The Photo Preview can be accessed via Ship Parade's front door. And once you have inspected Costa Concordia, perhaps you'd like to have a look at the brand new Port Alphabet section, too!

Who needs LSD when you have JF being let loose on two cruise brands.

[ 07-25-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Anyone planning on sailing the Concordia had better bring along certified 100% UVA- and UVB-blocking sunglasses, and not for wearing outdoors.

[ 07-24-2006: Message edited by: BigUFan ]

P.S.: Does anyone know what to this lovely Italian cruise line happened? It has been called Linea "C" if I remeber right.

[ 07-24-2006: Message edited by: Ernst ]

Thank you for your impeccable ship photo reviews - as always. It was great seeing you in Amsterdam last month as well. I wish you all of the very best and always look forward to your site updates.

But I recognize that most of Magica rooms are atrocious.
In an other thread, after having seen a few pics of Concordia interiors, I first thought that, even if she wasn't obviously a master piece, she couldn't be worse than Magica, simply because I thought it was impossible.

Well, I was wrong ! Those pictures (which BTW are great, thanks Bart! ) simply show us one of the worst decorated ship ever !

This is the first time that just seeing interiors pictures make me not want to cruise on a newbuilt ship !

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Originally posted by bearbuns:
[...] And he got paid to do this? [...]

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As far as the decor is concerned, the first thing I thought was, "Yawn, here we go again". After so many ships, I've become jaded by Farcus-ized interiors,...they get old rather quickly and tend to fall into the 'so what' category.

Having said this, I will say that the cruising public will probably love the ship; it is, afterall (and undoubtedly) an escape from everyday life as most folks know it.

And for those of us purists who long for the bygone days of the great liners, I say that this is not so far off base in relation to some of the great liners of the past. Not in terms of actual decor but rather in it's 'over-the-top' style. Let's look back at liners such as Conte Grande, Conte Verde, Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt, Saturnia, and even the Paris and you'll find that these ships were, in their time, the equal of today's Farcus designed ships.

I suppose that, if this were 1927 and we were discussing the new Conte Grande, the comments regarding her interiors might follow the same tone as this current discussion about Costa Concordia,....but then again, maybe not.

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Originally posted by Ernst:
I ony ask myself - even if you like this - does the effect prolong a cruise?

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Yes, the decor makes it feel like you are onboard forever!

I did see her the other day and took many photos, but as yet have only managed to put 3 short video clips online, of her alongside & turning, which you can view here. Her open top decks look quite nice, but I do not like the overall appearance too much.

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Originally posted by Beezo:
Why Carnival continues to work with Farcus is beyond me...it seems like they are trying to get an award for the world's most ugliest ships!

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Carnival are well aware that the cruising public (well at least the American and Italin mass market) has zero taste.

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Originally posted by Beezo:
Why Carnival continues to work with Farcus is beyond me...it seems like they are trying to get an award for the world's most ugliest ships!

~Brian

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Carnival Corp. is developing and catering to a growing "contemporary" market of cruisers in Europe, through their Costa brand. They have plenty of upscale, refined brands for people who prefer those settings. Costa is becoming the European Carnival brand, appealing to people who are looking for a fantasy world on board their cruises.

Yes, the new ships are over the top, quite garish, and not to everyone's taste. But then, they are not intended for those of us who disagree with this style.

And there is plenty of precedent for Italian ships having over-the-top decor; just look at the interiors of most of Italia's pre-war liners, which were decorated in Recocco upon Baroque stylings. Even post-War, many people felt that the beautiful ANDREA DORIA was too decorated, when you see photos of her bulkheads covered in murals, or a suite covered in signs of the Zodiac, even in the bathrooms.

The wonderful thing about cruising in 2006 is that we have plenty of selection in cruise brands, stylings, and type of product being offered. It's just a matter of avoiding those ships and lines we find distasteful, and sailing on those we prefer!

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Originally posted by Ernst:
I agree with Linerrich that it is pointless to complain about Carnival or now also Costa in this context....

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Pointless? That’s the whole point of Cruisetalk. Anyway, it makes me feel better.

When an American giant Americanizes what was an Italian line it surely warrants a complaint or two.