Holy Cruise Ship
No one at HAWTaction headquarters has been on a cruise ship. Somehow walking around Times Square, Bryant Park, Union Square, Central Park and Castle Gardens always win out. (Walking the city is also incredibly free.) What we do know is that the cruise ships boats are ginormous. Supah big. The Queen Mary II is the largest passenger ship (according to almost all measurements). It's 345 m (1,132 ft) long, 72 m (236.2 ft) high, holds 2,620 passengers and a crew of 1,253. It weighs almost 150,000 tons. That sounds insane. It's length, for example, is longer than the Eiffel Tower, laid on its side. It's longer than the aircraft carrier Nimitz. It has 15 restaurants and bars, 5 swimming pools, a casino, ballroom, theater, planetarium... Well, move over, Queen Mary II, here is Project Genesis.
Wow! Anti-climactic. That computer generated image shows you nothing, actually. No scope. They could at least throw a row boat in the photo for some perspective, no? An aircraft carrier? The island from Lost? The Starship Enterprise?
Well, this Project Genesis boat is 40% bigger than the Queen Elizabeth II. 40% larger than the insanity of the Queen Mary II? Take THAT. Let's talk about it a bit, eh?
Wow! Anti-climactic. That computer generated image shows you nothing, actually. No scope. They could at least throw a row boat in the photo for some perspective, no? An aircraft carrier? The island from Lost? The Starship Enterprise?Well, this Project Genesis boat is 40% bigger than the Queen Elizabeth II. 40% larger than the insanity of the Queen Mary II? Take THAT. Let's talk about it a bit, eh?
Project Genesis is the name of the company's initiative, while the boat's to be named Oasis of the Seas. It's owned by Royal Caribbean, which, according to advertising I see, is the only cruise company in the world. Oasis of the Seas is large, like city, and it's appropriately broken up into 7 neighborhoods to hold its 5,400 passengers. Yes... that squashes the Queen Mary II. Running the middle of the boat is what's being called Central Park.
Well, it's got nothing on the real Central Park, but it's still the length of a football field. Oh, and it's on a boat. What else is on this boat? I'd say the promenade is kind of sassy.
You could be "Anywhere, U.S.A." on this promenade... though the countless balconies make me think of the Matrix human-heat factories. That's what happens when you squeeze thousands of balconies onto a boat. One thing to note? Check out that guy zip-lining over this whole thing. That, to me, is a home run. Home run on a boat. Want some more features on this massive guy? How about an outdoor amphitheater for concerts with a rock wall climbing? Well, walk through that above photo to the end to reach this guy:
Now, call me crazy, but I wouldn't mind sitting back in this amphitheater and listen to a little Ben Folds or see a Greek tragedy. I mean... not every day you get to see a sassy concert or an old-school play on a boat.
This guy's supposed to launch next year. What? You want some measurements? 'k. This guy's 1,180 feet long (360 meters) and weighs 220,000 tons. The boat will cost $1.24 billion. Holy. Moly. Do you think the Oasis of the Seas will be lonely, running around the seas as the largest passenger boat in the world (by far)? Well, relax, it has a sibling launching in 2010, called Allure of the Seas. It will be an exact copy of this monster. Here's a sample of a duplex suite we'll never be able to afford:
Jury's still out at HAWT as to whether these boats will make us go on our first cruise. We kind of feel like seeing the world shouldn't be done from a strip mall.... but maybe I finally just want to zip line from hundreds of feet up, watch a Ben Folds concert on the high seas, then stuff my face on the unlimited buffets. Time will tell, Project Genesis. But, you've got rough competition with that free walking around this sassy city.
Well, it's got nothing on the real Central Park, but it's still the length of a football field. Oh, and it's on a boat. What else is on this boat? I'd say the promenade is kind of sassy.
You could be "Anywhere, U.S.A." on this promenade... though the countless balconies make me think of the Matrix human-heat factories. That's what happens when you squeeze thousands of balconies onto a boat. One thing to note? Check out that guy zip-lining over this whole thing. That, to me, is a home run. Home run on a boat. Want some more features on this massive guy? How about an outdoor amphitheater for concerts with a rock wall climbing? Well, walk through that above photo to the end to reach this guy:
Now, call me crazy, but I wouldn't mind sitting back in this amphitheater and listen to a little Ben Folds or see a Greek tragedy. I mean... not every day you get to see a sassy concert or an old-school play on a boat. This guy's supposed to launch next year. What? You want some measurements? 'k. This guy's 1,180 feet long (360 meters) and weighs 220,000 tons. The boat will cost $1.24 billion. Holy. Moly. Do you think the Oasis of the Seas will be lonely, running around the seas as the largest passenger boat in the world (by far)? Well, relax, it has a sibling launching in 2010, called Allure of the Seas. It will be an exact copy of this monster. Here's a sample of a duplex suite we'll never be able to afford:
Jury's still out at HAWT as to whether these boats will make us go on our first cruise. We kind of feel like seeing the world shouldn't be done from a strip mall.... but maybe I finally just want to zip line from hundreds of feet up, watch a Ben Folds concert on the high seas, then stuff my face on the unlimited buffets. Time will tell, Project Genesis. But, you've got rough competition with that free walking around this sassy city.Join the HAWTaction reader group on Facebook.
If John had any cojones, he'd get HAWT to sponsor one of these duplexes suites.
I'm the best blogger, ever.
- JLF
Wow, this is crazy.
I was on a cruise ship 2 years ago---a Royal Carribean Mega ship, at the time the biggest in the seas. It was scary; the decks are 10-12 floors above the sea. I'm scared of heights, so me enjoyment of the outdoor areas was severely limited by the terrifying scale and height of the thing.
This is too over the top...These huge mega ships are always crowded, everywhere. A tremendous feat of engineering, no doubt. But, not for me. 1000 feet is enough, thanks.
JLF---we can split the cost of a duplex. I bet we can fit more HawtAction readers in if we request bunk beds. I want the top bunk :)
JLF.... let's see, when we finally DO start making money, I can either get you a salary, or we go halvsies with Jason.
What do you want?
Money under my mattress, please.
Jason's loaded. He can get a duplex for all 5 HAWTaction readers.
I'm the best blogger, ever.
- JLF
I agree with John.
A couple of 250x300 banner ads on the right and we're in the $$$.
It's time to look into banners, then!
This boat is soooo pretty!
Jenn, its not real. Its a drawing, an image.
My name is Simon and I like drawrings.