Will we ever see an all-new ship design?

[CarnivalPride]

I was wondering, in recent years, Carnival has only been ordering Destiny Class derivatives from Fincantieri. Doesn't anyone agree that this is getting tiresome?

Both the Destiny Class and Spirit Class were revolutionary designs when they were first built, however, all ships starting with the Conquest Class have been Destiny Class derivatives. I think that an all-new design is long overdue. As I stated in the past, I personally would like a new Spirit Class derivative, however, even better would be an all-new design.

If Carnival eventually comes up with an all-new design, I think the top priority for the new ship is to fix the design flaw of the dining hall being split by the galley. Move the galley below the dining hall, and add a third deck to the dining hall with an elevator inside. Carnival should be open to any builder. Even if Fincantieri is the builder of the all-new design, if they correct the flaws of the Destiny Class and their derivatives, that would be excellent.

[waitin4acruise]

The DREAM!!!!! Awsome design check it out.

[CarnivalPride]

The DREAM!!!!! Awsome design check it out.

 

The Dream is NOT an all-new design, it is yet another Destiny Class derivative.

Big_Duck - Your anti-Spirit Class bias has to stop. Everybody knows that the Spirit class is a newer and superior design, and there is no denying that. Continuing to build evolutions of the Destiny Class is like trying to do upgrades to an old obsolete computer. The Spirit Class was designed from scratch, and is thus a newer, more efficient overall design than the Destiny Class.

While I know the odds of a new Spirit Class derivative are very slim, any new design from scratch would be preferrable to more Destiny Class derivatives.

[gtalum]

I think the Conquest-class is well laid out. It's just not hard to get around. I also don't mind two dining rooms.

[dan40]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Do you want to pay RCL prices? Because their huge debt load is the only reason for their higher prices and lower profits. And their debt load comes from ships that are overly ambitious and cost too much. Why would Carnival want to join that silly group?

 

On each of Carnival's ships, there are only a couple of decks that do NOT run from full forward to full aft. All the rest do run the length of the ship. And the ones that do not also DO NOT CHANGE. They are blocked the first day and forever after. Most people have the ability to learn that and navigate accordingly.

And partial decks are common to all cruise lines and all classes of ships. One look at a deck plan and you think, "I can't use that deck to go from one end to the other." And that's it. If you are unable to learn that, Well........

Dan

[big_duck]

I've sailed on every class of Carnival ship (not just one), except for the Holiday. I stand by my opinion, the Splendor is the best ship in the fleet.

[RatherBFishin]

I was wondering, in recent years, Carnival has only been ordering Destiny Class derivatives from Fincantieri. Doesn't anyone agree that this is getting tiresome?

 

To answer the question (without arguing about which design is "best"), as long as they stay with a Beam of 116 ft, I'm not sure how much you expect either the hull design, or the cabin-only decks to change. There's alot about the ships that work just fine.

 

Also, if you look at the construction cost per lower berth, Carnival is great at keeping their amortization costs to a minimum. That includes Carnival's sister lines. Compare either the Carnival Dream or Ruby Princess (183k) with NCL's F3 ships (223k) and you can see they take less risk up front with each new build.

 

Reference: http://www.cruisecommunity.com/Search/nb.asp

 

So, your question is really if they will even go with a wider/taller ship? And if they do, will they shuffle the public spaces around significantly?

 

Who knows. I doubt anyone who posts here does.

[BigDfromTN]

The Dream is NOT an all-new design, it is yet another Destiny Class derivative.

 

Big_Duck - Your anti-Spirit Class bias has to stop. Everybody knows that the Spirit class is a newer and superior design, and there is no denying that. Continuing to build evolutions of the Destiny Class is like trying to do upgrades to an old obsolete computer. The Spirit Class was designed from scratch, and is thus a newer, more efficient overall design than the Destiny Class.

 

While I know the odds of a new Spirit Class derivative are very slim, any new design from scratch would be preferrable to more Destiny Class derivatives.

 

HMMMMMMM.

Interesting thread here!:rolleyes:

Especially since the seemingly resident expert has a claim to fame of a single cruise! Has only 39 posts. And has an avatar of "Family Feud".:confused:

 

Makes me wonder if he is just here to cite other board members into a heated discussion????:confused:

 

Can someone pass me a tub of popcorn?

[CarnivalPride]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Do you want to pay RCL prices? Because their huge debt load is the only reason for their higher prices and lower profits. And their debt load comes from ships that are overly ambitious and cost too much. Why would Carnival want to join that silly group?

