Largest Cruise Ship Inaugral Voyage

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by DragonflyBob

I wonder how many environmental NIMBY’s book vacations on cruise ships with no thought to the kind of damage these ships do to the environment as well as being eyesores of the worst kind.

You missed a final sentence.

"whilst wanting to enjoy the unspoilt nature and wildlife before it's destroyed."

A nearer crocodile to the canoe is a large increase of Covid amongst friends and work colleagues who have taken a winter break with flights to the Med or Canary Islands. What would that look like with 7000 passengers all confined to one ship for a fortnight

Are we doing our part? well we switched to a low emission mild hybrid car and scrapped the old one. House insulated up the ying yang. Sail more, so we only use about 100 L of dino juice a year. Branches and twigs dried then go into the wood burner to help heat the house. The ash goes back on the garden as fertilizer and the trees absorb some of the CO2. Perfect? no but we are trying.

[P3sailor]

The ugliest things on the water. I can't and won't do it, though my wife has gone on a cruise (I opted to stay home) she wasn't impressed. Cruises are for those who like to have their activities planned for them, me, I'm independent and really don't need to be around thousands of individuals trying to act important.

[mbianka]

A few years after I began retirement I was getting cabin fever in the winter waiting for the sailing season to begin. I wanted to just watch some ocean waves so I booked a balcony cabin on a cruise ship leaving New York in February heading to the Caribbean. In enjoyed the breakfasts at sunrise, morning swims and sunsets. I never got off the ship at the various destinations or attend any of the shows. It was fine to break up the winter. But since I don't drink or gamble or appreciate large crowds I stopped booking anymore trips. Now I just take a train down to Florida find a hotel or condo with a heated pool for a week each month during the winter. It makes the winter go faster until it's time to start gearing up for the sailing season. I'll leave the cruise ship lifestyle who want to entertain themselves to death on these giant ships. Just give me a sunrise and a sunset and I have a great day.

[FoxIslander]

I realize many ppl like this type of cruising and I've been on 3 myself...but never again. As an introvert, this thing is my personal nightmare.

[mbianka]

While I no longer will book passage on a cruise ship I think sailors should not be so negative about have them sail the seas with us. They do have positive benefits. Exhibit A:
https://nypost.com/2024/01/30/news/c...ulf-of-mexico/

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by Govard

Sometime back, I pondered on certain questions and couldn't find answers. I'm curious, what's your opinion, what could be the biggest threat to ships in these waters during winter?

I'm thinking passengers getting sea sick and getting injured could be a major factor. Though I remember reading that certain ships like Cunard's Queen Mary 2 are considered "ocean liners" and are designed to handle ocean passages even in winter as compared to others which are considered "cruise ships".

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by mbianka

I'm thinking passengers getting sea sick and getting injured could be a major factor. Though I remember reading that certain ships like Cunard's Queen Mary 2 are considered "ocean liners" and are designed to handle ocean passages even in winter as compared to others which are considered "cruise ships".

That is interesting. We make an annual migration to Newfoundland which requires a crossing from North Sydney to Port au Basque. While we have always had calm crossings that is not always so. The crossing itself is 7-8 hours, loading your car and getting off adds another 3 or so. These ferrys operated year round, through the ice, as they are the only truck supply route to the island. The straits also get right snotty at times.

Some years ago they tried to supplement the fleet with a leased catamaran, like the one that ran from Maine to Nova Scotia. People named it the “Vomit Comet”. My crossing on it was benign, but unused barf bags thrown around everywhere as a precaution. It was near the end of the season and the boat was looking rough. She got stranded here for a long time before getting an adequate weather window to return to Europe. My last crossing in a “normal” ferry had barf bags positioned around but not so many.

These are big ships (600 feet) carrying hundreds of passengers, their cars, and many tractor trailers, which need to push through ice in winter. Sometimes we end up parked on the lowest level, between the fuel tanks. Rather odd.

The point being that even purpose designed ships, on short routes, near shore, find the North Atlantic a rough go at times regardless of season.

https://www.marineatlantic.ca/onboar...ence/our-fleet

PS: Not an up to date list, they have a new ship. Marine Atlantic is not big on this new fangled internet stuff.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by P3sailor

The ugliest things on the water. I can't and won't do it, though my wife has gone on a cruise (I opted to stay home) she wasn't impressed. Cruises are for those who like to have their activities planned for them, me, I'm independent and really don't need to be around thousands of individuals trying to act important.

Like all generalities, this is also wrong on many levels. Ugly is an eye of the beholder thing. Typical cruise ships offer numerous simultaneous activities from which to choose, numerous places to visit or not as one chooses and aren’t generally crowded unless your experience is limited to the mass market cruise lines.
Since I have no clue what “acting important” means or how you perceive that behavior is manifested, it’s hard to know if you are serious.

[CaptTom]

I share the opinion that modern cruise ships are ugly. I won't say they're the ugliest thing I've seen out there. (I'm looking at you, Euro-style go-fast cruisers!) The old-school ocean liners look nice. I'm not sure about the bump-out stern on the QM2, but other than that she looks fine.

I also share an aversion to crowds, especially tourist crowds. So I don't blame anyone for hating cruise ships. But I still manage to enjoy an occasional trip on them. Just go in with your eyes open and realistic expectaions.