From The Deck Chair

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Focus On...The Rotterdam, Part III

The view overlooking Rotterdam's bow.

In this final installment of our three-part photo-tour of Holland America Line's elegant MS Rotterdam, we wanted to take a look not only at some of the other refurbished public rooms, but also at some of the features offered aboard every Holland America ship that set them apart from other lines.

As the photograph above alludes to, the first one is:

Deck Space.

Almost every Holland America ship allows guests access to the forward bow deck at least once in the voyage. This makes for a tremendous vantage point when viewing Panama Canal transits or calving glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park. While every cruise ship in existence has a bow deck, many lines reserve this space for crew only (interestingly, Royal Caribbean's latest ships include accessible bow decks as well)

Every HAL ship also features a teak, wrap-around promenade deck, allowing guests to walk a full circuit around almost the entire length of the vessel. Many new ships, like Norwegian Epic and Oasis of the Seas are doing away with promenade decks altogether, instead filling this space with wider public rooms and retaining a small alleyway to use in the event lifeboats need to be lowered.

The abundance of open decks makes HAL ships feel far less crowded than similarly sized ships, and as a result, a quiet place to sit or a sunny deck chair is often not hard to find.

Artwork Onboard

A beautiful statue outside the Crow's Nest, Deck 9.

Every cruise ship has artwork, but few come close to matching the astounding collection of artwork, artifacts, and sculptures found onboard Holland America Line ships. In fact, the ship itself is a bit of a floating museum. Rare antiquities litter the ships, on display in every corner, noon, and cranny.

Eighteenth-century clock located

in the Greenhouse Spa.

Want to know what everything onboard is, but don't want to spend the time hunting each piece down? No problem - Holland America offers downloadable art tours for your iPod or MP3 player so you can follow along. These self-guided tours are also available on an iPod from the Front Desk, but can also be downloaded directly from the lines' website, allowing you to listen onboard or at home.

Continuous Refurbishment

The Explorer's Lounge onboard Rotterdam.

If you've read this far, you've obviously come to the conclusion that HAL takes good care of its ships. So much so, in fact, that we were hard-pressed to find any area of the ship that looked its age; for a 13-year old vessel, Rotterdam looks like it could have sailed from the Fincantieri yards yesterday.

Atrium, and clock, aboard Rotterdam.

One of these areas that sparkles post-refit is the three-deck high atrium. Spanning decks 3, 4, and 5, the focal point of the atrium is an enormous clock specially designed for Holland America. Based on a Flemish original, the clock itself contains 14 individual timepieces in addition to an astrolabe and and astronomical clock. Most impressively, the clocks actually work.

Detail on The Clock.
Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Like the Showroom at Sea, gone is the powerful red carpeting that formerly graced this area. Replacing it is a soft, multicolored blue pattern with solid navy runners along the sides. This deeper, calmer color has the effect of making the area seem more spacious than its previous iteration, and this theme is carried out throughout the ship. Carpeting in passenger corridors has been replaced as well with a light sea-foam blue pattern. Decks 6 and 7 feature this same pattern, but in red, in their stateroom corridors, presumably to indicate the presence of balcony staterooms and suites.

Fine dining at The Pinnacle Grill,

Custom Salt & Pepper shakers in the Pinnacle.

The Wine Bar, just forward of the Pinnacle.

Heading aft on Deck 4 from the Atrium, we pass the Wine Bar added during the ships' 2005 refit, which saw the spa and gym area extended dramatically, as well as the addition of the Explorations Cafe on Deck 5. What strikes us most is how well everything flows together - the entire interior design is so well executed that many passengers simply had no idea the ship had underwent two major refurbishments - the highest compliment.

Aft of the Wine Bar is The Pinnacle Grill, Holland America's specialty restaurant. Focusing mainly on fine steaks and seafood, the Pinnacle Grill makes for a relaxing, subdued experience in which fine food and excellent service are on the menu. Also unique is the fact that the location, size, and decor of the Pinnacle Grill changes from ship to ship, and on Rotterdam, it is one of the most elegant. Dark walls with rose-colored accents, inset booths, and marble floors help lend this area an atmosphere akin to a private dining room in one of Europe's classiest hotels. Once again, the little details reign here: even the Salt and Pepper shakers are custom-made.

Reservations are required to dine at the Pinnacle Grill, and can be made for $20 per person for dinner, or $10 per person for lunch.

