An encircling promenade deck

A proper observation lounge

A ballroom/ lounge for dancing, tea and lectures

No art auctions

Balconies styled like those on the Sun Princess to minimise their effect on the ship’s looks

A theatre AND a cinema

An indoor/out door pool adjoining a thalassotherapy pool and sauna (all free)

A lido deck divided into two to allow a quiet pool and an entertainment pool, not just a huge noisy area

Terraced public stern decks rather than balconies

Suites located between decks of standard accommodation over and below them to offer superior soundproofing

A two-deck dining saloon low down and amidships (galley round the funnel casing and crew mess rooms aft)

Two free a la carte restaurants.

As far as I can see my best hope at the moment is Crystal Serenity!!!!

Perfection in construction and design

A dinning room at the stern with floor to ceiling windows.

glass elevators

I would like balconies but not covered in them

Sadly, Hapag Lloyd missed the opportunity to come up with an adequate Europa - as they built a 'ground breaking' vessel at the begin of the 80ies one would have expected more - MUCH more - from them. What a disappointment.

Longer than 7 days I like the QM2 with all the 1000 things to do at 3am.

My ideal all purpose ship is my own design

[ 09-27-2006: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

More selctions for "budget" inside rooms,

A nice pool area one that someone actually spent time on to design and make it look nice

A nice lounge with pool tables (Radiance comes in
mind)

A nice atrium, one that doesn't have x amount of pointless decks added to it for the "wow effect"
But it only as talls and big as it needs to be

Teak decks, none of that rubber turf except in "wet" areas

Nice locker room area for changing and showerig

Lots of glass, to remind you on a huge ship that you are at sea

Suites with wraps around views like the Celebrity suites on the Mille class

And the most important thing IMO for any ship, a nice decor represnting the cruise line and market

[ 09-27-2006: Message edited by: 6263866 ]

quote:

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Originally posted by mec1:
My perfect ship would have:

An encircling promenade deck

A proper observation lounge

A ballroom/ lounge for dancing, tea and lectures

No art auctions

Balconies styled like those on the Sun Princess to minimise their effect on the ship’s looks

A theatre AND a cinema

An indoor/out door pool adjoining a thalassotherapy pool and sauna (all free)

A lido deck divided into two to allow a quiet pool and an entertainment pool, not just a huge noisy area

Terraced public stern decks rather than balconies

Suites located between decks of standard accommodation over and below them to offer superior soundproofing

A two-deck dining saloon low down and amidships (galley round the funnel casing and crew mess rooms aft)

Two free a la carte restaurants.

As far as I can see my best hope at the moment is Crystal Serenity!!!!

What would be on your wish list?

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quote:

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Originally posted by 6263866:

Lots of glass, to remind you on a huge ship that you are at sea

[ 09-27-2006: Message edited by: 6263866 ]

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25-35 Gross Tons, a classic looking ship with fantail
500 passengers, Max
Traditional/understated type decore
Teak wraparound prom
All outside spacious cabins, but inside fares
Observation lounge
2-3 story 'Wow' type dining room
No big atrium wasting space
At least three 'active' venues for entertainment so you have a choice
A good choice of bars
24 hour services which are 24 hour
Dedicated Cinema, showing movies all day, every day
A free Indian alternative dining room (I love a curry)
Bridge open to th public
A Gentlemans Club (no women allowd in) with Pole Dancing etc.
peek-a-boo-engines (Engine room viewing area)
Bill Miller as a permanet lecturer onboard
A pinboard where the photo of the 'incompotent staff member of the week' is chosen by the passengers
No bingo. No Napkin folding.
No need for a gym, Spa, Beauty Center, Casino - cos I don't use them.

[ 09-28-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Hmmm... A Gentlemans Club (no women allowd in) with Pole Dancing etc.

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So Malcolm....you want a gentlemans club with MEN doing the pole dancing?

