BTW, the Silja Symphony also has a Royal Promenade that predates the Voyager Class and was also built at the same ship yard.

[ 04-25-2013: Message edited by: DEIx15x8 ]

If RCL doesn't own the rights to those patents, they should, or at least the rights build them where they wish. Since STX is in bad financial shape, RC should make an offer for the rights, heck, why not buy the Turku yard. There would be a cruise line first as far as I know.

Yes those Color Line ships are amazingly like Royal Caribbean ships. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_EpM8xUgN0&feature=endscreen&NR=1 I called them the "little Voyagers"

Why other cruise lines do not order these kinds of ships? The promenades suits best for mega ships. You do not order only 1 ship but instead you need to make decision that you order many same kind of ship for the class.

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Originally posted by Peter P:
I dont think it is a patent issue. RCCL just wants to have different kind of ships.

Why other cruise lines do not order these kinds of ships? The promenades suits best for mega ships. You do not order only 1 ship but instead you need to make decision that you order many same kind of ship for the class.

It is turning to be RCCL "trade mark" but as it is successful some one will sooner or later will order a ship with promenade.

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Peter, someone else did order this design, Royal Caribbean. The design was first started under Color Line. The thing that is bothering me about this new class of ships is that RCL is really stepping away from their identity. It's all become generic across all of the competing cruise lines. Without the Viking Crown, Quantum will look like any other current ship sailing. Until Quantum, Royal Caribbean did something externally to make their ships different from the competition. Now internally the biggest design elements that made the brand so different from the rest are missing too. I don't mean to sound like I hate this ship, I don't. I'll sail on her and I know she will be beautiful when completed. I just know that I will be missing many elements that are the Royal Caribbean experience I love so much, and if it all because of the choice of a shipyard and "rights", it disappoints me.

The Quantum Guiding Principles PDF that was leaked a while back makes much more sense now. Instead of the Promenade we get the "Royal Square".

_________________

"Radiance Plus"
Similar itineraries with a Radiance-type experience (cool weather).

Maintain the "ship of light" feel central to Radiance (sea viewing, panoramic glass).

Value of the project is with the staterooms: quantity, size, quality, and high balcony ratio (80%+).

This will be a more compact ship. Standards need to stay inline with Radiance.

We can not focus on what we lose or don't have with this platform, but what we can achieve.

Learn from the Freedom Experience. The "Wows" will come along the way.
Create an "Upscale Contemporary" experience.
Differentiates from competition in the contemporary market.
However, can not overlap with the Celebrity experience
Willing to explore new dining alternatives.
Provide a mix of new dining offerings.
However, maintain a Main Dining experience with atrium connections.
Keep in mind learnings from the "Five Ladies".
Provide diverse options that appeal to our families.

Revenue and Entertainment
Revenue
Full height glass on Deck 5 along gallery spaces
Two deck "Royal Square" with overlook from Deck 5
Total retail area available greater than reference ships
TBD space Deck 4 port side behind service area
Options on Deck 5 for port side above Royal Square
Entertainment
Nightlife activities organized forward; daytime programs aft
Full fire zone casino
Night club with dropped floor to provide greater height
Midship or Boleros Lounge opposite Night Club
See Dining for "Cabaret" Dining and Lounge (space can act as Secondary Lounge)

Still I think the promenade area of the Silja twins are the most impressive with it's 5 decks and windows in the roof. Of course the RCI ships have a more stylish decour, but the space is more open on Silja.

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Originally posted by Funnel:
Jim, it's correct that Harri Kulovaara was the man behind the first promenades in "modern" time but it was for the two silja Line twins; Silja Serenade (1990) and Silja Symphony (1991). Color Fantasy and Magic are from 2004 and 2007.
There was a French cruise ship from the 20's (I think) that had an indoor promenade. I don't remember her name right now (maybe Ile de France but that can be wrong).

Still I think the promenade area of the Silja twins are the most impressive with it's 5 decks and windows in the roof. Of course the RCI ships have a more stylish decour, but the space is more open on Silja.

/Erik

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You're correct Erik, I have a bad habit of using those two company names interchangeably. I thought the Silja ships promenades looks more industrial. Royal Caribbean made it more plush, and as time went by, the Color Line copied the interior design almost exactly.

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Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
In the same way the Disney Dream Class, Celebrity Solstice Class, Norwegian Breakaway Class, and Quantum Class ships are all built for different lines but at the same ship yard. All those classes share similar wide set hulls with inset superstructures and an overhanging pool deck.

[ 04-25-2013: Message edited by: DEIx15x8 ]

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You know, I've always wonder why recent megaships built at Meyers Werft all have the wide hulls and inset superstructures (except the Quantum actually).

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Originally posted by FuzzyFish:

You know, I've always wonder why recent megaships built at Meyers Werft all have the wide hulls and inset superstructures (except the Quantum actually).

What purpose does these design elements serve?

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Building the higher parts of a ship more narrow to save weight is of course a very old design principle.

To have a narrow superstructure atop a rather wide hull is not at all limited to ships built at Meyer Werft - this is actually a feature of the concept introduced with Royal Princess - the concept which is the basis for most contemporary ships. Most of these ships just hide it a bit better e.g. by having wider sections at the front and the rear of the superstructure (see picture below).

The same is BTW achieved with the above discussed split superstructure: In that case the volume that is saved by having a more narrow superstructure is moved from the outside to the inside - the cavity created this way can then be used for public spaces and enhances the otherwise inside cabins.

picture from facebook

[ 05-01-2013: Message edited by: Ernst ]

I understand that these ships are top heavy (or rather, have shallow drafts) so everything up high needs to be as light as possible.
What I never thought about was that the narrow superstructure space can be moved into the inside of the ship.

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Originally posted by hydrojim:

You're correct Erik, I have a bad habit of using those two company names interchangeably. I thought the Silja ships promenades looks more industrial. Royal Caribbean made it more plush, and as time went by, the Color Line copied the interior design almost exactly.

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I agree about the design differences, Jim.
Here are a few photos from the Silja twins promenade.

/Erik

[ 05-05-2013: Message edited by: Funnel ]