THE ADMIRAL A Tale of Two Pities
Newspapers will undoubtedly be brim-full of saccharine prose about Cunard’s new 90,400-ton Queen Elizabeth in the run up to her christening on October 11. For most of the guests assembled in Southampton for the ceremony, this will be their first glimpse of the latest addition to the world’s most noble fleet. However, the Admiral was in Monfalcone recently to witness her final construction stages.
I had expected to see a ship identical to Queen Victoria, which entered service in December 2007. However, it was all too evident the hull of this latest Cunarder derives from Holland America Line’s Signature Class vessels. Towards the aft of Queen Elizabeth, the superstructure has been extended to accommodate 38 additional cabins on decks 4 through 8. Above this, there is a noticeable increase in the deck area, with the pool positioned further aft. Looking towards the front, there’s a new canvas- covered sports area on deck 12.
Both of these so-called enhancements have reduced the vessel’s profile to little more than a box-like, sea-going condominium. The soupçon of sleek lines bestowed upon Victoria have been consigned to the deep on her scion. When I recall the concinnity of the original Queen Elizabeth that entered service on October 16, 1946, my timbers are well and truly shivered.
Southampton is becoming no stranger to ships that eschew svelte, graceful lines. Designers seem to be constrained by accountants’ biddings rather than letting their pen create a colossus of beauty.
Design Consultant
I am indebted to my cohort Captain Greybeard, whose amusing web-blog carried a most apposite observation about a recent visitor to the Hampshire port. A reader stated: “This ship is unbelievably ugly; a floating monstrosity that mocks the whole concept of gracious maritime design.”
The forthright views continued: “The only good thing about joining the 4,100 passengers would be that once on board you couldn’t see it. This looks like a left-over collection of bankrupt hotel projects all carelessly lumped together in a mind-numbing pile of unrelated, ill-conceived bits and pieces.” And some readers regard the Admiral as acerbic in his opinions!
The views expressed on Captain Greybeard’s blog were of NCL’s latest creation, Norwegian Epic and came from Syd Mead. Now 76 and living in California, Mr Mead was a design consultant who, back in 1976, was commissioned to develop a new concept for cruise liners. As narrated by the erudite Captain, Mr Mead’s project came to nothing, partly because the company was hit by a financial crisis involving Ted Arison, who was then NCL’s representative in Miami.
A curious turn of fate then, as Ted Arison was the father of Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of the Carnival Corporation – now owners of Cunard Line!
Pre-book your fitness online with Celebrity
C
ELEBRITY CRUISES is adding spa, salon and personal fitness appointments to its ever-growing line-up of onboard experiences available for pre-cruise booking. “One of the most valued elements of a Celebrity Cruises
holiday is the outstanding service that we offer to our guests,” said lisa lutoff-Perlo, senior Vice President, Hotel Operations. “even the process of planning for experiences such as spa and salon appointments reflects our commitment to service and our ‘Designed for you’ brand platform. Our guests tell us the more they can arrange in advance, the less they have to think about once they join us onboard.” Celebrity’s pre-cruise spa, salon and personal fitness appoint-
ment options join a series of experiences available for guests to book online in advance of their cruise. These include beverage packages, shore excursions, specialty dining reservations, and complimentary “Celebrity select Dining” main dining room preferences. Guests can access the ordering system via Celebrity Cruises’ website,
www.celebritycruises.com, in the “before Your Cruise” section. Celebrity have also announced plans to return to Australia, New Zealand and the south Pacific in 2011-12, with an entic- ing new series of cruises on Celebrity Century. The new series begins on October 2, 2011, with two
consecutive 15-night Hawaii sailings from San Diego, followed by a 10-night Hawaii cruise from Ensenada to Honolulu. An 18-night “Pacific Jewels” voyage departs Honolulu November 11, followed by five 12 and 13-night New Zealand cruises between Sydney and Auckland, including a festive holiday sailing departing Sydney December 24.
Want More News from WORLD OF CRUISING?
If you enjoy all the news and reports from the magazine, make sure you go online and check out our fabulous new Blog, Time Spent At Sea, for even more essential cruise stories, reviews and great deals. Edited by our regular editor Simon Veness, and with contributions from magazine regulars like Steve Newman and Anthony Nicholas, this is THE blog to stay in tune with for all the latest insights into the worldwide cruise industry. With updates almost every day, including press
releases and the latest official word from many of the main cruise lines, you can indulge your passion for sea-going style with us whenever you like. Visit us at
www.timespentatsea.blogspot.com.
12 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2010
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