Your thoughts on Mega Ships

[klfhngr]

I was looking at the Oasis and couldn't believe everything it had to offer... I would try it once to see how I liked it. I agree with the idea of overcrowding the ports and I could only imagine how long the late line would be for 5,400 people!

 

I do like the Valor and that is a bigger ship than most. I enjoy the room and places you can go...

 

I'm assuming that the 5,400 passengers is only double occupancy, am I correct? So technically, there could be more, plus the ships crew! You're looking at possible 7,000 people or more, just from ONE ship! Imagine the Caymans' with the current ships AND Oasis?!

 

Also, can you imagine tendering from it!?

[G'ma]

I think a few things that should be considered:

 

About the Oasis not making it past a year - RCCL would never do that. you don't invest millions of dollars on a superliner and then dock it in Dubai. If RCCL came into problems because the ship wasn't able to be filled, they will retire some of their older and less efficent ships before they dock the Oasis. Wasn't speaking of RCCL docking the ship in Dubai...was talking about when Oasis or Allure is purchased by the government and docked there....or somewhere similar. I believe that RCCL would sell off these mega monsters before sacrificing their smaller ships....most people prefer the smaller ones.

 

I won't be on any of the mega liners because they are WAYYY too big. Aside from the sheer size of the ship (my personal preference) the ports will be wall-to-wall people. In fact, I check all of my cruises to make sure that none of the big ships will be close when I am there. That's my strategy also.....for all future cruises. I'll check where these monsters are going and will plan to go the other direction, for sure.:p

 

I've often wondered how the locals feel about 10K people coming into town for 8 hour rampages. I lived near the NYC port and I HATED the traffic and all the tourists. blah.... As most of us know, someplace like Grand Cayman can be a nightmare with 4/5 ships at anchor and thousands ashore from those ships. If my cruise stops at Cayman, I either stay onboard or have a rental car available to "get out of Dodge". I usually head for Rum Point....no tourist attractions.....nice beach, nice little shack to get something to eat.....

 

I do agree - some of the perks of the new and big ships are cool, but I'd rather get more personalized service on a smaller ship.

 

I really find no attraction to these behemoths at all... Perhaps if it was in port somewhere and was offering an "open house" to the public to come aboard and check it out, I'd go to see what it looks like. However, I have no desire to be on a ship that looks like a shopping mall/amusement park and holds over 5500 passengers!!!!!:eek:

[dan40]

Amazing that ships like the Carnival Fantasy class are NO LONGER mega-ships. I missed when they shrunk them. I do remember all the hoopla about how HUGE they were when they were new. Many thought they were TOO big. Now they are the "little old ships."

For the next 10 years or so, mega-ships will be what is available. Love them or hate them, they're here!!!

 

Dan

[pe4all]

I swore I would never go on a "big" ship, and here I am, booked on the Dream! I think that this ship is the largest I'm willing to go on. If I feel there are too many people around, i can always escape to my balcony- have done that on the past few cruises. It becomes my personal island/refuge/escape. I don't use all the bells and whistles some of the other lines offer. I don't need a mall to walk around in when I am on a ship. I thought the Freedom/Liberty was the perfect size for my family. Hope I'm not overwhelmed by the Dream.

[Curt Jerome Wild]

I prefer Fantasy Class as the perfect ship size.

I'm so glad that they have been investing in the Evolutions of Fun, as it means they'll be around for much longer.

[clearwater10]

I have cruised about 21 times and loved them all. Last year we went of the RCCL Liberty which was the last one until the Oasis. Of course we spent more for the cruise but we wanted to experience the mega ship. We thoroughly loved it. Didn't feel overcrowed at all. It wasn't possible to do everything. We don't do rock climbing, flo rider, etc. but we really enjoyed the waterpark, ice skating show, parades in the promenade. However, the carnival ships have most of their entertainment venue right on the promenade and you can walk by each one and go from club to club etc and the casino right there. On the RCCL Liberty it was spread out up and down and all over. It was a great experience but this year we are on the Valor for half the price. But next year will might try the Oasis if we get a good price. I have fun on any of them. As for the ports being crowded. Check the port days before you book and see what ships are are with you before you decide if this is an issue for you. I find all people are different and each cruise I take is for a different reason. Sometimes for relaxtion, sometimes for lots to do and sometimes for the ports. So decide what this cruise experience is important to you and go with that.

