Discovery of the Seas

Funny that when lots of attention is on RC to see when they build smaller ships, Carnival is jumping into the mega ship market with 3 ships similar to  Oasis class.

https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-orders-three-new-class-ships-at-almost-230000-gross-tons/140033

15 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Funny that when lots of attention is on RC to see when they build smaller ships, Carnival is jumping into the mega ship market with 3 ships similar to  Oasis class.

 

https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-orders-three-new-class-ships-at-almost-230000-gross-tons/140033

Carnival must be absolutely kicking themselves.  It's only taken ~20 years for them to acknowledge their mistake.  

Back around the turn of the century they decided mega ships would never work.  Around the same time Royal created the concept of Project Genesis now known as Oasis class and then Royal actually built it.  Meanwhile Carnival kept on building medium sized ships and avoided azipods for decades more.

Carnival had a mega ship concept, then cancelled it.  Cute name don't you think?

24 minutes ago, twangster said:

avoided azipods for decades more

I knew about the design FUBAR but I guess I never realized that Carnival didn't use azipods.  Interesting

9 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I knew about the design FUBAR but I guess I never realized that Carnival didn't use azipods.  Interesting

To be fair they tried them on a small ship in the 90's but didn't adopt them for Conquest class which are the Voyager and Freedom class era of ships.  They used them on their Spirit class but refrained from using them on the Dream class relegating azipods to smaller ships only until Vista in 2016.

5 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I knew about the design FUBAR but I guess I never realized that Carnival didn't use azipods.  Interesting

Princess largely avoided azipods as well. Last November I was sailing out of Galveston when a Princess ship nearly hit us while attempting a turn. I would have felt much safer if it had azipods!

I know azipods are higher maintenance than fixed props, but jeez, sure seems the benefits outweigh that.

3 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I know azipods are higher maintenance than fixed props, but jeez, sure seems the benefits outweigh that.

Early azipods were new technology in their day.  Carnival must have been bitten early on or simply decided the innovation wasn't worth it.  Just like the decision to cancel Project Pinnacle, more of the same, no change, low risk seems to be Carnival's approach.  Why change?  We are making lots of money...  

I was actually reading up on Carnival Cruise Lines earlier today and how many ships they had in their fleet, then came across the three ships they're expected to build in 2029-2031 at 230,000 gross tonnes..... The thing is...that's still 5 years away... who knows how big Royal's ships will get by then... maybe 275,000 gross tonnes (that is when they're done with the Icon class)

They're supposed to have a maximum capacity of 8,000.... 8,000 people on a Carnival ship... sounds like a nightmare.... 

1 hour ago, Jamesszy94 said:

I was actually reading up on Carnival Cruise Lines earlier today and how many ships they had in their fleet, then came across the three ships they're expected to build in 2029-2031 at 230,000 gross tonnes..... The thing is...that's still 5 years away... who knows how big Royal's ships will get by then... maybe 275,000 gross tonnes (that is when they're done with the Icon class)

They're supposed to have a maximum capacity of 8,000.... 8,000 people on a Carnival ship... sounds like a nightmare.... 

I remember reading somewhere that Royal has concluded ships much larger than Icon don't make much business sense. Probably due to a combination of operation and passenger booking requirements on larger than Icon ships. 

I'm looking forward to the inevitable articles from non-cruiser reporters comparing Carnival's latest and largest to Royal's newest and smallest (of recent builds). Then the article comments from non-cruisers commanding Royal for going small while Carnival's gone huge. Should be fun with a stiff drink.