[ 09-28-2006: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

quote:

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
you want a gentlemans club with MEN doing the pole dancing? I don't know if you would like to see me do a pole dance, on the other hand maybe you would???? I suppose it would be very entertaining to see me do a pole dance! At my bachelor party, before I was married, I invited about 20 of my best buddies on a boat in Lake Minnetonka. They gave me some sort of american flag string bikini to put on...so I did and stood on the bow and did a little gig. The funny part is that a dinner boat was passing by behind me as I was entertaining my buddies. I'm sure that boat-load of diners lost their apetite.

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quote:

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:

So Malcolm....you want a gentlemans club with MEN doing the pole dancing?

[ 09-28-2006: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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. . . . . be at sea.

What do they say about a bad day on board a cruise ship being better than a good day in the office?

You can be picky all you like about the cruise ships of today as compared to the ocean liners of yesteryear. And about the Carnivalisation of this, that and the other. And which line has the best food. Or the best cabins, the most comfortable beds, the softest sheets, the strongest cocktails or the liveliest disco. Or the best theatre shows. Or the teakiest decks, Or the chattiest captain. Or the funniest cruise director. Or even (Malcolm) the prettiest pole dancers.

But when it comes down to it, when you're being waited on hand and foot by agreeable stewards and waiters/waitresses. When nothing is too much trouble. When you can wake up each morning with a different view outside your cabin window (or on the telly if you're relying on the bridgecam in your inside cabin). When the biggest decision of the day is whether, after a hearty lunch and a half-hour snooze in a steamer chair you should go to restaurant A for afternoon tea, or lounge B for the daily quiz.

Who cares what ship it is?

It's a ship !

Enjoy.

(having said all that, a forward observation lounge, and an encircling promenade deck are, I must admit, high on the list of what makes a good ship)
[ 09-28-2006: Message edited by: greybeard ]

[ 09-28-2006: Message edited by: greybeard ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
A pinboard where the photo of the 'incompetent staff member of the week' is chosen by the passengers

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quote:

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Originally posted by Pascal:

I'm sure Malcolm meant a club for gentlemen only with women doing pole dancing.

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I seem to recall a thread like this before regarding your idea of the perfect cruise ship.

I'd like to see a ship with a classic liner design around 40,000 tons yet with ultra-modern interiors and a couple of retro lounges. Teak decking is a must. Terraced decking aft is a must. A decent spa with access to a deck aft. Chair massages on deck would be great overlooking the wake! I like the idea of a "peek-a-boo" lounge or bar looking into the engine room. A free Indian alternative dining room is a great idea...mmmm...Nan bread. I like to look out over the front of the ship so a decent look-out or observation lounge would be nice. I like to know I'm on a ship, rather than have the interiors look like a Hyatt. I wouldn't miss a casino if there was none.

quote:

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
I'd like to see a ship with a classic liner design around 40,000 tons yet with ultra-modern interiors and a couple of retro lounges.

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quote:

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Originally posted by desirod7:

What about a chapel?

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quote:

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Originally posted by greybeard:
[QB][..]

Who cares what ship it is?

It's a ship !

[...]

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quote:

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..and the ocean is the same..

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Exactly... which is why I also enjoy the ferries so much. I require lots of deck areas... be they painted steel, plastic covered, or teak... no matter... as long as there is a steamer, plastic chair or wooden bench

Of course teak decks and wooden steamers are much nicer, but the views, smells and feel under keel of the sea is the same.

I do have preferences for vessels, everyone does, and also the other types and make up of pax aboard can make a big difference to the overall experience. But as long as a ship is clean, has some sort of food [eaten in a dining room that is pleasant and bright, not noisy or dark & dingy], plenty of coffee and lots of deck with all round views I am happy.. whatever the weather.

I do not favour "couped up" ships, ships with little or crowded deck areas or ships with minimal stern views.

you can love ships for their ocean liner history, or purely for nowadays entertainment role,
you can love ships as an insider cruising on one, or as an outsider on the shore,
you can love them for their interior looks, or exterior looks,
you can love the hardware, or the ambiance created by your traveling mates,
you can love the memories of the ship, or the pictures/memorabilia you take home,
you can love them all, or just the ones from a particular brand,
you can love the industrial ingenuity of a man made object, or be amazed at natures scenery,