tell but it's not that building cruise ships involves any secret knowledge. Also, I guess experienced suppliers will be involved.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
*Isn't the design totally unsuitable for hot climates?[....]

---

Absolutely - such a ship will hardly be suitable for any cruise ship mission.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
*Will he really be able to fill it, year in, year out?

---

I would not go, I think it's a simple minded idea, it's tacky and in a way also disgusting but the name is utmost definitely a selling point and there are for sure many people attracted by that.

Giving the rather low price for building that thing and the rather high passenger capacity (which might lead to comparably low fares) I can imagine that there might indeed be a chance for commercial success.

[ 02-28-2013: Message edited by: Ernst ]

- There is no way today's cruising public will put up with shared bathroom facilities. All cabins will end up with private facilities.

- I suspect he included three pods simply because Titanic was a triple screw ship. For something this size - 56k tons - it really doesn't need three. Especialy if they are pods.

- If he wants to make money I suspect the ship will need to operate somewhere other than on the Atlantic. There are not enough people to sustain a ship that only does transatlantic crossings.

- If it operates somewhere else like the Caribbean, it will likely need additional facilities to remain competitive - outdoor pool, zip line between the forward and aft mast,

"Titanic" may be a famous name, but still associated with a big disaster. The ship will be a crowd puller. I would certainly go to SEE it, but if the name is pulling the people as passenger on board....,?

As for the Chinese builders...I think this can only be built in China... apart from this, couldn't it be that it is also heavily sponsored by China, as a grand entrance in passenger ship building, about the only niche in shipbuilding, they don't really have.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is the whole purpose of this project.

That's why QM2 was built to achieve 30 knots. She can slow down in a storm, to a make things comfortable for passengers, and has reserve speed to make up time if require. So could the QM2.

My point was that 23 knots has it's limitations if Palmer plans to use the ship for regular crossings.

Joe: 'Norwegian Epic' at 155,000 and the Princess 'Grands class' ships do not use pods, so I'm surprised that someone feels that Titanic II needs them. maybe it's to definitely avoid the iceberg this time!

As for clothes Joe, I'll put you down for XXL.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Johan:
I wouldn't be surprised if this is the whole purpose of this project.

---

Indeed!

When I first heard about Palmer's idea and the Jinling ships yard, I though that he was completely mad! After all they have NO experience of building passengers ships and definitely not luxury or vintage replicas.

They build cargo ships. I believe that they have build some for Palmer's mining operations, so he already has a relationship with them. It sounds like he will get a bargain ship in return for showcasing Chinese ship building.

By the way his time-scale for 2016 seems tight, given the fact that the technical drawings that were released are full of question marks. So much is still undecided.

[ 02-28-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Ernst, what I was thinking is than Steven Payne looked at the weather charts of the Atlantic for the past 100 years and designed QM2 so she would never arrive late (assuming sea/weather conditions were no worse than the past 100 years).

That's why QM2 was built to achieve 30 knots. She can slow down in a storm, to a make things comfortable for passengers, and has reserve speed to make up time if require. [...]

---

You forgot one thing: Also a slower ship can always be on time - it also depends on the schedule one wants to maintain.

The characteristics of QM2 were chose for shorter crossings (and as we know she is not doing that anymore) - if one plans for longer / slower crossings a slower ship will do just fine.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Joe: 'Norwegian Epic' at 155,000 and the Princess 'Grands class' ships do not use pods, so I'm surprised that someone feels that Titanic II needs them. maybe it's to definitely avoid the iceberg this time! [...]

---

That's why QM2 was built to achieve 30 knots. She can slow down in a storm, to a make things comfortable for passengers, and has reserve speed to make up time if require. So could the QM2.

My point was that 23 knots has it's limitations if Palmer plans to use the ship for regular crossings.

Joe: 'Norwegian Epic' at 155,000 and the Princess 'Grands class' ships do not use pods, so I'm surprised that someone feels that Titanic II needs them. maybe it's to definitely avoid the iceberg this time!

As for clothes Joe, I'll put you down for XXL.

Indeed!

When I first heard about Palmer's idea and the Jinling ships yard, I though that he was completely mad! After all they have NO experience of building passengers ships and definitely not luxury or vintage replicas.

They build cargo ships. I believe that they have build some for Palmer's mining operations, so he already has a relationship with them. It sounds like he will get a bargain ship in return for showcasing Chinese ship building.

