Seems size does count!

[Tonka's Skipper]

Seems size is starting to count, or at least being looked at.


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/b...-face-scrutiny.html?partner=yahoofinance&_r=0

AKK

 

[Master Yoda]

Seems more like size just makes the safety procedures more important which would make sense. It is not that hard for 4 people to get out of a house if it goes up in flames. It is a much different problem if a high rise with several thousand people faces the same problem.

Waiting until you are out at sea to do passenger safety drills has always struck me as insane. The crew must also be trained, retrained and tested regarding safety procedures and the equipment must be tested regularly.

 

[ChuckElias]

Almost none of the quotes in that article had anything to do with the size of the ship. It was all about fire safety equipment and lifeboat size. The captain venting the engine room too soon and re-igniting the fire doesn't have anything to do with the number of passengers onboard.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Sometimes the execution of the size isn't so swooft either. Stupid Allure is having problems with one of their Azipods. Sounds like it's a bearing issue that won't be fixed until she can be drydocked. This affects ME because we have a private sailboat charter booked for our St. Thomas port day next month. I'm willing to buck-up the $840 + tip for the 6 hour tour. BUT, for whatever reason, the Allure isn't running at full speed since this problem came up. Both Nassau and St. Thomas are being shortened. If we shorten our charter to 5 hours that leaves us only 1 hour before and after for a 20 minute cab ride. Shaving a little too close for returning to the ship. At 4 hours on the charter I no longer feel like $840 + tip is an acceptable value. We are pretty irritated at the whole thing. If we weren't inside the penalty period we'd seriously be looking at switching to another sailing or cancelling altogether. The private charter was pretty much carrying all our port hopes since DH found out no "heavies" would be flying the day we're in St. Martin.

The problem with these giganto ships is when they port you have THAT many people on-island. I'm not down with crowds of people. Won't even consider touching a cruise ship excursion.

Think about it. I've been to Castaway Cay on the Magic twice, the Dream 3 times, and the Fantasy. Definitely prefer it on the Magic because of the difference in number of people. To us bigger is most definitely not better. Not by a long shot.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

m
I believe the point was with the Massive sized ships, will the present safety procedures be effective?......can 3,000.....4,000 or 7,000 passengers and crew be effectively kept safe and /or effectively be evacuated???


It does bring up issues and questions.


AKK

 

[sweetpee_1993]

m
I believe the point was with the Massive sized ships, will the present safety procedures be effective?......can 3,000.....4,000 or 7,000 passengers and crew be effectively kept safe and /or effectively be evacuated???


It does bring up issues and questions.


AKK

That's interesting, for sure.

 

[Master Yoda]

m
I believe the point was with the Massive sized ships, will the present safety procedures be effective?......can 3,000.....4,000 or 7,000 passengers and crew be effectively kept safe and /or effectively be evacuated???


It does bring up issues and questions.


AKK

They can, but the crew really has to be on their game to do it. If crew members are not trained and tested and equipment is not tested and maintained you will have the problems that we have seen.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

They can, but the crew really has to be on their game to do it. If crew members are not trained and tested and equipment is not tested and maintained you will have the problems that we have seen.

Agreed!.............and vessel design plays into that as well!

 

[wogwog]

Sometimes the execution of the size isn't so swooft either. Stupid Allure is having problems with one of their Azipods. Sounds like it's a bearing issue that won't be fixed until she can be drydocked. This affects ME because we have a private sailboat charter booked for our St. Thomas port day next month. I'm willing to buck-up the $840 + tip for the 6 hour tour. BUT, for whatever reason, the Allure isn't running at full speed since this problem came up. Both Nassau and St. Thomas are being shortened. If we shorten our charter to 5 hours that leaves us only 1 hour before and after for a 20 minute cab ride. Shaving a little too close for returning to the ship. At 4 hours on the charter I no longer feel like $840 + tip is an acceptable value. We are pretty irritated at the whole thing. If we weren't inside the penalty period we'd seriously be looking at switching to another sailing or cancelling altogether. The private charter was pretty much carrying all our port hopes since DH found out no "heavies" would be flying the day we're in St. Martin.

The problem with these giganto ships is when they port you have THAT many people on-island. I'm not down with crowds of people. Won't even consider touching a cruise ship excursion.

Think about it. I've been to Castaway Cay on the Magic twice, the Dream 3 times, and the Fantasy. Definitely prefer it on the Magic because of the difference in number of people. To us bigger is most definitely not better. Not by a long shot.

Wonder and Magic rock. Listen to @SweetPea.

 

[Phonedave]

Sometimes the execution of the size isn't so swooft either. Stupid Allure is having problems with one of their Azipods. Sounds like it's a bearing issue that won't be fixed until she can be drydocked. This affects ME because we have a private sailboat charter booked for our St. Thomas port day next month. I'm willing to buck-up the $840 + tip for the 6 hour tour. BUT, for whatever reason, the Allure isn't running at full speed since this problem came up. Both Nassau and St. Thomas are being shortened. If we shorten our charter to 5 hours that leaves us only 1 hour before and after for a 20 minute cab ride. Shaving a little too close for returning to the ship. At 4 hours on the charter I no longer feel like $840 + tip is an acceptable value. We are pretty irritated at the whole thing. If we weren't inside the penalty period we'd seriously be looking at switching to another sailing or cancelling altogether. The private charter was pretty much carrying all our port hopes since DH found out no "heavies" would be flying the day we're in St. Martin.

The problem with these giganto ships is when they port you have THAT many people on-island. I'm not down with crowds of people. Won't even consider touching a cruise ship excursion.

Think about it. I've been to Castaway Cay on the Magic twice, the Dream 3 times, and the Fantasy. Definitely prefer it on the Magic because of the difference in number of people. To us bigger is most definitely not better. Not by a long shot.

If I want to go to a city, I'll visit a city - not take a cruise on a floating city.

I've been to Grand Cayman via plane a number of times. The difference in the Georgetown/Three Mile Beach area between when cruise ships are in port and when they are not is like night and day. When no ships are in, it is laid back, shop keepers talk to you, you can browse, etc. When ships are in, it is all crowded and rush rush rush.


-dave

 

[sweetpee_1993]

If I want to go to a city, I'll visit a city - not take a cruise on a floating city.

I've been to Grand Cayman via plane a number of times. The difference in the Georgetown/Three Mile Beach area between when cruise ships are in port and when they are not is like night and day. When no ships are in, it is laid back, shop keepers talk to you, you can browse, etc. When ships are in, it is all crowded and rush rush rush.


-dave

I agree, Dave. Furthermore, if I want to go to Vegas I'll go to Vegas. If I want to go to a posh mall I'll go downtown to The Galleria. I'm trying to get excited about the Allure but it's quite difficult because we know it's not going to be Disney. I keep telling myself it's not right to compare the 2 because they will never be comparable but it's hard. Just the preplanning alone has me shaking my head. We're under 30 days until sailing and I have yet to get their online system to allow me to book upcharge dining. I've either had to call in or have my mother-in-law do it for me thru her reservation. Very odd. I hate that they make you prepay these upcharge meals. If we cancel after we're onboard the refund would go to our shipboard account. If we don't use that $$ on our shipboard account it becomes a held credit for your next RCCL cruise...assuming I decide to cruise with them again. I think that's crappy. Disney will refund the $$ to the original form of payment and you don't prepay upcharge dining. RCCL's way comes off almost shady.

Since flight schedules have changed for St. Maarten and now no "heavies" are coming in while we're there I definitely see a dedicated trip there in our future. If we spend a week we're sure to catch at least 1 big boy.