Dredging Boston harbor / new ships

[biker@sea]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/05/13/boston-harbor-get-million-for-dredging-project/xyVGRT0dDuOhG65rm4UB5H/story.html

 

May be NCL Dawn won't stay as long as NCL Majesty did .:rolleyes:

[NH Cruisers]

What are you thinking? Us (Boston area) getting a BREAKAWAY or newer class ship? I could go for that. Although I do wish the cruise companies could find it beneficial to have new medium ship (70,000-94,000 GRT) builds. I find the DAWN to be a perfect size for me. How 'bout Boston having two NCL ships, like the NYC with GEM and BREAKAWAY. Don't know if I could deal with the EPIC, too hidiouse looking. But I guess when you are on it you cant see how ugly the profile is.

[biker@sea]

What are you thinking? Us (Boston area) getting a BREAKAWAY or newer class ship? I could go for that. Although I do wish the cruise companies could find it beneficial to have new medium ship (70,000-94,000 GRT) builds. I find the DAWN to be a perfect size for me. How 'bout Boston having two NCL ships, like the NYC with GEM and BREAKAWAY. Don't know if I could deal with the EPIC, too hidiouse looking. But I guess when you are on it you cant see how ugly the profile is.

 

Boston to Bermuda has been a cash cow for a 1/4 century , one could hope for a new build . :)

[njhorseman]

Considering that the work will take 5 years (according to the article) don't get your hopes up about getting one of the new NCL ships any time soon.

[CruisinMaterial]

Tidal flows and the pier structure prevent us from getting any new ships in here of too large of a size. Provisioning the ships is very hard and sometimes takes a two forklift operation which, if anything goes wrong, holds the ship up from an on-time departure. :cool:

 

 

A Jewel-class ship (the Norwegian Gem is one) would be the largest that Boston could accommodate with this type of structure and even then turning it around for provisioning and loading luggage would be tight. One day I hope Boston will be able to accommodate mega ships for embarkation but I hope for just a new one with a different layout. :)

 

 

Since the Dawn doesn’t have any forward scenic viewing capabilities (the destruction of Spinnakers for the Suites), she’ll be stuck with Bostonians for years to come. :(

[Barb Nahoumi]

Tidal flows and the pier structure prevent us from getting any new ships in here of too large of a size. Provisioning the ships is very hard and sometimes takes a two forklift operation which, if anything goes wrong, holds the ship up from an on-time departure. :cool:

 

 

A Jewel-class ship (the Norwegian Gem is one) would be the largest that Boston could accommodate with this type of structure and even then turning it around for provisioning and loading luggage would be tight. One day I hope Boston will be able to accommodate mega ships for embarkation but I hope for just a new one with a different layout. :)

 

 

Since the Dawn doesn’t have any forward scenic viewing capabilities (the destruction of Spinnakers for the Suites), she’ll be stuck with Bostonians for years to come. :(

 

I hope that NCL won't desecrate any more ships, by changing out the Spinnaker Lounge for suites. Although Boston can't accomodate mega ships, another Jewel class ship homeported here would be wonderful. Year-round ships-----even better.

[CruisinMaterial]

I hope that NCL won't desecrate any more ships, by changing out the Spinnaker Lounge for suites. Although Boston can't accomodate mega ships, another Jewel class ship homeported here would be wonderful. Year-round ships-----even better.

 

I would love a year round ship but since the ship can’t sail through the Cape Cod Canal to get on the other side and head south faster, it has to go out around Cape Cod before heading south. It’s too much fuel to do an itinerary like Bahamas and Florida from here. The ship would be running exceptionally fast and would only have two ports – probably Port Canaveral and Nassau. People wouldn’t enjoy spending that much time on the ship with two ports sandwiched in the middle.

 

I remember the gripes that came when NCL shortened their Boston to Bermuda run to have an extra night at sea and stopped splitting up the Wednesday day with the new ship coming in the afternoon and the Boston ship leaving in the morning. Now the Boston ship leaves Tuesday night and Breakaway comes in Wednesday morning. Some said it was too much time on the ship. I think this would be the case with a Bahamas run from Boston. I’d be all for it as I like to spend time on the ship but would it be marketable?

