Cruise Talk: Caribbean cruise ships

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Topic: Caribbean cruise ships

carnival cruise
First Class Passenger
Member # 516

posted 07-23-1999 12:13 AM

In your own opinion, what would be the smothest ship to cruise on in the Caribbean year round? Why?

Posts: 23 | From: Susanville, Ca USA | Registered: Jul 99

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 07-23-1999 09:45 AM

Probably the Radisson Diamond - with its twin hull, it is designed to be very smooth in normal seas. It has what is called SWATH design (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) Aparently the Radisson Diamond is a bit bumpy in rough seas though. I was on the Radisson Diamond a few years ago and was not terribly impressed, having visited many ships in the cruise industry. It had some neat features, but other than the twin hulls, it was a bit drab in it's interior and lounges. To continue to answer your question, I think the older "liners" are the smoothest cruising ships in the Caribbean year-round, because they are designed with the deep hull, and ride the rough seas better than these new ships. The older ships are more solid. SeaBreeze, Norway, QE-2, Rembrandt, to name a few.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99

Cruiselvr
First Class Passenger
Member # 96

posted 07-23-1999 10:16 AM

I've cruised the Eastern Caribbean on the Norway and didn't find her to be any smoother than Celebrity or Princess ships. I know we cruised a lot faster than those lines do to get from port to port in time, but I felt the relatively same amount of motion on all 3 ships I've been on. The Norway has a heavier draft for ocean voyages, but she doesn't have the modern stabilizers that the newer ships have. There might be a huge difference in rough seas, but I can't comment on that.

Posts: 34 | Registered: Apr 99

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 07-23-1999 12:20 PM

Yes Norway has stabilizers - I don't know if they use them all that often, or if they are in working order 100% of the time, but she does have 4 of them. The Norway reacts a little differently than she did when she was the France and even when she first became the Norway. After the new decks were added, she would tend to catch the wind quite a bit more than she use to. Also in rough weather, she would tend to roll a bit more because of the heavier top decks. I spoke to the Captain of the Norway one time, and he told me that he suggested a new feature be added to the rudder. She now has a fin attached to the rudder which gives her better turning capabilities. This fin also helps to keep her on course better than the original rudder alone was able to do.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99

Vaccaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 465

posted 07-24-1999 01:07 AM

Hello,
Yes, Barryboat is right, NORWAY had four stabilizers and they were known to work very well when she was FRANCE (She was one of the more ponctual liner despite the bad weather). And i must add too, to compensate for the heavier weight in her height, due to the two additional decks, ballasts were created when the front old machinery (boilers and turbines) was replaced by diesel-alternators to produce enought electricity. Some space was gained and so they could add these ballast. Her draught is even deeper now than in her earlier days.
Of course, when the wind is stong, the problem remains, but this is the case too with the new very hight cruise ships.
Bye.

Posts: 1193 | From: France ...where the greatest liners ever are born, ...by far! | Registered: Feb 99

carnival cruise
First Class Passenger
Member # 516

posted 07-24-1999 11:39 PM

Barryboat,
Hi, I really didn't think that the Norway would really need stabalizers. I mean she is really long. The longest cruise ship. Why would she need stabalizers? My brother is jake14. I have been useing jake14 for a while. Anyway that you for replying.
carnival cruise

Posts: 23 | From: Susanville, Ca USA | Registered: Jul 99

Vaccaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 465

posted 07-25-1999 04:16 AM

Hello,
Even a 2000 fts long ship would need stabilizers in very rought seas.
Stabilizers are only used to slow down and reduce rolling and not pitching. The long ships have a ratio between lenght and beam that have usually more chance to be taller than in shorter ships (for instance, this ratio is 7.12 for MAASDAM, 8.66 for GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS, 9.17 for QE2 and 9.35 for NORWAY). So, if we consider, to simplify, than the carachteristics of the hulls (in cluding draught and excepted this ratio) and the height of the center of gravity are the same and the tonnage is proportional to the size, the amplitude (not necessary the frequency) of the roll for a long ship is taller than for a short ship. So,they need stabilizers. All tall ships, newers or olders are fitted with them.
Sorry for my broken English and i hope my explanations are not too vague.
Bye.

Posts: 1193 | From: France ...where the greatest liners ever are born, ...by far! | Registered: Feb 99

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 07-25-1999 01:57 PM

Vaccaro, you did a good job of explaining the technical reason for stabilizers. It was thought, when the France was built, that because of her 1035 foot length, that she would conquer the problem of Pitching.(she is a very stable ship, but she will pitch in moderate to rough seas) Even though she is fairly wide, her length required stabilizers.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99

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