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Supersized ships

WALLACE IMMEN

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 9:15 AM EST 15/10/08

One ship features a ‘Central Park' with a tropical garden and ponds. Another has a food court worthy of a downtown shopping mall. And when it comes to socializing, there are thousands of other passengers to mingle with. As Wallace Immen reports, the newest wave of cruise ships are really, really big. But are they better? ...Read the full article

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  1. Rollo T from Belgium writes: We've never felt we were in a crowd, except when we go ashore," Bob says.
    ----------------------

    A balanced article would have examined the downsides. We can only imagine the queues, especially for tenders, which would be more often than not with such a large ship. What's the crew to staff ratio?
  2. GlynnMhor of Skywall from Canada writes: And imagine the rush for the lifeboats if the thing decided to sink.
  3. Alberta Marlowe from Canada writes: If the marine architects were caption editors at the Globe those ships would be in trouble. Shoddiness doesn't cut it at sea.
  4. That OTHER Guy from Toronto, Canada writes: What a tempting target for terrorists. Thousands of westerners, all in one place, coming to a shoreline near you!
  5. murphy kierans from Montreal, Ireland writes: I want to know when a cruise line will allow dogs.
  6. D Mores from GTA, Canada writes: And what about those who go alone? And how about singles cruises?

    "I met several people during the cruise that I would have liked to see again over drinks or a dinner, but sadly we never crossed paths again. (In other cases, this might be a good thing.)" This sounds ideal for one night stands! LOL
  7. P Schrodr from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Good luck to the Cruise lines filling ships with the economy going in the tank. Especially the US economy with nothing but bad News to report. I think most of the Cruise Vacation money has already sailed
  8. Henry Allen from East Bank, Don River, Canada writes: "HOLLAND AMERICA EURODAM hollandamerica.com. This "mid-sized" ship takes 21,00 passengers." 21,000 passengers! Isn't it going to be just a tad over-crowded with an average of 10 people per cabin?
  9. M D from Canada writes: Wait for the next contagious outbreak on a ship like this...will put SARS to shame.
  10. Walter K from Victoria, Canada writes: There is no mention here in this article about the environmental impact a ship this size would have in regards to its emissions over populated areas. Cruise ship destinations such as Ogden Point in Victoria, British Columbia do not have any means to plug these ships into onshore hydro. Currently all ships docked at Ogden Point must run generators the entire duration of their stay. The emissions produced are extremely toxic and invasive over a very heavily populated area of the city. While these ships are for the pleasure and profit for the few, a great number of citizens that reside in the neighbourhood of James Bay where the cruise ship terminal is located will suffer the negative environmental impact to their community.
    The premier of B.C, Gordon Campbell is displaying a double standard by implementing a carbon tax paid for by the average citizen through higher living costs is giving big polluters a free hand to do as they please.
    American ports such as Seattle have strict environmental standards in place where ships cannot run polluting generators while docked in port especially over dense populations.
    The province of British Columbia along with Ottawa would do well to implement similar regulations for the protection of its people and environment.
  11. Vancouver Island Voice from Canada writes: I wonder what sort of CARBON IMPRINT these things make? A foot per litre? That's probably too generous.
  12. Nature Lover from Canada writes: The pretense that the economy will not effect this type of gross consumerism is laughable. People will lose their homes, but will have discretionary money to spend on this?
  13. Kim Philby from Canada writes: At what point do these ships become so big that you lose the sense that you're on a ship? Having a cabin 14 storeys in the air facing the inner courtyard doesn't sound like much of an oceangoing experience - unless you happen to run into stormy waters.

    You may as well just book a cabin at a seaside resort.
  14. Dave LeBlanc from Canada writes: When they flush the toilets, where does it all go?

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