Hi all. Since the other thread has become quite long, please continue all discussion in this thread.

Previous thread for your reference:

Cruise Ship Thread Part 3 (by KarelXWB Aug 31 2015 in Non Aviation)

Touching on something mentioned about the Ovation of the Seas :

Doc asked '' I'm confused. She uses two ABB Azipod XO 20.5 MW thrusters and the new forced air bubble system. This has worked fine on the first two Quantum-class ships. What's new with Ovation? ''

I believe they had intended to have a new design on the Ovation but after sea trials it didnt work as they expected.

This article I found ( Only in German ) mentions it but there is little else around. Google translate will give you the just of it.


http://www.radiobremen.de/nachrichte...euzfahrtschiff-bremerhaven104.html

It seems they still intend to deliver the ship early to RCI on 8/4 . Hopefully that all goes well.

From 777Jet on the previous thread:

Quote: you might have difficulties at your age without a little blue pill

After having both surgery and 38 days of radiation treatments for prostate cancer that little blue pill isn't going to help.

Probably just as well because I figure about half the guys who die in their 70s' were in the middle of proving what great swordsman they are (were) and their heart climaxed before their partner,   


As for the little boat we're going on, I'm looking at a comfortable room, good food (and the booze is free on this trip) and interesting stops.Evening entertainment is going to be minimal - not big deal on this river cruise. The stops on the way to the Channel is what is most important, with our first trip to France being second.

Some exciting new features announced for Norwegian Joy which will be the first cruise ship designed from the start for the Chinese market.

Loving the race track and relaxation park. Would not be surprised to see some of the features make their way on to the next new build for Norwegian.

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=6916

Staying with NCLH, Regent Seven Seas have announced a new build to arrive in 2020.

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=6917


Mark

Quoting bananaboy (Reply 3): Some exciting new features announced for Norwegian Joy which will be the first cruise ship designed from the start for the Chinese market.

Looks promising. It will be interesting to see RCI and NCL compete in that market with dedicated ships. Hopefully NCL will do a mini stopover at SOU when its delivered before heading to its home base  

Quoting OA260 (Reply 1): Touching on something mentioned about the Ovation of the Seas : Doc asked '' I'm confused. She uses two ABB Azipod XO 20.5 MW thrusters and the new forced air bubble system. This has worked fine on the first two Quantum-class ships. What's new with Ovation? '' I believe they had intended to have a new design on the Ovation but after sea trials it didnt work as they expected. This article I found ( Only in German ) mentions it but there is little else around. Google translate will give you the just of it.

Well, I went hunting and here's a clue. Here's Anthem's Azipods and propellers:


Here's Ovation's with blades awaiting installation:


The actual azipod units appear identical, but the blades on Ovation seem to have a more radical sweep-back at the tips. The specific fluid dynamics of this installation are probably quite difficult to model and my suspicion is that they were trying this new blade shape and have discovered that it does not work as well as the previous shape.

The new order for RCI :

Quoting OA260 (Reply 6):

Too small.  

Quoting bananaboy (Reply 3): Regent Seven Seas have announced a new build to arrive in 2020.

Replacing the Navigator? She's getting quite old, and not in line with RSSC's all balcony, all suite theme. Nonetheless, looking forward to another excellent voyage with them this summer.

She nows has a name. Cruise line Star Clippers to build world's largest square rigger name will be the Flying Clipper.

Twenty-five years ago Star Clippers launched its first ship the Star Flyer and the company has decided to name its new ship, to be launched in 2017, the Flying Clipper.

The new sailing ship will carry 300 passengers be powered by 35 sails. It is a near replica of the dramatic France II ordered in 1911 at La Gironde shipyard Bordeaux, which was the largest square rig sailing ship ever built, said the company in a statement, adding its repeat guest rate is "more than 60 percent."

The Flying Clipper will have three pools, including one that funnels sunlight through the ship’s atrium into the dining room. There will be a water sports platform in the stern for use when the ship is at anchor and a variety of cabin grades, including 34 suites with balconies and four luxurious owner’s suites.

