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» Cruise Talk   » Technically Speaking   » Retractable balcony - interesting for cruise ships?

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Author Topic: Retractable balcony - interesting for cruise ships?
Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 08-12-2008 10:02 AM      Profile for Ernst   Author's Homepage   Email Ernst   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Today I read an article about a retractable balcony and I wondered whether this might be an option for cruise ships. (e.g. retrofitting cabins with balconies)

Bloomframe

video of balcony prototype


Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
linerguy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4289

posted 08-12-2008 11:15 AM      Profile for linerguy     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
That's a very interesting idea...I like it!

If this was to be applied to cruise ship design, they would need to have an inner wall with a door on it so the ship's A/C wouldn't be wasted.

Of course I'm trying to figure out just what the advantages of a retractable balcony on a cruise ship would be. Maybe the cruise line can generate more revenue by requiring passengers to swipe their on board charge card everytime thay want to use the balcony,......

-Russ


Posts: 1486 | From: Bright, Indiana | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged
PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 08-12-2008 12:29 PM      Profile for PamM   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Very interesting indeed. It could easily be adapted for ships. Would this have the benefit of a reduced wind resistance when underway?

Adaptations would also have to include some sort of wind shield rather than just a railing at the sides. At any one time what is the % of pax actually their balconies? Apart from sailaway/entering a port I hardly see many out there. When underway [viewing from land] or even throughout the day when in port I've only seen a handful of balconies occupied. There perhaps may be little privacy.

Pam


Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 08-12-2008 12:52 PM      Profile for Ernst   Author's Homepage   Email Ernst   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by linerguy:
[...]

Of course I'm trying to figure out just what the advantages of a retractable balcony on a cruise ship would be.[...]


I am not at all sure whether it is a good idea or not - I just found it interesting and worth mentioning here.

Most balcony cabins give the impression of a (dark) tunnel and this retractable balcony might allow to make the cabin a bit more bright. With the balcony closed one would have a proper window and with the balcony open the whole cabin would be opened to the outside. The disadvantage is of course that one has to clear the balcony of all furniture etc. if one wants to retract it - but I guess one has to see this is more as a large window that can be opened- I guess it's more about the area adjacent to the window becoming an 'outside' area than the actual retractable platform.
Another issue aboard ships might be (or better will be) regulations which very likely would forbid such a contraption. I guess it would count as window and as far as I know windows must not be such that they can be opened.


Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
Jack McCoy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5709

posted 08-19-2008 10:27 PM      Profile for Jack McCoy     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Very interesting idea. The problem, for a cruise ship or for a small apartment, is furniture storage. If you use the same furniture, it has to be weatherproof and it has to be moveable so it can be moved onto the extended balcony, and then back when the balcony is retracted. Beyond that, I'm not sure what benefit it would have for a ship. The savings in width (on ship built to just barely squeeze through the Panama canal) would be lost in weight for the hydraulics and / or electronics to raise and lower the balcony. Then there is the liablity: Drunks (or children, or elderly) getting their body parts caught in the works.
Posts: 38 | From: Minnesota | Registered: May 2005  |  IP: Logged

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