There are some who have a problem with the Promenade, but it honestly provides great flow-through, and makes the Voyager-class ships very easy to navigate. Frankly, no one calls Carnival's ships the Disco ships, yet they have an entire promenade dedicated to nothing but nightlife. No one calls NCLs ships "Giant Restaurants that float", but the metaphore is much more correct than Voyager as a "mall ship." 12 restaurants on a ship is more like a restaurant row than 4 shops is a mall ship.

As for calling them "theme parks," well, this is not entirely correct either. They do offer many lounges, large pool decks, large spas, all sorts of sports, yet they don't offer any rides, or anything remotely "theme-parkish". Except for the parades. Again, what mall has parades? Theme parks do have them, though. Actually, these ships are very much "resort ships." Isn't that really what every mass market ship is trying to be? Of course, premium class ships are more like "hotel ships." All lines seem to do just fine with their intended likenesses. I would say that RCI is like Hyatt, or maybe Atlantis, Carnival is like Hard Rock Hotel, I can't really say what NCL is like...there is not enough brand image, Celebrity is like Conrad International, and Crystal/Seabourn/Radisson are like Four Seasons/Ritz Carlton. I think this is a fair assessment, and I open the forum to debate.

I merely want to express that too many people denouce the Voyager-class as giant malls, when they are nothing of the sort. Only the Explorer, with its Sea Lab and Tommy Hilfiger store come close to this distinction. I have sailed on over fifty cruises, and I love the Voyager-class (as you can tell), but I also love Celebrity, am a fan of Carnival, Costa, and several others. I just cannot sit here without addressing a common misconception that seems to appear very often on the boards.

It is as easy to pick on RCI and the ‘Voyager’ class and blame them of inventing floating ‘Malls’, as it is to pick on ‘McDonalds’ and blame them for inventing ‘fast food’. It just so happens that both companies are very successful at what they do.

Shops at sea are of course not new, most (all?) cruise ships have them, ferries have them, the QE2 even has them. It could be argued that RCI’s ‘Royal Promenade’ is just an extension of the traditional Promenade concept. After all the original Queen Mary had it’s Piccadilly Circus.

I personally feel that it is the invention of large atriums is what has given many ships a ‘Mall’ feel. Although atriums are not new, they are getting progressively bigger.

I wonder what the first passenger ship was to have onboard shops?

I wonder which was the first ship to have an Atrium?

The high ceilings, long passage and wide enclosed space just gives it that mall type vibe.

As far as the first ship with an atrium, it has been argued that Royal Princess, with its 2 deck center atrium was the first, but I would argue that the Sovereign of the Seas had the first true atrium. This spans five decks, and is the closest thing to a modern atrium.

Here are some other firsts:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sokker14:
First magradomed pool deck -
Sea Venture/Pacific Princess I

---

The first modern Magradome was in fact on Home Lines' OCEANIC.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sokker14:
First magradomed pool deck -
Sea Venture/Pacific Princess I

---

Methinks you have missed the boat on this one. Notwithstanding the fact that her 2 swimming pools were a joke, Home Lines' Oceanic had a Magradome before the blue prints for Sea Venture were ever drawn up.

[ 07-24-2003: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

quote:

---

First swimming pool - Titanic

---

[ 07-24-2003: Message edited by: petede ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by petede:
Titanic and Olympic had a small store in which to purchase trinkets.

[ 07-24-2003: Message edited by: petede ]

---

As everyone knows I am a HUGE QE2 fan...but I do have to say that I find her "Royal Promenade" above the Grand Lounge to feel more like a shopping mall than any other ship I have sailed on. At least on the newer ships, the shops are separate from the public rooms.

The shops now reside in balcony of the Grand Lounge and it is kind of odd to be sitting in the lower level watching a show and seeing the shops above.

Originally they were forward of this space which was a lounge (Double Up Room) until the 1972 refurb.

I have even heard a rumour that an entertainer (I believe it was Barry Manilow but could be wrong) remarked that performing in that room was like performing in a mall. From I understand - I am saying much more politely than it was said originally.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jekyll:

Originally they were forward of this space which was a lounge (Double Up Room) until the 1972 refurb.

---

True!

The Double Up lounge disappeared in 1972 and was replaced by the shopping centre, except for a few tables for two overlooking the Double Down lounge. The original shops were moved to make room for cabins 8201 - 8210. So, the performing in a shopping mall effect has been there since very early in QE2's career for shows presented in the Double Room or its successor, the Grand Lounge.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian_O:
The Double Up lounge disappeared in 1972 and was replaced by the shopping centre

---

A very good example of how they started ruining QE2 from the very beginning!

But of course that's not the topic of this thread...

And to be totally honest, the Royal Promenade on the VOYAGER-class ships DOES feel an awful lot like a shopping mall. A very nice shopping mall, mind you, but a shopping mall no less.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jekyll:
...but I do have to say that I find her "Royal Promenade" above the Grand Lounge to feel more like a shopping mall than any other ship I have sailed on.

---

Ships of course have to reflect society. Today most people regard shopping as a hobby, pleasure or even entertainment! Consumerism is now part of our identities.

A modern ship without a reasonable selection of shops is unthinkable! They of course raise income, too for the cruise line.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm:

Shops at sea are of course not new, most (all?) cruise ships have them, ferries have them, the QE2 even has them. It could be argued that RCI’s ‘Royal Promenade’ is just an extension of the traditional Promenade concept. After all the original Queen Mary had it’s Piccadilly Circus.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sokker14:
I am not positive about the first ship to have shops on board, but I would have to say that Cunard's Picadilly Circus would be the first appearance of an arcade like those on ships today.

---

A three year old post with photos for providing an alternative answer to this, ... five years before the QUEEN MARY and still a transatlantic...

here.

By the way Sokker14, I forgot to say I really enjoy your original post that makes some good points from a moderated and balanced perspective.

[ 07-25-2003: Message edited by: Vaccaro ]