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cr...-new-ship-name-flying-clipper.html

Meanwhile only 47 days until my next adventure on the Royal Clipper...

First time I have seen a large cruise ship with anodes.

Live from onboard the Ovation of the seas. Have to say a lovely ship and love the touches they have made for the Chinese market.



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Quoting OA260 (Reply 11):

Amazing. Hard to believe some of these pics were taken aboard a ship. Can't wait to sail aboard Anthem next month.

So, my office has a perfect view of Port of Miami. I was working this weekend and sometimes go on cruise ship tracker to see where the ships are heading off to. A celebrity ship was going transatlantic to start its Europe routes.

I see last minute deals on transatlantic cruises are great, I saw one balcony cabin for $699 a person for a 14 night + cruise. Would be great to one day have the time (not the money its cheap) to do one of those one day. Just the thought of nothing but the water, food, and pool for 5-7 days right now seems great. Especially with a balcony cabin.

Anyone here do a Transatlantic or Transpacific cruise before?

Right now I am currently looking out my window at six ships docked at Port Miami.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 12):

You will love Anthem the bar 270 Aft of the ship is wonderful and is my fav on Ovation too.

Quoting flymia (Reply 13):

Yes I have done a few TATL on Cunard and RCI love them as you really get to enjoy the ships.

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Goodnight from Ovation , I must have walked miles today over 18 decks ! Still it helped to burn some calories consumed onboard . Dinner in Chic was to die for  
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Quoting flymia (Reply 13):

I have not, it's on my wish list, every year I see Cunard run a $599 deal on one of their ship for a December crossing, I really want to jump on one of those, but work being work I have to plan far out, I guess at some point I will just take the risk and do it.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 14): you really get to enjoy the ships.

Exactly. Would really like the opportunity to do this one day.

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 15): I guess at some point I will just take the risk and do it.

For fun I have looked into ships leaving Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Houston in the next week or so for the crossing, its only 7-21 days out and they all availability at a good price, and most have balcony rooms open. I've seen that the best time to book preposition routes is last minute, they always seem to have cabins open.

No argument there, the issue I have is airfare and as I said, work, while they do give plenty of leeway in regards to ignoring the company vacation policy, I do try to give them a heads up of a few months.

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 17): I do try to give them a heads up of a few months.

Of course, as does anyone. You could give them a heads up and still book last minute with the good prices they seem to offer last minute compared to booking a year in advance. I have yet to find a ship without availability.

Speaking of transatlantic QM2 crossings, I also want to experience this.

I'm waiting until QM2 is refitted with solo cabins (the Britannia Oceanview Single cabins), as I am a solo traveller.

I'm also waiting until I can afford it and have the time (and since I live in Denver, I would need to travel to NYC to board QM2).

But if I ever do get the opportunity to move back to London one day (I lived and studied there before), a QM2 transatlantic voyage would definitely be in order for my future relocation. I wonder, how many people actually have used this service for transatlantic relocation? I've also heard at least one anecdote that some people use it to commute back and forth across the pond (as they cannot stand to fly--understandable, given the hassle, jet lag, and declining service and comfort associated with flying today).

In Southampton, upon arrival, is there railway service to London from Southampton? I know there used to be the special railway service ("boat train") from Southampton to London Waterloo station. Is there any railway service now?

SmithAir747

[Edited 2016-04-12 09:20:12]

Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 19):

Solo cabins on sale now .

Southampton to London is a shuttle rail service and typically takes 1 hour 50 mins . Runs to either Victoria or Waterloo. I did the route this morning with Southern Trains Southampton Central to Clapham Jnc. The Ovation was docked at City Cruise Terminal which was a handy 10 mins walk across from it.

