Can the classic ocean liners make a comeback - No, not as we know these ocean liners with several classes and a huge number of passengers on board. But if these classic styled ocean liners will meet the needs and wishes of a well heeled group of guests, then yes!
My idea is based on researches.
My idea is based on researches.
by Earl of Cruise
The idea for this design draft started as competition between me and Mike Strasbaugh some time ago
These new ocean liners then have to cater voyagers, similar to those that we once have found flying in the CONCORDE. BRITISH AIRWAYS and AIR FRANCE made huge losses in the beginning with the supersonnic airliner. But after a research among their passengers, they made those prices that these passengers thought they have paid, as most of them never booked for themselves, but via their PA´s or Concierge Travel Agencies. The payment was "automatic". And then after both airlines made tremendous revenues with CONCORDE.
The latest World Wealth Reports, carried out by CAP GEMINI, BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP, ALLIANZ (insurance), luxury and vacancy researchers and consultants for. I say it more than clear - the group of rich and super rich, named HNWI (High Net Worth Individuals) and UHNWI (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals) grew to more than 25 million in the world. These rich are concentrated in Europe, China, Hongkong, Singapore, Australia, Canada and USA.
UK still has the most HNWI/UHNWI population in Europe, but they are moving to continental EU Europe as of the BREXIT and its uncertainties.
We see each year new custom built super yachts and a growing number of serial produced yachts. The number of luxury hotels all over the world is permanent growing. Airlines, especially those from the Gulf, are enlarging their First Class areas in their planes, and we see a growing number of Business Class only configurated airplanes. Arising number of privat jets and companies serving rich travellers with charter jets.
All these facts show
a) this group of people is unaffected by the still raging Financial Crisis 2007/08, that started in the USA with the Subprime Loans and high toxic finance products - created out of these uncertain credit risks, developed by ruthless ego shooting "bankers" - I would name them gamblers! The collapse of the world monetary system relevant LEHMAN BROS, an administration in those days in the USA, that had no clue of makro economics (except their own wallets, as we see it today), followed by a world wide state dept crisis, forced by crapshooting (rating) agency´s playing games against state economies, especially in Europe (Greece, Spain, Portugal), trying to destroy the € ...
b) The HNWI/UHNWI´s want to be among themselves in vacancies and during voyages. They tend to prefer a set of like minded people around them, when not working ... against other believes, those people still work!
In the past we have seen the last time that rich got affected by a financial crisis in that what followed the 1929 New York and then London Stock Exchange Crash. That crash and depression was only "solved" by WWII - as bitter it is ...
Economists and governments learned from 1929, more or less ... and we got economic mechanisms that should prevent the same outcome as from 1929.
The super rich clientele as I stated is more or less unaffected by financial turbulences, and still enjoy their wealth. Which is okay if it not only driven by egoistic greed. Combined with social engagement and some altruistic activities I am fine with.
There is still the tale that transatlantic companies payed their First Class luxuries by the fares from steerage passengers. It is a fairy tale, as all steerage revenue gained from these passages, did never pay that many as a few cabins sold to the rich in First Class.
But it is half a true statement for liners that had been constructed for only steerage transport, these liners took freight too onboard, which paid much higher than any steerage.
In 1912 a single bed ticket in a shared First Class cabin started at £ 30 is today £ 2,726.00 in average earning, but £ 16,310.00 per capita GDP. The Guggenheim´s and Astor´s paid for their suites £ 870.00, which is today in average earning £ 316,000.00 or £ 473,000.00 per capita GDP. The steerage passge was £ 9.00, which is today £ 3,270.00 in average earning, or £ 7,580.00 per capita GDP. That makes a revenue of 1,100 steerage £ 9,900.00, not enough to pay the coal ...
AUGUSTA VICTORIA, the first HAMBURG AMERIKA LINIE liner that was a Grand Hotel at sea, she even toped the luxuries offered on other luxurious liners - own collection
The modern cruise industry started by Albert Ballin and his Orient Voyage of AUGUSTA VICTORIA in 1891, was a tremendous publicity and economic success. HAMBURG AMERIKA LINIE earned more money with that cruise than criss-crossing the North Atlantic with AUGUSTA VICTORIA packed with crossing passengers.
