Dream cruising speed "only" 20 knots...!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I was surprised to see, on Carnival's website, that the Dream will have a cruising speed of 20 knots.

 

The Spirit and Conquest class ships are 22 and 22.5 knots respectively - at least according to the information you obtain by moving your cursor over the "?" mark near the different ship classes: http://www.carnival.com/FunShips.aspx. Granted, you can find many different reported (posted) cruising speeds cited for these ships - so who really knows?

 

That makes the Dream ~ 10% slower, perhaps limiting her reach to farther destinations if they are only going to make her a 7 day ship. If she is a 7 day ship, then they will need to run her closer to 100% to avoid having shorter port times - everything else being equal. I can understand, in this time of rising fuel prices, that $ might be a factor here as well.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Tom

[DarthGrady]

That is odd. Shes not that much bigger than the Conquest class. I wonder if maybe they are switching over to azipods? I can't fathom why that would slow her down though.

[chandom]

I think the speed Carnival has is incorrect. Fincantieri shows the max speed as 22.5 knots, in this case faster than Freedom and Splendor.

[big_duck]

I'd question the numbers as well. It has always been my understanding that the Spirit class was the fastest of the bunch which is why it gets all the long haul cruises.

[PaulMedik]

We ran 23 knots on Carnival Freedom after we left St Martin and returned unscheduled to St Thomas for a medical emergency. From our aft cabin you could really see the increased churn of the azipods as compared to normal speed. I was on our balcony when they increased the speed and noticed the change not by feel, but by watching the wake behind us. I went inside and checked the speed on the TV and then Fred called and told me about the medical reroute.

 

Like everyone else I'm really looking forward to trying her out at any speed!

 

Of all the renderings and specs I've seen, I haven't seen any details of the aft sections. Any ideas on how the 9A cabins will be configured or will they be Cat 11s like Spirit Class?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

Of all the renderings and specs I've seen, I haven't seen any details of the aft sections. Any ideas on how the 9A cabins will be configured or will they be Cat 11s like Spirit Class?

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some SUITE corners!

 

Tom

[nolaAlive]

I'm not convinced any Conquest class ships have true azipod propulsion - I thought they all had rudders.

 

Spirit class are the swiftest of the Carnival ships as far as I know and they do have azipod propulsion.

[*Mach*]

Fincantieri claims a cruising speed of 22.5 knots for the Splendor...

[marktac]

Cruising speed and top speed are two different numbers. No ship runs at top speed, at least for any length of time, unless there is an emergency or other such reason.

[*Mach*]

Cruising speed and top speed are two different numbers. No ship runs at top speed, at least for any length of time, unless there is an emergency or other such reason.

 

 

When the Queen Victoria did a tandem crossing with the QE2 she was at full speed for the duration. The QE2 will manage about 32 knots. She was throttled back to stay with the Queen Vic at 24 knots...

[*Mach*]

I'm not convinced any Conquest class ships have true azipod propulsion - I thought they all had rudders.

 

Spirit class are the swiftest of the Carnival ships as far as I know and they do have azipod propulsion.

 

 

In fact, the Valor has Azipod propulsion as do the Spirit class ships...

[nolaAlive]

In fact, the Valor has Azipod propulsion as do the Spirit class ships...

 

I have seen references to that - but not sure it is the typical type of azipod.

 

Since Destiny Class begat Conquest class, I did not think there was room for rotating azipods without a hull redesign which would have been a major effort.

 

Whenever the Valor goes into drydock, a picture of the hull would be most enlightening.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Well - I trust the shipbuilder MORE THAN Carnival w/regard to specifications. :rolleyes:

 

The Carnival website and their "Cruise Vacation Specialists" are frequently giving erroneous information! I had a PVP call me recently trying to see if I was interested in booking a cruise - I pointed out that I had "plenty" booked right now, she asked what my next booking was and I gave her the booking #. At that point she said "oh, you are in a Penthouse suite". I told her "no, the Owner's Suite". She proceeded to tell me that it does not exist -- we went around and around for a couple of minutes - very amusing. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

Tom

[DarthGrady]

I believe they were able to install Azipods on Elation and Paradise without a major hull redesign from the rest of the class.

 

On Wikipedia it does have Valor listed as an Azipod ship.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azipod

[*Mach*]

I have seen references to that - but not sure it is the typical type of azipod.