In Closing

Rotterdam's new Aft Section, as seen from

the Promenade Deck.

I've always been a fan of bigger ships. Up to this point, I'd always preferred larger Holland America ships like Oosterdam, for the simple reason that they had more amenities and seemed newer and 'fresher' than the line's smaller ships.

Flowers in The Crows Nest.

With the refurbishments to Rotterdam, as well as Statendam, Veendam, Ryndam and eventually Maasdam, Holland America has given their smaller ships a makeover that actually gives them some features their larger fleetmates can be jealous of. In fact, I'd go out of my way to sail on Rotterdam again - the atmosphere onboard, coupled with the recent renovations, resulted in a feeling that was just right.

It's nice to see Holland America taking such good care of its midsize ships in an age when many lines are building bigger and bigger megaships. I had taken a cruise onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas in January, which holds over 3,000 passengers. It was a nice ship, and I had an enjoyable cruise. But it wasn't until I stepped onboard Rotterdam that the advantages of sailing on a ship which holds 1,404 passengers hit home: few lines, lots of deck chairs, lots of space. In fact, I never once had a problem finding a seat in any lounge or pool. The Retreat was busiest, but turnover was good. The Lido was also more serene than I expected, particularly on embarkation day: seating was plentiful, and lines moved quickly.

Rotterdam has a lot to like, and if you are scheduled to sail on her, chances are you won't be disappointed. As for me, I grabbed the 2011-2012 Cruise Planner on my way off.

I will be back.

For more information on the Rotterdam, please visit Holland America's Website.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Focus On...The Rotterdam, Part II

We continue the second part of our photo-tour of Holland America Line's Rotterdam in a little room just aft of the Explorations Cafe on Deck 5. This intimate, bright room is home to one of the newest enrichment programs offered board Holland America ships: the Digital Workshop.

Digital Workshop powered by Windows®

Rotterdam's Techspert John in the Digital Workshop.

Ten years ago, most cruise ships didn't have internet access, let alone the type of classes being offered with Holland America's Digital Workshop program. You can learn the ins and outs of digital photography, video editing, blogging and web skills all from the comfort of the intimate classroom located next to the Explorations Cafe.

Perhaps best of all, all classes are complimentary and focus on transferable skills. You don't need to go out and buy any extra software to be able to do this at home, and while the program is sponsored by Microsoft, Mac-lovers need not feel out of place: in fact, the top-of-the line Sony Vaio laptops run Windows 7, and represent a great chance for PC and Mac users alike to learn the latest software.

Rotterdam's resident Techspert John walked me through some of the activities that are offered on each cruise, many of which start with photography. Almost all passengers have a digital camera, but few really know the ins and outs of the device itself, let alone the act of transferring photos to the computer to email or use on a blog post.

Sony VAIO laptops running Windows 7

in the Digital Workshop.

Most classes take place on sea days. One of the fun activities offered is a Photo Scavenger Hunt. It works just like a regular scavenger hunt, with the exception that when you find the item (or person) in question, you have to take a photograph of it. Participants then meet back at the Digital Workshop room where the pictures are transferred to the computer and shown to the group.

John showed me some photos of the scavenger hunt from the last cruise. Everyone seemed to be having an absolute blast, posing with various pieces of art around the ship, crew members, and even other passengers. The incredible thing was that not only did these passengers learn how to work their camera, but they also experienced how much fun this can all be. Most of the Rotterdam's cruises are longer voyages, but with people wanting to stay in touch with family members, what better way to showcase your travels than with a photo-blog?

The passengers clearly think so too. John said so many passengers come up to him at the end of the voyage to thank him for these classes. Most come to the first class initially wary, afraid there's going to be a catch - financial or otherwise - waiting in the wings. There isn't. By the end of the voyage, the passengers are genuinely impressed with both the courses and their own level of progress.

As John puts it, the greatest disadvantage, if you can call it that, is that space is limited. They'd like to squeeze a couple extra laptops into the classroom, but they don't want to loose that intimate, informal atmosphere. Right now, the room resembles a small lounge complete with comfy couch-style seating, as opposed to the cold, windowless "classrooms" found on other cruise lines offering similar programs.

If you've always wanted to brush up on your skills, or are just curious about what all these things like blogs and Twitter are all about, there's never been a better time - or opportunity - to learn about it.

You can read more about the Digital Workshop powered by Windows® here.

