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Maybe you have seen her already - but still - watch this - thanks for posting.
looking at these shots of the once great BIG U really make me kind of sad, that shes been sitting around for decades like this, towed across the ocean to Turkey and back, and nothing has still been done. From this angle she doesnt look as dilapidated as from the ground level shots.
quote:Originally posted by viking109:If you look carefully you can see the feasabilty study going on.
...and on and on and on!
A great image, thanks for sharing. She looks in good condition from up high. However, ground level images reveal a lot of rust annd decay.
quote:Originally posted by DAMBROSI:I would rather sail on her, then the huge ships out there now. I would feel it's more of a ship, than a box. My opinion.
Dido!
Yes, in fact they're figuring out at the moment how feasible it is to move a pile of dust from one spot to another.
If Donald Trump took this long to deliberate on anything, the project would fail. What the hell are they doing? It took me less time to get a bachelor's degree.
Seriously - I do not believe that the investigation is the limiting thing - and I do not remember that NCL said so.
quote:Originally posted by BigUFan:If Donald Trump took this long to deliberate on anything, the project would fail. What the hell are they doing? It took me less time to get a bachelor's degree.
Did your degree come with an instruction kit on how to build a cruise ship?
A newbuild can take anywhere from 12 to 36+ months just to produce the initial prototype and the financial modeling that must accompany it can take that long or longer.
And with each variance or change in the design, the financial models must be recalculated or re-done.
Given the fact that rebuilding the Big U represents a far more complex and delicate proposition, it is not surprising that it is taking this long at all. And factor in that this project is not "job 1" for NCL Corp, it will be alotted human and financial resources whenever they are available, it is bound to be a minimum of 5-7 years before any real work would begin - at the earliest.
--Tim
[ 02-13-2007: Message edited by: BigUFan ]
Rehabbing the BigU is not like rehabbing the Carnival Holiday or the Norwegian Dream/Sea which are rather straightforward conventional boxboats; a nautical Chevy Caprice/Ford Crown Vic.
The BigU with all the camber, sheer, tumblehome, milspec subdivisions is like restoring a vintage Rolls Royce.
Add to that the stability compromises with a 21 century superstructure. It will need more than a ducktail.
The major shipyards with the resources would rather not take the job, [source:Sea Trade] and prefer to crank out another boxboat with higher profit and less risk.
Passenger Hallway
Joe at TravelPage.com
quote:Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale: And factor in that this project is not "job 1" for NCL Corp....
Originally they said that it was 'job 1' after the completion of NCL America fleet, but ishe has slipped down the leauge table.
[ 02-15-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
quote:Originally posted by BigUFan:Fair point, especially considering that NCLA has not been anything like a resounding success yet.
Other than the higher labor costs (and the difficulty finding suitable U.S. citizens that are willing to work long hard hours) They seem to be a great success. Their ships are filled every week and NCLA charge higher rates that the Caribbean ships. Compare that to 10 years ago when there was only ss Independence doing the same service and carrying 800 passengers per week. Now NCLA fills two 2000 passenger mega ships on the same 7-day inter island service.
quote:Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:They seem to be a great success.
Newbuilds cost a small fortune to build. Cruise lines may well borow the money and pay interest on the loans. Then their is the staff wages to pay, fuel, consumables (food) etc. and maintenece cost which slowly increase.
I would imagine any newbuild must take at least five years to pay for itself before a profit is generated, maybe longer.
NCL America has two newbuilds and the associated infrastructure to pay for, such as Admin, a staff training School and other support services. Even with the high fares, I would imagine they will not see a 'real' profit for at least 10 years.
Cruising is a long term investment.
[ 02-17-2007: Message edited by: feargus ]
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