Zenith & Horizon going to Island Cruises !!!!

It's the beginning of a terrible addiction Lloyd!

Jeff


Lloyd Parsons wrote:

So what did I do for this GGC? You guessed it, booked another balcony!
This time not shared and certainly more expensive than the inside
cabins. But there is a lot to say for listening to the sounds of the
sea passing by and the fresh air coming in that always open balcony
door. And when I wanted to take a nap or sleep at night, those sounds
just lulled me to sleep.

Don't ever knock suites in my presence again Ben! LOL. We love the Sky
Suites on the Mercury/Galaxy. My favorite cabins ever, even better than
the Royal Suite on the Century, if you can believe that. I love that
big private sunny deck all to myself!

Jeff


Benjamin Smith wrote:

If you haven't... it might be like someone who's never driven a Ferrari
saying he doesn't like sports cars.

I absolutely agree. The only time I would consider a ship without
balconies is on an itinerary (i.e. Bermuda) where the ship choices are
limited. Bermuda is a unique cruise...usually it is the only port, and
with three possible docking locations, I would not choose a ship which
docks at Kings Wharf. Bland is not a word I would use to describe
Horizon and Zenith. I think they are both nicely appointed and well
maintained and very pleasant considering their size. But I really don't
see how they can compete with the newer, larger, well-balconied ships on
the winter itineraries. I would hope that RCI/Celebrity will
eventually put a Radiance or Millie class ship on the Bermuda itinerary
from Philly/Baltimore/NYC. Then I would not shed a tear if Horizon and
Zenith left the fleet.

Steve B.

Charles wrote:
In article , Steve Buch
wrote:


I agree that a balcony fits into the equation, but I don't think it is a
determining factor for many of us. We were upgraded to a suite on
Century (for no apparent reason) several years ago and have been hooked
on balconies ever since. However, we wanted a summer cruise to Bermuda
a couple of years ago and being Celebrity fans, we chose Horizon.


That was a few years ago and you were hooked. It has reached another
level with all the new balcony berths and the lower pricing for those
cabins. Most people want or are going to want balconies. The
conversations I have heard about cabins on the last few cruises are not
about whether to book a balcony, but getting the best balcony, the
balcony is becoming a given. On Zenith the major complaint I heard was
no balconies. Maybe they can get away without balconies to Bermuda
right now but the rest of the year when competing agianst other ships
on other itineraries people are going to go on ships with balconies
unless they have really low prices on Zenith and Horizon. And those two
ships are no Century. Zenith except in a couple of places, is a pretty
bland ship. I can see where the Island Cruises rumor comes from as it
is a budget cruise line.

I would hope that RCI/Celebrity will
eventually put a Radiance or Millie class ship on the Bermuda itinerary
from Philly/Baltimore/NYC.

I hope you enjoy the extended stay at King's Wharf

Costa is doing something interesting to one of their ships - adding balconies
by basically welding a few feet of overhang from the decks, putting a door into
the hull for each balcony, and PRESTO - several hundred balconies on a ship
never designed for them.

Will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Regards, Keith

That looks like what was done to the Costa hull that NCL took to make
NorwegianSky. They added balconies that extend out beyond the
superstructure of the ship.

The design of the ship has several decks of outside cabins above the
lifeboats that could be configured for balconies.

A ship like Zenith has most of the cabins below the lifeboats. You
couldn't add several decks of balconies.

--Tom

KeithF4281 wrote:

I would hope that RCI/Celebrity will
eventually put a Radiance or Millie class ship on the Bermuda itinerary
from Philly/Baltimore/NYC.

I hope you enjoy the extended stay at King's Wharf

Costa is doing something interesting to one of their ships - adding balconies
by basically welding a few feet of overhang from the decks, putting a door into
the hull for each balcony, and PRESTO - several hundred balconies on a ship
never designed for them.

Will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Regards, Keith

I know -

But if you notice my new sig, you'll see that the habit is getting out
of hand! G

It's the beginning of a terrible addiction Lloyd!

Jeff


Lloyd Parsons wrote:

So what did I do for this GGC? You guessed it, booked another balcony!
This time not shared and certainly more expensive than the inside
cabins. But there is a lot to say for listening to the sounds of the
sea passing by and the fresh air coming in that always open balcony
door. And when I wanted to take a nap or sleep at night, those sounds
just lulled me to sleep.


--
Lloyd
Tropicale 2000 - Cat 1A
GGC2002 -- The sensational Sensation - Cat 1A
GGC2003 -- The beautiful Golden Princess - Balcony
GGC2004 -- RCL Radiance, Still room c'mon along! - Balcony
GLC2005 -- Celebrity Millenium and great Single/solo rates - Balcony
Halloween Havoc -- on the radar

On 08 Nov 2003 01:55:00 GMT, (KeithF4281) wrote:

Costa is doing something interesting to one of their ships - adding balconies
by basically welding a few feet of overhang from the decks, putting a door into
the hull for each balcony, and PRESTO - several hundred balconies on a ship
never designed for them.

