REAL dimensions (size does matter

[McDaddy]

Hi, my name is Jim, and I am a Model ship builder.
( Hi Jim)

My wife and I are sailing, our first cruise, on the Westerdam nine months from today, on The Jazz Cruise (I know charters aren't very popular around here, but it is what it is). I don't think I have ever been so excited about a vacation!

To commemorate this occasion, I am going to attempt a model of the Westerdam, but I am having difficulty finding ACCURATE measurements. I have contacted HAL, Fincantieri, and have posted on a model shipbuilders forum that I frequent... No luck. Does anyone know where I can find drawings, information, anything? All I have found so far is length (which varies, depending on the source), beam (width) and gross tonnage. Nothing about height, sizes of fixtures etc.

Ideas?

Thanks for your attention, you may now return to the Royal wedding coverage.

[NancyJewel92]

McDaddy - Jim -- Sounds like a fun thing to do! Wish I could refer you somewhere for the info you seek. Perhaps some folks who are sailing soon can take some cabin measurements for you.

I bet the Jazz Cruise will be a blast! And your first cruise too. Your excitement radiates. :D

[jtl513]

Can these missing dimension be reasonably "scaled" from a photograph, knowing the length of the ship? While some sources "round" the number, the Fleet Facts Sheet for the Westerdam (and all other Vistas and two Signatures) say the length is 936 feet, and beam is 105.8 ft. The only good straight "broadside" picture I could provide you would be of the Nieuw Amsterdam, with the extra deck.

[McDaddy]

Yes, I could scale from photos, and have done some, but what I really find I need is an overhead "helicopter" type shot taken from directly above, without any angle or perpective to get the true shape of the bow and stern, placement of funnels, radomes and all of that other ship type stuff that everyone takes for granted. In short, not artistic photots, but technical ones.
Thanks for your suggestions, and I'm glad that my excitement shines through. SWMBO and I are big Jazz fans, and had been talking about a cruise for a while. Finding this sailing was a true serendipity!

Jim

[Jean1946]

McDaddy, are you going on the Delbert cruise in January?

[McDaddy]

McDaddy, are you going on the Delbert cruise in January?

I don't think so...this is called "The Jazz Cruise". It sails out of FLL on 1/29. Usual Westerdam Southern Carribean itinerary.

Jim

[NancyJewel92]

McDaddy - Look like a nice trip. Are you going for both weeks? :D

[McDaddy]

Nope, just 1/29-2/5... Then back to the snow and the grind:(

[Hlitner]

What a great hobby. We have seen amazing models housed on some ships (the Queen Mary 2 has some great models) and it has to be a labor of love to create such works of art. We would suspect that the best source of info is going to be from HA and the Maine Architectural firm that did the actual drawings. You might try to keep bugging (in a nice way) various offices of HA and ask if they can provide you with the name of their marine architectural firm and a contact person. We once met a well known marine architect (Sir John McNeese) who was knighted by the Queen for his work (he designed the first large ship atrium (Sovereign of the Seas) and he was the kind of guy who was very happy and proud to talk about his work. I suspect if you can get to the designers of the Westerdam you would get some good feedback.

Hank