I don’t think anyone said to keep the old steamers. Just consider more beautiful precidents. Not everyone wants to maintain a 60’s era Mustang either, that is why they bought the 2005 or more current version cars. The technology moved on, but Ford managed to capture the “spirit” of the older cars. The influence the older car is obvious. As is the profit maximization of the ugly cruise ships. So can maximum profit, and beauty be married? The QM2 was a good effort. As a designer, it is something you might be able to influence. Let us know how you fair. [|)]
Your post brings back many memories. Ships like the one in my avatar (SS James Lykes) were among my first experiences at sea. I loved those trips. Nothing like sitting on a bitt on the fantail with a cup of coffee, shooting the hooey and watching the sunset (and keeping an eye out for the elusive green flash) after a long day in a hot engine room (that was our sauna). We used to carry up to 12 passengers on those old ships, and they seemed to enjoy every aspect of a “freighter cruise” – the sudden changes in itinerary, the colorful characters in the ship’s crew, the endless sea stories, and the plain but hearty cooking. They couldn’t sit anywhere on deck without picking up a smudge of grease. The only planned activity we had to offer the passengers was the weekly movie. Since the passengers watched what we watched, sometimes the ladies would skip the movie. When we returned to the states, they were truly sad to leave the ship, they had became part of the family. We used to throw them a big party the night before our arrival. I just wonder if folks take these trips anymore.
Thank you in turn, I can really appreciate the world you describe, right down to the plain food and minimal entertainment - who’d want to ‘cruise’?
Despite my poor diction (not being a poet or anything) I think you caught what I was trying to express. It’s really nice to know someone did understand, I am amazed at the impression that one voyage made upon me (despite two day’s feeding the fish in the Bay of Biscay!). Maybe that’s what they mean by the 'call of the sea"? It definitely gets to you.
I should tell you the Fairsea (ex USS/HMS Charger) was a migrant ship at that time and that I was only seven years old! My goodness but could she roll! There was a tank-like ‘swimming pool’ set in one deck aft but it generally had breakers like a Hawaiian beach rolling from side to side and was therefore half-empty. It was out of bounds after one daring passenger received head injuries The only ‘shop’ was a cigarette kiosk selling Senior Service “Navy Cut” cigarettes in a flat tin. A daily highlight to us kids was the freshly baked bread rolls. Compare that to a modern cruise ship (why don’t we call them 'cruisers?).
I’ve always wanted to go back, but not through the frenetic, impersonal air routes with their strict timetables, crammed shoulder to shoulder in a tube with wings, eating plastic food with a plastic spoon and risking DVT. If I could organise it I’d like to sail as a passenger in a freighter, perhaps even a working one (passenger that is, I always fancied being a cook). Even if it’s still possible I suppose it would have to be in a container ship these days, and they’re not much smaller than these cruise ships. Distinct lack of casinos and shops of course!
I can tell you that the SS France was the most beautiful engine powered ship ever built, at least to my eyes. Compared to her every other engine powered ship is ugly.
i agree that civilian cruise ships built in the last 35 or so yrs are ugly. i must also add to this the military ships of the us navy built along the same 35-40 time frame,with the exception of the aircraft carriers. all the new ships are baically slab-sided with minimal guns to break up the appearance.
I sailed for 8 years as a mate on salvage tugs and supply vessels (Wijsmuller and Smit Lloyd). I can see that this ship would be able to maintain a reasonable speed without damage in heavy sea conditions. It remains plug ugly though [8D]
I think the Navy’s new generation of stealth ships are butt ugly, like the Sea Shadow and some other biscuit boxes. And the DD21? Pass the swill bucket or stand over a scupper so the spray will carry the vomit off deck. I’ve seen finer hulls wash up on a rocky coast after a Typhoon.
That bow is reminiscent of modern submarines which always look far too blunt yet must be extremely efficient. I daresay it’s hulking strong if not fast.
Just as aeroplane designers would rather do away with windows in passenger aircraft in the interests of cost-saving and efficiency so ship designers would like to rid their vessels of all the protuberances (sticky-out bits) that give character to a vessel.
Bit like modern cars, streamlining produces beauty and efficiency produces boxes.
I would say that that support ship is ruggedly beautiful. A cruise ship is reminiscent of an ugly prostitute trying to cover herself up with makeup. Maybe a nice ride but I wouldn’t want to marry her (or let anybody see me with her either).
