Mercury Yesterday

[TravelerThom]

I had posted this back in November....

 

The Francis Scott Key Bridge has a navigational clearance under the main span of 185 feet. The air draft being the distance from the waterline to the highest part of the ship above water. Air Draft comparisons:

 

QE2 171'

Celebrity Mercury - 177'

Voyager of the Seas - 208'

Oasis of the Seas - 236'

Celebrity Solstice - 200'

Grand Princess - 188'

Queen Mary 2 - 203'

The MILLENNIUM-class would be a very tight fit but doable. Remembering that the Francis Scott Key Bridge has a navigational clearance of 185', here are some more air draft comparisons courtesy of some friends in the UK and Norway:

 

Millennium-class 180'

Carnival Dream 203'

Carnival Destiny 195'

Grand/Caribbean Princess-class 188-213'

 

Thread showing that a Grand-Class did visit Baltimore:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=653296

 

Original post of air drafts:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=26920987&postcount=58

 

From this thread:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1310016[/color]

Thanks for this info. Let me add that Oasis class funnels are retractable to 212', allowing passage under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into New York Harbor.

 

If Grand Princess is your listed height it is too tall to get under Key Bridge. Does it have some retractablity, or did it dock outside Key Bridge?

 

Thom

[jgnova]

If Grand Princess is your listed height it is too tall to get under Key Bridge. Does it have some retractablity, or did it dock outside Key Bridge?

 

Thom

 

Maybe they can take on more ballast and get a couple of feet lower? Isn't that what Oasis / Allure did to get out of the shipyard? (besides going faster which supposedly gets it pulled down into the water)

 

j

[TravelerThom]

Maybe they can take on more ballast and get a couple of feet lower? Isn't that what Oasis / Allure did to get out of the shipyard? (besides going faster which supposedly gets it pulled down into the water)

The two items you mention plus sailing on ebb tide are definitely ways to get more clearance, but it would seem that these would only be done for special occasions, such as the mentioned exit from the shipyard. I doubt they would be done for any regular sailings [but of course I don't run a cruise line, so maybe I'm wrong:cool:]

 

Thom

[pjlee3333]

We love the port of Baltimore - and will be switching to RCL for the near term. No days wasted from us. The only thing we ever complain about is the art auction sucking up the premium indoor space on the last sea day. :mad:

I agree. That's why it's been so nice the last few cruises with them gone. I don't remember if they are being replaced.

[jcrandle]

I had posted this back in November....

 

The Francis Scott Key Bridge has a navigational clearance under the main span of 185 feet. The air draft being the distance from the waterline to the highest part of the ship above water. Air Draft comparisons:

 

QE2 171'

Celebrity Mercury - 177'

Voyager of the Seas - 208'

Oasis of the Seas - 236'

Celebrity Solstice - 200'

Grand Princess - 188'

Queen Mary 2 - 203'

The MILLENNIUM-class would be a very tight fit but doable. Remembering that the Francis Scott Key Bridge has a navigational clearance of 185', here are some more air draft comparisons courtesy of some friends in the UK and Norway:

 

Millennium-class 180'

Carnival Dream 203'

Carnival Destiny 195'

Grand/Caribbean Princess-class 188-213'

 

Thread showing that a Grand-Class did visit Baltimore:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=653296

 

Original post of air drafts:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=26920987&postcount=58

 

From this thread:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1310016[/color]

 

Based on your figures, if the cruise line would just offer free beer, ALL of these ships would fit!:D