How Big is Too Big?

[LauraS]

As we reported last week in our news story, Royal Caribbean announced it would build cruising's biggest ship ever: The first in its proposed series of Genesis-class ships will measure a whopping 220,000 tons and carry 5,400 passengers. The ship, which will be 43 percent larger than Royal Caribbean's soon-to-be-launched Freedom of the Seas -- itself the biggest cruise ship ever built -- will be launched in fall 2009.

 

We want to know: Poll: How big is too big? Tell us how you feel and we'll publish the results next week.

Then, after you've told us, share with each other.......

[UCFKnight85]

6000 passengers?

 

Heck yes it's too big.

 

And I pity the people on other boats in the same port cities when that thing lets the people out. It's going to be a mob scene.

[House_Atreides]

Talk about a "nightmare"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too many kids!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too much space to get lost in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I too feel sorry for any port that is forced to put up with 6000 nimrods on this ship!!!!!!!!!

[Sonny MA]

that's just way to big for any ship.

[KroozNut]

I'm sure that some cruisers will want to sail this behemouth, but count me out!

[seahorse]

For my taste, too big, too many people.

 

On the other hand, it will be good for first time cruisers that are afraid that there will not be much to do on a smaller ship.

 

Families are going to love it. I just hope that they price it so families can afford it.

[joediver]

I'd be afraid of losing my family on something that big! No thanks. I'll stick to smaller ships and avoid any itineraries that coincide with that monster at a port!

[SantanaTto]

Count me out!!

[e.durban]

Nothing wrong with REALLY big ships, but this one will have way too many people...It's the crowds that are a problem.

[KroozNut]

I think your point is what most of us don't like about the size of this ship. It's not necessarily the physical size of the vessel itself, but the hordes of people that she will carry...Ugh!

[Stillfloatin']

WAY too many people. I see: long lines, impossible tendering, jam-packed ports, exponential increase in hellion kids and drunks, nightmare embarkation and disimbarkation, massive waits for any "speciality" venues, zero chance of finding chairs by any pool, over-crowded bars and casino, huge impersonal dining rooms, hard-to-get-into shows, and smaller cabins to accomodate all the passengers. Gee, what's not to love?:eek:

[NormanW]

I'm not crazy about this at all.

 

What happens when the unexpected happens? (drydock required)

 

Does anyone realize the requirements to accomodate such a vessel in drydock?

 

pssst. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

The crowds, the people, the children, etc. are the LEAST of the problem here. Of course in my field I see things differently and things as simple as a door solve a lot of problems! :D

 

Cheers,

 

Norman

[grammyof14]

No thanks, can you imagine if they have to tender? By the time the last one is off, it would be time to get onboard again.

 

They'll have to have that new program when they land, so luggage is taken right to airports or it'll be a real mess at the dock.:rolleyes:

[Mr Ocean]

Considering safety, the sizes of cruiseships of today is already too big.

And where will this new one dock, there can not be many ports to choose from when you are that big.

[ILUVCRUIZN]

Dh and I are up for trying it... We like new and exciting, but once we sailed on her our opinion could change dramatically.

 

Everyone brings up many good questions so who knows what will happen!!!!

 

I think that there are good and bad to ships that size just like there are good and bad to the smaller and medium sized ships!!! So when are we going???

 

JMO, Chanda :)

[KroozNut]

Chanda,

 

Considering the majority of opinions about the ship in this thread so far, you and your hubby may have the ship to yourselves! : )

[micmark]

I'll try anything if the price is right!

 

But it seems these new "ginormous" ships aren't getting any longer, they just keep getting taller! How long before one rolls over?

[filadin]

I started cruising in the early '80's on 35-45,000 ton ships that held 300-500 passengers. These were mostly older ships like the Galileo and Carla Costa. Eventually, I moved up to larger, newer, and nicer ships.

 

I remember when the 75,000 ton ships started to come on-line people said the same thing - too big, getting lost, embarkation and debarkation will be too long, I hate to be in port when that beast comes in, etc.

 

For the most part, I think that they were right. But ships are not going to get smaller only bigger. Perhaps some of the doomsayers were wrong. Most people are perfectly happy on a 100,000 or 120,000 ton ship with 2500-4000 people.

 

No doubt, we will all get accustomed to 200,000 ton ships, as I have become used to 120,000 ton ships.

[NormanW]

Nuclear powered! :)

 

Cheers,

 

Norman

[logcabin]

Too big! A disaster waiting to happen.

[angeljt]

Bigger is not always better. We sailed on the Sovereign of the Seas and I thought that was too big. I guess it was partly because the ship we had been on before that only held about 400 passengers. It was a much more intimate experience and you saw the same people more than once. I would think a ship that size would be very impersonal, but you never know!

[newmexicoNita]

Give me a ship large enought to afford a variety of activities, but small enough to keep a friendly and intimate feeling. 1500 to 2500 is perfect, 3000 a bit to big, but I can handle it, more than that no thanks. If I want to be among an entire town I will head for a resort like Hawaii where the people and hotels are wall to wall. NMnita

[CRUZIN TOM]

I totally agree with NMnita. 1500-2500 is just ideal. lines not too long. Can you just imagine those who love the sun(not me), getting the 2000+ lawn chairs on the decks. Just unbeliveable............:confused:

[alderaniandad]

I look at it this way --- tremendous increase of capacity in the market and the new ship will be verrrry efficient driving the costs down and profits up. She will have an interesting manuvering profile and will be barred from the smaller ports. Cruisers will have to look carefully at their itineraries to be sure the behemouth is not there at the same time. If QM2 has trouble making it out of Miami without dinging herself how will 220,000 tons do. Imagine what strong winds will do. Sounds verrrrry interesting. Like to see it though.

[Alan_Jay]

we've just returned from 19 days on the Diamond Princess (3200 Capacity). It is too big. Embarkation took over 5 hours, tendering was more like cattle herding; going ashore in Darwin with only one single lane gangway was a new experience, not one WE'D EVER WANT TO REPEAT!

The showrooms and lounges could not begin to accomodate the mobs. Seating for everyone was impossible. Lines, lines, Lines!!!

 

NEVER again on a BIG ship. :eek:

 

 

Alan_Jay

 

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