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8 hours ago, VintageCCG said:

 

Or just make several hygienic refilling stations available ... simpler, costs less, available 24/7, it is accepted practice elsewhere.

Water bottle filling stations on cruise ships seem to be one of the most challenging engineering, public health and economic issues of our time 

22 hours ago, eroller said:

 Personally I don’t think Carnival Corp is an evil company, but obviously they have a corporate culture and environmental record that could be improved upon.  Hopefully it will be, and perhaps this will be the catalyst that does the trick.    

I got the email and was underwhelmed.  Given the current position of Carnival Corporation in the environment doghouse, I was hoping for something stronger.   I was asking myself what could possibly slow the relentless growth in cruising- having it become non PC from a pollution standpoint.   

Looking out the window at the bunkering barge - that is the hardest question.   If Samuel Cunard was around today he would be finding a new and bold way to cross the oceans.  

Carnival Corporation could invest in some propulsion trials.  Maybe they could convert/modify an old ship to try these out - there are some candidates:

Flettner / Magnus sails 

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/09/spinning-metal-sails-could-slash-fuel-consumption-emissions-cargo-ships

LNG fuel + Solar Panels + sails 

https://www.motorship.com/news101/industry-news/oshima-shipbuilding-and-dnv-gl-sign-strategic-cooperation

Hydrogen Fuel Cells - see Viking 

Biofuels - the math here is sometimes dodgy - except maybe algae 

Etc.

2 hours ago, rt1092 said:

Looking forward to some relaxing days on the ship and Coco Cay.

We have been on the Majesty twice.  I like the wrap around promenade deck for walks and the ability to see what is happening on all aides of the ship.  And there is good dancing in Boleros.  The average OV cabins are a bit small but there are some larger ones on Deck 9.  

Maybe one of the cruise lines that is in the environmental doghouse (Carnival) could make modest investment ($40m- the amount of a few fines*) buy the Big U and make her a test bed for future low impact engines and systems.  She is all torn apart already inside.  So:

Flettner / Magnus wind turbines (the photos are amazing) 

Hydrogen fuel cells - would require internal tanks (boiler room?) 

Solar panels on outside surfaces 

Batteries 

Biofuel diesels (palm oil, algae, etc.) 

Fusion/advanced nuclear power (this was the ship of the future- remember?) 

Highly efficient environmental systems  (and even air filters for hydrogen sulfide- ocean dead zones produce this ) 

Etc.

The "prize" would be some good PR, and a ship that could make intra-US voyages.  The industry has lost their "get out of jail free" card for environmental impact and needs to step up.  

*Fines are not tax deductible this would be 

On 6/9/2019 at 10:08 AM, Krazy Kruizers said:

What are they protesting about?

https://q13fox.com/2019/06/11/in-hot-water-study-says-warming-may-reduce-sea-life-by-17/

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

There are not really any "innovative" propulsion systems, but ships are being built to utilize cleaner fuels.  

Viking is reported to be working on a hydrogen powered ship?    Could an existing ship be retrofitted for hydrogen power?  

I remember hydrogen was all the rage for cars in concept some years back but there was no filling station network.  

1 hour ago, chengkp75 said:

 

And, I'm a bit confused why the protesters were protesting

The pH of ocean surface waters has dropped from 8.2 in 1850 to 8.1 at the present time.  This is a log scale, (like earthquakes), so the shift is 30% since the Industrial Revolution.   An estimated 30-40% of man made carbon dioxide emissions enter the oceans, lakes and streams and some of it reacts to form carbonic acid.   The projections are ocean pH will reach 7.8 by 2100.  This will harm current beneficial sea life.  Ocean dead zones emit poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas.   The extreme form of this is called an Anoxic Event.  

Chengkp75 is right that sulfur emissions standards are being updated for shipping.  

There is a fascinating technology for reducing ship emissions - a Flettner rotor sail.  It was deployed in 1924 so even traditionalists should approve.  

