Starship recreation areas...have the gotten smaller?

[Gotham Central]

One of the things that I've noticed over the years is that although Federation starships have generally gotten larger, the amount of space dedicated to recreation has gotten smaller.

This is most obvious when you compare the refit Enterprise with the Enterprise D.

The refit has some noticeably HUGE rec areas/lounges incorporated into the design (and they are all visible on the model). You have the massive Rec Deck where Kirk briefs the crew in TMP. You have the smaller but still relatively large Officer's recreation lounge beneath the bride module. Finally you have the enormous Arboretum with its huge windows in the engineering section that is a simulated park environment. Even the Enterprise A had a more lavish nautical theme lounge onboard.

I find it somewhat peculiar that the significantly larger Enterprise D which had families on board, did not have large common areas.

Why do you think that is?

 

[Myasishchev]

Holodecks, maybe? A holodeck could be the size of a closet.

And I think there is a garden of some sort on the E-D. Isn't it shown in that one with the evil little girl/alien lifeform thing?

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

Budget affects all aspects of space travel.

 

[Michael]

And I think there is a garden of some sort on the E-D. Isn't it shown in that one with the evil little girl/alien lifeform thing?

It is. Oh, and don't forget Cetacean Ops.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

The official blueprints show a bunch of large recreational facilities if I remember correctly. I don't have the Sternbach plans for ref., though.

 

[Middle Earther]

But Kirk's Enterprise had a bowling alley!! Beat that!

 

[Myasishchev]

And I think there is a garden of some sort on the E-D. Isn't it shown in that one with the evil little girl/alien lifeform thing?

It is. Oh, and don't forget Cetacean Ops.

Oh brother.

 

[USS KG5]

But Kirk's Enterprise had a bowling alley!! Beat that!

The Enterprise-D is massive, absolutely massive. Plenty of room for every kind of recreational facility imaginable.

 

[barnaclelapse]

E looked even bigger, so I can't imagine every possible recreation need wasn't taken care of. I don't know though. I could certainly be wrong, as I've never really given it a whole lot of thought.

 

[Jaespol]

Yes, I always thought ten forward looked much too small on the Ent-D. I dont think the E has families aboard though.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

For all of those with the schematics and/or specs handy... What's the circumference of the saucer? That would make a killer running track, if they had done so.

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[Isis]

With the advent of holodecks in TNG, isn't this question a moot point?

 

[Isis]

Holodecks, maybe? A holodeck could be the size of a closet.

And I think there is a garden of some sort on the E-D. Isn't it shown in that one with the evil little girl/alien lifeform thing?

Whoops...sorry for the unoriginal thought...didn't see the first line of this one.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

Yes, I always thought ten forward looked much too small on the Ent-D. I dont think the E has families aboard though.

Ten Forward was just the uber-cool hangout for the big, fancy officers. There were more lounges spread around the rim of the saucer and other locations. At least, that's how Probert intended. But then again, he didn't intend for the rim of the saucer to be two decks.

 

[USS KG5]

Rick Sternbach's blueprints also show many lounges scattered around the ship, and also really give you an idea of the scale of the ship, the saucer alone is massive and really when all decks are taken into account is almost a small town in space.

 

[AdmiralSteven]

Ten Forward was just the uber-cool hangout for the big, fancy officers. There were more lounges spread around the rim of the saucer and other locations. At least, that's how Probert intended. But then again, he didn't intend for the rim of the saucer to be two decks.

I too thought Ten Forward was a cool place to hang out. I would deffinately want one on my ship.

 

[sbk1234]

I think one of the ideas was that Enterprise-D, and presumably other ships, would have more smaller, more intimate and relaxing places for crewmembers to kickback when off-duty.
Personally, I never really saw the need for such a massive rec-deck as seen in TMP, other than to make a dramatic shot.