That's pretty standard for cruise ships. Ocean liners are a bit faster; the QM2 is rated at up to 30 knots, and the SS United States (1950s) was designed to go 38+, which is faster than some of our warships (at least, the unclassified speeds).
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World's biggest Cruise Ship leaves port
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That's pretty standard for cruise ships. Ocean liners are a bit faster; the QM2 is rated at up to 30 knots, and the SS United States (1950s) was designed to go 38+, which is faster than some of our warships (at least, the unclassified speeds).
While having not been on one, I do know that they have special features to make the cruise smooth.
Then Royal Caribbean will have the 2 largest in the world - they own Celebrity Cruises.
24 knots is still pretty fast considering the massive displacement and comfort requirements of modern cruise ships - though 24 knots for a passenger ship was old hat by 1904.
There is still talk of refitting the United States for service. My fingers are crossed...she is still in pretty good shape, considering she hasn't sailed in decades. These days, of course, her very high top speed would never really be approached, in the interest of a more comfortable ride.
But she has classic lines, real pedigree (battleship engines!), and is easily distinguishable from the porky cruise ships being built these days. I hope she goes back to sea, or is at least preserved as a museum ship.
My wife and I did an eight day Mexican riviera cruise, and it was really, really smooth. The weather was great, so the seas were calm, but I was surprised by how little motion you could feel.
There was one day where the seas were a bit higher, and you could feel a gentle rolling motion. It was weird because many areas of the ship are completely enclosed with no windows, so the rolling motion was really the only reminder you're on a ship at all.
I'd find myself asking whether it's the ship, or that fourth pint of Guinness I've just had.
Yep. The Genesis-class is frigging HUGE!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_class
http://www.akeryards.com/businessareas/cruiseferries/oasisoftheseas/
I don't really like cruises. I get sea-sick.
I met some people on our cruise that wore those wrist bracelets that supposedly keep sea-sickness at bay. It seemed to work for them. Maybe that's a solution?
With a ship that size, imagine how big the buffet must be.............
.............and I wouldn't like my odds in have the pleasure of dining with the captain.
.............and I wouldn't like my odds in have the pleasure of dining with the captain.
Actually, given modern ship stabilizing technology and the sheer size of today's bigger cruise ships, getting seasick is very difficult unless the waters are really choppy. After all, if you are on a modern Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and you maneuver the ship like a cruise ship, it's really difficult to get seasick unless you're in seas with 20+ foot waves (no modern cruise ship will travel in those conditions normally!).
I agree with this. I have always been subject to seasickness on small boats and lakes, but I finally got up the nerve to book a cruise as a 20th anniversary present to my wife, thinking that I would try to suffer silently while she had a good time. I did take some Dramamine every day, but I never even got the least bit sick; she, on the other hand, was sick the very first day (I think it was food though, as she was fine that night). I had such a blast on the cruise that I (we) have been hooked ever since.
I think if I was going to be on any boat in choppy waters, I'd feel safest in something displacing over 200,000 tonnes!
Being &$*%£ massive helps!
celebrity solstice
I think it's kind of funny that Celebrity is naming their ships after cars. Their new ships are the Solstice (pictured), Equinox and Eclipse (sister ships). Reminds me of the Pontiac Solstice, Chevy Equinox and Mitsubishi Eclipse. But it is a nice ship. I want to go on one of those big boats before I die...and of course I'll have my iPod with me haha
I think it's kind of funny that Celebrity is naming their ships after cars. Their new ships are the Solstice (pictured), Equinox and Eclipse (sister ships). Reminds me of the Pontiac Solstice, Chevy Equinox and Mitsubishi Eclipse. But it is a nice ship. I want to go on one of those big boats before I die...and of course I'll have my iPod with me haha
Or maybe they are naming their ships after astronomical events, and it just happens that some car-manufacturers used the same theme with their cars?
The joy of a cruise depends a lot on who you share a cabin with. A great cruise is when you are absolutely spent when it is over and need a break from your partner
These ships have anti-roll technology, but avoid storms at all costs. They don't just look tall and tippy: they are. A rogue wave to the side could be terrible. There are photos of the Queen Mary which was used as a troop ship in WWII. It had something like 20000 soldiers on it. It was hit by a rogue wave and tipped to within a couple of degrees of rolling over! There was a lot of damage way up high, really on top, and if you have ever toured a ship like that you know they are really huge and it seems impossible, but it happened.
Having nearly 20000 soldier drown would have been an unmatched disaster. Having a few thousand casualties would be an unmatched disaster. Still, my fear is more about the flu or whatever seems to afflict people on these things.
I would rather go on a smaller, restored older ship and hit some of the smaller ports, or the new Queen Mary 2 for a more nautical experience. I actually like the idea of knowing you are on a ship and enjoying the sea. All while eating, drinking and carousing of course.
These ships have anti-roll technology, but avoid storms at all costs. They don't just look tall and tippy: they are. A rogue wave to the side could be terrible. There are photos of the Queen Mary which was used as a troop ship in WWII. It had something like 20000 soldiers on it. It was hit by a rogue wave and tipped to within a couple of degrees of rolling over! There was a lot of damage way up high, really on top, and if you have ever toured a ship like that you know they are really huge and it seems impossible, but it happened.
Having nearly 20000 soldier drown would have been an unmatched disaster. Having a few thousand casualties would be an unmatched disaster. Still, my fear is more about the flu or whatever seems to afflict people on these things.
I would rather go on a smaller, restored older ship and hit some of the smaller ports, or the new Queen Mary 2 for a more nautical experience. I actually like the idea of knowing you are on a ship and enjoying the sea. All while eating, drinking and carousing of course.