Could you elaborate more on why, though? Is the vacation less relaxing if the facade of the boat is more boxy than sleek? Is the food less edible for being served on a boat that doesn't look streamlined? Will your vacation be ruined by being seen in a vehicle that is more functional than decorative on the outside?
Inevitable future spectacular catastrophe in the making seen here.
- Thread starter Mutara Nebula 1967
- Start date
Could you elaborate more on why, though? Is the vacation less relaxing if the facade of the boat is more boxy than sleek? Is the food less edible for being served on a boat that doesn't look streamlined? Will your vacation be ruined by being seen in a vehicle that is more functional than decorative on the outside?
We live on an island. I'm an ex-boat owner and I live in a country where most of the periphery is only contactable by ferry. We live in a country with literally dozens of ferries and all of them, even the oldest CalMac bucket in operation, looks better than that. Even the local ferries look better than that. But more importantly I travel across the Forth Bridge every day so we see all variety of cruise ships parked under the bridge on a visit and there are lovely cruise ships and there are ugly bastard cruise ships and I know which one I would pay my money for.
Just sayin'...
I went for a cruise on Freedom of the Seas back in 2008 and at the time it was the biggest cruise ship in the world. It was pretty amazing.
The Oasis of the Seas is another big one which I would love to sail on one day:
When I last worked for RC, Freedom had just launched and Oasis was just known as the Genesis Project. Which as a trek fan I found infinitely funny.
I've worked aboard:
Navigator
Legend
Grandeur
Enchantment
Sovereign
Voyager
Explorer
Majesty
Viking Serenade (just before it was retired. what a crappy boat)
"Bad name for a ship....either that or this suit is really unlucky.” - The Doctor
The record for the fastest trans-Atlantic crossing by ship -- the so-called Blue Riband (although there was never an actual medal or trophy) -- was a big deal from the early 20th century through the 1950s. It was a matter of national pride as well as prestige for the ship owners. Today, nobody gives two rat turds about the trans-Atlantic speed record. People take planes nowadays.
Also, as previously posted, cruise ships and trans-oceanic liners are really two different animals -- although some ships are built to do both jobs.
That's why modern cruise ships look like floating hotels, both outside and inside. With cruising, the voyage itself is the experience. Oh, and you also get to stop at some touristy ports and buy a lot of tacky souvenirs.
Last edited:
The SS United States is (or was -- granted she's around, but basically just a sad rusting hulk along the pier anymore... 
) an AMAZING ship. Beautiful, clean lines... just a gorgeous ship.
The lengths that they went to in designing/building her was incredible -- even the piano, IIRC, was specifically made of aluminum in order to save weight! During the speed run for the Blue Riband, supposedly the paint on the bow was peeling off from the hull speed through the water.
If you can find a copy, look/read a book called A Man and His Ship[/b[, by Steven Ujifusa. It's basically a biography of William Francis Gibbs (her designer), and his quest to build the SS United States.
Cheers,
-CM-
) an AMAZING ship. Beautiful, clean lines... just a gorgeous ship. The lengths that they went to in designing/building her was incredible -- even the piano, IIRC, was specifically made of aluminum in order to save weight! During the speed run for the Blue Riband, supposedly the paint on the bow was peeling off from the hull speed through the water.
If you can find a copy, look/read a book called A Man and His Ship[/b[, by Steven Ujifusa. It's basically a biography of William Francis Gibbs (her designer), and his quest to build the SS United States.
Cheers,
-CM-
Yes, the S.S. United States was a beauty in her day.The SS United States is (or was -- granted she's around, but basically just a sad rusting hulk along the pier anymore...
Sadly, her glory days are long behind her.
Those ships look amazing... Lots of fun to be had by all, I'm sure... If I could handle my irrational fear of drowning, I'd be all in... I just don't like being in water where I can't touch/see the bottom... Has nothing to do with the boat pitching about, either.. I'm all about "thrill rides"... I just have seen too many movies where a ship sinks and the last shot you see is of it shooting down into the darkness with the lights flickering on and off.. Gives me the creeps like you can't believe..
