What's the difference between a regular cruise ship and an ocean liner?

[Heidi13]

8 hours ago, MBP&O2/O said:

We had sights at 0900 ...2 for 3/O and 2 for self. Like you a self designed template which reduced the calculations time to 3 mins. Tried to make it quick as getting up and being semi conscious for 9am after a 12x4 etc ...

Noon at when ever o'clock and AM / PM stars for the 4 to 8, which I used to love.

Given a good moon and good conditions I used to do stars at 0200 ... mainly to use an alternative method, ie morning ones Long by Chron and 0200 one Marq St. Hilaire.

Good for keeping your hand in so to speak.

 

That's similar to what we did on the cargo ships, but cruise ships had to advise pax of the Noon position, days run, average speed, etc right at Noon. When Mer/Alt was close to Noon or after, we couldn't wait to determine the Noon position, as once 8-bells sounded, the Noon position was broadcast.

 

We worked up a Noon DR, then additional DR's for 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00 & 10:30.  If Mer Alt was after Noon, we might start sights at 09:00 and add another at 11:00. We then did most of the calculations in the template, usually before the 2nd sight at 09:00. Sights were taken to the second, with a spotter counting down the time. Within minutes of getting the altitude, we had a bearing and intercept to plot. By 10:30, the position lines generally gave a reasonable cocked hat that we could select a Noon position. We then completed the day's run calculations and got the Noon speech ready. Also took Mer/Alt, but it was really only to confirm our informed guess of the Noon position.

 

Rarely received a Sat Nav fix right at Noon, and while it did provide a position between fixes, it was a DR position. Comparing the Sat Nav position to our sights, we often got within a mile or two of the Sat Nav position.

 

With multiple GPS, today's navigators have it so much easier. They even get a comfortable seat on the Bridge, no more standing.

 

Only ever used Long by Chron at college, always used Marc St Hilaire at sea.

[wcook]

On 7/1/2024 at 11:59 AM, lenquixote66 said:

It was his initial plan to sail in 1912 but for some reason that I cannot recall he had to wait a year.

Probably for the best. 1912 wasn’t the best year for ocean crossings. 

[lenquixote66]

1 hour ago, wcook said:

Probably for the best. 1912 wasn’t the best year for ocean crossings. 

Correct,if by chance he was on the Titanic I likely would not be posting this.

[Francinv]

What I know is An ocean liner is built for speed and durability to handle long-distance, travel, while a cruise ship is designed for passenger comfort.