Any idea when NCL announces their shore excursions? I'm booked on the Norwegian Pearl for a south/central America/panama canal cruise in October and so far the only offering they have for shore excursions is in Belize. I ask this because I am generally not one to venture off by myself to explore strange foreign places (other than airports) so lack of shore excursions at every port call may make me decide to book something else.

It was a big week for orders.

Quote: It was another quiet week for orders but dominated by cruise liners. Here is a sector which goes from strength to strength in the height of luxury in all capacity sizes .It really is remarkable how many are being ordered for the future by the cruise majors giving much needed employment to European builders. It also underlines the domination of Europe in cruise construction from the big three of Finacntieri, STX France and Meyer Werft. In spite of the global economic downturn many citizens are still drawn to the attraction of cruising to world destinations. In our WNBC of 5 February 2016 we reported agreement in principle by Carnival Group for construction of four cruise liners at Fincantieri. These are now formally confirmed but there was a plesant surprise in the formal announcement as it was revealed a fifth vessel is now included. The additional unit will be for Princess Cruises with delivery stemmed for June 2020 from Monfalcone. All the orders will be supported by Italy’s credit export sytem. The five ship Carnival breakdown at Fincantieri is as under: MARGHERA - 2 X 4200 PAX FOR COSTA CROCIERE DUE 2019/2020 MONFALCONE - 1 X 4200 PAX FOR P&O AUSTRALIA DUE 2020 MONFALCONE - 2 X 3560 PAX FOR PRINCESS CRUISES. DUE 2019/2020 Another owner determined to compete strongly with Carnival is MSC, Switzerland. A letter of intent was signed with STX France for two plus optional two 5,400 pax cruise liners with deliveries as far ahead as 2025 and 2026 if the options are execised. The two firm units will be delivered in 2022 and 2024. Both will be powered by LNG – the first time MSC has used this method in cruise liners. The orders come from MSC’s ten year plan. It is all good news for STX France where MSC recently increased its MERAVAGLIA class from two tor four vessels. The owner also has three Seaside class vessels under construction at Fincantieri. The latest commitment is on a letter of intent basis at the moment. Final design specificatiions are still being finalised between owner and builder as it will be a completely new class of ship.

Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 19): I'm also waiting until I can afford it and have the time (and since I live in Denver, I would need to travel to NYC to board QM2).

I would actually prefer to go the other way, Southampton to New York, purely personal reasons though.

Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 19): I wonder, how many people actually have used this service for transatlantic relocation?

I have no idea, I guess if the time ever comes it may be worth contact Cunard to find out about freight costs, I had friends who moved to France from the US, they flew, their belongings took a 3 week container ride, i'm not sure I could trust my really personal things to a container ship, but there would also be way to much to store them in a cabin, so into a hold with them, if Cunard even offers this.

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 23): Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 19): I'm also waiting until I can afford it and have the time (and since I live in Denver, I would need to travel to NYC to board QM2). I would actually prefer to go the other way, Southampton to New York, purely personal reasons though.

I'm an American who has lived and studied in London before (King's College London 2004-2007, and still a proud alumnus of KCL). London has a very special place in my heart--it was my first home on my own away from home and family, where I first struck out on my own. I got to know many wonderful people in London and around the UK during my 3 years living there and exploring England. I even got to see my late father's World War 2 US Army Air Corps bomber base near Eye, Suffolk (he served with the 8th Air Force, 490th Bomb Group, flying B-17s on missions), with the invaluable help of the RAF, who assisted me in locating it and getting there. I spent one Christmas in Cornwall with a dear older couple (as part of the HostUK programme, wherein UK universities hook up foreign students with host families for holidays). I met many fellow planespotters at LHR on many a Saturday out there.

Most of all, London is the cradle of my career in craniofacial embryology research.

In January 2016 I made my first visit back to London (and King's College London) since 2007--it was 9 years too long to be away from London. It felt like being home again. I was there to visit my alma mater and update my colleagues there on my craniofacial research since my time in London (I gave two talks--one at Guy's Hospital campus of KCL and one at Great Ormond Street Hospital campus of UCL). I also did a videotaped interview of my KCL colleagues on craniofacial research and its potential benefits to families with children affected by craniofacial anomalies.

