cruise ships

[Captain Kong]

Here is a good video of the Pacific Sun, I bet a few pints were spilled in the Pig that day. see the woman get knocked out when she hits the stantion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HVAKhtUeGs

[happy daze john in oz]

Doing some research on modern cruise ships and came across the following regading ther number of bloods aboard and the crew compliment.

P&O Pacific Sky
1551 bloods and only 535 crew.

Cunard Q.E.2
1500 bloods and 1015 crew.

But I have discovered with P&O here in Oz the level of service and general standard of food and entertainment is now where as good as on some other companies particularly the U.S. ones such as Royal Caribbean.

[happy daze john in oz]

Recieved a message today from Princess Cruies, from May 2011 there will no longer be compulsory gratuities added to your account. Also the current 15% tax added to all bar accounts and wine sales will be dropped. This tax is not shown seperate but is part of the price paid. Somehow I have the feeling the prices will not change, well they will have to have a price increase at some time!

[Tony Wilding]

Hi to all, just a personal thought, maybe wishful thinking, what are your thoughts on this, ? i have often wondered if a modern Titanic type cruise liner was built, would it be a success ? it seems a big percentage of passengers are now elderly pensioners, that would appereciate more leisurely cruising, i believe some years ago it was suggested. ?

[happy daze john in oz]

You are correct in your assumptions as to age certainly here in OZ. I would suggest that about 75% of all bloods on cruise ships sailing from Oz ports would be over the age of 60. I do not think the society of today are that interested in 'Fine dinning'. But they do enjoy the food and entertainment. Many turn in quite early and as with most of the older Australians early dinner is the go. I prefer the late sitting and very rarely in bed before midnight. The class of ships such as the Titanic are of an era when society was so much different from that of today, whilst there would be some who may like to recreate it I think it would be avery small minority.

[Neville Roberts]

I dont think steerage class would be popular today , but could get it quite cheap . they could have a reenactment of the sinking and put the passengers in the life boats mid atlantic , but that would be very tacky considering the real disaster that was the Titanic of 1912

[Ron B Manderson]

I dont think steerage class would be popular today , but could get it quite cheap . they could have a reenactment of the sinking and put the passengers in the life boats mid atlantic , but that would be very tacky considering the real disaster that was the Titanic of 1912

The funny thing was, The first advert on Sky news was a cruise to Barbados. etc.
Now ! that was good planning.
Ron the batcave

[Gulliver]

Hi to all, just a personal thought, maybe wishful thinking, what are your thoughts on this, ? i have often wondered if a modern Titanic type cruise liner was built, would it be a success ? it seems a big percentage of passengers are now elderly pensioners, that would appereciate more leisurely cruising, i believe some years ago it was suggested. ?

Tony,reading your posts are like looking out of blood-shot eyes !..but back to your question,I think people today would think the bigger the better and safer(you can't blame them ,they are not seafarers after all )
As with the big cruiseliners today,including this 'Costa Concordia' ,the majority of people are conditioned to think nothing could happen-the safest ship afloat...sadly,so did they think that about the Titanic 100 years ago......

[Glan Phillips]

Gulliver...........During my 14 years service as master on cruise ships, I consider myself lucky and fortunate that these "mega shoe boxes" as I refer to these, were just coming into service a couple of years before I retired. The ships I served on carried around 1,800 pax and 600 crew, 8 or 9 decks. Without naming the company (ships names end in 'Seas' ) two of the latest cruise ships.....16 decks, 5,400 pax and 2,100 crew ! ....I know that "Fire and Boat Drills" are conducted on these vessels prior to sailing, but from my own experience (fire on board), however well organized, the major proble is PANIC, and this is what pax tend to do.
Without condemning the master of the Costa Concordia in any way, why was the vessel sailing in such close proximity to shore ?
Since the introduction of these mega cruise ships, my opinion has been....its not "IF" but "WHEN" will there be a major disaster. Sadly, it has occured.

Cheers,
Glan

[Jim Brady]

Seen on the news tonight,26foot underwater 100foot above water.NO WATER whats the chance of it staying upright,a little top heavy would you think!!!
Regards.
Jim.B.