By the way his time-scale for 2016 sounds a bit tight, given the fact that the technical drawings that were released are full of question marks.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[QUOTE][...]

When I first heard about Palmer's idea and the Jinling ships yard, I though that he was completely mad! After all they have NO experience of building passengers ships and definitely not luxury or vintage replicas.[...]

---

I don't think that this is mad at all.

Do not underestimate the capabilities of the Chinese. In a way it's surprising that this did not happen earlier.

As has been posted above and as you mentioned yourself, this is an attractive opportunity for Chinese yards to show that they can build cruise ships - so they will be motivated and they will therefore very likely provide the resources to get it right. This yard might not yet be as efficient as the European yards but that will not necessarily have any effect on the final product - at the end it won't matter how they got there as long as they get there. Also - as said above - a lot of work will probably be done or at least supervised by contractors that do have experience in building cruise ships.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[...]
By the way his time-scale for 2016 sounds a bit tight, given the fact that the technical drawings that were released are full of question marks. [...]

---

The drawings published do not necessarily reflect the actual status of the project. Also, not all drawings have to be finished when the building of the ship begins and most passenger ships are built within a shorter period of time.

[ 02-28-2013: Message edited by: Ernst ]

There are many things about the design that will not work:

The GA shows dead end corridors.

There are not enough elevators to satisfy modern disability laws.

At this time, there seem to be included many pieces of obsolete deck machinery such as steam windlasses, derricks and ventilation ducts. What is the plan for these?

The amount of rigging and aerials will prevent helicopters from winching a sick passenger aboard for medical evacuation.

The galley looks oversized for the size of the dining rooms.

According to the plans, power will be supplied by 4 Wartsila 46 series engines, 8 and 12 cylinder. This provides about 38,000 kW. This is workable for a 23 knot speed for a ship this size. With this speed, the most you can hope for reliably is a 7 day Atlantic crossing.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Magic Pipe:
...it will end up being as tacky as hell. It will be the nautical version of a Chrysler PT Cruiser.

---

To a British eye the PT cruiser looks pretty cool as it's so different to any car that we have!

I'm not an expert, but it looks as if someone had just altered the original Titanic drawings and altered them a bit with some Tippex!

The rendering of the tiny lift with a chair in it is obviously nonsense. The bridge with a fake bridge in front also looks unfeasible to me.

I think Palmer just spews words at his press conferences! He's spoken about a Tit2 having a bulbous bow, which it does not seem to have at present. He's spoken about the Casino and not letting pensioners in! He also said that you can try each class of cabin during a cruise! How can that work? Oh and at one time he said it would have a bigger rudder, now it has a fake rudder!

On his model of the ship, the decks appears to have a lot of clutter and rigging that is probably not necessary these days. An outdoor pool would be appreciated by the masses and would not really spoil the ships lines too much.

As for costumes, it's difficult getting passengers to dress for dinner let alone all wear period fancy dress. Imagine the storage space for 2,435 costumes in every size and his cleaning bill!

As Joe has said, he will have to rein in some of these wild ideas and add some features to the ship which are indispensable in the modern world – like private toilets and one or two lower berths as standard, not steerage bunks.

[ 03-01-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

To a British eye the PT cruiser looks pretty cool as it's so different to any car that we have!

I think Palmer just spews words at his press conferences! H.

---

The PT Cruiser could have been a good car if Daimler let Chrysler have the budget to upgrade it properly. It was comfortable and easy to get in an out of.

I think Clive Palmer is bored, and is getting his endorphin rush with all the publicity. Hiring the personnel for PR, design services, computer renderings is all pocket change to him.

Like Mickey Arison said. If the project comes to fruition. He will be a billionaire who became a millionaire.

"The one luxury not found on the original, will be air conditioning. There will be few* televisions and passengers will be given costume dress".

"It will be themed dress but you don't have to wear it," Mr Palmer said.

(Does that not mean some rather than none?)

The press have recently reported:

As with the original ship, there will be First, Second and Third Class cabins and passengers will not be allowed to mingle – apart from on the safety deck, where there will be a casino and theatre.

Passengers will be able to buy a six-day ticket for one class, or a mixed ticket covering two days in each section.*

*(So how will that work? Hundreds of items of luggage get swapped between cabins every two days?)

[ 03-03-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]