"The 150,000-ton ships will each total 4,200 passenger berths, representing the largest ships in NCL's fleet. The first ship is scheduled for delivery in January 2010.
The new ship design will offer 60 percent more guest space than NCL's largest ships to date, which will be used to provide guests an even wider range of on-board activities, amenities and stateroom options. The ships' cabin mix will be the richest of any NCL ship with 100 percent of outside staterooms featuring private balconies. In total, each ship will have 1,415 balcony staterooms. Details of the ships' design will be released closer to delivery."

If only 1415 balcony staterooms, I think there must be some insdies to make up the numbers to 4,200? Can't be 1300 odd 3 or 4 berths surely or that many extra accountable for in Garden Villas?

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Originally posted by PamM:
It says:-

[i]"...with 100 percent of outside staterooms featuring private balconies..."

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Originally posted by eroller:

On a ship like this, I think the Garden Villas will be the only way to go. These guests will have a disproportionate ratio of deck space, lounge space, etc. while everyone else has to squeeze into what is left over. It's also likely that the only true traditional restaurant will be exclusive to Garden Villa guests, with the remainder of passengers lining up at buffets or paying extra for waiter service.
Ernie

[ 03-13-2008: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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quote:

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Originally posted by desirod7:

Which is why I think class division is wrong.

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Originally posted by timb:

I have paid extra for a mini suite not becuase I was snobbish but I wanted the bath tub in our stateroom to make cleaning our children easier

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Understood

But as Ernie said: These guests will have a disproportionate ratio of deck space, lounge space, etc. while everyone else has to squeeze into what is left over.

[ 03-14-2008: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

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The ships' cabin mix will be the richest of any NCL ship with 100 percent of outside staterooms featuring private balconies

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Originally posted by GregD:

How can their be a rich mix if all outside's have balconies????

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Absolutely!

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:
It depends on what the meaning of the word "of" is...

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Yes.. it could mean that all the outside cabins have a balcony, or that all cabins are outside with a balcony too, which is why I looked at the figures, from which I think they mean the former, but could be anything really.

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Originally posted by PamM:
If they can afford it what's the problem, just because I can't I have no bones with those who can, only those jealous and hung up about life, fret about such things.

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If it turns out that F3 is really so awful for those passengers who aren't in suites, then I'll just sail in some other ship.

[ 03-15-2008: Message edited by: Cunard Fan ]

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Originally posted by dougnewman:
Well said.

Cruise lines are not going to suddenly decide, en masse, to make their standard products crap in order to force people to upgrade.

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Originally posted by desirod7:

That is a concern.

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Well is shouldn't be. As Doug posted, if any cruise line were stupid enough to do that, they'd be stuck with a fleet of empty ships.

Think about it, why would any sane and competent CEO advocate *downgrading* thier basic product to force people to upgrade? The economics of it just don't work. If you have 1200 staterooms, of which 100 are suites, you'll end up with 2200 royally peeved pax and 200 happy ones.

When Starwood hotels instituted seperate floors for their preferred guests, did they downgrade the product? Nope.

When airlines upgrade their first and biz class services, do they downgrade coach? Nope.

We don't live in a socialist society and we've NEVER lived in a classless society.

Department stores give preferrential treatment to top-spending customers.

Hotels give special perks to frequent guests or those staying in top rooms.

Restaurants discreetly accomodate their best customers, with no reservation, ahead of a line of people waiting with reservations.

When I arrive at the airport and head for the first class check in line, I don't thumb my nose or look down upon those traveling in coach.

When I arrive at a Starwood property and there is a line at the check-in desk and the concierge sits me down for a private check-in, I don't look down upon those standing in line.

When I arrive at my favorite restaurant and they seat me, albeit discreetly, ahead of a slew of people waiting, I don't make a show of it nor have I ever asked for or expected this.

Heck, some car dealers even have private, "vip" waiting lounges and "jump to the head of the line" priviliges for customers who are having high-line models serviced.

Almost every cruise line has a loyalty program that provides perks and rewards like priority check-in and concierges for guests who have travel with them frequently or those staying in top-dollar digs.

It's about rasing the bar and provding substantially more perks and services for those that have paid substantially more. It's about culling and building loyalty. No one's looking to make anyone feel bad.

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Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:

We don't live in a socialist society.

Tim

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
Not yet anyway but we seem to be heading in that direction!

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Not that socialism is not about classlessness, but that is a common (mis)interpretation of it. Socialism has nothing wrong with ships that have different classes, they just need to be owned by the state/"people" .

[ 03-17-2008: Message edited by: Jekyll ]