 

Since Destiny Class begat Conquest class, I did not think there was room for rotating azipods without a hull redesign which would have been a major effort.

 

Whenever the Valor goes into drydock, a picture of the hull would be most enlightening.

 

 

I got my information from ABB Marine, the manufacturer of the Azipod propulsion system. Here's a screen shot from the PDF file that I got from them:

 

 

Please note that the Valor is listed as having the standard Azipod system, not the 'compact Azipod'...

[nolaAlive]

Noted. I have also seen references such as this

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/Articles/Articles/Fall_05_:_New_Ships_:_Liberty:_Proven_Design/

 

"

According to Richard Vie, vice president of newbuilding and technical development for Carnival Corporation, the previous ships in the Conquest class had engines developed in the 1960s, and it was time for an update. “The Wartsila engines burn less fuel,” he noted. It wasn’t difficult to incorporate them into the Liberty because her size and wide design allowed for the change, Vie said.

 

 

The Liberty isn’t using podded propulsion, Vie added. “The Destiny class was designed before that technology was around,” he said. “The redesign costs would be significant to incorporate that into the ship, but we are using pods in some newbuilds. For example, Holland America Line’s Noordam, under construction in Marghera, will utilize pods, as have many of Holland America’s newbuildings over the years.”

 

"

[*Mach*]

Noted. I have also seen references such as this

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/Articles/Articles/Fall_05_:_New_Ships_:_Liberty:_Proven_Design/

 

"

According to Richard Vie, vice president of newbuilding and technical development for Carnival Corporation, the previous ships in the Conquest class had engines developed in the 1960s, and it was time for an update. “The Wartsila engines burn less fuel,” he noted. It wasn’t difficult to incorporate them into the Liberty because her size and wide design allowed for the change, Vie said.

 

 

The Liberty isn’t using podded propulsion, Vie added. “The Destiny class was designed before that technology was around,” he said. “The redesign costs would be significant to incorporate that into the ship, but we are using pods in some newbuilds. For example, Holland America Line’s Noordam, under construction in Marghera, will utilize pods, as have many of Holland America’s newbuildings over the years.”

 

"

 

 

I've read that article, as well...

Note that it refernces the Destiny class, some 59 feet shorter than the Conquest class.

I tend to believe ABB in this instance. The Valor is an Azipod ship.

[Wennfred]

I was surprised to see, on Carnival's website, that the Dream will have a cruising speed of 20 knots.

 

Tom

 

Tom, thats their unclassified speed, I'm sure their classified speed is 30+ knots.

 

 

Fred

[DarthGrady]

So heres my question: Why did Valor get podded propulsion but not Liberty or Freedom. Kinda weird that they did only one midway through the class. Maybe it cost too much?

[DarthGrady]

Tom, thats their unclassified speed, I'm sure their classified speed is 30+ knots.

 

 

Fred

 

Kinda like the "Big U"? Didn't she do like 45 knots?

[Wennfred]

So heres my question: Why did Valor get podded propulsion but not Liberty or Freedom. Kinda weird that they did only one midway through the class. Maybe it cost too much?

 

The Spirit class ships have had some trouble with theirs so maybe they are trying to cut back on these, we will see how it goes on the Splendor and Dream.

 

Click here and check out this nice article on the Freedom of the Seas Azipods, nice pictures of them also:

 

http://www02.abb.com/global/seitp/seitp161.nsf/0/b8639f2725c61e83c12570dd002d5d9d/$file/FrontRunner_1205_LowRes.pdf

 

 

Fred

[gargoyle999]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some SUITE corners!

 

Tom

 

2nd that! :D

[Wennfred]

Kinda like the "Big U"? Didn't she do like 45 knots?

 

1) Biggest Secret about the Big U. Top Speed? 47 knots? Fact or Fiction? 50+ knots?

I'm sure that in time of war the Freedom as a troop carrier with alittle help and replacing its fuel will top 30+ knots easy.

U.S. Navy never post their classified battle speeds :D

Fred

[Wennfred]

Wait till Carnival goes to Gas Turbine engines like DC-10's :D which is what most Naval War Vessels use today. Destroyers use 4 of these DC-10 jet engines.

 

 

Fred

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Tom, thats their unclassified speed, I'm sure their classified speed is 30+ knots.

 

 

Fred

 

It's TOUGH comparing apples to oranges. Perhaps they WANT to keep us confused!!

 

(Incorrect) information overload :eek:

 

Tom