PRINZESSIN VICTORIA LUISE, against all odds, the first real purpose built cruise vessel in the world, she was created to cater the international HNWI´s of her days - courtsey, coloured by Daryl LeBlanc
In the late 1960s and 1970s adventurous entrepreneurs started to "democratise" the cruise and incorporated the airlines transporting their passengers to the ports of embarkation and from disembarkation. the results we see today - cruises became a mass phenomenon. I am okay with that, but there is no fundamental human right for getting or having a cruise vacation!
NORMANDIE during his Rio de Laneiro cruise (Flying down to Rio), organized by RAYMOND WHITCOMB, 1938 anchoring in Guanabara Bay - courtsey coloured by Steve Walker
It was the first cruise that nearly reached the mark of 1,000 cruisers on board, as the first ever million Dollar selling cruise, it was a success for RAYMOND WHITCOMB and Cie. Gle. TRANSATLANTIQUE
The luxury of cruising lost its luster, as travelling as an art is lost.
With the democratisation it is degenerated into a destination sampling (bucket lists), without any care what happen to the destination, its people and economy. Less would be far more.
Those who really profit from the cruise boom are the international cruise corporations, that squeeze the last revenue out of the destination ... the normal people get the tiniest share, and only rich entrepreneurs gain a bigger share, as long the megalodons let them ...
Similar with the air travel, which started as a type of voyage for a few and adventurous rich. After WWII airtavel was a glamurous affair, as it was for the crossing - to the USA, on the prestigous North Atlantic route or to the La Plata, or into the Orient and Australia, either from Europe or North America. Only in the mid 1970s airtavel got equally democratized as cruising ... and now we sit in eco seats with masses pressed in narrow seats, with no freedom for ellbows or knees, and luggage? Best non! Food today pre-cook and only heated, if you are travelling in a higher class than eco. Once the food was prepared à-la-minute in an onboard kitchen. this service is still offered, but only with QATAR´s, EMIRATE´s and ETIHAD´s First Class.
De Haviland Comet 4b, the first commercial usable jet airliner, back then a pleasure for only few, a dream for many - own collection
While the US aviation companies still favoured piston engines, the British aviation industry was ahead with jet and turubo prop engines ...
LOCKHEED L1649 Super Star of LUFTHANSA, 1957-1968, she was the peak of the Constellation family, that had been initialized by visionairy Howard Hughes for his TWA, for non-stop transamerika flights - courtsey LUFTHANSA AG
A one-way ticket into the USA did cost in those days more than the equivalent of a VW Käfer (Beetle)! - ~ DM 5,700
Air travel took over the long distance transport of those masses that once crossed the oceans in a ship, and ships transformed into first, cruise vessels, first less later high densed with vacationers, followed by the mega fun factory cruisers equally high densed with vacationers that overflow destinations, and polute the air of port cities with their exhausts.
As nobody after the inauguration of CONCORDE believed in his success or neccessaty, the offer was gladly taken, in the end with massive revenues. Such kind of supersonic transport is newly on the drawing boards, but with less density and more space and luxuries on board.
Despite revenues of the privatised national carriers, they struggle for surviving. Pressed by the low cost carriers, their old business model is on the wake ... quite equal to what happend to the old shipping lines ... The situation for the normal traveller is to be pressed in masses in planes, where they have less space than it is allowed to have for cattles and sheep, feed with food of questionable pappcard taste, if ...
AEROSPATIALE-BAC Concorde 101 of AIR FRANCE - own collection
Since CONCORDE´s dismiss after the fatal crash in Charles de Gaule, the group of rich grew and so the need for a special air travel, logically the privat air flight market exploded.
Since CONCORDE´s dismiss after the fatal crash in Charles de Gaule, the group of rich grew and so the need for a special air travel, logically the privat air flight market exploded.
Same would it be, if there is an offer among the rich that travel for the pleasure of travelling, or take a break while travelling, but at sea, as they don´t love flying because flight agnst or other issues.
When DISNEY did its research after cooperating first with COSTA and PREMIER CRUISES, as an addition to their theme parks, they made an indeep research about the look of their intended own cruise vessels. All answers referred to the style of the old Transatlantic liners, and named the obivious QUEEN MARY, some even TITANIC, but also BREMEN and EUROPA, REX and CONTE DI SAVOIA and especially NORMANDIE - the peak of chic, le Vaisseau de Lumière, which seemed to have come down to earth from another space.
A friend of mine stated, that NORMANDIE was outclassing all existing liners, even the ultra modern and provokingly schoking BREMEN and EUROPA ... I only can agree.
