I predict the following.........

Further consolidation, I think most likely target is Oceana Cruises, they will also order a new ship or 2 .

NCL will ask for relaxation of the conditions governing their operation of NCLA and will NOT sell Marco Polo as they will not find a buyer. I still think even with their backer that they are a possible take over/purchase target. Independence will go to Alang, ssUS will continue to rot and no plans will be announced.

None of the Condo ships will get ordered.

Princess will give in and order a mega ship (+150 GRT)

Project Pinnacle will not get ordered however.

Transfer of older RCL tonnage to Pullmantuur.

More ships crusing the Far East.

MSC will order further tonnage.

Crystal will order a new ship.

Costa will transfer additional old tonnage to Asia.

QV will be delivered late or have "issues".

QM2 will be very nervous visiting Fort Lauderdale, crowds will gather to see if she hits again !

Regretably more ships will go to Alang mostly from Greek operators.

Pricing will continue to be soft in the Caribbean so this year will be the best time to cruise there.

Because they are doing very bad in CHINA, and much more worse in HK..

After several more months the France will be ripped apart and photos of it will be posted all over the web.

The Independence will be scrapped

The United States will either be scrapped or towed somewhere different.

The Hikawa Maru will do something dreadful like burn or be towed and sunk.

The QE2 will undergo another hideous renevation.

Carnival will build more mega monstrocities

quote:

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Originally posted by J.S.S.Normandie:
Well lets see,

The Independence will be scrapped

The Hikawa Maru will do something dreadful like burn or be towed and sunk.

The QE2 will undergo another hideous renevation.

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For me the end of the Indie will be a hard one. She was such a beautiful ship-one that was often featured in pics of 'Luxury Liner Row' in NYC during the postwar liner heyday. Hopefully she will simple roll over enroute like her sister.

Hopefully the Hikawas original owners will have luck w/her. From recent pics I have seen of her interiors she needs a bit of a polish and restoration (plus better interior lighting!) as well as making the surrounding area more attractive to young people. I hope she does not end up like the lovely Stella Polaris and w/NYK behind the plan hopefully it won't.

NCL lobby congress and get further NCLA changes allowed. They also announce that United States is no longer considered feasible.

Holland America dispose of Prinsendam.

All the R class ships are finally employed in upscale (or relatively upscale) companies and exotic itineraries - or are on their way by year end.

RCL order Genesis 2. And they name her. Marketing men are pleased but the derision is predictable. They also announce a Voyager class from LA in 08.

QE2's retirement season is announced for 08/09.

Disney go with another couple of ships, ordered from Asia. They trial an itinerary linking Tokyo Disney Sea and Hong Kong Disney land.

Costa move a ship to Australia. And another to South Africa.

MSC and Costa continue to be loved in Europe, loathed in America.

Norwegian Majesty is sold to Fred Olsen.

Security remains puzzling, inconsistent and often irritating at many major ports.

Pullmantur retire Oceanic at the end of season, Sky Wonder the following year. Replaced by Empress of the Seas and one of the Vision class (possibly more).

we still wait for firm orders and progress from easycruise.

St Petersburg is dropped from Baltic itineraries after serious visa problems, highlighted by some major incident with a big ship (passengers jailed or similar).

Hurtigruten get what they want from the Norwegian Government and stop threatening to sell new ships, for a few months.....

Cruising from Britain becomes ever so slightly less expensive. But still double southern europe/ USA.

Cruise taxes similar to those in Alaska are imposed by other highly popular regions, but not caribbean islands as those that threaten are simply dropped from itineraries.

The last of the well rail connected ports in UK looses its frequent service (Harwich International) and trains simply speed through the station.

Smaller ports around the world begin to question the wisdom and payback on their cruise terminals after realising that 2 calls by 2 star ships per year don't bring in enough revenue for the electric and caretaker bills.

RCI unveil the new design, high capacity, high speed tender for Genesis. Onboard is a multipurpose track for cycling, go-karting, roller blading etc.

P&O announce Ventura 2, Arcadia 2 + 3, switch of Oriana and Aurora to Cunard.

Carnival's 130,000grt class of ships is revealed and immediately derided as 'uber conquest class'.

A cruise ship that will be nuclear powered to do around the world cruising. Possibly the 1st Genesis ship.

Mexico will no longer have ports of call due to the corrupt goverment and a major incident with a cruise ship.

Carnival will call one of its ships that are now on order the Carnival Independence.

As for Independenc, she will be scrapped.

NCL/ Star will find no buyer for the Orient Line and Marco Polo will be scrapped.

Maxim Gorkiy will leave the Phoenix Reisen fleet, possibly scrapped.

quote:

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Originally posted by Robertdam:
I think two of the Statendam-class of Holland America will transfer to Cunard Line to make some names free for new tonnage.

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This will not happen simply the next will named Eurodam and there are manny names to pick up fore the option.

quote:

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Originally posted by Frosty 4:
Cruise lines will scrap all ships that reach the 25 years of age. Old technology and expensive to operate.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Thad:
I would love to see the Oriana and Aurora join the Cunard Fleet, with their impressive speed and seakeeping abilities. They would make fine cruise / liner hybrids as well. I found this rendering on the net of the Oriana in Cunard livery with a QE2 style stack, though I think the two ships would look lovely with their current stacks just repainted as well. Now all we need is names, and I nominate Mauretania and Aquitania...

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quote:

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Originally posted by bmajor:
Wonder what QM2 would look like in P&O or Carnival colours?

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slightly less of a rebuild as many people complained at the cloning of QM2 funnel on Aquitania

stilll registered in Bermuda though, so you can get married on her!!

Some underfunded group in RSA will announce a new cruise venture out of Durban using the usual un-seaworthy hulk, take hundreds bookings and go belly up before the first cruise. No refunds will be offered.

Brian

[ 12-29-2006: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

quote:

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Originally posted by mike sa:
[QB]Worse would be QM2 in NCLA artwork and service!

Any new Cunard ships will have to be called Queens, the general public would not recognise any of the traditional names, Queen Anne, Queen Micky ! ........?QB]

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Congress will finally seek to bludgeon the Anti-Castro political lobby in south Florida, and seek to normalize relations.

Rising sea levels will be blamed on super-sized cruise ships being launched.

Talk will begin to increase, about expanding the St. Lawrence seaway in light of formalized plans to do so in Panama and Nicaragua. The plans should prove to allow for mid-sized cruise ships to enter the great lakes.