The fog is a problem and can make the ships late and disappoint guests.  But the revitalized St Pete waterfront area is so nice and the flights are reasonable for us.  

There are a couple of restaurants and a beach around the naval station in Santo Tomas De Castilla.  With some investment and a few shuttles (and the government on board) they could put in a modest semi private development for local shore excursions.  

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

They can't even be bothered to get the reported number from their SEC fillings of 108%.🙄

Sorry my post needed another line space.  I was responding to the OP on the topic of the older ships going away with the web site quote about 2020 sailings.   The comments not in quotes and 105% number are mine.  

"For 2020 sailings on both Majesty and Empress of the Seas, we are working to secure alternative itineraries and expect to be able to communicate to our guests and travel partners within the next week."

From the 6/5/19 Cuba Bulletin on RCCL.COM.  

RCCL shareholders expect revenue growth year after year.  Anything that floats (insert old ship name here) is going out 105% full.   And margins are good industry wide.  And having no mortgage helps.   
 

There was a tiny wooden bar/island you could wade out to in 2017.  Is it still there?  

As an example it was just reported on another thread there is a piano but no bandstand in the Ocean Bar on Westerdam.  

Who is the Cruise Director?  Is there a band in the Ocean Bar?   The Alaskan beer sounds promising.   I don't worry about fires at sea much - the industry has an impressive record - and they do a lot of practicing and have a lot of training.  And heavy fuel oil is not a big fire hazard with a high flash point by rule.  

The only dancing of this type for passengers on HAL is in the Ocean Bar on some vessels.   Several ships have a combo (3-4 piece) assigned there (Rotterdam and Veendam recently), some do not (Eurodam).  You need to carefully read any posted daily programs.  The smaller older ships seem a better bet for a combo in Ocean.  We might need a dancing or Ocean thread where we can report this regularly.   It might also be route specific (world cruises?).  And it hopefully does not change all the time as you need to plan ahead.  

15 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

No refitted tubs or USB ports.  The only plug in the entire room is above the desk.  I brought a multi-port charger for just that purpose.  Here is a pic.

Bring a $5 Euro to USA plug adapter- most cell phone chargers are happy on 220V/50Hz - read the fine print on the back 

We have done this trip and will again -walk off the ship in every port to find yummy local brews and lobster rolls

The $399 fare, porthole and nice couch for reading  make "steerage" pleasant - the money saved goes toward the next cruise  🙂 

Quote

 

 

We got amusing "upgrade" emails from OV-porthole to HH on Lower Promenade - starting about three weeks out.  We used the private direct fares saved $100pp.  

16 hours ago, zentraveler said:

Where is your favorite spot to sit and quietly read? Is there a library or place to lounge that is relatively quiet. I am usually up early and go read the paper and have coffee until my spouse gets up. 

I am up at 5 or 6 also.  The great struggle is find a place on the ship that does not have piped in music.  This is to me like second hand smoke.  I can tell you on the Rotterdam the library is/was music free.  

19 hours ago, CruiseLady88 said:

But it is so unfortunate that HAL management changes their old traditional entertainment and does not accommodate the ballroom dancers any more. Otherwise, we and our group of dance friends would love HAL’s new ships.

There is a stampede industry wide toward newer larger ships with "more to do"- I prefer a ship with less to do for my vacation.   If you are HAL, you have to say oh- we have a smaller fleet- maybe, just maybe our target market can include the dwindling number of cruisers who like the older features.   If I ran HAL I would tell passengers say on the Veendam or Rotterdam- don't worry, there is dancing every night, and we did not tear out the dance floor.  The idea is to drive demand for the older ships.    Put a coded message out for dancers.   This flies in the face of an industry "rule" - make the fleet the same.  I think HAL should break that rule and allow the individual ships to do things differently.   So they become a "collection" rather than a fleet.   And the marketing message is to "collect" the whole set of ships.  I think there is a correlation between ships with an identity and high guest ratings.  