I started thinking about the liner, first a bit more modern and contemporary, but at least I got it, the perfect liner and style already had been created once by Vladimir Yurkevich. And his perfect design - design follows function was the base.
The old construction of NORMANDIE would never pass the actual SOLAS and IMO regulations, despite he was far ahead of his time. But with alterations regarding the new fire protection regulations it is possibible to re-create the interior of that grand liner.
Not as a strict copy, it should not be a museum! But every time when it is coming to style and rich content then it is the way to ART DÉCO.
ART DÉCO will be the basic theme for the interior combined with BAUHAUS and contemporary Lounge Style.
The liner itself can´t be a mass market oriented ship and product. As the mass market needs all over visable balconies, roller coasters, cart ranges, climbing walls, and such. The liner and cruise vessel is for the top high end clientele which stays in hotels as the Chateau Marmont - Los Angeles, Hotel de Paris - Monaco, Le Bristol and Le Meurice - Paris, Fregate Island - Seychelles and others. and these are the competitors, the top luxury hotels.
As there is no real satisfying offer in the cruise market for the real rich, it must be recreated at least. There had been once offers, sacrificed for the opening of the cruise market to the masses.
When entrepreneurs started a new line, as e.g. SEABOURN, it was in the 5star segment, as the mass market is "closed" by the megalodons in the market. But when the megalodons swallowed these newcommers, they made a mass market product off, and created the ridiculous marketing slogan, "Luxury of Experience" and labeld it even as 6star (a non existing rating! and a pure stupid fantasy rating created by the company itself). The mass market companies are fixed in the philosophy of mass market and can´t move out of this closet. Besides I learned the most of these managers fear the rich clientele and cover it with ridiculous prejudices, which are only true for such things as the caveboy from Washington.
And if you don´t know your clientele you want to attract, than you have lost ... research and data collecting does not help, you must be of the very same group to understand how these people "tick". Otherwise it will go wrong.
The hospitality concept in my idea is strict European - European staff, European cuisine and beverage, European interior style, European atmosphere/ambience.
The outfitting must be in custom built super yacht way - only the best quality and finsh! and tasteful!
Plastic and fakes are a no-go!
When you see gold, the haptic must be gold!
Now to the estimated data and measurings of my NORMANDIE idea
314 meter length,
35 meter width/beam,
11,9 meter draught,
basically same hull lines as NORMANDIE, but hydrodynamic optimized
Axe Bow (Blohm&Voss) with bulbous and clipper stem
190,000 hp from LNG fueled gas turbines (housed in the first two funnels), electric generators driving two shafts with pitch propellers (rotation and blade angle in balance)
incorporated hybrid technology for cruising in critical enviroments of nature reserves
LNG tank capacity for crossing the Pacific at max speed
two Becker rudders (for best manouverability) with Costa Bulb (reducing hydrodynamic friction)
"Duck Tail" for lengthening the waterline, with finns
4 active stabilizers (as fitted in super yachts)
3 Thrusters
Bow and Stern Anchor, two hidden behind doors at the bow
two level mooring deck in the bow
Garage for cars, via its doors will be the luggage handled too
2 garages for 2 helicopters (Eurocopter), landing on platform that ill be lifted above the wave piercer
commication and navigation system, state of art
4 satelite antennas
wave detecting radar (!freak waves exist!)
estimated sailing time from France or Britain to New York 60 to 62 hours, out of Bremerhaven 12 hours plus (including speed limit in the North Sea and the Chanel)
after each crossing in the summer season a 7 day cruise in the destination
cruise destinations follow more or less the high society event calender - Cannes Film Fest, LA Oscar Night, Voile de St.Tropez and Royale in Cannes, Bienale in Venice, Admirals Cup, etc.
522 service crew accomodated in 3star single bed quarters with portholes
40 Nautical and Technical Staff
further extra artists and lectureres
2 promenade decks, enclosed and interior promenade, exterior promenade on the 2nd promenade (boats)
The vessel will offer an All-Inclusive, with Prestige Cards for Food&Beverage
32 Suites at 60sqm for € 3,000.00 per day and pax (smallest suites, located on the aft part of the promenade)
126 suites in the hull at 120 sqm each
2 Owner Suites at 240 sqm, 3 bed rooms (are interchangeable) located under the bridge
2 Master Suites at 180 sqm, 2 bed rooms
40 Suites at 120 sqm (are interchangeable, partly with 2 bed rooms)
the windows of the promenade suites and those in the hull slide half down, creating an open verandah
A friend of mine stated, that NORMANDIE was outclassing all existing liners, even the ultra modern and provokingly schoking BREMEN and EUROPA ... I only can agree.