One day I yearn to move back to London, and my craniofacial colleagues at Guy's Hospital/King's College London would love to have me back there.

So that's why I want to make the eastbound (NYC-Southampton) QM2 crossing (besides the obvious reason of experiencing the QM2 herself).

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 23): Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 19): I wonder, how many people actually have used this service for transatlantic relocation? I have no idea, I guess if the time ever comes it may be worth contact Cunard to find out about freight costs, I had friends who moved to France from the US, they flew, their belongings took a 3 week container ride, i'm not sure I could trust my really personal things to a container ship, but there would also be way to much to store them in a cabin, so into a hold with them, if Cunard even offers this.

If and when I do make the move back to London, and if I do indeed use the QM2 for this journey, I would be travelling light with some luggage, my CPAP machine, my violin, and other really personal items--no furniture, piano, or anything large or bulky like that. I would be purging most of my stuff before leaving the USA anyway--especially my car (since there would be no point in having a car in London anyway). Besides my luggage, my really personal stuff I wanted to keep would only take up a handful of boxes, which could either go in the hold (if QM2 has one), or be shipped ahead by air or surface.

Upon settling in London, I would most likely just go to the local IKEA (there's one in eastern London, I saw it on my train back from STN to Liverpool Street station this past January) for furniture, and as for a piano, I would look at options including used pianos or piano rental (depending on my length of stay), or even buy a piano and have it done in green for me (if I ended up staying a very long time)--I did that in Canada.

I'm here in Denver temporarily on a postdoctoral fellowship of 3 years (I started July 2015, so I should finish in June 2018), so I'll be moving--somewhere on planet Earth--in 2018. Here's hoping for a move to London sometime in future, whether in 2018 or later.

SmithAir747

Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 24):

First of all, thank you for dedicating yourself in the way you have, if and when you do decide to make London your home please let me know, though I live in Las Vegas now I still have a lot of friends there who would be more than happy to help you in any way they can.

For me, I grew up looking down on Southampton water, I would watch the QE2 and Canberra sail out past my house, though I did get to actually sail on the QE2, I was way to young to remember much from it (other than the red crushed velvet in one of the lounges) so I really want sail out of Southampton, with a balcony room on the starboard side.

Once past Calshot Spit (where I learned to sail) it would be a quick scurry up to the top deck to watch the Isle of Wight glide past on to view Alum Bay, a place where I used to go on my first boat with my first serious girlfriend....Just don't tell the wife about that part lol.

It's something I am going to do in the next couple of years, this year is booked solid but i'm looking at the Dec 15th 2017 crossing on the QM2 and i'm thinking that's the one to book.

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 23): i'm not sure I could trust my really personal things to a container ship,

Why ever not? My wife and I shipped everything we owned at the time from New Zealand to Norway in a container, we have enough stuff to fill a 20ft container. It all arrived without incident, including some paintings,crystal and pottery.

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 26):

You got lucky, my friends stuff all suffered from damage, either from the loading or the shipping, honestly, 99% of my stuff I wouldn't care, but as Smithair says, there will always be some stuff that has to travel with me.

Anyways, I think I have it nailed down to the Dec 15th 2017 sailing on the QM2, now I just have to wait until Jan next year to get the flights set up, we actually have to go to the UK next year, sailing back on the QM2 only costs us a couple of hundred dollars more than flying back thanks to the APD and the great VS fuel surcharge.

It also means we can fly in Mint back to Vegas from JFK  

Quoting OA260 (Reply 11):

Quoting OA260 (Reply 14):

Thanks for the pictures. Just leaving Crawley this morning to board her for the sailing to France & Belgium. Looks amazing.

Quoting cnz3 (Reply 28): Thanks for the pictures. Just leaving Crawley this morning to board her for the sailing to France & Belgium. Looks amazing.