The Showroom At Sea

The new Showroom at Sea.

When show lounges first appeared on cruise ships, many were single level rooms seating a few hundred guests. With the launch of ships carrying thousands of guests, the show lounges on most newer cruise ships resemble large amphitheaters, with stadium-style seating. Holland America's new Showroom at Sea concept aims to create a more intimate, clubby atmosphere than the previous show lounge.

The most obvious addition to the room located on Deck 4 forward is the table-and-chair seating offered at the front of the showroom. Chairs upholstered in dark red offset tables with dark cloth placed atop them, adding to the dinner lounge atmosphere. A quick look around the room, though, shows that renovations to the area have been extensive. Carpeting has been entirely replaced with a new color scheme and pattern, and the wooden floor underneath the table seating is likewise new.

Showroom at Sea Upper Level.

The rest of the seating has been completely re-designed. Not only is it far more comfortable than the previous seats (which were rock-hard on a good day), it seems easier to get in and out of the rows, and the semi-circular arrangement of all seats helps to ensure a good sight-line no matter where you are in the room. Additional seating is available on the upper level of the Showroom, located on Deck 5, and comes with a slightly darker purple color scheme to offset the pinky-reds of the main floor.

The only thing that really hasn't changed are the beautiful glass lights located on the ceiling, and the curtains and statues on the sides of the theater. Everything else is brand new, and the room feels larger and less cluttered than in its previous form. The elimination of the former bright red carpeting and upholstery also lends a slightly more elegant atmosphere.

Stairs between Decks 4 & 5 in the Showroom.

The fact that Rotterdam carries only 1,404 guests helps this concept to succeed. Indeed, it would be difficult to execute this as successfully on the line's larger Vista-class ship that hold around 2,000 passengers. On this size of ship, however, the concept feels like a welcome improvement.

The Mix Bar Area: Champagne, Spirits & Ales, and Martinis

The Mix Menu: Martinis, Spirits & Ales, and Champagne.

Heading aft from the Showroom At Sea and up the atrium stairs to Deck 5, we come to perhaps the most impressive change made during Rotterdam's December refit: the new Mix bar area.

Sleek spaces and colorful but pleasing designs

grace the new Mix area.

Occupying the space that was formerly the smoky, dark Sports Bar and Ambassador Lounge, and continuing aft until the midship stairs, the new Mix bar concept is actually three separate areas: Spirits And Ales, located immediately aft of the atrium; Martinis, located just aft of Spirits and Ales, and Champagne, which occupies the area beween Martinis and the midship staircase, as well as the passageway running between the two.

The bar area in Spirits & Ales.

At first glance, the decor in each seems the same, and therein lies the brilliance of this concept. Each lounge is intimate enough to be cozy, but large enough to ensure anyone who wants a seat here can easily get one. Best of all, menus in each lounge include offerings from each bar, meaning you don't physically have to sit in Martinis to get a Martini.

Digital, touch-screen tables featuring interactive games.

Probably the most talked about feature of Spirits and Ales are the touch-screen tables. Using touch technology developed by Microsoft, these unique tables display the Mix logo in what looks like wavy, colored water. Most passengers thought that was pretty cool on its own - including myself. It wasn't until I touched it that the logo disappeared, replaced with a selection of digital games that you can play by yourself, or with friends.

If there's a downside to this, it's that these tables are immensely popular, and there's only a few of them. They could almost stand to have one at each table in Spirits and Ales. But overall, it's a fantastic idea and a great way to pass the time while waiting for your beverage of choice to arrive, or to simply enjoy the company of friends.

Even the corridor between the shops and Explorer's Lounge

has been given a new purpose.

Martinis and Champagne have a slightly brighter look to it than Spirits and Ales, and both lounges are well within earshot of the pianist located in Champagne. Indeed, we actually thought we could hear music from the Ocean Bar until we realized the entertainment was just 'around the corner.' Despite its proximity to the Casino, remarkably little noise bleeds out of this area and into Mix. The former shops across the hall have also been re-done, eliminating walls and opening up the passageway. The result is a new set of public rooms that feel remarkably open and inviting.

Looking from Champagne towards Martinis.