On the RCCL Vision of the Seas recently, they have a huge dance lounge - they put on a recorded ballroom session- ten people showed up.  So there is not a conspiracy at work here.    

On ‎5‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 8:29 PM, billbunger said:

Nice thread high jack. What does your message have to a do with ballroom dancing?

The Rotterdam in March had a lovely four piece combo in Oceans.  Viewing an empty dance floor they would play jazz.  If you pestered them they would play Foxtrots, Rumbas, Waltz, and Tango (i.e. Ballroom), or if you asked Latin also.   We had fun with Bachata and Salsa.   In our recent experience the number of ballroom dancers aboard HAL, NCL and RCCL ships has been correctly estimated as few.  This may be/is cart and horse- if you assume no dancing music /venues - dancers stay home or sail elsewhere.    Presented with a lot of dancers, most cruise ship bands know dance music.  A Music Director on NCL told me they study early each voyage and see if they need to move bands and or play lists around

If you are fussy about tempo- Cunard.  In the Queens Room on QM2 they usually use a metronome.  If you are super concerned about tempo- "strict tempo" - recorded -is played on Cunard in the afternoons.  

We actually had an epic time dancing on HAL- the smallish floor was uncrowded.  On QM2 + QV three times recently the floor was so full you could hardly move.   The hard core dancers went to the recorded afternoon sessions.  

But be careful- some HAL + other ships as has been correctly pointed out don't have the bands or dance floors left any more.  We carefully read posted daily programs to see if there is even hope.    

Safe bets: RCCL- Boleros (Latin), Cunard (dedicated ballroom + orchestra), a few of the HAL ships (Rotterdam + Veendam), a new NCL ship or two (some bigger MDRs have a dance floor still).   

This is great news there is still at least a trio in Oceans on the Veendam.  There was a quartet on the Rotterdam last month who would gladly play Ballroom/Latin dance music.    

We are glad you had a great time.  You got an amazing cabin.  Thanks also for the Tampa area hotel suggestion and another good place to eat in Key West.  We also photographed the Celebrity Edge in port - it is more money per day and missing a  promenade deck and library with gasp- books.  

19 hours ago, davy jones said:

 

1.  Odd layout with casino open to other passenger decks, hence smoke.  I agree that the layout is a bit odd and there can be a little smoke odor at times, but I may be less sensitive to smoke than some.  It is really not that bad.

 

We were on the Breakaway a while back- March 2017.    I remember looking down from the railing at the casino and thinking they did have the start of some walls around the area.  They could, if they wanted to, put up glass and keep the smoke more contained.   This is a "home office" decision not up to the on-board staff. 

We had some problems on the trip but I was very impressed by the fact that many officers showed up at the Cruise Critic event and asked us to please provide specific, detailed, actionable feedback in real time.   One of the things I most enjoy about cruising is being part of the "family" aboard during the voyage.    

It depends what you are into.  For wide teak decks, a large and quiet library, and a four piece band in Oceans- save the $500.  

If you are down in Steerage- see Riston- deck 2 forward- odd- for epic towel animals.  

As a disclaimer we don't go to production shows much- we are ballroom/Latin dancers.  We cling like a life ring to those ships that still have the four piece Oceans combos. 

I'm trying to mind read HAL leadership here- so this seems like an innovation/creative/groundbreaking idea. I also see cost cuts.  I'm not sure it's working.  What I would do is keep a core small production company aboard (say 6) and do smallish more modest shows.  You don't need nineteen cast members.  And supplement that with guest entertainers.  As to what 22-35 year old guests like on cruises- I have no idea.  

On ‎2‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 2:52 PM, roscoe39 said:

part of the reason for India now being left off the Itins are because of the difficulties of obtaining Visas.

I think you are right.  The paperwork looks daunting and the fees are high.  I get the whole "protect the homeland" idea but a cruise ship is a poor conveyance for potential terrorists.