marylizcat Posted June 8, 2015 #1 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Today I had a long online survey from Fred Olsen to see if we would be interested in cruising on a super-fast trimaran cruise ship. This would mean more ports of call and fewer sea days, for example when going transatlantic to the Caribbean or Eastern Canada. Judging by this survey, such a plan is obviously under consideration. They gave many examples of sample itineraries which could be achieved using this ship, together with a picture of it. I thought it was an excellent idea, especially for those who have not yet retired and can only take two weeks max as holiday at a time. Anybody else get this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jammy Bun Posted June 17, 2015 #2 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Yes, I did that survey too. Said I would NOT be interested! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marylizcat Posted June 17, 2015 Author #3 Share Posted June 17, 2015 That is surprising! I thought the ability to cross the Atlantic with only two sea days was a brilliant idea. I like sea days, but so many all together does not appeal. Also when you are still at work, you cannot spare the time for three or four week holidays, so have to fly to do the Caribbean or Canada. Not to mention that a two week holiday is cheaper than a four week one. What were your reasons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worldfamoustravellers Posted June 17, 2015 #4 Share Posted June 17, 2015 That is surprising! I thought the ability to cross the Atlantic with only two sea days was a brilliant idea. I like sea days, but so many all together does not appeal. Also when you are still at work, you cannot spare the time for three or four week holidays, so have to fly to do the Caribbean or Canada. Not to mention that a two week holiday is cheaper than a four week one. What were your reasons? I'm surprised it's even possible in that time scale!! Definitely not something I would consider. Sea days are an important part of the cruise experience. wft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marylizcat Posted June 17, 2015 Author #5 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I'm surprised it's even possible in that time scale!! Definitely not something I would consider. Sea days are an important part of the cruise experience. wft Well I enjoy sea days too, but five on the trot one way and five back are a bit much for me! Two each way sounds much better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worldfamoustravellers Posted June 17, 2015 #6 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Can anyone give me a link to this survey? Thanks wft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marylizcat Posted June 17, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Can anyone give me a link to this survey? Thanks wft I don't think so. It is not a website. I think you had to be sent the email to participate. Presumably they picked a random sample of previous Fred cruisers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jammy Bun Posted June 17, 2015 #8 Share Posted June 17, 2015 That is surprising! I thought the ability to cross the Atlantic with only two sea days was a brilliant idea. I like sea days, but so many all together does not appeal. Also when you are still at work, you cannot spare the time for three or four week holidays, so have to fly to do the Caribbean or Canada. Not to mention that a two week holiday is cheaper than a four week one. What were your reasons? My reasons... I like sea days best of all and, being retired, am not in a hurry to get anywhere. Prefer longer cruises these days, 3 or 4 weeks would be my ideal. The days at sea bring interesting things to do - I attend art classes, join shuffleboard groups, attend lectures, watch a movie. We're just back from a 7 night transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2, which was just idyllic - NO ports at all in between NY and Southampton! It wasn't immediately obvious which company was doing the survey when you started answering questions, was it? I was quite surprised when Fred's name popped up towards the end of the questioning! It seemed more like the sort of service that a new cruise line might have been considering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marylizcat Posted June 17, 2015 Author #9 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Yes, I was surprised when it turned out to be Fred Olsen. You don't really associate them with ground-breaking, innovative ideas! Possibly they are hoping to attract a slightly younger age group, after all their current clientele won't go on for ever! And as I said, shorter cruises appeal to those not yet retired. But it sounds like even you did not sail both ways transatlantic? Many people prefer to avoid flying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovccruiser Posted June 18, 2015 #10 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I personally would not go near a trimaran. Having sailed on one before, in rough weather they cannot use the speed and roll around making many many passengers ill. Stick to a displacement hull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_T Posted June 18, 2015 #11 Share Posted June 18, 2015 It wasn't immediately obvious which company was doing the survey when you started answering questions, was it? I was quite surprised when Fred's name popped up towards the end of the questioning! It seemed more like the sort of service that a new cruise line might have been considering. It isn't that much of a surprise really as the Fred Olsen Group have been operating trimarans for some time now in their ferry division. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSC_Benchijigua_Express This would be a very different proposition, but it is a type of ship that they already understand very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worldfamoustravellers Posted June 18, 2015 #12 Share Posted June 18, 2015 It wasn't immediately obvious which company was doing the survey when you started answering questions, was it? I was quite surprised when Fred's name popped up towards the end of the questioning! It seemed more like the sort of service that a new cruise line might have been considering. Interesting, so it might not have been a survey initiated by Fred? The more I think about this I wonder....is it a wind-up??? Genuine question and no offence intended to the OP. Is such a crossing feasible? A very rough calculation says the average speed would have to be around 40 knots??????????, but I'm no expert. wft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julessmiles Posted June 18, 2015 #13 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Interesting, so it might not have been a survey initiated by Fred? The more I think about this I wonder....is it a wind-up??? Genuine question and no offence intended to the OP. Is such a crossing feasible? A very rough calculation says the average speed would have to be around 40 knots??????????, but I'm no expert. wft I did actually wonder that too wft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jammy Bun Posted July 1, 2015 #14 Share Posted July 1, 2015 But it sounds like even you did not sail both ways transatlantic? Many people prefer to avoid flying. Hi marylizcat Yes, the Queen Mary crossing was just one way - but we've also done a transatlantic to Canada from Southampton, which was also bliss! Agree, some people don't much like flying - in fact, I'm one of them really, just hate all the hanging around at airports. But I also loathe the long journey from North western England to Southampton. My ideal cruise would be a LONG one (!!!) from Liverpool - to anywhere, with lots of sea days. But we're all different, and isn't that what makes life and living just wonderful! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jammy Bun Posted July 1, 2015 #15 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Interesting, so it might not have been a survey initiated by Fred? The more I think about this I wonder....is it a wind-up??? Genuine question and no offence intended to the OP. Is such a crossing feasible? A very rough calculation says the average speed would have to be around 40 knots??????????, but I'm no expert. wft Have to say, I did wonder that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted July 1, 2015 #16 Share Posted July 1, 2015 A tri could be great less sea days NO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marylizcat Posted July 1, 2015 Author #17 Share Posted July 1, 2015 I enjoy sea days, but prefer no more than four or five scattered through a 14 night cruise, mostly to recover from tiring port days. Also, I suspect Fred is seeking to attract younger customers. Their traditional very elderly ones have the time for longer cruises and are less likely to be receptive to innovation as well. I don't think it was a spoof survey. It was much too long and detailed for anybody to bother, plus they clearly had access to email addresses of previous Fred cruisers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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