Service was quick, courteous and staff exhibited the friendliness and uncanny ability to remember names that Holland America is known for. We'd met our server James up on the lido deck earlier in the afternoon, and he had mentioned he would be working in Mix that evening. He asked our names, we asked his, and then we went about our day. Seven hours later, he came up to us with a smile and addressed us by name without any hesitation. It's both a talent and a gift that these dedicated employees have, and one with makes each passenger feel special. I think most cruisers, including myself, would be hard-pressed to remember the amount of names these men and women remember in any given week.

Kick back and enjoy a martini...at Martinis!

So what to drink? There's a generous list of champagnes, martinis, cocktails, cognacs, beers, whisky - you name it, it's here. Old HAL favorites mix with new cocktails. Drinks are reasonably priced, and there's something here to suit every budget. Feel like an indulgence? You might want to try the $100 dollar Martini for Two - featuring XO Cognac and two generous scoops of Caviar. I didn't try it, but I have to admit it was tempting.

Small appetizers, like Burger Sliders, are also available at Spirits and Ales (and the rest of the Mix area) from 11am to 2pm. These are complimentary.

Indulge in a wide selection of bubbly at Champagne.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for Part Three of our tour, as we check out some of the best features of the Rotterdam that have been present since her launch in 1997 - and beyond.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Focus On...The Rotterdam, Part 1

I remember the first time I saw Holland America Line's flagship, the MS Rotterdam. It was on the cover of the August 1999 issue of Cruise Travel Magazine. I took one look at the beautiful photo on the cover and knew that some day, I had to sail on her. The dark-blue hull and gleaming white superstructure spoke of something modern, but hinted at the line's venerable past.

Rotterdam at Seattle's Pier 91.

Eleven years later, I got my chance. Excited to experience the new refurbishments the 780-foot long, 59,885-GRT ship received during its December 2009 drydock, I jumped at the chance to sail on a 1-night cruise from Vancouver to Seattle. It was the first time the Rotterdam had docked in Vancouver, and may be the last for some time, as she's due to resume sailing in Europe next summer.

In order to give cruisers new to Holland America, as well as past "Mariners" a better sense of what they can expect from the new Rotterdam, I've decided to split these posts up over three days:

Today: The Retreat, The Staterooms

Tuesday: Digital Workshop powered by Windows, The Showroom At Sea, Mix Bar Area

Wednesday: Revitalized Public Rooms & Outdoor Decks

Of course, more photos, in addition to the ones on the blog, can be viewed on my Rotterdam photo site here. Be forewarned! I like to take pictures...lots of pictures.

Public Room Photos - click here.
Outer Decks & Pools - click here.

Let the tour begin - welcome aboard!

The Retreat

The Retreat onboard the Rotterdam.
Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Perhaps the biggest unexpected hit onboard our short 1-day cruise was The Retreat. Added during Rotterdam's refit in December, during which the entire pool area was moved up one deck, The Retreat replaces the former traditional aft pool with an innovative shallow pool area and an expanded aft deck.

Tile loungers in the main pool area.

The pool area is divided into two sections. The first area is 16 inches deep, and features orange ceramic loungers in fixed positions. A hot tub with a small waterfall adorns the aft end of this section. Guests can lay on the loungers, or sit on the benches and dip their feet in the water. Or, as some guests did, laying in the thin layer of water itself proved to be quite popular.

Adjustable deck chairs in the shallow pool.

These sit in about eight inches of water.

On either side of this are two sections featuring flexible white deck chairs - the front and backs of which can be positioned at any angle you'd like. These can also be folded down completely to make a half-circle shape popular with sunbathers wanting to lay face-down.

This is one of these areas where photos really can't convey how well-designed this entire concept is. Photographs barely show the thin layer of water that the chairs sit in, and waterfalls placed throughout the area remain hidden to all but the most observant viewers.

In person, the colors are aesthetically pleasing, and the entire pool is made up of curved angles and materials, giving it a smooth, sea-like appearance. In fact, if there's a downside it's that this area was so popular that bar service felt decidedly understaffed. Within an hour of taking these photographs, word had spread among the passengers ("Hey, you've gotta check out the cool pool at the back!"), and the area became the place to be during sailaway. In fact, most passengers I spoke with had no idea the area had been added a mere five months ago - the majority said the whole area was so well designed it looked as though the ship had been built with it.

The soft glow of the Retreat Pool at night.

The shallow water was immensely popular. Many people of all ages took their shoes off and sat on the wooden benches that line the edge of the area and dipped their toes in the cool water. Therein lies what makes this area so unique - there's a startling number of passengers that have no interest in getting soaking wet in a pool, but who would still like a way to cool off while enjoying the sun.