[theos on the go]

If you think that Oasis is huge, what are you going to do when this bad boy shows up to port?!! http://www.oceansilkroad.com/

 

Wow. That is simply incredible. It truly looks like a city on water. If I saw that ship coming to port I would run back to my ship and quick. I wouldn't want to be at the dock when everyone disembarked that behemoth! Wonder how long the wait would be for the Mongolian Grill on that ship (ha ha).

 

I hope that there will always be a different type and size of ship to choose from. The experience is different for everyone :) I like to get off the ship and visit all the ports we go to -- good and bad -- we always seem to enjoy something new, of course it would be a totally new experience if 10,000 people disembarked off just one ship when we were also in port YIKES :)

[Wolfie48]

Hi all,

 

We were thinking of going on a cruise in 2010. Obviously we will be going on a Carnival cruise. We just happen to like Carnival cruise ships.

I noticed that the mega ship Oasis is coming out May 2010. I believe she will carry 5400+ passengers and cruise the eastern / western Caribbean. I have been to eastern Caribbean ports where we were wall to wall with people from other cruise ships. What do you think it will be like when a mega ship "comes to town" (so to speak)? I am a bit concerned about the beaches, etc. I don't mind a little bit crowded but 5400+ people coming from one cruise ship alone might be a bit too intimidating. I'm hoping that we will not be in port at the same time but it can happen with the popular ports.

 

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on the new "mega ships". How do you think this "new wave of cruising" is going to change cruising?

 

Dw and I love the Spirit class ships the ratio of space per passanger is perfect for us. But we are making plans to try the Splendor in 2010. At that point I will have a more informed opinion. Happy cruising

[klfhngr]

Wow. That is simply incredible. It truly looks like a city on water. If I saw that ship coming to port I would run back to my ship and quick. I wouldn't want to be at the dock when everyone disembarked that behemoth! Wonder how long the wait would be for the Mongolian Grill on that ship (ha ha).

 

I hope that there will always be a different type and size of ship to choose from. The experience is different for everyone :) I like to get off the ship and visit all the ports we go to -- good and bad -- we always seem to enjoy something new, of course it would be a totally new experience if 10,000 people disembarked off just one ship when we were also in port YIKES :)

 

Variety is good, so is competition... Yea, that sucker is HUGE!!!!!!!! I can't imagine!

[HighlandCruzer]

Wasn't speaking of RCCL docking the ship in Dubai...was talking about when Oasis or Allure is purchased by the government and docked there....or somewhere similar. I believe that RCCL would sell off these mega monsters before sacrificing their smaller ships....most people prefer the smaller ones.

 

The standard occupancy rate for most RCCL ships is 105%. While the smaller ships might be preferable to some, they do however cost the cruise line a tremendous amount of money to operate, more so than their larger ships. I agree that if it should ever come to that point, the first ships to go will be those smaller ships that bring in considerably less revenue whether those ships are "preferable" or not.

[dan40]

When RCL goes belly up and the ship becomes Carnival Oasis, will it still be too big?:eek::D:rolleyes:

 

 

Dan

[Cruise Cat]

I like the mega ships as long as they keep the smaller ships too. That way everyone will flock to the mega ships and leave more room on the smaller ships!

[G'ma]

When RCL goes belly up and the ship becomes Carnival Oasis, will it still be too big?:eek::D:rolleyes:

 

 

Dan

 

Ha--good one!:D

 

Really, I don't think Carnival would take on the debt for this one...or the next one.....even Carnival has it's limits.

 

I could see them taking on some of the other newer vessels in the RCCL fleet, though.