 

I would love to see a Jewel-class ship here but I don’t think it’s going to happen. The Dawn and the Star were purposefully re-done to put them in markets where views weren’t a big thing and suites could make more money for them. We will be stuck with the Dawn for years to come. There’s no need for views when the ship is sitting in the same port all the time so that’s why Spinnakers was cut. The Star does the Panama Canal itinerary and to make up for the loss of forward viewing areas, the ship opens the bow to passengers to let them see the vantage point (and it’s much better viewing it from the bow… I did that this year and LOVED it)!!!

[Barb Nahoumi]

I would love a year round ship but since the ship can’t sail through the Cape Cod Canal to get on the other side and head south faster, it has to go out around Cape Cod before heading south. It’s too much fuel to do an itinerary like Bahamas and Florida from here. The ship would be running exceptionally fast and would only have two ports – probably Port Canaveral and Nassau. People wouldn’t enjoy spending that much time on the ship with two ports sandwiched in the middle.

 

I remember the gripes that came when NCL shortened their Boston to Bermuda run to have an extra night at sea and stopped splitting up the Wednesday day with the new ship coming in the afternoon and the Boston ship leaving in the morning. Now the Boston ship leaves Tuesday night and Breakaway comes in Wednesday morning. Some said it was too much time on the ship. I think this would be the case with a Bahamas run from Boston. I’d be all for it as I like to spend time on the ship but would it be marketable?

 

I would love to see a Jewel-class ship here but I don’t think it’s going to happen. The Dawn and the Star were purposefully re-done to put them in markets where views weren’t a big thing and suites could make more money for them. We will be stuck with the Dawn for years to come. There’s no need for views when the ship is sitting in the same port all the time so that’s why Spinnakers was cut. The Star does the Panama Canal itinerary and to make up for the loss of forward viewing areas, the ship opens the bow to passengers to let them see the vantage point (and it’s much better viewing it from the bow… I did that this year and LOVED it)!!!

 

Would a Bahamas run from Boston be Marketable? Maybe, if there are enough people like me who love sea days. Throw in a stop in Charleston along the way instead of Florida, and have one other port. It may be a longer cruise, but fine with me. To me, the beauty of a cruise is the sea day.

 

The other ship, be it the Dawn, would do the standard Bermuda runs.

[cliffd64]

The Dawn and the Star were purposefully re-done to put them in markets where views weren’t a big thing and suites could make more money for them. We will be stuck with the Dawn for years to come. There’s no need for views when the ship is sitting in the same port all the time so that’s why Spinnakers was cut.

 

That's an interesting opinion, but it's simply not true. The lack of need of views have nothing to do with the removal of the lounges. The reason the Spinnaker lounge was removed from Dawn and Star was entirely to add more revenue generating suites. The Dawn class has no Haven area like the Jewel Class and above do, and this was an easy way to add more suites into the existing design. Dawn and Star are certainly not limited to places that require no view, as they both will be sailing the Caribbean in winter time (The Star will be in Tampa next fall...). Jewel Class will retain their Spinnakers (at least for now) because they do in fact have a full assortment of suites.

[pathubia]

I have always wanted to take a Boston to Bahamas cruise. Got my wish in October when we were diverted due to Hurricane Gonzalo!

 

 

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[DaisyGoldberg]

I love the SJ suites on the Dawn and there are plenty of lovely views to be had on the NE/Canada trips in the Fall. Lying in bed, looking out floor to ceiling windows directly at the Chateau Frontenac? Pretty sweet!

[CruisinMaterial]

Would a Bahamas run from Boston be Marketable? Maybe, if there are enough people like me who love sea days. Throw in a stop in Charleston along the way instead of Florida, and have one other port. It may be a longer cruise, but fine with me. To me, the beauty of a cruise is the sea day.