Plenty of seating provides a great way to dine outdoors.

The extended pool deck also allows for two rows of comfortable deck chairs placed at the stern and along the port and starboard sides. Farther forward, tables and chairs serve as an eating area for those wishing to have their Lido food pool-side. The Retreat also sports a new pizzeria, Slice, as well as a dedicated bar. The pizza on offer at Slice - of which there were multiple kinds - was fantastic, and is a colossal improvement over the previous product.

Rotterdam's new LED screen.

Slice is on the left; The Retreat Bar on the right.

Above these two areas is a giant LED screen and sound system. On paper, it all sounds very unnatural for a Holland America Line ship. In practice, it is a fantastic addition that surprised me with how well it functioned and how nicely built it was. I sincerely hope HAL adds this area to its other ships in this and the Statendam-class. After having experienced it, I would personally go out of my way to cruise on a ship with The Retreat in place.

Will it work in Alaska? That's a big question. Certainly, it's a feature designed for warm-weather cruising. Still, the hot tub is bound to see some use, and the expanded pool deck will certainly be popular during sea days or sunny port days.

The Retreat is currently only available onboard Veendam and Rotterdam, but will be added to Maasdam, Ryndam, and Statendam during drydocks in 2012 and 2013.

Revitalized and New Staterooms

New Lanai staterooms feature access to the Promenade Deck.

The big news is the addition of 39 Lanai Staterooms which feature a sliding glass door leading directly to the Promenade Deck from the stateroom. These rooms have the same square footage as a standard promenade deck oceanview cabin, but borrow their color schemes from the Spa Staterooms.

Cabin numbers on the exterior of the ship.

Cabins are numbered both the inside and outside of the ship, and each cabin features two teak loungers dedicated to guests of that cabin. These loungers are marked as such, and ample loungers for passengers in other types of accommodation can still be found at the forward and aft ends of the promenade deck.

Each Lanai cabin comes with a reserved deck chair.

The best veranda.

HAL didn't overlook other staterooms during the Rotterdam's December refurbishment: all staterooms onboard were fitted with new carpeting and upholstery, an update bathroom design, as well as new light fixtures and bedding.

Category "E" Oceanview Stateroom 1857.

Another addition to HAL staterooms are the inclusion of flat-panel TVs and DVD players. You can use these to either play DVDs from your own collection, or "rent" one from the extensive list available onboard each ship. Best of all? Rentals are complementary!

New throws and pillows on the "Mariners Dream Bed."

Here comes my only complaint about the stateroom, and it concerns the bedding: where's the duvets? Bedding consisted of a thin top sheet and a light-blue colored wool sheet in between that and the bottom sheet. Beds were as comfortable as they have always been (if you've never been on HAL, you're in for a treat), and the pillows are still top-of-the-line. But the lack of a duvet seemed like a strange oversight for a line truly committed to small details. Then again, I think the lack of a top sheet on Princess is strange too...

The updated and attractive bathrooms.

Unique to Holland America is the fact that almost all of their bathrooms feature tubs, even in some of the lowest-category cabins. You won't find any small, cylindrical showers here. The bathrooms are also more spacious and better laid out than most of their competitors, and still feature the same high-quality Elemis bath products. Gone is the old modular plastic look, replaced with a tile floor, dark marble colored countertop, and an attractive relief panel on the same wall as the toilet.

All stateroom categories still feature Elemis bath products.

Also striking is just how large the rooms are on Holland America. After several cruises on Princess and Royal Caribbean, we were surprised to find our standard, run-of-the-mill Oceanview cabin was even larger than our last balcony cabin on Princess. There was ample room to move, and storage space would never be a problem, even on longer cruses. We'd taken many Holland America cruises before; however, it isn't until you try other lines that you realize how generous HAL is with their cabin space.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part II of our Focus On Holland America's Rotterdam. We will give you the lowdown on their new bar concept called The Mix, as well as the new Digital Workshop Powered by Windows® and the re-branded Showroom At Sea.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Just A Tease...

...of what is coming on Monday: a full, three-part photo-tour and review of Holland America's elegant MS Rotterdam as she sailed between Vancouver and Seattle. Until then, enjoy this tantalizing glimpse, and stay tuned for the full report on how some features on this 1997-built ship stand to rival even the newest HAL vessels.