Hi Keith,

I remember NCL doing the same while one of ther ships was being built
that had never been designed with balconies.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Steve Buch wrote:
I absolutely agree. The only time I would consider a ship without
balconies is on an itinerary (i.e. Bermuda) where the ship choices are
limited. Bermuda is a unique cruise...usually it is the only port, and
with three possible docking locations, I would not choose a ship which
docks at Kings Wharf. Bland is not a word I would use to describe
Horizon and Zenith. I think they are both nicely appointed and well
maintained and very pleasant considering their size. But I really don't
see how they can compete with the newer, larger, well-balconied ships on
the winter itineraries. I would hope that RCI/Celebrity will
eventually put a Radiance or Millie class ship on the Bermuda itinerary
from Philly/Baltimore/NYC. Then I would not shed a tear if Horizon and
Zenith left the fleet.


Well, Steve, I guess this is the majority opinion. And it is the state
of the American mindset. Throw out the old, bring in the new. Products
of different time periods have their own qualities. Today's products
will be older (a word that by definition is only a comparison of
something vs. another ) one day. For me, there are qualities, and
certain products have qualities that endure. I would be quite unhappy to
see Horizon and Zenith leave the fleet. First of all they are a tick
under 50,000 tons and that represents a choice for people who want a
ship under 70,000 tons. Next, they have aft deck area open to all. Next
they have certain qualities to their public areas, the size and how they
are layed out that makes them different than the newer ships
representing again, choice. Why must all choices be the latest and
newest for people (and, rather homogenized in many ways)? What's wrong
with going on something that isn't the newest or latest and has the
latest popular feature? Do you not miss out going on a ship that has
earned a certain following and respect?

I didn't love the Norway but I'm glad she's still around. She has unique
qualities that many have noted. The QE2 has wonderful qualities that
just can not be repeated in any new ship. Ditto Rotterdam V. Ditto
Caronia. They are still ships that have plenty of the activites and
experience of any cruise ship, but they have wear, don't have the latest
this or that, but have their *own* this or that that makes them what
they are. I sure hope there are enough people that respect and want to
continue to sail ships that may be a decade or so in service. If they
are well maintained, have some areas retrofitted and some unique aspects
preserved, I think they have value. And I'll say this without
equivication: I think it is a sad testimony to our sense of built in
obsolescence when 10, 12 year old vessels, a form of leisure vacation
and transportation that can last over 30 years is no longer considered
desirable because of a flood of (unnecessary) newer vessels that
themselves will become obsolete or no longer the newest candy in maybe
half the amount of years.

I don't agree with Charles that Horizon and Zenith are bland but it
doesn't matter because that's Charles opinion, not a fact. But he's
probably right about people wanting to sail the newer ones and getting
all that they have to offer.

Ben S.



Steve B.

Charles wrote:

In article , Steve Buch
wrote:


I agree that a balcony fits into the equation, but I don't think it
is a determining factor for many of us. We were upgraded to a suite
on Century (for no apparent reason) several years ago and have been
hooked on balconies ever since. However, we wanted a summer cruise
to Bermuda a couple of years ago and being Celebrity fans, we chose
Horizon.



That was a few years ago and you were hooked. It has reached another
level with all the new balcony berths and the lower pricing for those
cabins. Most people want or are going to want balconies. The
conversations I have heard about cabins on the last few cruises are not
about whether to book a balcony, but getting the best balcony, the
balcony is becoming a given. On Zenith the major complaint I heard was
no balconies. Maybe they can get away without balconies to Bermuda
right now but the rest of the year when competing agianst other ships
on other itineraries people are going to go on ships with balconies
unless they have really low prices on Zenith and Horizon. And those two
ships are no Century. Zenith except in a couple of places, is a pretty
bland ship. I can see where the Island Cruises rumor comes from as it
is a budget cruise line.

In article , Benjamin Smith
wrote:

I don't agree with Charles that Horizon and Zenith are bland but it
doesn't matter because that's Charles opinion, not a fact. But he's
probably right about people wanting to sail the newer ones and getting
all that they have to offer.

I don't know about Horizon. I'm not sure if bland is exactly what I
mean but more like I don't see anything special about it, any sizzle,
about Zenith except the Fleet Bar and the Cova Cafe. The pool area
isn't very good. The lounges wern't too good. The dining room isn't
that good. The ship is smokey from second hand smoke. The casino is not
endurable because of second hand smoke. There is a hot tub but it is
small and in the wrong place. The staterooms are very good. I would
take it again to Bermuda but never the Caribbean and that has nothing
to do with balconies.

--
Charles

It is my understanding that the newer larger ships cannot physically enter
the main Hamilton harbor. Also Bermuda puts limits on the number of ships
and passengers.

On my cruise to Bermuda in 1992 I was on Celebrity's "Meridian" which drew
30 feet and had to dock at King's Wharf.

Nick

"KeithF4281" wrote in message
...
I would hope that RCI/Celebrity will
eventually put a Radiance or Millie class ship on the Bermuda itinerary
from Philly/Baltimore/NYC.

I hope you enjoy the extended stay at King's Wharf

Costa is doing something interesting to one of their ships - adding
balconies
by basically welding a few feet of overhang from the decks, putting a door
into
the hull for each balcony, and PRESTO - several hundred balconies on a
ship
never designed for them.

Will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Regards, Keith