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MSC Serenata and Fantasia coming out 2008/09 may have VIP decks to those with the cash to spend on them. I believe they will be accessed via private lifts to VIP passengers and access denied to normal cabin passengers.
What do you think of this old fashioned class system coming back onto modern ships but on entire decks.
Also, The new Celebrity ships coming out in a few years time are 118,000 in size but cost more that the Freedom class ships according to the "New Ship Guide" on this website costing $750M and Freedom class ships costing $720M. I just thought that was a little odd.
Also, Genesis ship looks as if it will cost $1 Billion. OMG.
Steve
Ernie
quote:Originally posted by Ernst: Nevertheless, most passengers in other categories do not take notice - there is a door where you can only pass with you cabin key - not really hidden but also not very ostentative.
An overnight ferry is very different than a 7-12 day cruise where people have paid thousands for a so-called "luxury" experience. Cruise ships for years have been marketed as a one class experience where everyone onboard is treated equally. This is pretty much the expectation of those that book modern cruises. The MSC concept is something relatively untested in the mass-market cruise industry and as I mentioned there will be two main obstacles to overcome. Cruise passengers are also very attune to what others are receiving onboard and are quick to get bent out of shape if they feel somehow left out.
The closest thing we have today to the MSC concept are concierge lounges for suites and the Villas on the new NCL ships. In both cases these are relatively small and obscure areas of the ship that most passengers will never take notice of. On the MSC ships we are talking about three full decks that will be difficult to go unnoticed.
Personally I don't want to sail a ship where I might feel like a second class citizen even though I paid thousands. I think many others will feel the same way. If MSC can overcome this then more power to them. If not I think we will quickly see the VIP decks incorporated into the rest of the ship.
quote:Ernst wrote:...but as soon as 'major' areas are blocked it's not O.K. anymore.
The designers would have obviously designed the VIP section so that it would have minimal impact. There may be one area of some concern, a forward sun deck. As for the rest of the VIP section, it would be indoors, probably locked-off by a security-card system. One section I assume open to all, would be a forward-facing deck for viewing purposes. To me, two or three small decks up and forward are not a big deal, as long as there is that viewing area and a forward-facing observation lounge open to all.
******
Cheers
quote:Originally posted by bulbousbow:The designers would have obviously designed the VIP section so that it would have minimal impact. There may be one area of some concern, a forward sun deck. As for the rest of the VIP section, it would be indoors, probably locked-off by a security-card system. One section I assume open to all, would be a forward-facing deck for viewing purposes. To me, two or three small decks up and forward are not a big deal, as long as there is that viewing area and a forward-facing observation lounge open to all.******Cheers
This would certainly be acceptable - and I also expect them to do it in this manner. (anything elese would be stupid)
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