 

The other ship, be it the Dawn, would do the standard Bermuda runs.

 

Adding a mid-Atlantic port would definitely help to make up for the number of sea days. I like that idea. Two sea days and pull in someplace along the seacoast (such as Charleston) and then go to the Bahamas for their foreign port call and then head back to Boston. It'd be super tight but do-able. I'm thinking the fuel expenses would sink it. Right now the Dawn is a floating hotel for most of the trip so she doesn't burn as much fuel as the most of the engines are off in port. More options from Boston would be great. I know RCCL used to do a couple of Caribbean jaunts a year from here. Those were longer voyages though. 14 day cruises out of Boston to the Caribbean would be great too! :)

[CruisinMaterial]

That's an interesting opinion, but it's simply not true. The lack of need of views have nothing to do with the removal of the lounges. The reason the Spinnaker lounge was removed from Dawn and Star was entirely to add more revenue generating suites. The Dawn class has no Haven area like the Jewel Class and above do, and this was an easy way to add more suites into the existing design. Dawn and Star are certainly not limited to places that require no view, as they both will be sailing the Caribbean in winter time (The Star will be in Tampa next fall...). Jewel Class will retain their Spinnakers (at least for now) because they do in fact have a full assortment of suites.

 

Yes that was the reason why the added suites were put on those ships but you'll never see the Dawn or the Star doing things requiring scenic viewing (or at least if NCL has a brain about them they wouldn't). The Star sails the Baltics in the summer and Panama Canal run in the winter. Not much scenic cruising there except the Canal itself which can be taken in from the bow which NCL did substitute. The Dawn does the Bermuda run in the summer and in the winter is in NOLA now. Again, not much for scenic viewing. It's not like the inside passage of Alaska. There's only certain markets these ships can sail out of now with those changes without causing an uproar. That's why Boston will be keeping the Dawn for years to come, probably until the Boston to BDA contract expires.

[CruisinMaterial]

I have always wanted to take a Boston to Bahamas cruise. Got my wish in October when we were diverted due to Hurricane Gonzalo!

 

 

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I got a longer cruise on the Norwegian Spirit due to Hurricane Lee but that had nothing to do with Boston cruising. She was sailing out of NOLA at the time. I loved her so much when they put her down there I followed her. Now the Spirit is coming back but to Port Canaveral. Anyway, being diverted is awesome! At least you didn't go north!! :eek::eek:

[Leafpeeper]

I would love a year round ship but since the ship can’t sail through the Cape Cod Canal to get on the other side and head south faster, it has to go out around Cape Cod before heading south. It’s too much fuel to do an itinerary like Bahamas and Florida from here. The ship would be running exceptionally fast and would only have two ports – probably Port Canaveral and Nassau. People wouldn’t enjoy spending that much time on the ship with two ports sandwiched in the middle.

 

I remember the gripes that came when NCL shortened their Boston to Bermuda run to have an extra night at sea and stopped splitting up the Wednesday day with the new ship coming in the afternoon and the Boston ship leaving in the morning. Now the Boston ship leaves Tuesday night and Breakaway comes in Wednesday morning. Some said it was too much time on the ship. I think this would be the case with a Bahamas run from Boston. I’d be all for it as I like to spend time on the ship but would it be marketable?

 

I would love to see a Jewel-class ship here but I don’t think it’s going to happen. The Dawn and the Star were purposefully re-done to put them in markets where views weren’t a big thing and suites could make more money for them. We will be stuck with the Dawn for years to come. There’s no need for views when the ship is sitting in the same port all the time so that’s why Spinnakers was cut. The Star does the Panama Canal itinerary and to make up for the loss of forward viewing areas, the ship opens the bow to passengers to let them see the vantage point (and it’s much better viewing it from the bow… I did that this year and LOVED it)!!!

 

We sailed Boston to the Caribbean on Jewel of the Seas when she was a new ship. Loved it. If you look at the tip of Cape Cod, you can see that the Caribbean Islands are straight south of there. NYC ships have to go east before they go south.

