Q – We really like the approach of this site and we wish you would expand it to include the more popular cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival. Our philosophy is to sail the larger ships because you can take two cruises for what one of the lines you review would cost. But the cruises we’ve taken have been on, what you would call, “mega-ships.” I am wondering why the ships keep getting bigger and bigger. Are there safety issues related to size? Do you think you will ever make your site more popular by including the popular lines? I mean this as a serious question.
A – We take it that way. The safety issues are always being debated in the industry. It does theoretically take longer to evacuate a larger vessel and larger vessels are more prone to bump into things. But the largest lines understand what can happen when CNN is highlighting a cruise ship afloat without power somewhere in the world or a vessel that catches fire. Ships have their own specially-trained safety and security personnel on all ships and most have medical services on-board as well.
The ships keep getting bigger and bigger because management wants to offer so-called “signature features” that take up a lot of space. These costs have to be offset by additional passenger cabins. Carnival’s new Vista ship, for example, will feature a top-deck SkyRide as guests pedal around an 800 foot track oval-shaped, while suspended beneath the track in a recumbent bicycle wrapped in an aerodynamic racing hull. There are dual tracks so riders can challenge one another. The newest Royal Caribbean ship, The Harmony of the Seas, has a bit more mass than previous ships which designers will utilize to include “The Perfect Storm” a trio of water slides that will overlook the outdoor garden area known as “Central Park.” Mega-ships are designed to appeal to families and multiple age demographics. Luxury vessels have little interest in attracting the family market as they find that the presence of young children turns off their older, more reserved clientele.
As to making our site more popular by including the “more popular” lines: No. We are not trying to be popular. There are numerous sites that already cover the lines you mention. We felt there was a lack of honest coverage of the upscale portion of the cruise industry. That is our interest, that is what we sell, and that is the area of our expertise. We just got tired of all those deal-oriented web sites that play the cruise consumer for a fool.We sincerely appreciate your questions.
