The new NCL is certainly right when comparing itself to the old NCL.
I wonder how the incredibly long feasability study is going on the SS US. They seem to get away with issuing any old crap statement. Any day now we will learn that it has suprisingly got too rusty.
Bit of a sick joke that they are getting their new white box floating malls from the same source as the SS france.
One day is there a chance that people will get bored with these tacky white cloney No Style ( (forget fee style) white barges.

Oh, the huMANity !!!! This sick thought just occurred to me;

Would those BA$T&RD$ have the NERVE to put some of their recently pillaged S/S NORWAY furnishings onboard one of these big floating cattle boxes? And say "Aren't we GREAT? Look what we did, conserving pieces of a classic liner, like the caring company that we are ...."


also, I fired off an e-mail to NCL public relations just now asking where Big-U stands, considering today's big announcement. The answer is that SS US IS the next big project ....... for NCLA. But these three Mega's are for NCL. THAT'S different.

She also made it sound like the Big-U plans will "take longer" than these 3 newbuilds.

quote:

Originally posted by SSUS_NJ:
... what happened to the comments by the Star CEO at the Pride of Hawaii christening earlier this spring that the SSUS refurb was next on the list?? I'm sure corporate decision-making changes over time, but it just makes me feel that NCL/Star make up stories that are "convenient" at the time. (e.g., when standing with Senator Inouye on US soil, paying "lip service" to the historic hulls that helped make NCLA a reality).

If you read the quote correctly, Tan Sri K Lim stated the SS United States will be NCLA's next project.
From http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1664
"Mr. Lim talked about the power of friendship that was required to see NCL America through to this point. Interestingly, he noted that NCL America's next project would be the refurbishment and relaunching of the S.S. United States, an American-flagged ship currently in wet-dock in Philadelphia."

I know it's confusing when discussing NCL vs NCLA. But let's keep the facts straight. There is a big difference between NCL and NCLA's next project.

And as I have written all along, and what I will continue to write, whatever happens to the SS US depends upon how profitable NCLA is.

quote:

Originally posted by atlantic109:
The new NCL is certainly right when comparing itself to the old NCL.
I wonder how the incredibly long feasability study is going on the SS US. They seem to get away with issuing any old crap statement. Any day now we will learn that it has suprisingly got too rusty.
Bit of a sick joke that they are getting their new white box floating malls from the same source as the SS france.
One day is there a chance that people will get bored with these tacky white cloney No Style ( (forget fee style) white barges.

I think it's safe to assume these new 150,000 gross tons ships will be built primarily as cruise ships, and not as ocean liners; at least you could wait for NCL to publically publish what they will look like before denouncing them as "ugly".........

Here's a link to a press release dated tomorrow. It describes a documentary being produced about the Big-U and it's designer, W.F. Gibbs.

Big-U Documentary

Ahoy, Ron. I thought (okay, HOPED) you had given up on us. BTW: Jennifer Winter in NCL's PR Dept asked me to say "Hey!" next time I heard from you.

quote:

Originally posted by Ron Clark:

I think it's safe to assume these new 150,000 gross tons ships will be built primarily as cruise ships, and not as ocean liners; at least you could wait for NCL to publically publish what they will look like before denouncing them as "ugly".........

I'd have to agree with that statement. Along the lines of MikeyRR, we can certainly hope that considering past work (QM2, Sovereign-class RCCL ships (yeah, yeah, years ago, but still...)), Chantiers designers may come up with something interesting... We need to give the Chantiers designers the benefit of the doubt at this point!!

quote:

Originally posted by Ron Clark:
I know it's confusing when discussing NCL vs NCLA. But let's keep the facts straight. There is a big difference between NCL and NCLA's next project.

Yes, yes... I'm aware of the nuances and particulars of the statements. I'm certain that NCL and NCLA are being kept separate on paper (... easy to jettison the NCLA line if it "fails" as an "independent" venture).

But, the lines are being managed by the same people, and are thus somewhat intertwined. I still feel that the statements made take advantage of the "hair splitting" differences and "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin" nitty-gritty particulars to artfully present data that may very well never come true.

Like certain politicians (who drive me insane), the Star/NCL folks are VERY proficient at corporate double talk and leaving ample "wiggle room" to do whatever is most convenient to do.

Perhaps that's their prerogative as an independent corporation, navigating their future leaving multiple options open. But I do reserve the right for that type of "artful dodging" to drive classic ship lovers like me crazy!! (OK... my problem... I'm seeing a counsellor ...but I know there are others who feel the same)

quote:

BTW: Jennifer Winter in NCL's PR Dept asked me to say "Hey!" next time I heard from you. Big Grin

No offense Ron, but ya gotta admit, Watson's comment is funny!

quote:

Originally posted by Watson Island Norway Fan:
Oh, the huMANity !!!! This sick thought just occurred to me;

Would those BA$T&RD$ have the NERVE to put some of their recently pillaged S/S NORWAY furnishings onboard one of these big floating cattle boxes? And say "Aren't we GREAT? Look what we did, conserving pieces of a classic liner, like the caring company that we are ...."

I mentioned this a couple of pages back. Now, please don't take offense, but I have the opposite view. I would love to see some of these items at sea again, whether on an NCL ship or another ship, so we can enjoy them. It's much better than having them hidden away in someone's basement.

