QM2 Vs. RCCL

On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 10:16:37 -0500, "E.k.R."
wrote:

True, the major ports of the Caribbean have turned into giant parking lots
for these mega-ships. To get anywhere decent anymore (the out of the way
stops) you really have to take a small niche type cruise with a small ship.
Star Clippers, Windjammer, Windstar, Silversea, Seabourn.

Star Clippers is high on my list to try. A true sailing ship, but your not
giving up the luxury. Fair prices as well.

I'm gong to take a look at the, Ernie. I wanted on the QM2 but WHOA
NELLY the pricing was out of sight.

Missed the Pride repo, missed the aft on the Infinity PC in spring,
missed, missed, missed.


The Not So Fine Art Of Google
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E29A321E6

I felt the same way. We were booked on QM2 for a May Caribbean cruise, and
decided to cancel because it was just too expensive. I really want to sail
on the ship, but I'm not ready to pay out of my a-- either when I can do the
same cruise on another new ship for half the price. I'll wait until the
hype dies down along with the prices.

Ernie




"Cruising Chrissy" wrote in message
news I wanted on the QM2 but WHOA
NELLY the pricing was out of sight.

On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 10:58:26 -0500, "E.k.R."
wrote:

I felt the same way. We were booked on QM2 for a May Caribbean cruise, and
decided to cancel because it was just too expensive. I really want to sail
on the ship, but I'm not ready to pay out of my a-- either when I can do the
same cruise on another new ship for half the price. I'll wait until the
hype dies down along with the prices.

I got quoted $7,100 for Cabin 4225 , a CAT B7, no aft view and I
believe no glassed in balcony

http://www.cruisestateroom.com/84793...hips-frame.htm

5 Dec 2004 14 day out of FLL to FLL to a bunch of neat E/S Carib ports
(Barbados, Lucia, etc)

We went on Brilliance OTS for 11 days at $2,000 with a secluded aft
facing cabin, PC trip, Costa, Aruba, etc. Cabins same size, BOTS
balcony 2x as big.

Math here is simple. No way QM2 is worth an additional $370 per day.


The Not So Fine Art Of Google
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E29A321E6

As for the QM2 you can have it ,it reminds me of the TITANIC,and I do
not like a ship where you have a separation of people by class

You likely would if you had the disposable income to waste. Premium price on
this type of boat assures Joe Ca$h his privacy and a level of service that
someone like Mr. Ca$h has come to expect. Why should that bother anyone
else?

Anyway, classes of service exist on nearly every boat - just not as overtly
as the QM2. (due mainly to the dining situation)

B


"Surfer E2468" wrote in message
...
As for the QM2 you can have it ,it reminds me of the TITANIC,and I do
not like a ship where you have a separation of people by class

On Fri, 09 Jan 2004 20:45:29 GMT, "Bhilly" wrote:

Anyway, classes of service exist on nearly every boat - just not as overtly
as the QM2. (due mainly to the dining situation)

That's not about class, that's about "cash".


The Not So Fine Art Of Google
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E29A321E6

Have never found class to be found on any of the thirty cruises we have
taken ,we sat and ate,and drank cocktails,and toured with some very
wealthy people,way above our income,and they were very nice,and never
flaunted their wealth to any one,we only found out from exchanging
addresses ,etc.,and we did not know what cabins they had,nor they
ours,money was not bragged about like most rich people,and ones that
look down on middle class

To be fair, there really is no separation of classes on QM2 and QE2. It
only comes down to the restaurant you dine in, which is assigned based on
your accommodations. You basically have run of the ship with the exception
of one small bar/lounge that really isn't worth going to anyway. There are
no actual class barriers, gates, etc. like on TITANIC. Nothing like that.

On QE2 there are five restaurants which does create a bit more class
separation. All have one sitting except the lowest, which has two sittings.
That is where some might feel uncomfortable. On QM2 there will only be
three main restaurants, with two being almost identical, very small, and
only for the suite passengers. The remaining 95% of the ship all dine
together in the very large three level Britannia Restaurant. Again, no
class separation, barriers, gates, etc. When you have 95% of the ship
experiencing exact same dining, basic cabin, etc. there will absolutely no
feeling of class separation onboard.

Please don't let that stop you from sailing on QM2. Now the prices to book
a ticket... well that is another story all together. Cunard is milking QM2
for everything she is worth, including the offering of "four inaugurals"
which means nothing more than charging an extra premium. Of course if you
can get away with it, why not? Advance bookings are amazing for this ship,
and it seems most people have no problem dishing out the $$$.

Ernie





"Surfer E2468" wrote in message
...
As for the QM2 you can have it ,it reminds me of the TITANIC,and I do
not like a ship where you have a separation of people by class

E.k.R. wrote:
QM2 can carry 3090 passengers with all berths full. Do you have any desire
to sail on her?

My philosophy is that once you get a capacity over about 1500 passengers
(maybe even less) does it really matter? It's a mega-ship catering to the
masses, and I don't care what her rating is. Ultra-Voyager will have a
space ratio of 44.4 which is quite respectable. No doubt she will feel more
spacious then ships half her size if she is designed half as good as VOYAGER
OF THE SEAS. I've sailed on ships that hold anywhere from 250 passengers to
3100. A certain ship in the 800 passenger range felt more crowded them then
all. Smaller is not always better.


More current classes of ships have higher PSR than their older
fleetmates, across the board line by line, regardless of size. I don't
think it is necessarily the case that because QM2 carries 3090 pax she's
a megaship (whatever that is) catering to the masses. If the prices stay
anywhere close to where they are now she certainly is a luxury product
in the form of a very large ship catering to a large amount of people
wanting a luxury cruise.

Ben S.


Ernie


"Jeff Coudriet" wrote in message
...

I have to say, I'm truly not interested in being on a ship with 3659
other passengers. Just has no appeal whatsoever.

Jeff



Ray Goldenberg wrote

Building on the popularity and success of its Voyager-class ships,
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today ordered an even larger model -- the
Ultra Voyager -- for delivery in May 2006. Roughly 15 percent larger
than Voyager, the Ultra Voyager will be 126 feet by 1,112 feet, and
will stand 18 stories high while cruising at approximately 22 knots.
At 100 percent occupancy, it will carry 3,600 guests and 1,400 crew.
I posted the press release here on r.t.cruises. If you have missed
any of my news' postings, they are available on my web site.

3090 passengers is a lot of people, regardless of whether they have money or
the ship is considered luxury or not. I'm sorry, but a true luxury ship
cannot be 150,000 gt and carry 3090 passengers. The only passengers that
will experience true luxury of the same level as Silversea or Seabourn are
those booked in the top priced suites, and dining in the Grills. A very
small percent I might add. Even they will have to pay for tips and
cocktails onboard. Also, they still have to share the ship with 2500 of
their closest friends. I consider QM2 to be Premium, not luxury. Cunard
can charge whatever it wants, including luxury line prices, but that still
doesn't place the ship in the luxury category.

Ernie - who feels it takes more than price to qualify as a luxury product,
and knows a 3000 passenger ship can't offer the same personalized service,
space, and food made to order as a 250 passenger mega-yacht.



"Benjamin Smith" wrote in message
...

More current classes of ships have higher PSR than their older
fleetmates, across the board line by line, regardless of size. I don't
think it is necessarily the case that because QM2 carries 3090 pax she's
a megaship (whatever that is) catering to the masses. If the prices stay
anywhere close to where they are now she certainly is a luxury product
in the form of a very large ship catering to a large amount of people
wanting a luxury cruise.

Ben S.