London-Calling

1 hour ago, DorothyB said:

which NCL ship that you have cruised on do you like best? and why?  Is your itinerary in cold weather or warm weather?

Hi Dorothy,  I'm interested to try Breakaway/Prima, whatever the itinerary.

Hi gang, so I've cruise on Jade, Epic and Pride.  All quite different NCL ships.

How, do you think I would enjoy the new class?

I appreciate that the net is full of reviews, but in a few words (or paragraphs) what do the new ones feel like.

Thanks

(I hear the design is related to MSC Seaside and the Virgin ships, neither of which I've been on)

6 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Should I sit down firmly and brace myself before looking at shorex prices ... I know hotel prices are crazy high, we have extended relatives in HNL.  

Everything Hawaiian is VERY expensive. POA is no different.

Excursions: I would suggest you wait until a Doctor is present in case the shock is too much for you!

Independent operators offer some similar excursions to POA's but for half the price. Check out "Viator".  Alternatively, hire a car.

11 hours ago, mking8288 said:

We sailed the POA in 2009 and given all the changes & asking fares, not sure if we would see the Pride. 

The fares and excursion prices are eye-watering!

23 minutes ago, 1025cruise said:

They can't replace Pride. It has a special exemption to the "built in USA" rule to be US flagged. 

I know.  Well, they will have to do something in the next decade!

Thanks mking. Freestyle seemed to work on "pride" without them.

I wonder how they will replace 'Pride'?  I guess she has ten years or so, left.

I hear that she is there most profitable ship.

Thanks Dorothy. I've seen them in the past, but I'm just back from 'Pride' which does not have them.

Just curious.

Do NCL ships still have video display screens charting how busy the various restaurants are?

There ships used to.

15 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

The US Maritime Administration, the federal agency tasked with supporting US flag shipping, conducted a study years ago, the showed it cost 3 times as much to operate a US flag ship as a comparable foreign flag ship.  In that increased cost, crew cost was nearly 5 times higher..

Excellent information. thanks you.

European river cruising is hardly cheap, but I guess we have more choice and competition.  We do have a few "budget" river cruise products.

Thank you! I was not aware of all this.

However, I was aware of the issues NCL had with "NCL America".  I note that a cruise onboard "Pride of America" can cost twice the normal.

I cruised on "American Queen" a few years ago. What a wonderful ship! She will be a sad loss, if they scrap her.

I've always wanted to cruise the Great Lakes, but the fares that I have seen make my eyes water! I also have to add the long haul fare from the UK.

Struggle? Please tell me more.

Hmm...the way Viking keep expending, ACL need to be scared!

Just found thsi:

American Cruise scraps Countess, Duchess, evaluating Queen, Empress (seatrade-cruise.com)

So why has ACL scrapped American Countess and Duchess, when they paid over $3 million dollars for the pair?  It also sounds like they are going to dispose of the wonderful American Queen too?

Can anybody tell me why? All three ships must have had some life left in them, especially Countess and Queen.

19 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

 

I'll stick with the modernity of the C21st.👍

 

 

It's funny, people never used to need TVs, balconies, atrium, hot tubs and water parks, on their cruises.

Titanic II should be relatively easy to build, being a small ship, by modern standards (56,000gt).

The engines/pods are all of a standard design. There's no LNG capability. I'm guessing that the external apperance and internal decor will be the biggest challenge for Tillberg. Modern fireproof materials will have to be used instead of all that natural wood. There will be some extra fire exits too, in some public rooms.

Surely, even even 'steerage' cabins will have private bathrooms. 

There will of course be no atrium, no pools or hot tubs on deck, no balcony cabins. Palmer even said no TVs and no Wi-Fi. 

6 minutes ago, BlueRiband said:

 If 2024 passes and there is still no contract, I think this latest revival can be written off as something Palmer decided to do because he got bored with politics.

Agreed!

1 hour ago, BlueRiband said:

Two years ago the Belfast Telegraph said that Palmer was having second thoughts on the long term viability of the ship once the initial curiosity had worn off.  

Palmer now says it was Covid that delayed the project, rather than 'second thoughts'.

10 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

They were built on the same Vista design but they are not the same ship.

OK Hot Hattie, they have strong similarities. As exlondoner said, it was going to be QV then they changed their mind half way-ish.

7 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

Cunard's history is, history and for me, you can keep QM2 and her  TAs. I am/was quite happy sailing the Atlantic on Queen Victoria, a cruise ship, not an ocean liner. 🙂

 

Hi Victoria 2, of course Cunard cannot just appeal to "history buffs" and "ship nuts". Anybody is welcome to enjoy their experience, like yourself. However, I would suggest much of what you enjoy about they has been carried over from the past.  If you don't need that, you could choose Celebrity, Princess, NCL or RCI etc. (By the way, P&O's Arcadia is the same ship as Queen Victoria).

For me TA' are what Cunard do best and the QM2 is easily their best ship. You are welcome to disagree.

What you have said, in my humble opinion, is a bit like saying "I've just purchased a vintage Rolls Royce, but I have no interest in historic cars". For me they go hand in hand.

1 hour ago, Victoria2 said:

Have you ever cruised with Cunard? I ask because a simple definition of fantasy is the imagining of the impossible.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes: QM x 2, Queen Vic X 1 and QE2 x1

Surely Cunard's unique selling points (brand)  is "history", "tradition", "class" and "formality".  I'm suggesting that they offer an 'ocean liner' (retro) experience rather than a conventional modern cruise ship one.

That's why there QM2, QV and Lizzy all have rerto 'ocean liner' style décor (Art Deco etc.). That's why their ships are full of painting of other historic ships.  That's why they still offer white-glove afternoon tea. That's why they have hung onto their dress code, more than most cruise lines. That why the QM2 in particular, is a 'real' ocean liner offering regular transatlantic voyages.

The element of "fantasy" is the fact the the QM2 is a modern ship (although designed as an ocean liner) and her other fleet mates look like ocean liners (dark hulls etc. Ocean) but are really cruise ships in disguise.  

If you dream of going to New York onboard the Titanic,  the SS France, the original Queen Mary or Normandie, TODAY the QM2 is you best option.

46 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

Oh do give me the link, not that I'd play! 😄

...I meant the entire Cunard onboard experience!

1 minute ago, Victoria2 said:

We have various Fantasy Football 'leagues' over here in the UK.

 

I guess Fantasy Cruising, if it doesn't already exist,  could be of interest to some. Not me though.

Don't Cunard offer an ocean liner type 'fantasy'?:-)

Exactly! How could he possibly  provide costumes for 2,435 passengers!

Although I do belive that Palmer will build.Titanic II he does tend to speak without knowing the facts himself. For example, he originally said it would be constructed in China which was a daft idea he also said passengers would be provided with costumes! How would that possibly work?

On 3/20/2024 at 8:43 PM, WantedOnVoyage said:

On 3/21/2024 at 10:34 PM, NE John said:

Many of us here know of Hyacinth Bucket and love the QE2 episode. Even Mrs. Bucket seemed to chill out some when dancing with Onslow. 

So would anybody here be interested in a cruise onboard Titanic II or it it just a ridiculous idea?