Welcome have a great time and if you can share some pics and your experiences. Look out for the Panda's on top deck  

AIDA Prima has been delivered.



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Hurtigruten has ordered two new ships also :

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[Edited 2016-04-21 07:17:39]

I'm still not certain on the Aida ship, the bow is straight out of the 1920's, the rest modern day, I don't have a problem with either of them, but combined, there is something off putting to me.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 7): Too small.

And no balcony staterooms.   

Quoting OA260 (Reply 30): AIDA Prima has been delivered.

YUCK!!

Why does AIDA need to use that tasteless paintscheme?

Quoting OA260 (Reply 30): Hurtigruten has ordered two new ships also :

Those two look very nice!

Quoting OA260 (Reply 30): AIDA Prima has been delivered.

Not pretty. So fitting to the rest of the fleet.

Quoting AirPacific747 (Reply 33): YUCK!! Why does AIDA need to use that tasteless paintscheme?

Ask Norwegian. They copied it. And sometimes did something worse!

Quoting OA260 (Reply 30): Hurtigruten has ordered two new ships also :

For sure some interesting looking ships. The Hurtigruten is one of the things I would love to do in future. But that can still wait until I am in my mid-60s.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 11): Live from onboard the Ovation of the seas. Have to say a lovely ship and love the touches they have made for the Chinese market.

A robot cocktail bar?

Quoting na (Reply 34): The Hurtigruten is one of the things I would love to do in future. But that can still wait until I am in my mid-60s.

I would actually not wait until then. I did it closer to 30 and loved it.Looking to do it again now. A lot of younger people on those these days and for the trips which can be quite tough going in freezing temperatures so maybe not until 60+ and hoping you are in 100% good health !

Quoting na (Reply 34): A robot cocktail bar?

Yes it is as was on the Anthem. Quite a fun concept. I didnt bother using this time though.

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 31): 'm still not certain on the Aida ship, the bow is straight out of the 1920's, the rest modern day, I don't have a problem with either of them, but combined, there is something off putting to me.

The bow looks far too short and too straight.

Quoting Dano1977 (Reply 36): The bow looks far too short and too straight.

Quoting jetwet1 (Reply 31): I'm still not certain on the Aida ship, the bow is straight out of the 1920's, the rest modern day, I don't have a problem with either of them, but combined, there is something off putting to me.

Most modern cruise ships use a rather conventional design (since around the 1960s) of having a bulbous bow with a forward-raked clipper prow. Clipper prows are decent at preventing spray from coming up on deck at high speeds but they also tend to cause a lot of slamming in rough seas. Bulbous bows offer significant drag reduction, but only in a narrow range of speeds.

For AIDA, this new ship is not going to cruise much faster than 21-22 kn, which is about the same speed that a ship like Titanic and her sisters would have cruised. And cruise ships actually cruse at a wide range of speeds depending on their schedule and time between ports, so I think that AIDA decided that the bubble air system would offer enough drag reduction without having to do the bulbous bow and its significant disadvantages. I think we will see other cruise lines going with similar designs in the future.

Quoting na (Reply 34): For sure some interesting looking ships. The Hurtigruten is one of the things I would love to do in future. But that can still wait until I am in my mid-60s.

It's not cheap either.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 30): Hurtigruten has ordered two new ships also :

They ordered 4 ships. The first two by 2018, these ships aren't for the coastal voyage, they won't have the cargo capacity and the ability to transport vehicles. They will operate the same kind of trips as MS Fram.

Those two Hurtigruten ships look like the SS Georgic with their short funnel, black hull, and wedge shaped bow.

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 38): It's not cheap either.

Well like all things there are deals to be had depending on the season and promo campaigns. It also depends on how long you want to do and which sectors. Many just choose a 3-5 nights stay.

Carnival's Adonia became the first US cruise ship to port at Cuba in over 50 years.