^ Your fear of not being able to touch the bottom reminds me of the swim call we had at the Equator. As he was announcing it over the intercom/1MC, the QMOW (Quartermaster of the Watch) said:
"Now, swim call, swim call, swim call on the starboard side. Temperature of the air is 98 deg; Temperature of the water is 95 deg; Depth of the water is.... (long pause)... uhh, 3 MILES!!"
(Sorry, just had to be there, as it was hilarious in pacing.)
Cheers,
-CM-
"Now, swim call, swim call, swim call on the starboard side. Temperature of the air is 98 deg; Temperature of the water is 95 deg; Depth of the water is.... (long pause)... uhh, 3 MILES!!"
(Sorry, just had to be there, as it was hilarious in pacing.)
Cheers,
-CM-
Jiangnan Freak
Lieutenant
That is one ugly ship.
Were you able to explore the ships at all? I know most cruise lines prohibit mingling with guests.
Yeah, at my rank I could use most of the guest facilities. Uniform required at all times. I had to do the occasional "night duty" which basically involved doing rounds of the ship and being seen in dress uniform as well. Mingling was strictly of the meet and greet variety. No "Doc" from the Loveboat interaction.
Being an IT guy I didn't have to spend too much time interacting with guests, which was fine by me. I was never a "front of the house" type.
Overall working on a cruise ship is a great experience. Just have a skill that gets you some higher rank and privileges before seeking out a job. (and be sure you can handle the work schedules) Most jobs onboard are 8 to 10 hour days with no days off for your entire "contract" of 4 to 8 months on board. You do however get 2 to 4 months of vacation a year.
[Scotty] Not quite as big as her Captain, I think [/Scotty]
Well the Titanic was an Ocean Liner not a cruise ship, intead most if not all of the ships that held the Blue Riband where Ocean Liners. And many of those ships where designed to be bigger/faster/more luxurious (edit as needed) than the predesscor. Sure the Titanic is famous but in terms of the UK to US North Atlantinc run which the Titanic was build along with her sisters vessels to do. Arguable Cunards Queens are just as famous.
Yep
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic_II
Nothing compared to these concepts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Nixon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_offshore_base
http://www.marinetalk.com/articles-marine-companies/art/Giant-Floating-Base-MCD002114539IN.html
Charles Own developed ideas for floating cities
Aerotecture he called it--all the links are dead and gone--similar
http://www.universetoday.com/15570/colonizing-venus-with-floating-cities/
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/D...tegrated_Sensor_Is_Structure_Program_999.html
http://astronautix.com/craft/bonaucer.htm
I doubt this ... vehicle (for lack of a better word) will stay the right side up in a storm.
The trouble nowadays is that everything must be bigger and faster and more expensive. I'd rather have things prettier and more efficient.
Just have a look at this old steamer: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Fred_Pansing_SS_Kaiserin_Auguste_Victoria.jpg
Huge, too, but well-proportioned and elegant.
The trouble nowadays is that everything must be bigger and faster and more expensive. I'd rather have things prettier and more efficient.
Just have a look at this old steamer: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Fred_Pansing_SS_Kaiserin_Auguste_Victoria.jpg
Huge, too, but well-proportioned and elegant.
Well-proportioned, yes, but not as efficient as modern ships in terms of interior volume and room for passenger amenities. And that's what modern cruising is all about.
As sojourner pointed out upthread, today's ships are actually quite stable. They have all the heavy stuff at the bottom, while the upper decks are lightweight aluminum. Cruise ships spend most of their time in the relatively calm waters of the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas, not in the rough North Atlantic. And they steer clear of storms.
Hell, if some things were as top-heavy as they look, Pamela Anderson wouldn't be able to walk without tipping over.
