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There is a new poll question there - enjoy

Chris

[ 05-31-2004: Message edited by: Chris Cunard ]

Sorry about the red - the poll is provided free from the people who look after my guestbook and I can't change the font for this poll now - but the next one will have white text on black!

The whole bit about QV1 not being luxurious enough for Cunard is such crap. None of us knew exactly what QV1 was going to look like on the interior so we have no way of knowing if QV2 is really going to be any different.

I think the bottom line is that P&O was more in need of the tonnage, that P&O proved they could turn a profit on the ship more quickly than Cunard, and that Cunard was in no position to take on new tonnage so quickly since they are still experiencing teething problems with QM2.

If the design of QV1 was truly unacceptable to Cunard, then they would have designed QV2 from scratch and not just ordered another Vista Class. There are only so many variations that can be made of this design, and Holland America has already figured out the best use of general arrangement for this type ship.

Ernie

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Originally posted by eroller:
I think the bottom line is that P&O was more in need of the tonnage, that P&O proved they could turn a profit on the ship more quickly than Cunard...

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Possibly a factor:

When I was onboard the QM2 a senior member of the dining room staff said that staffing the QM2 had been quite a problem for Cunard, as they did not have a big fleet to draw experienced staff from and support the new recruits.

P&O are in a better position to at least provide a percentage of experienced staff to add to the mix onboard Arcadia.

I must say that the P&O fleet has really been messed about the past couple of years. I'm losing track of which ships are in and which are out?

Before we boarded QM2 in Fort Lauderdale for her inaugural Caribbean cruise, there was a Princess ship there, may be the Dawn? I don't know - but it was ugly. Someone nearby commented that it looked like a floating concrete parking garage.

Why pay money to go on something like that?

Hopefully, Q.V. will look like the rendering on your web site.

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Originally posted by CGT:
John Maxtome Graham spoke recently on the QM2 for the Worldship Society of New York. He was asked about the QV and said that the QV, while built on top of a Vista Class hull, will have a superstructure that looks like a cross between the QE2 and QM2. Thus she would at least look like an ocean liner though she would not actually be one in the sense that QM2 is. I know the man does not work for Cunard, but, we all know he has his connections...

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This is good news. I hope it's true, but until I actually see an official rendering from Cunard I remain skeptical. JMG does know what he is talking about though, so I have a lot of faith in what he has to say.

I still feel that P&O needed the tonnage and Cunard was not prepared for another new ship, and that is the reason for the change. Even so, if it gives Cunard a chance to regroup, redesign the ship, and staff it properly then that is a very good thing.

Bill Miller was on my QM2 sailing and his lectures are always so entertaining. He attended two of the FOD parties and I enjoyed chatting with him. He seems to know some inside info on Carnival's new 180,000 gt newbuilds under consideration, but mentioned nothing about QV. One thing I really like about his lectures are the fact he can poke fun at Carnival Corp. and speak highly of other lines (such as Crystal and the Voyager Class) even though he is lecturing on a Carnival Corp. owned ship.

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Originally posted by ScottQE2:
Hi Chris, Is there a picture of the new Q.V. yet? I really don't want it to be some knock off of a 'class' of ship - you know - the nothing special, cookie cutter design that people like nowadays.

Scott

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[ 05-31-2004: Message edited by: Keitaro ]

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Originally posted by eroller:

I hope it's true.......JMG does know what he is talking about though, so I have a lot of faith in what he has to say.

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Originally posted by Chris Cunard:
Thanks Malcolm

Above: Jason's QM2 / QE2 hybrid design for QV(2)

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This is an excellent design!

I like your new poll question Chris

[ 05-31-2004: Message edited by: Ðraikar ]

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Originally posted by Ðraikar:
I hope QV(2) will look kinda like my rendering above but I know she will not. She will look like the photo given out to the press below, but with better interiors then originally designed for the QV(1).

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If this is the case then my original assumption is correct. She is nothing more than Vista Class clone that Cunard is somehow trying to pass off as "better". As for the interiors being improved, we have no way of really knowing since none of us have seen the original design specs or renderings for the "original" QV.

I can still hope that Cunard released this QV2 rendering in haste or possibly did not want to reveal what the real ship will look like prematurely??

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Originally posted by eroller:
As for the interiors being improved, we have no way of really knowing since none of us have seen the original design specs or renderings for the "original" QV.

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I wonder if Arcadia will simply have the decor that planned for the QV? After all both cruise lines appeal to a similar market niche.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

I wonder if Arcadia will simply have the decor that planned for the QV? After all both cruise lines appeal to a similar market niche.

It's hard to imagine all the planned interiors will be completely changed for P&O?

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Yes Malcolm, I think she will. Of course none of us (at least that I know of) have seen those interiors. In fact I don't know of anyone who has even seen the general arrangement of the public areas. It would be interesting to compare to HAL's and Carnival/Costa's.

At this late stage in the game I think it would be too expensive to change interior designers and mess around with the G.A. too much. I would estimate the ship will be 90% as designed for Cunard, with some changes incorporated for P&O (i.e. P&O signature lounges, signage, etc.).

Like I said in an earlier thread, it's very interesting just how interchangeable these ships are between brands. What that tells me is that the brands are too diluted and too much alike and maybe seperate brands are not needed.

I remember when Princess bought two of the R-Class ships. They changed one lounge and added the Princess glass mailboxes on the outside of each cabin. Suddenly the President of Princess proclaimed they felt like Princess ships through and through. IMO that didn't say much for what makes a Princess ship unique.

QV1 was originally intended to be a ship catering almost exclusively to the UK market, just as QE2 is today now that she has left N.American waters.

I think Cunard has had a change of heart and I have a feeling that QV2 will be marketed extensively in both the US, as well as the UK and Europe. I think changes to the ship were required in order for QV2 to appeal more to a N. American clientele. In fact I have a feeling Cunard has re-thought the strategy regarding QE2 as well, based on the number of mailings I get from Cunard regarding this ship and the VERY cheap prices. There are also rumors floating about that QE2 will return to N. American waters. We shall see.

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Originally posted by eroller:
Like I said in an earlier thread, it's very interesting just how interchangeable these ships are between brands.

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I cannot see much differance between the P&O and Cunard products for 80% of the passengers. Although Cunard cater better for the top 20% (a guess) with their grill class and big suites.

I think in the eyes of Cunard the second QV (as we call it) is just the same as the discontinued QV, she only enters service later as planned and that is probably also what Cunard wants the public to believe.

There are now so many vista class ships sailing around I don’t think that the upcoming QV will be a new ship (design wise)

Never the less for fun I’m drawing a profile of QV that has the best of both worlds, a bit of Vista and a bit of QM2. If it’s finished I’ll post it.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Why on earth is there all of this excitement about the QV? She will obviously be disappointing in comparison to the breathtaking QM2.

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Good question Malcolm, and who on earth knows. Some people get excited about "anything Cunard" regardless of what it is, even if it's just another Vista Class clone. This ship has already fostered far more attention then she deserves.

While I think QM2 is an amazing ship, probably my favorite so far, I certainly don't place Cunard on a pedestal. They have had more than their share of duds in modern times, as one only need look at CUNARD COUNTESS, CUNARD PRINCESS, CUNARD ADVENTURER, and Cunard Crown-Dynasty among others.

It's only thanks to Carnival Corp. that we have QM2 and Cunard once again on a growth mode.

At the end of the day there are other ships in the works far more interesting then QV.

Ernie

[ 06-01-2004: Message edited by: eroller ]

Jochen