[Cruzman]

When RCL goes belly up and the ship becomes Carnival Oasis, will it still be too big?:eek::D:rolleyes:

 

 

Dan

 

Don't care what label you hang on it, I will, to the best of my ability, avoid being in port with any ship that size.

[Cruzman]

If interested, this article gives an investors perspective of cruise lines in general, and appears to name RCCI in particular, to have some concerns about.

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20090128&id=9556235

[cruisecastle]

When you are on the top deck of the Freedom of the Seas, or by the pool, or on your private balcony, you feel the same as on any Carnival ship. No one forces you to hang out in the mall part.

 

What they added in the vast interior spaces didn't come at the cost of any of the existing exterior spaces.

 

Actually, it doesn't feel the same. Since the ship hardly moves you don't feel like your are on a ship at all. Further, because it's so wide you can't see the sea unless you are at the sides of the ship. It truly feels more like a waterpark experience than a cruise or even a resort experience.

[dan40]

Actually, it doesn't feel the same. Since the ship hardly moves you don't feel like your are on a ship at all. Further, because it's so wide you can't see the sea unless you are at the sides of the ship. It truly feels more like a waterpark experience than a cruise or even a resort experience.

 

If the ocean is rough, the ship will move. Even if it was twice as large. We took the Navigator on a transatlantic and many days it was difficult to walk without bouncing wall to wall. ALL outside decks areas were closed much of the time. Navigator is not as large as the Freedom but is larger than any Carnival ship. Motion = ocean. Ship size is not part of the equation.

 

Dan

[Wolfie48]

If the ocean is rough, the ship will move. Even if it was twice as large. We took the Navigator on a transatlantic and many days it was difficult to walk without bouncing wall to wall. ALL outside decks areas were closed much of the time. Navigator is not as large as the Freedom but is larger than any Carnival ship. Motion = ocean. Ship size is not part of the equation.

 

Dan

 

So if I understand what you are saying Dan.......Size doesn't matter?:D

[dan40]

So if I understand what you are saying Dan.......Size doesn't matter?:D

 

Ah hain't tachin' thet, a'tall. no no.

 

Dan

aka "Mr. Big":eek::D:cool:

[Minoushka]

When we went on Freedom when it was new we stayed on board to really enjoy this ship which we did .The ship itself becomes the destination.I believe Oasis will be the destination as well. I agree that it might be hard to fill a ship withh 5000+ passengers. I hope RCCL will reduce their prices as a result because right now they are more expensive.I wonder how they will fill megaships once the novelty wears out .Let us not forget theses ships were ORDERED BEFORE all this bla bla of economic woes .I would be surprised if Oasis gets a sister ship...

I also would like new itineraries not same old same old

I wish cruise lines would ask us where else we wish to go ...i have many ideas !!!

[yogimax]

 

I wonder how they will fill megaships once the novelty wears out !

 

My guess is they will phase out some of the smaller, older ships

[dan40]

The MEGA-Ship, 100 years ago!

 

The "Republic" was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1903. She was a 15,378 gross ton ship, length 570ft x beam 67.8ft, one funnel, four masts, twin screw and a service speed of 16 knots. There was accommodation for 1st, 2nd and 3rd class passengers. Launched on 26/2/1903 as the "Columbus" for the Dominion Line of Liverpool, she sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to Boston on 1/10/1903. After only two voyages she was taken over, together with the company's Liverpool - Boston service, by the White Star Line. Renamed "Republic" she commenced her first Liverpool - Boston voyage for White Star on 17/12/1903. On 2/1/1904 she started her first Boston - Naples - Genoa sailing and in April 1904 started her last Genoa - Naples - Boston (arr.27th April) crossing. In May 1904 she sailed from Boston to Liverpool and on 22/9/1904 started her last Liverpool - Boston crossing. In October 1904 she sailed from Boston for Naples, Genoa, Naples and New York, and subsequently sailed between New York and Mediterranean ports in the autumn and winter; and Liverpool - Boston in the spring and summer. On 23/1/1909 she collided with the Italian liner "Florida" near Nantucket and sank the following day with the loss of four lives.

 

What will 2109 bring?

 

Dan