Quoting AFP: - The first US cruise ship to travel to Cuba in half a century docked in Havana Monday, marking a new milestone in the rapprochement between the old Cold War foes. A crowd of onlookers waved Cuban and American flags and filmed with their cell phones as the Adonia, a Carnival cruise liner, sailed into port in Havana after setting off Sunday from Miami, the heart of the Cuban diaspora in the United States. The ship had 700 passengers on board, some of them Cuban-Americans returning to the communist island for the first time in decades.

[Edited 2016-05-02 09:15:42]

Royal Caribbean has rolled out VOOM high-speed internet to all 24 ships . It is getting good reviews so far.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 40): Well like all things there are deals to be had depending on the season and promo campaigns. It also depends on how long you want to do and which sectors. Many just choose a 3-5 nights stay.

I wouldn't want to do the trip off season, it's the Atlantic Ocean it's rough as hell.

That's half the fun though.

17 days before our next journey on the Royal Clipper leaving Athens stopping a Mykonos, Skyros, Myrina, Sozopol, Varna, Nessebar all in Bulgaria and Constanta, Romania and then some more Greek islands on our way back to Athens. This is a clothing optional cruise..so we;re always meeting friends on board from prior cruises . It's a great way to see the world.

Have any of you ever taken a group cruise (a group on a regularly scheduled cruise) or a theme cruise (either a partial or full ship charter for a theme)?

I have one of each coming up:

This August I am hosting a small group on a cruise, and my group event is called Fabulous Faces at Sea: The 2016 Craniofacial Cruise. We're a group of people/families with craniofacial conditions, who've booked a small block of cabins, on a regularly scheduled cruise on Norwegian (NCL) Escape. We're a tiny group this first time out, but I want to continue this in future years and give more people/families with craniofacial conditions the opportunity to fellowship together on a cruise. A similar cruise for Apert syndrome families has been going on for a few years--they usually book together on a Disney cruise every few years just to get together.

Other examples of group cruises can be family-reunion cruises, or others devoted to small meetings, conferences, or small groups who share some interest (but not nearly enough in numbers for a partial or full charter).

On the other hand are partial- or full-charter theme cruises:

In January 2017 I'm going on a theme cruise for Star Trek fans--a full charter of NCL's Pearl. Called Star Trek: The Cruise, it will be the first officially licensed Star Trek theme cruise (licensed by CBS). The "crew" will include William Shatner and other Star Trek luminaries. Imagine a boatload of Trekkies!

Other theme cruises I've heard of include music cruises (lots of them), hobby-interest theme cruises (including crafts and knitting and cat-lovers' cruises), sports theme cruises (NFL, NASCAR, and other franchise fan bases), lifestyle theme cruises (singles, couples, marriage enhancement, LGBT, even nude cruises), Christian and other religious charters, you name it, there's a theme cruise for it.

Star Wars is a unique case, in that this franchise does not have its own theme cruise, but is incorporated as a "cruise within a cruise" on select Disney Cruise sailings (since Disney own Star Wars now). On these sailings, there is a themed "Star Wars Day" on board.

NCL's Pearl is their go-to charter ship--it gets booked up often (during low season especially) for Sixthman's slate of music cruises, as well as other organizations' theme cruises (including the aforementioned Star Trek: The Cruise, put on by Entertainment Cruise Productions).

If you've ever taken a group cruise or a themed cruise, share your experiences!

SmithAir747

[Edited 2016-05-10 10:07:20]

[Edited 2016-05-10 10:09:35]

Two new orders for Star cruises aimed for the Chinese market. Delivery in 2019/2020.

Just finished dinner with the in laws, they announced they want to take the family on an Antarctic cruise, anyone been on one or have any recommendations?

Quoting OA260 (Reply 47): Two new orders for Star cruises aimed for the Chinese market. Delivery in 2019/2020.

That's quite a ship. The Wikipedia article says the ship weighs 201,000 tones, that's a real close second to the Oasis/Harmony Class ships.