I started thinking about the liner, first a bit more modern and contemporary, but at least I got it, the perfect liner and style already had been created once by Vladimir Yurkevich. And his perfect design - design follows function was the base.
The old construction of NORMANDIE would never pass the actual SOLAS and IMO regulations, despite he was far ahead of his time. But with alterations regarding the new fire protection regulations it is possibible to re-create the interior of that grand liner.
Not as a strict copy, it should not be a museum! But every time when it is coming to style and rich content then it is the way to ART DÉCO.
ART DÉCO will be the basic theme for the interior combined with BAUHAUS and contemporary Lounge Style.
The liner itself can´t be a mass market oriented ship and product. As the mass market needs all over visable balconies, roller coasters, cart ranges, climbing walls, and such. The liner and cruise vessel is for the top high end clientele which stays in hotels as the Chateau Marmont - Los Angeles, Hotel de Paris - Monaco, Le Bristol and Le Meurice - Paris, Fregate Island - Seychelles and others. and these are the competitors, the top luxury hotels.
Le Meurice in Paris, across the Rue de Rivoli is the Jardin des Tuileries, and a 5min walk to the left is the Louvre - Source: Wikipedia
US$1,235.00 is the starting price for a night in Le Meurice, except breakfast
Actually the so called luxury cruise offers are nothing more than high price mass market offers for those who to show off, but not booked by those who really spend money. These rich like it real, no plastic and chi-chi ... and if service and food&beverage is more than top, and the accomodation meeting their needs, then they pay - the real value for the real money. what lines in the BELLE EPOQUE had been offering, or what NORMANDIE could offer its First Class clientele for whom he once was built.As there is no real satisfying offer in the cruise market for the real rich, it must be recreated at least. There had been once offers, sacrificed for the opening of the cruise market to the masses.
When entrepreneurs started a new line, as e.g. SEABOURN, it was in the 5star segment, as the mass market is "closed" by the megalodons in the market. But when the megalodons swallowed these newcommers, they made a mass market product off, and created the ridiculous marketing slogan, "Luxury of Experience" and labeld it even as 6star (a non existing rating! and a pure stupid fantasy rating created by the company itself). The mass market companies are fixed in the philosophy of mass market and can´t move out of this closet. Besides I learned the most of these managers fear the rich clientele and cover it with ridiculous prejudices, which are only true for such things as the caveboy from Washington.
And if you don´t know your clientele you want to attract, than you have lost ... research and data collecting does not help, you must be of the very same group to understand how these people "tick". Otherwise it will go wrong.
The hospitality concept in my idea is strict European - European staff, European cuisine and beverage, European interior style, European atmosphere/ambience.
The outfitting must be in custom built super yacht way - only the best quality and finsh! and tasteful!
Plastic and fakes are a no-go!
When you see gold, the haptic must be gold!
Now to the estimated data and measurings of my NORMANDIE idea
314 meter length,
35 meter width/beam,
11,9 meter draught,
basically same hull lines as NORMANDIE, but hydrodynamic optimized
Axe Bow (Blohm&Voss) with bulbous and clipper stem
190,000 hp from LNG fueled gas turbines (housed in the first two funnels), electric generators driving two shafts with pitch propellers (rotation and blade angle in balance)
incorporated hybrid technology for cruising in critical enviroments of nature reserves
LNG tank capacity for crossing the Pacific at max speed
two Becker rudders (for best manouverability) with Costa Bulb (reducing hydrodynamic friction)
"Duck Tail" for lengthening the waterline, with finns
4 active stabilizers (as fitted in super yachts)
3 Thrusters
Bow and Stern Anchor, two hidden behind doors at the bow
two level mooring deck in the bow
Garage for cars, via its doors will be the luggage handled too
2 garages for 2 helicopters (Eurocopter), landing on platform that ill be lifted above the wave piercer
commication and navigation system, state of art
4 satelite antennas
wave detecting radar (!freak waves exist!)
estimated sailing time from France or Britain to New York 60 to 62 hours, out of Bremerhaven 12 hours plus (including speed limit in the North Sea and the Chanel)
after each crossing in the summer season a 7 day cruise in the destination
cruise destinations follow more or less the high society event calender - Cannes Film Fest, LA Oscar Night, Voile de St.Tropez and Royale in Cannes, Bienale in Venice, Admirals Cup, etc.
