Cruise Talk: SOLAS and Cabin Arrangements

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»	Cruise Talk » Technically Speaking » SOLAS and Cabin Arrangements

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Topic: SOLAS and Cabin Arrangements

vikingcrown
First Class Passenger
Member # 3437

posted 06-14-2005 02:42 PM

What are the SOLAS rules regarding cabin arrangements? Are cabin "mini-hallways" permitted, such as those found on QE2, or do cabin entrances have to be on the main hallway? What about unique designs, such as Canberra's court cabins?

Posts: 341 | From: California | Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-14-2005 03:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by vikingcrown:
Are cabin "mini-hallways" permitted, such as those found on QE2, or do cabin entrances have to be on the main hallway?

I've seen suites on the QM2 with 'big' hallways.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 06-14-2005 04:14 PM

I think the reason we don't see the mini side corridors any more is because it's a waste of space. Modern cabin designs tend to be long and narrow, filling in the space between the main corridor and the ship's side.

Don't know if SOLAS has anything to do with it; it seems more of a practical issue than safety.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

mec1
First Class Passenger
Member # 4287

posted 06-14-2005 05:13 PM

Norsk Veritas has never allowed side corridors more than 2 metres long

Posts: 1675 | From: London, England | Registered: Nov 2003 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 06-14-2005 08:30 PM

I know that on RCI's VISION-class ships, there are mini hallways.

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Linerdan
First Class Passenger
Member # 4719

posted 06-14-2005 08:39 PM

I can remember reading that about 1 month after QM2 maiden voyage the Coastguard (maybe after an inspection?) asked Cunard to remove all ashtrays from the Cabins.

In regards to the Canberra , when you have a look at the deck plans you can see why this sort of layout is now not acceptable.If the ship/corridoors was full of smoke with poor lighting it would be hard to find a quick way out.

Regards Linerdan.

Posts: 397 | From: Australia.....NSW......Jervis Bay | Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

vikingcrown
First Class Passenger
Member # 3437

posted 06-14-2005 08:51 PM

Removing ashtrays??? What's a bigger fire hazard - using an ashtray to dispose of a butt or stamping it out on the wall, floor, or throwing it in a trash can? Furthermore, smoking is allowed in all cabins. So what's with the removal of the ashtrays?

Posts: 341 | From: California | Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

Linerdan
First Class Passenger
Member # 4719

posted 06-14-2005 09:19 PM

I agree with you on the removel , as it could be dangerous ect.Im sure i actually read the post about that issue on these boards in fact.I will do a search to see if i can find it.

Posts: 397 | From: Australia.....NSW......Jervis Bay | Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

Linerdan
First Class Passenger
Member # 4719

posted 06-14-2005 09:39 PM

1st of all my apologlies to vikingcrown.

Ive now found the post in question.Yes i did make a mistake.I could remember the details in the back of my mind and your topic stirred up my memory about it.Attached is the link i was referring too.It was actually that QM2 needed more fire sprinklers to be installed instead.Once again sorry to you and the other posters on this topic for my error.
regards Linerdan

[URL]http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/ubb-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=006505 [/URL]

[ 06-14-2005: Message edited by: Linerdan ]

Posts: 397 | From: Australia.....NSW......Jervis Bay | Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

vikingcrown
First Class Passenger
Member # 3437

posted 06-14-2005 11:30 PM

Linerdan, no apologies neccessary

. Don't worry about it.

Posts: 341 | From: California | Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

elad
First Class Passenger
Member # 5150

posted 06-15-2005 10:49 AM

quote:
Removing ashtrays??? What's a bigger fire hazard - using an ashtray to dispose of a butt or stamping it out on the wall, floor, or throwing it in a trash can? Furthermore, smoking is allowed in all cabins. So what's with the removal of the ashtrays?

i totaly agree with you .
if smoking its allowed so its allowed .
i am a non smoker but i do think that cabins are sort of "private" space and smoking should be allowed exept in part of the cabins which can be "non smoking cabins"

Elad

Posts: 747 | From: israel | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 06-15-2005 11:38 AM

quote:
Originally posted by elad:
i totaly agree with you .
if smoking its allowed so its allowed .
i am a non smoker but i do think that cabins are sort of "private" space and smoking should be allowed exept in part of the cabins which can be "non smoking cabins"
Elad

NCL tried the concept of smoking and non-smoking cabins some years ago--it failed miserably. People who wanted non-smoking cabins would not book into "smoking available cabins". People booked in non-smoking cabins would smoke anyway.

I remember once that the LEEWARD was fully-chartered by the Phillip-Morris Group, all of whom smoked in all the cabins!

Eventually NCL went back to having all cabins "smoking optional", just like the rest of the cruise lines.

Hotels can manage smoking and non-smoking rooms because they are hardly ever filled to capacity, unlike a cruise ship which is almost always filled, with no room to move people around.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-15-2005 01:28 PM

All cabins on Olsen's new Boudicca are designated non-smoking.

However as nicotine’s is a powerful drug and smokers are addicts, it is highly unlikely that all the smokers will comply!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

vikingcrown
First Class Passenger
Member # 3437

posted 06-15-2005 03:28 PM

I believe Oceania and Sea Dream have all nonsmoking cabins too.

Posts: 341 | From: California | Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 06-15-2005 11:47 PM

I would think that some of the corridor layouts on some older ships (usually the lower grade cabins) where they have 'dead ends' and no other escape route are of course not permitted on newbuilds. I remember on ss Independence when I explored some of the lower decks the corridors were very confusing. These areas were in the original cabin and tourist class sections and as I recall had several dead ends. Since all newbuilds have prefab cabins the layout of the corridors usually follow the same fore-aft layout with minimal small hallways. Of course at the extreme forward portion of the ship cabin placement and corridors can change according to the curve of the hull.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

cruisemole
First Class Passenger
Member # 2459

posted 06-16-2005 04:24 AM

Dead ends are forbidden.

Mini hallways arent banned, its about space.

Ill bet the truth behind the ashtray QM2 story is that USCG wanted "safety" ashtrays that self-extinguish.

Posts: 343 | From: dear ol'blighty | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 07-02-2005 11:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by cruisemole:
Dead ends are forbidden.
Mini hallways arent banned, its about space.

Regal Empress

B deck are quite a maze. Remember trying to get lost when a kid

[ 07-02-2005: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

cruisemole
First Class Passenger
Member # 2459

posted 07-03-2005 05:57 PM

How recent is that deckplan? Those corner dead ends are the sort of place where a mini hallway would be retrofitted.

[ 07-03-2005: Message edited by: cruisemole ]

Posts: 343 | From: dear ol'blighty | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

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