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» Cruise Talk   » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships   » QM2 Hull Balconies

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Author Topic: QM2 Hull Balconies
Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 01-27-2004 04:28 PM      Profile for Malcolm @ cruisepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I did not realise until very recently that the QM2 had balconies, built within the hull on decks 4, 5 and 6.

In jest, these have been christened ‘Hull Holes’! It looks more like a window without glass, to me?

(Image from Clwyd Travel Ltd)


Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago!  |  IP: Logged
Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 01-27-2004 06:16 PM      Profile for Brian_O     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

In jest, these have been christened ‘Hull Holes’! It looks more like a window without glass, to me?


Hull Holes? Now, that's funny!

I guess they ran out of money and couldn't afford any more glass.

Brian


Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged
kroozlover
First Class Passenger
Member # 4105

posted 01-27-2004 08:42 PM      Profile for kroozlover        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
My understanding is that the hull balconies were built as they are in order to allow such hulls to be built to withstand the rigors of transatlantic travel!
Posts: 17 | From: NY | Registered: Aug 2003  |  IP: Logged
Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 01-27-2004 10:40 PM      Profile for Guest        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
If that is true why does not QE2 / Norway / Mary / Lizzie... etc.. have them?
Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000  |  IP: Logged
Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 01-27-2004 11:10 PM      Profile for Waynaro   Email Waynaro   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Chris Cunard posted:
If that is true why does not QE2 / Norway / Mary / Lizzie... etc.. have them?
Because Micky Arison wants as many balconies as possible. Also, the QM2 is taller, therefore allowing some balconies in the hull yet high enough so the people could use the balconies on the Atlantic...Don't quote me on this though.

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged
cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 01-28-2004 01:45 AM      Profile for cruiseny     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Cunard:
If that is true why does not QE2 / Norway / Mary / Lizzie... etc.. have them?

Simple... They were designed before the balcony craze hit. All of these ships were built with no private balconies at all. Balconies started appearing on top suites in the '70s, in standard cabins in the mid '80s, and did not become de rigeur for standard cabins until the late '90s.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002  |  IP: Logged
Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 01-28-2004 04:19 AM      Profile for Malcolm @ cruisepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Cunard:
If that is true why does not QE2 / Norway / Mary / Lizzie... etc.. have them?

Balconies were not probably not even considerd back then, after all they are little use on line-voyages across often rough seas. The reason the QM2 has them is for her daul role of cruising warm waters.

Ships like the SS Norway and QE2 had balconly cabins added to top decks, only. Once again for Caribean cruising etc. I'm not aware of another ship that has balconies in the hull?

I suppose that it is possible that in a bad storm, waves might pass through the QM2 'hull holes' and smash the glass of the balcony doors?


Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago!  |  IP: Logged
Jekyll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1878

posted 01-28-2004 07:32 AM      Profile for Jekyll   Email Jekyll   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
If I am not mistaken, did some of the earlier Carnival ships (don't ask me which class - as I don't pay attention to these ships that much) have four or five balcony cabins w/ Hull Holes (great term BTW)...I would also suggest that (even though added after the fact) Seabourn's French Balconies could also be considered as Hull Holes...

Any other ships, anyone? anyone? anyone? (a la Ben Stein)...


Posts: 1524 | From: Nowhere | Registered: Mar 2001  |  IP: Logged
Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 01-28-2004 12:57 PM      Profile for Grant   Email Grant   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
i think Fesivale may have had these balcony types, low down and forward. A feature created during conversion rather than from her day running to the South African cape.
Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000  |  IP: Logged
Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 01-28-2004 01:57 PM      Profile for Thad   Email Thad   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I would say the balconies on the Fantasy class could be described as "hull holes" as well. They are definitely placed in the hull.


Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000  |  IP: Logged
Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 01-28-2004 11:31 PM      Profile for Brian_O     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

I suppose that it is possible that in a bad storm, waves might pass through the QM2 'hull holes' and smash the glass of the balcony doors?

Possible but not likely. If you look at your composite picture comparing QM2 and QE2 at the QE II terminal in Southampton, it appears that Deck 4 on QM2 is as high above the water as QE2's Quarter Deck (or even Upper Deck).

Brian


Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged
Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 02-01-2004 11:56 AM      Profile for Waynaro   Email Waynaro   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Found this from my local newspaper...

quote:
"The QE2 is much better, has much better service and organization," said Bob Benger of Naples, Fla., who said he had sailed on the QE2 at least 10 times.

"I wouldn't sail on the QM2 again," declared James Davis of Boston, a veteran of QE2 and Seabourn cruises whose "premium" balcony turned out to be simply a cutout in the steel hull. "When you sit on the balcony, you can't see anything but sky," he said, "and our bathroom is the size of a (Boeing) 747 toilet."


The Oregonian: "Hello Mary!"

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged
PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 02-01-2004 03:07 PM      Profile for PamM   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Pick out the bad comments Keitaro The article is a good read, thanks.
Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged

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