522 service crew accomodated in 3star single bed quarters with portholes
40 Nautical and Technical Staff
further extra artists and lectureres
2 promenade decks, enclosed and interior promenade, exterior promenade on the 2nd promenade (boats)
The vessel will offer an All-Inclusive, with Prestige Cards for Food&Beverage
32 Suites at 60sqm for € 3,000.00 per day and pax (smallest suites, located on the aft part of the promenade)
126 suites in the hull at 120 sqm each
2 Owner Suites at 240 sqm, 3 bed rooms (are interchangeable) located under the bridge
2 Master Suites at 180 sqm, 2 bed rooms
40 Suites at 120 sqm (are interchangeable, partly with 2 bed rooms)
the windows of the promenade suites and those in the hull slide half down, creating an open verandah
SPA with patio on the top deck
real tennis court
9m high Main Dining Room above the lower promenade, incorporated are 4 private dining rooms, a Champagne & Oyster Bar, a Wine Bar and Restaurant, a Wiener Caféhaus, Italian Ristorante, the main room has a balcony for musicians for dancing during the meals
French Restaurant middle of upper promenade, opposite side Kindergarden
Shopping Mall on the lower promenade
Casino and Dance hall, front of lower promenade
Aft of the Casino/Dance Hall is the Cinema/Theatre on starboard, portside the library
Atlantic Salon, look out lounge, front of upper promenade
Musik Hall and Wake Line Bar, aft of lower promenade
Lido Lounge, aft of main deck
two deck high Lido Restaurant and Bar, accepted with swim suits! A and B deck aft
Outdoor Pool aft of B deck, where NORMANDIE originally had its aft mooring (one deck lever deeper on C deck)
Smoking Room with fireplace in the base of the third funnel
Indoor Pool and Bar on E deck with 12 doors used as marina, via this marina the guests will be served with the "usual" yacht toys, including blue water diving and other water sports
The superstructure is rounded in the front and aft, as NORMANDIE.
The 10 Lifeboats 180 person capacity can disembark in emergency 900 person from 5 boats Starboard or 5 boats Portside.
Further 4 tenders for 250 person max each, 6 Hunton power boats, 2 Riva yachts, in the stern garage 2 sailing yachts, a garage on portside is housing two Uboats, as well a research lobaratory
Atmosphere, service, F&B, style and anything else must be over the top, and the vessel or vessels must again become a must to be on, a social meeting and gathering in itself. Imagine a floating Monaco ...
I would name such a liner not a cruise liner or vessel, it is an Ocean Cruise Yacht Liner.
real tennis court
9m high Main Dining Room above the lower promenade, incorporated are 4 private dining rooms, a Champagne & Oyster Bar, a Wine Bar and Restaurant, a Wiener Caféhaus, Italian Ristorante, the main room has a balcony for musicians for dancing during the meals
French Restaurant middle of upper promenade, opposite side Kindergarden
Shopping Mall on the lower promenade
Casino and Dance hall, front of lower promenade
Aft of the Casino/Dance Hall is the Cinema/Theatre on starboard, portside the library
Atlantic Salon, look out lounge, front of upper promenade
Musik Hall and Wake Line Bar, aft of lower promenade
Lido Lounge, aft of main deck
two deck high Lido Restaurant and Bar, accepted with swim suits! A and B deck aft
Outdoor Pool aft of B deck, where NORMANDIE originally had its aft mooring (one deck lever deeper on C deck)
Smoking Room with fireplace in the base of the third funnel
Indoor Pool and Bar on E deck with 12 doors used as marina, via this marina the guests will be served with the "usual" yacht toys, including blue water diving and other water sports
The superstructure is rounded in the front and aft, as NORMANDIE.
The 10 Lifeboats 180 person capacity can disembark in emergency 900 person from 5 boats Starboard or 5 boats Portside.
Further 4 tenders for 250 person max each, 6 Hunton power boats, 2 Riva yachts, in the stern garage 2 sailing yachts, a garage on portside is housing two Uboats, as well a research lobaratory
Atmosphere, service, F&B, style and anything else must be over the top, and the vessel or vessels must again become a must to be on, a social meeting and gathering in itself. Imagine a floating Monaco ...
I would name such a liner not a cruise liner or vessel, it is an Ocean Cruise Yacht Liner.
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