 

On each of Carnival's ships, there are only a couple of decks that do NOT run from full forward to full aft. All the rest do run the length of the ship. And the ones that do not also DO NOT CHANGE. They are blocked the first day and forever after. Most people have the ability to learn that and navigate accordingly.

And partial decks are common to all cruise lines and all classes of ships. One look at a deck plan and you think, "I can't use that deck to go from one end to the other." And that's it. If you are unable to learn that, Well........

Dan

 

Of course, I am NOT asking for an Oasis killer. And the design is very flawed, so it is broke. The Spirit Class was designed by people with brains, and Carnival should learn from customer experiences that people prefer full-length decks.

[gtalum]

And the design is very flawed, so it is broke.

 

Can you explain why you think the design is flawed? Personally, while I loved Carnival Miracle, I much prefer both the Fantasy and Conquest classes to the Spirit class.

[shortstop95]

Have to agree... while the Miracle was nice... the Conquest class (we've done Glory, Valor, Liberty & soon Splendor)...is very nice and the ships sail full.

[VentureMan_2000]

Does anyone have a link to Carnival's concept ship clip...?

[CarnivalPride]

Can you explain why you think the design is flawed? Personally, while I loved Carnival Miracle, I much prefer both the Fantasy and Conquest classes to the Spirit class.

 

Well, considering the fact that the lines for the dining halls on the Conquest and Destiny Classes are always long and crowded, the lines always move much faster on the Spirit Class ships. That is because to get from one side of the dining hall to the other, you have to traverse floors.

This is somewhat of a similar comparison to major airports. For example, lets compare Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Chicago 0'Hare International Airport. General consensus is that the Atlanta Airport's layout is more efficient and easier to navigate, while Chicago O'Hare's layout is more spread out and scattered. That is why many airports have copied ATL's design, most notably Denver International Airport.

[dan40]

Of course, I am NOT asking for an Oasis killer. And the design is very flawed, so it is broke. The Spirit Class was designed by people with brains, and Carnival should learn from customer experiences that people prefer full-length decks.

 

Partial decks from the first 3 lines I looked at, there are many more.

 

NCL Jewel class 6 partial

NCL Dawn class 6 partial

NCL Sky 3 "

 

RCL Freedom class 3 partial

RCL Voyager class 3 "

RCL Sovereign class 6 partial

 

 

X Century class, Plaza deck partial

 

It is a common way to build a ship, and is illogical to be bothered so badly by a thing that is always the way it is. If they CHANGED the full and partial decks during your cruise, I could understand. But then too, when Barb and I come out of a store she always looks at me to head for the car. She never has any idea where it is parked, even if she drove.

 

Dan

[gtalum]

Well, considering the fact that the lines for the dining halls on the Conquest and Destiny Classes are always long and crowded, the lines always move much faster on the Spirit Class ships. That is because to get from one side of the dining hall to the other, you have to traverse floors.

 

I did not notice this to be the case. On Glory, as on Miracle, we had a cocktail on the Promenade deck and then strolled into the dining room 5 minutes after seating time with no wait. As far as I know, there's no rule that you have to wait in line to get seated for dinner on any class of ship for any line. I have seen similar lines on all classes, I just choose not to stand in them.

[big_duck]

I did not notice this to be the case. On Glory, as on Miracle, we had a cocktail on the Promenade deck and then strolled into the dining room 5 minutes after seating time with no wait. As far as I know, there's no rule that you have to wait in line to get seated for dinner on any class of ship for any line. I have seen similar lines on all classes, I just choose not to stand in them.

 

I SAW dinner lines on the Legend in March go all they back to the Casino. :confused:

 

I just sat and had a cocktail and waited for the craziness to pass. I'm not lining up to go anywhere where I already have an assigned seat and I know they won't run out of food.

[CarnivalPride]

Partial decks from the first 3 lines I looked at, there are many more.

 

NCL Jewel class 6 partial

NCL Dawn class 6 partial

NCL Sky 3 "

 

RCL Freedom class 3 partial

RCL Voyager class 3 "

RCL Sovereign class 6 partial

 

 

X Century class, Plaza deck partial

 

It is a common way to build a ship, and is illogical to be bothered so badly by a thing that is always the way it is. If they CHANGED the full and partial decks during your cruise, I could understand. But then too, when Barb and I come out of a store she always looks at me to head for the car. She never has any idea where it is parked, even if she drove.

 

Dan

 

Interestingly, looking at RCCL's Radiance Class ships (which are RCCL's closest equivalents to Carnival's Spirit Class), they do not have split decks.