What exactly is this remarkable area? Stay tuned!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Has NCL Dulled their Star?

Norwegian Star at Vancouver.

Spinnakers is in the large glassed area above the bridge.

Norwegian Cruise Line has quietly made some changes to its popular Norwegian Star. At first glance, the refits seem like a popular choice for passengers seeking a wider variety of suite staterooms: new suite categories have been added to the ship, all of which boast floor-to-ceiling windows. The largest can sleep up to six guests and includes a whirlpool tub and butler and concierge service for the ultimate in relaxation.

Normally, refits of this scale involve adding or extending a deck of the ship, or lengthening it as NCL did twelve years ago with the Norwegian Wind and Norwegian Dream. But no decks have been added to the Norwegian Star - nor have any been lengthened.

Instead, NCL took the public room with the best view - and wiped it out.

The Spinnaker Lounge, which formerly occupied a commanding location situated above the navigation bridge, has been removed and replaced with staterooms. Gone also are the library, chapel and card room, as well as the various meeting rooms. The meeting rooms have been scaled down dramatically in size, and are now crammed into the space which used to house the onboard cinema theater.
It now resides at the stern of Deck 7, in the space formerly occupied by the onboard gift shops. The shops, in turn, have moved forward on Deck 7 and replaced the Carousel Night Club, Pearl Martini Bar, and the photo galleries..

La Trattoria has also disappeared from the latest deck plans, replaced by an enlarged Market Cafe, the ships' casual buffet area.

The change that is making the most waves though is the removal of Spinnakers. Passengers coming off the ships first Alaska run have been particularly miffed, as the public room made for excellent viewing during inclement weather. Returning passengers, who have sailed on the ship before, will be understandably upset to discover the ship is not at all as it is represented in the latest NCL brochure. Cruisers seeking an indoor shelter during inclement Alaska weather will also discover there are less places available for them to find a quiet spot to watch the world - or the Inside Passage - float by.

The change was undoubtedly made for financial reasons: more high-priced staterooms means more cash on hand, and we applaud NCL for continually injecting cash into its fleet.

It's just a shame they had to do it at the expense of an excellent lounge and the overall public space onboard.

To view the new deckplans for the Norwegian Star, visit the ship's deckplan page.

Note: clicking on the PDF deckplans for departures after 05/07/2011, showing the new cabin categorization, interestingly reverts back to the old public room scheme. This is incorrect - NCL's on-line deck plans should be used as the ultimate guide. Guests booking a departure after 05/07/2011 should use the PDF download to determine the new category of their cabin, but not the layout of the public rooms.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Focus On...Propulsion

Wake behind the azipod-driven Norwegian Pearl.

Many passengers can tell you exactly which night lobster will be served in the dining room, but sadly, most do not give much consideration to the amazing technologies that allow their ship to speed across the ocean at a comfortable 22.5 knots, all without causing their drink to ripple.

Modern cruise ships use two types of propulsion: a standard propeller-and-rudder combination, or a pair of advanced azimuthing pods capable of rotating 360 degrees and functioning more like a submerged outboard motor.

In 1843, Isambard Kingdom Brunel became the first to adopt screw propeller technology into his SS Great Britain. Up until this time, most ships were still sail-based, driven purely by the wind itself. If a ship did have a steam engine, it was likely underpowered, dangerous, and drove a pair of large paddlewheels fitted amidships on either side. These wheels were easily damaged during rough seas, and their reliability was highly suspect. This caused both passengers and shipping companies alike to continue to rely on sail power well into the early 1900's.

In the intervening years, screw technology became more advanced and reliable. The introduction of the triple-expansion steam engine resulted in ships that were smoother and faster than previous ones. The introduction of the turbine engine further improved upon this, almost eliminating vibration. Both speed and vibration-less passages were the two most sought-after features on the early transatlantic liners, and are directly responsible for some of the resulting technology used on today's cruise ships.

Traditional propellers and rudders as seen on Sea Princess

during a drydock.

Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises

With the traditional propulsion system, typically two variable-pitch propellers are connected to shafts which run into the hull of the ship. The shaft and corresponding tunnel connect to the main engines, which turn the propeller. Maneuvering the vessel is accomplished with two rudders, one placed just aft of each propeller. When docking, side thrusters are required to move the ship closer to, or away from, the dock, in addition to the main propellers. Being variable-pitch, the propeller blades can actually rotate along their axis, giving the vessel better maneuverability and fuel efficiency.