[NH Cruisers]

Quoat from CrisinMaterial

 

I would love a year round ship but since the ship can’t sail through the Cape Cod Canal to get on the other side and head south faster, it has to go out around Cape Cod before heading south. It’s too much fuel to do an itinerary like Bahamas and Florida from here. The ship would be running exceptionally fast and would only have two ports – probably Port Canaveral and Nassau. People wouldn’t enjoy spending that much time on the ship with two ports sandwiched in the middle.

 

 

I looked into the Noaa.go'sv site and retrieved shipping lane distances.

 

The trip to San Juan, PR from Boston is 1486 kt mi's. From the NYC 1399 kt mi. That is only 87 kt mi difference. At flank speed that is about 4 maybe 5 hrs time.

 

The DAWN has a lot of options for places to visit on a 7 day cruise. Like earlier stated Charlston, Jacksonville, Bahama ports and others. They need to visit a forign port.

[pathubia]

I got a longer cruise on the Norwegian Spirit due to Hurricane Lee but that had nothing to do with Boston cruising. She was sailing out of NOLA at the time. I loved her so much when they put her down there I followed her. Now the Spirit is coming back but to Port Canaveral. Anyway, being diverted is awesome! At least you didn't go north!! :eek::eek:

 

No kidding, heading to the cruiseport we weren't sure if we were going to the Bahamas or Canada!! There were lots of Canadians on the cruise, a big sigh of relief was heard when they announced Nassau and Great Stirrup Key!!

[CruisinMaterial]

Quote from NH Cruisers:

The trip to San Juan, PR from Boston is 1486 kt mi's. From the NYC 1399 kt mi. That is only 87 kt mi difference. At flank speed that is about 4 maybe 5 hrs time.

 

The DAWN has a lot of options for places to visit on a 7 day cruise. Like earlier stated Charlston, Jacksonville, Bahama ports and others. They need to visit a forign port. *End Quote*

 

 

There in lies the problem. Running a ship at flank speed burns more fuel because it requires more engine power. Cruise lines are trying to minimize their fuel costs (even though the price of gasoline is dropping, it'll be awhile before it hits the heavy marine fuels and jet fuels). That's why Boston will never see an East Coast combined itinerary with a Bahama port call. It wouldn't be year round for sure as the ship could never go south enough to get warm weather for a majority of the cruise days. :cool: Since NCL has spent so much time, effort and possibly money into getting Bermuda to open up the casinos... we're going to have a Boston to Bermuda run and that'll be it. :(

[ALS1214]

I wish we could at least get the Bahamas run just to offer some variety in the summer besides bermuda

 

 

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[TruckerDave]

What are you thinking? Us (Boston area) getting a BREAKAWAY or newer class ship? I could go for that. Although I do wish the cruise companies could find it beneficial to have new medium ship (70,000-94,000 GRT) builds. I find the DAWN to be a perfect size for me. How 'bout Boston having two NCL ships, like the NYC with GEM and BREAKAWAY. Don't know if I could deal with the EPIC, too hidiouse looking. But I guess when you are on it you cant see how ugly the profile is.

 

The Epic is going to Europe full time next year so you won't have to worry about that.

[MAMATAMA]

I would not mind just one port, wee like Bermuda for that reason, you get to learn the area and choose where you want to go and you are not limited to oh i can shop or I can swim….preferable option for my family

[CruisinMaterial]

There’s nothing wrong with the port of Bermuda. It’s more of the selection of where a ship can go or does go from Boston. It was hoped NCL would cultivate Boston as a homeport but we seem to be stuck with Bermuda and Canada / New England a handful of times per year. The other thing is the ship servicing Boston. Every few years it’s nice to have a change. We had the Dream for a season, then Spirit for a few seasons and then the Dawn came in. I think some were hoping the progression would continue with a Jewel-class ship such as the Gem coming to Boston but it didn’t happen with the latest deployment released by NCL.