New Technology on Cruise Ships (Good ? Bad?)

Not to go all Yankee47 on you, but the new math is not hard to understand. Maybe (mebbe) it's as simple as saving a few million on having a ship built with less of those pesky elevators that occasionally break down and cost a fortune to maintain, and also probably have to be re-certified every 6-12 months.

WOW, I could have written that exact line. In fact, I think I may have on another post. Sounds like we're in the same boat (so to speak). Tell you what. If we ever find ourselves on the same cruise. I'll race you up the stairs to the buffet for morning coffee (winner buys). Our wives will take the elevators of course.

We were on the Norwegian Sky a few years back. I could have sworn they only had [2] banks of elevators. After taking a look at deck plans I noticed that they also have those glass atrium elevators. I guess you could say they that is a 3rd bank, although they are so close to the forward elevators that I guess I grouped them all together in my memory.,

Actually with NCL it is only the Breakaway and newer class ships that have the 2 elevator banks. All of their older (and smaller) ships have 3 which is one of the reasons we prefer them. Stairs are great with me but my better half has mobility issues and the stairs do not work for her. I still wonder what disconnected at NCL when they went from 3 elevator banks on ships with 2000 - 2700 passengers and then when they went to ships with 4000 passengers went to 2 elevator banks .... the math there just does not add up ... or maybe they are using that there new math that no one really gets.

Obviously I wasn't referring to the ships that are already built or currently under construction. I'm taking about what is "on the drawing board" (what a quaint expression, eh?).

Maybe it really doesn't matter, but perhaps we could attempt to conduct a survey. It would really help if we could find someone who regularly sails on ships with both two and three banks of elevators. Someone who has sailed on the more popular ships like, oh I don't know, lets say the Carnival Vista (3-banks) and the Norwegian Breakaway (2-banks). If we could just find someone like that, we could get their perspective. Know anyone like that?

BTW: FWIW, Disney ships also employed the three banks of elevator design on their older ships, but their new "Wish" Class only has two. I'd be interested in the perspectives of people who sailed on both.

"Redesigned their ships to include a third bank of elevators"?? please, go sit with OGW....sip some fluids, discuss affairs of state....

One of the many reasons that I like Carnival over the other major lines is that their ships are designed with three (3) banks of elevators, forward, midship, and aft. From what I've seen, the others only have two.

Even though they may have the same or even a fewer number of cars in total, it is my belief that CCL's ship design goes a long way towards mitigating elevator congestion by giving it's passengers (3) collection/dispersion points as opposed to (2). Is it perfect solution. No, but I have found from experience that the wait times on CCL ships are generally shorter, and there is overall less congestion than what I had experienced on both RCL and NCL ships.

Perhaps if RCL redesigned their ships to include a third bank of elevators, they wouldn't have to resort to technological "gimmicks".

They are trying to use the new tech but people on vacation are a bit resistant to having their movements and where abouts tracked through bracelets (even though the cruise lines technically could do that through your sign and sail card easy enough if they really wanted). Fixing the way the elevators run ... bonus. If you ever took the time to watch the ship elevators it is obvious that the logic (or algorithms) behind them is flawed or deficient. Improving them and the way they run and where they rest is as critical on a large ship as it is in a 50 story building. If they can improve this then good for them. Now ... please fetch me another mojito and please use Black Seal rum instead of that white stuff in it.

Cheers,

My "answer" disappeared....I thought it was magnificent....its disappearance is even more a propos.....what do you mean "accepted or rejected by its passengers"? you cruise this ship, you live with it. Thats not what I posted before but....