Azipods on Freedom of the Seas. The two facing forward

are azimuthing; the center pod is fixed.

Photo courtesy of ABB Group.

With newer azimuthing pods, the propeller itself acts as the rudder. Typically, two pods are fitted underneath the ship and are capable of turning 360 degrees in any direction. The pod itself also contains the entire engine, which is directly connected to the propeller. The lack of a propeller shaft allows the pod to sit lower in the water than traditional propellers, where they can have access to a less-turbulent area of water. Their full rotation capabilities also allow the ship to make minute course adjustments for the best possible fuel economy. Unlike traditional propellers, which face aft and "push" the ship through the water, azimuthing pods face forward and "pull" the ship through the water. They also eliminate the need for stern thrusters, as the pods themselves can be used for this purpose when docking or undocking.

Newer azimuthing pods (also known as Azipods, despite the fact the name itself is a trademark of the ABB Group for their brand of thruster) feature excellent reliability, but in the past, teething problems have occurred. Celebrity Cruises was the most unlucky, with the Rolls-Royce "Mermaid" pods on several of their Millennium-class ships failing repeatedly and frequently between their launch in 2001 and 2005-2007. Premature wear on the bearings caused the majority of these faults. Thankfully, the problems have been almost eliminated in the past few years. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity's parent company, sued Rolls Royce for the defects.

Carnival Corporation PLC also sued Rolls Royce over problems with Queen Mary 2's three "Mermaid" pods. Each pod should have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years, but Carnival has been forced to change pods completely every three years - again, due to prematurely failed bearings.

Despite these teething problems, ships with azimuthing technology are remarkably quiet, with very little vibration, even in heavy seas. Almost all newbuilds feature "Azipod" propellers - with the notable exception of Princess Cruises, which has yet to feature azimuthing propulsion on any of its ships, including its most recent newbuild, Ruby Princess.

The first cruise ship to be fitted with Azipod propulsion was Carnival Elation in 1998.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Royal Caribbean Unloads Art Auctions

In his blog, Royal Caribbean President Adam Goldstein made a quick note announcing the line has ended its relationship with onboard art auction provider Park West. He stated that Park West employees currently onboard their ships would remain there until the end of their contracts, and in the meantime the line would be re-evaluating its onboard art-related programming.

If you've taken a cruise before, you know how these art auctions work: artwork is piled high in a public room, usually spilling into the corridors in the process. Sometimes these events are billed as "preview" auctions, with the main auction to follow later. Of course, during this time, cheap, watery champagne is dolled out liberally and free of charge to passengers. Naturally, there's always a deal to to be had; an incredible buy that passengers just shouldn't miss. Maybe now is the time to walk away with two, three, even four pieces of art, all delivered with showman-like atmosphere.

Surprisingly, this actually works. Auctions are usually well attended, and a surprising amount of cash is injected into the cruise line this way, despite the fact that Park West itself takes a cut. On some ships, the art auctions perform better than the casino or shore excursion department.

Park West, though, has been embroiled in more than its fair share of controversy, and has recently been the subject of four class-action lawsuits, including one in which Royal Caribbean is listed as a co-defendant. A Phoenix-based company called Fine Art Registry was even sued by Park West for the very thing many experienced cruise passengers have long thought: Fine Arts Registry publicly stated that Park West was selling fraudulent Salvador Dali prints, and that they had the proof to back it up.

Park West was so incensed by these public articles that they sued Fine Arts Registry for a whopping $46-million dollars.

In the end, Park West was awarded nothing, while Fine Arts Registry walked away with $500,000 as it was alleged Park West used their trademark and website to make a duplicate Fine Arts Registry site - but without the accusations against Park West.

So is Park West selling authentic artwork? All their website says about the matter is that yes, they are.

Have they responded to their dismissal by one of their largest clients? For the moment, no. Their website does have a short, tersely-worded press release stating repeatedly that these "so-called class action suits" have no merit. It alleges the suits have been brought forward purely by money-grubbing lawyers who lack anything better to do with their time.

Curiously, it does not offer any facts to refute the allegations made against the organization.

What's the best advice? If you're out for original, authentic artwork, guaranteed to appreciate in value, a cruise is not the place to buy it.

As with many things in life: buyer beware.

Pages

Researched and Written By