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quote:Originally posted by dmwnc1:What would be the usuable space ratio per passenger of the comparisons?[ 02-08-2006: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]
What would be the usuable space ratio per passenger of the comparisons?
[ 02-08-2006: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]
We discussed this in a thread last year. A more tangible measure of space per person might be "public area surface space": square feet or square meters, such as a house is measured. The cubic feet in the middle of an atrium or showlounge count towards the size of the ship, but do nothing in measuring usable space per passenger.
Rich
quote:In fairness to RCI, Explorer did 'handle' her masses very well. The fare for an RCI blaconly cabin was almost half that of a QM2 inside cabin! Although you did get the quality that you paid for with Cunard.[/QB]
In fairness to RCI, Explorer did 'handle' her masses very well. The fare for an RCI blaconly cabin was almost half that of a QM2 inside cabin! Although you did get the quality that you paid for with Cunard.[/QB]
You get what you pay for. I would rather be on QM2 and have some elbow room. That is what our friends thought when they crossed w/us last year. They were amazed about how spacious she was and the lack of crowds. At times we were w/a handful of passengers in the Chart Room as an example and she was nearly full. Our QM2 Caribbean cruise last March had the same feeling. Love that ship!
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:The modern trend of 12 (or so) deck atriums are also a bit waste of space. It's mostly vertical space purely dsigned to provide a 'wow' factor when you board. After that, its no real use!
quote:Originally posted by Globaliser:I don't agree. The atrium, if well thought out, can be a real focal point in the ship and its passenger flows. You would have seen this on the Brilliance; thought that the atrium was a great "town square".
The Atriums certainly look good on the Radience class, but I still think they are a waste of space virtically. You do not really need a 8-12 deck hole in my opinion. The QM2 does without one, nicely.
I only tend to visit Atriums to line up at the Pursers deck, sometimes to complain! Therefore I associate them with 'problems'.
Jonathan
quote:Originally posted by Linerrich:...A more tangible measure of space per person might be "public area surface space": square feet or square meters, such as a house is measured. The cubic feet in the middle of an atrium or showlounge count towards the size of the ship, but do nothing in measuring usable space per passenger.Rich
Interesting point of view. I wonder then how would the Genesis with a whopping 6400 passengers would stack up against other ships of similar physical dimensions like the QM2 (or othersa like the Conquest-Class).
As for me, I cant imagine THAT many people being effectively taken care of with any respect towards individual treatment or service (can you say 'Cattle Call?). Embarkation, debarkation, and meal service will surely be a nightmare. I hope this ship NEVER has to anchor out anywhere...tendering would be an amazing logistical feat.
I'll take paying double the price for an Inside cabin on QM2 over a balcony on any other ship, any day.
Even quite dense ships (low space ratio) often are described as 'spacious' in their brochures.
By the way, the 'Spaciousness' of a ship is subjective. While onboard 'Explorer' (August, probably full near to capacity) I said to one couple that the ship felt a little crowded. They said, 'Oh, they had not noticed'!
quote:Originally posted by dmwnc1: As for me, I cant imagine THAT many people being effectively taken care of with any respect towards individual treatment or service....
No, but that does not happen much on any big ship!
Surely RCI will have to move away from the one main grand- dining room (which I do love) to multiple venues - a version of Freestyle.
quote:Originally posted by Royal Caribbean Cruiser:come on guys. i dont think you are giving RCI the credit they deserve.
RCI do certainly design some great ships. However, it is not just the size of the ship that is a concern, it is the shore side infrastructure. For example, no embarcation port is likely to have enough parking spaces, and check-in desks etc. Imagine the baggage logistics.
I've sat in port traffic jams and waited in line at check-in desks for a few hous, and that was to board a 2500 passenger ship.
A ship like Fred Olsen's 'Black Watch' can take 30 minutes to embark and 20 to disembar, if you are lucky. Even existing mega ship can take half a day for both! You might need a full day for Genesis.
[ 02-08-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
People are speculating a LOT about the amount of open deck space being sufficient for the contingent onboard, but I submit that this is the age of the "Spa at Sea" and feel certain there will be fascinating new spa options which require volume of space, but not sun exposure... Put the cabins on the outside and widen the beam so you can get better facilities on the INSIDE... THIS is what I think is driving the size and not actually the need to outsize Carnival. They already will HAVE that ship in about two months.
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:The Atriums certainly look good on the Radience class, but I still think they are a waste of space virtically. You do not really need a 8-12 deck hole in my opinion. The QM2 does without one, nicely.
quote:Originally posted by Caronia II:People are speculating a LOT...
Not that speculation isn't fun nor doesn't have a place, but we shouldn't make assumptions so quickly about (dis)embarkation, deck space, etc., etc...
Didn't anyone see those Ameriquest Super Bowl commercials??
quote:Originally posted by eroller:Is anyone else curious about what those six cylinders are on the topdeck just forward of midship? Could they be a future RCI innovation?
quote:Originally posted by Waynaro:I have a feeling those will be the trampolines...
...used to catapult whining, sniveling, refund-demanding passengers into the ocean...
The liability seems horrendous and therefore I wouldn't think they've planned for a high dive, but its shape doesn't match the curvaceousness of the other upper deck structures.
Only now the fight fore the biggest is between companny's and lesser between nations. Whene will it go wrong.
Greetings Ben.
quote:Originally posted by moodus2:...qm2 had problemsnavigating the channel out offt laudedale,fl.
We do not know that it was a navigational error. There was a mention of the ship hitting an underwater obstruction.
Personally, I still have my doubts how such a big ship can be evacuated reasonably. To make sure everyone is in the boats must be a nightmare - to my understanding already today 'bigger' ships make sure by searching the whole ship that no one is left aboard - must be 'fun' in an emergency situation. (...which is a situation which makes it necessary to leave such a big ship!)
Also, it is for sure a bit more problematic to find assistance from other ships in case of an emergency. (we talk about nearly some 7000 - 8000 people in boats/rafts - I guess one has to limit the operation of such a vessel to regions where other 'monsters' are around)
I do not think that RCCL hs not tought about these and other things - and I guess they have proper solutions as no one would dare to come up with such a ship if it would not be safe - I just would like to know more about this.
quote:Originally posted by Tom Burke:And indeed the number of people who sailed in them. I think you'd have to say that the period from the end of mass migration to the USA - early 1920s? - to the beginning of the current cruise era, was probably the period when ship travel was most exclusive, and catered to the smallest numbers.
I would say exclusive cruising ended by the late 1970s. On ships such as Rotterdam V you had very elegant (and wealthy) passengers traveling in real style. Loads of luggage, expensive designer gowns for the ladies and private cocktail parties were common on those long cruises. It was then end of an era as those genteel passengers were in their 70s and 80s then!
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