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Feature 1 | Cruise ship teChnology
The man behind the design at Carnival
Design architect Joseph Farcus has been working with Carnival designing the
interiors of its cruise ships for the past 30 years. He tells The Naval Architect
how it all began and the future of interior ship design.
M
r Farcus started out in naval architects who did not have the to build a huge ship is not worth it, I
design 30 years ago where experience in that field. He highlights don’t know about whether the RCCL’s
he initially studied land projects that he has worked on with vessel is feasible, but there is no profit
based architecture at Florida University Maurizio Cergol, senior naval architect to build really big,” he adds.
and now is a recognised name in at Fincantieri who he has worked Mr Farcus comments on the large
the maritime industr y. Drawing closely with in recent years. “When vessels that are in service at the
on his knowledge from land based we’ve talked about ideas they’ve lead to moment: “Bigger ships will get built
architecture and focusing on what the some further interesting ideas and it’s which will be good for new passengers
passenger wants onboard a cruise ship been quite an experience”, comments and will help people who may never
has enabled him to explore and create Mr Farcus. have thought of going on a cruise ship
impressive designs onboard vessels After completing the biggest vessel cross that line, but at the moment it’s
under the Carnival Corporation cruise in Costa’s fleet, Costa Luminosa, too costly for people to go on them.
brand. and seeing the launch of Oasis of the The cost of going on the ship [Oasis
Even though Mr Farcus has not been Seas, Mr Farcus believes that ships in of the Seas] is the same as going on a
involved in any land based designs the future will not be as big as Royal luxury ship.”
for the past 20 years, he has been Caribbean Cruise Line’s (RCCL) “How they [RCCL] resolve this will
involved in over 40 ship projects from Oasis of the Seas, mentioning that the be the interesting point. If they are
the beginning to the end of the design important variable in the decision of successful in resolving this then yes it
process in that time. cruise lines building bigger ships is the will push people further in the design
Mr Farcus comments on his economic environment, which these of cruise ships.”
experience: “The knowledge that I vessels are being constructed in. “Just He carries on to say that if the
have from being a land based architect
merged with the necessity of design Joseph Farcus
with a ship and getting in on the ‘ground
floor’ of a project is important.” Joseph Farcus received his Architectural degree from the university of
When Mr Farcus first started out in Florida in 1967. he became licensed as a registered architect in 1969 and
cruise ship design after meeting the at that time was the youngest corporate member of the American institute
owner of Carnival, he notes that that of Architects in the U.S.A. He received national certification in 1970. In
there were no purpose built cruise 1977 Mr Farcus opened his Architectural office; one of the first projects he
ships at the time and it was usual for worked on was the refit of Carnival’s third ship TSS Festival. Specialising in
a freighter ship that wasn’t being used cruise ship Mr Farcus has designed all interiors for the entire Carnival fleet.
through certain points of the year to be in 1998 Mr Farcus feature in the guinness book of records as the interior
painted white and with this the cruising designer for Carnival Destiny which was the first passenger ship to exceed
tradition started. 100,000tonnes. He has designed 28 delivered ships for Carnival Cruise Lines
The first vessel that Mr Farcus and six delivered ships for Costa
worked on for Carnival was SS Festivale, Crociere. he is currently working
originally SA Vaal of Safmarine Lines on two Carnival Dream class
running between Southampton and ships and four mega-cruisers for
Durban. In 1977 the vessel was sold Costa Crociere.
to Carnival where it was refitted in he is a member of the board
Japan to a modern cruise vessel and of trustees for the Miami Art
re-entered service in 1978. Museum and is on the Board
Believing in the principle that ‘the of governors of the American
ship itself is the desitination’ Mr Farcus Jewish Committee. he is
has worked closely with naval architects married to Jeanne Farcus and
and says that his experience in land has three Children.
based architecture has given insight to
46 The Naval Architect February 2010
NA Feb10 - p46+p48.indd 46 02/02/2010 13:44:50
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