Of course, I agree 100% with the last statement (the italicized one). It would definitely have to be positioned differently -- something akin to "the last liner built for the French Line" or "the liner that revolutionized cruising."

Frankly, Celebrity Infinity was the ugliest cruise ship on which I've traveled. Yet, that faded when sitting amongst the furnishings and panels from SS United States (ironically).

If NCL is serious about the Big U's future, why don't they simply restore the ship back to its former glory as a museum/hotel ship in NYC? Why are they wasting everybody's time with their so called feasibility study, which everyone knows is non-existant.

As long as the ship is tired up to a pier rotting away, there is a strong possibilty that NCL/Star will sell the ship for scrap, just as they did to the SS Norway. It's only a matter of time. This company is only concern about ONE thing: Out with the OLD and in with the NEW.

Neither the Big U, Indy, or Norway fits the Star Cruises profile. Just use these ships to get what they want and despose of them quickly and quietly.

quote:

as I have written all along, and what I will continue to write, whatever happens to the SS US depends upon how profitable NCLA is.

Ahhh, the same old mantra....the not so subtly implied: "You BETTER hope that NCLA stays afloat.... you BETTER support them or else your precious S/S US is in dire jeopardy." Extortion by any other name would stink as much. I dearly hope something can be done to either refit the SSUS, or get her from NCL's clutches... but in EITHER case, I will never let an implied threat such as that urge me to spend another nickel with NCL. Thanks, I'll sail with another line henceforth, and hope NCL wallows in enough red ink to sail their fleet on. *MY* Opinion!

A2K

I know I am repeating myself on this, but I gotta believe in a fairly important election year here in the states if the right word can be gotten out that NCLA has effectively missrepresented themselves to the Congress, we should be able to get some good traction going against these pirates.

CruiseM - we spent 6 nites straight in the Infinity's SSUS room - but the only "real" items were the panel at the entrance and the couch out there, the other panels were all repros. Darn fine resturant though.

dave

NCL's new builds

http://www.akeryards.com/index.asp?strURL=//templates/a...R/200609/1074211.xml

quote:

Originally posted by mikeythemars:
From the NCL/Star article:

"Commenting on the order, Tan Sri K T Lim, chairman of NCL and Star Cruises, said: "This order, placed in NCL's 40th anniversary year, marks the culmination of our plans to transform this great company. By 2010 there will be almost nothing left of the NCL we bought in 2000 except the name and the people"

At least he's finally being honest.

There will not be many people left either... the good ones are all leaving...or have left already... sad sad sad

Raoul,

Had a chance to read the posts from UnbeachedBadrideboy before they were removed from the forum. I do say thanks for removing the said posts and also must apologize that there are members of the human race that because of total self-hatred and lack of morals must visiously lash out at anyone that doesn't agree with their views and/or opinions. These people are usually just a waist of oxygen and not worth the time of day.

Have a great day.

quote:

Originally posted by Ron Clark:

quote:

Originally posted by SSUS_NJ:
... what happened to the comments by the Star CEO at the Pride of Hawaii christening earlier this spring that the SSUS refurb was next on the list?? I'm sure corporate decision-making changes over time, but it just makes me feel that NCL/Star make up stories that are "convenient" at the time. (e.g., when standing with Senator Inouye on US soil, paying "lip service" to the historic hulls that helped make NCLA a reality).

If you read the quote correctly, Tan Sri K Lim stated the SS United States will be NCLA's next project.
From http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1664
"Mr. Lim talked about the power of friendship that was required to see NCL America through to this point. Interestingly, he noted that NCL America's next project would be the refurbishment and relaunching of the S.S. United States, an American-flagged ship currently in wet-dock in Philadelphia."

I know it's confusing when discussing NCL vs NCLA. But let's keep the facts straight. There is a big difference between NCL and NCLA's next project.

And as I have written all along, and what I will continue to write, whatever happens to the SS US depends upon how profitable NCLA is.

Come on ...NCL / NCLA / OL ... it's all the same offices... the money all goes in the same bucket... do you actually think NCLA makes their own decisions... it all comes from the same top decision makers.
when you check out NCL's website, you will see that NCLA's ships are being counted for in the NCL's inventory of ships... so forget about NCLA's "NEXT" project...

Cheers
Philipp

Thanks Raoul for getting rid of BRB ... i am sure that was an interesting beaching session...

quote:

Originally posted by cabin1018:
CruiseM - we spent 6 nites straight in the Infinity's SSUS room - but the only "real" items were the panel at the entrance and the couch out there, the other panels were all repros. Darn fine resturant though.

Dave, I think you're referring to me. Yes, that couch was my favorite reading spot, and I was very likely one of just a few who knew which panels were authentic SSUS. We asked for, and received, the table directly behind the panel by the entrance. What a beautiful setting. And, what an incredible meal.

Sorry for digressing. Now I'm hungry.

quote:

Originally posted by LisaP:
please don't take offense, but I have the opposite view. I would love to see some of these items at sea again, whether on an NCL ship or another ship, so we can enjoy them. It's much better than having them hidden away in someone's basement.

But LisaP .... none of US are ever gonna cruise on NCL again, esp. after they scrap Big-U and Indy.

Okay, so, I mean, I'M never going to ....

A must read from Reuben. NOT GOOD!

http://www.ssmaritime.com/Norway-NewsUpdates-1.htm