I wonder, could Panamax form factor have anything to do with this? Both the Spirit Class and Radiance Class are Panamax ships.

[DarthGrady]

Well, considering the fact that the lines for the dining halls on the Conquest and Destiny Classes are always long and crowded, the lines always move much faster on the Spirit Class ships.

 

How do you know? It doesn't appear that you've been on those types of ships. I have never been on a Spirit class (yet), so I can't comment on them, good or bad. You may want you actually go on a "Destiny class derivative" before reporting negatively about them, you might actually like them!

 

Besides, newbies are always gonna crowd the area in front of the dining rooms before dinner, they don't know any better. Its like a race to get to their assigned seats.:D

[Dave85]

I look forward for sailing on the Dream Class, but I must admit that I am a little disappointed that it looks so similar to the Conquest class. Obviously I like the Conquest Class because I've sailed on it (as well as the Destiny Class so many times), but I was excited by the thought that Carnival would do something completely different... and am honestly a little disappointed.

 

I will, of course, reserve final judgment on the Dream Class for when I sail on her! Maybe once we actually all set foot on the Dream Class, we'll feel it's very different than the Conquest Class. Only time will tell.

[waitin4acruise]

I look forward for sailing on the Dream Class, but I must admit that I am a little disappointed that it looks so similar to the Conquest class. Obviously I like the Conquest Class because I've sailed on it (as well as the Destiny Class so many times), but I was excited by the thought that Carnival would do something completely different... and am honestly a little disappointed.

 

I will, of course, reserve final judgment on the Dream Class for when I sail on her! Maybe once we actually all set foot on the Dream Class, we'll feel it's very different than the Conquest Class. Only time will tell.

I really think you will love the Dream go to John's blog and check out what he says it really is a Dream!;)

[Caribbean Dad]

How do you know? It doesn't appear that you've been on those types of ships. I have never been on a Spirit class (yet), so I can't comment on them, good or bad. You may want you actually go on a "Destiny class derivative" before reporting negatively about them, you might actually like them!

 

Very sound advice. Makes a person sound much more credible if they have actually experienced what they are compairing. I have sailed all three classes and whilst I loved Legend, Valor was fantastic too. Victory was no slouch either.

 

Besides, newbies are always gonna crowd the area in front of the dining rooms before dinner, they don't know any better. Its like a race to get to their assigned seats.:D

 

Amen. Same goes for the buffet. I never could figure out how people could be in such a hurry on a cruise ship. Sit back, drank another beer and let the lines clear out. I know I can still order a second Lobster when I get to my assigned set. ;)

[VentureMan_2000]

Well... We've cruised the "Celebration" class if you will... and the Spirit class, and Destiny class.

 

We liked Victory's Lido pool area with tiered decks a lot better than the Spirit Class single level pool deck.

 

It was never an issue for us that the Destiny class ships has the disconnect in the center when trying to traverse the decks... it just made us use the stairs a lot more... and let me tell you... with all the food and drink on board, there needs to be a lot more folks taking the stairs.

 

In fact, you should have to wear a blue handicap playcard around your neck if you want to use an elevator... :D

[BigDfromTN]

 

I think the top priority for the new ship is to fix the design flaw of the dining hall being split by the galley. Move the galley below the dining hall, and add a third deck to the dining hall with an elevator inside.

 

Interesting concept you have here!

 

BUT would this not add to the problem you seem to have with a ship?

 

If you make the Dining room an extra floor taller and move the galley below you will be blocking more floors. Unless of course you just want to have a very long hall down one side of the ship with nothing there but room for passengers that cant find their way up or down a floor and then on to the front/back of the ship.

 

I like the Fantasy and Conquest classes. I am yet to sail the others. BUT I dont seem to have a problem finding my way around any of the ships.

 

And the lines...... Only at the lido buffet for me! Another cocktail and all is good. Just like the old song...."Walk right in, Sit right down".......

[ShedQueen77]

Not to be snarky, but you're looking for a NEW ship design right? Then why duplicate the Spirit class in the same fashion as you claim the Destiny/Conquest class as been duplicated? Seriously not being rude, just curious as to if I misinterpreted your intent.

 

Honestly, I don't see any new ship builds coming out in the near future. With an uncertain economy and the fact that Carnival has put the Freedom and Splendor out there pretty recently with the Dream and Magic to follow, I think they'll bide their time. It'd be nice though! :D

[RatherBFishin]

Does anyone have a link to Carnival's concept ship clip...?

 

I do.

 

It was actually done by Fincantieri, not Carnival. Although they chose to use Carnival colors and trim (ie the Funnel) in the animation.