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Venice strikes a blow for good taste

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    Venice strikes a blow for good taste

    BBC News - Venice cruise ship size limit being brought in



    I've always found these huge cruise ships rather vulgar; this was made most obvious to me when I worked at TomTom in Amsterdam, overlooking the cruise terminal, and I saw these great ugly floating blocks of brutalist flats floating by, interspersed with the occasional delight of a graceful ocean liner.

    I've seen cruise ships arriving in Venice and it's a horrible sight; huge lumps of vulgarity ruining the sight of a city that is a monument to good taste and creativity, so I'm delighted that Venice city council has finally decided to take action. Perhaps it's appropriate that 'La Serenissima' takes a stand against vulgarity.

    I hope, perhaps in vain, that this could enourage cruise companies to move back to more the more elegant design of the liner. Most liners have been scrapped now, but a few are still in existence. I came to Britain with my parents from Africa on an old liner that sailed to Bristol, and I remember trips to Liverpool to see liners arriving at the port there; a stunning sight alongside the 'Three Graces'.

    Sorry if this is a bit Gricerish, but I like ships, especially elegant, sleek and gracious ships; at the same time I can't stand those floating lumps of ugliness called cruise ships.

    Contrast the picture above with one of the few remaining ocean liners;



    And the liner that brought me to Britain;



    Last edited by Mich the Tester; 6 November 2013, 10:29.
    And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

    #2
    I have never seen the attraction of cruising on a ship that has self service restaurants and resembles a floating Butlin’s
    "A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices," George Orwell

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Paddy View Post
      I have never seen the attraction of cruising on a ship that has self service restaurants and resembles a floating Butlin’s
      I thought the same but as it happens we went on our first cruise on the exact ship shown in the first picture, Voyager of the Seas. Got engaged on the front deck you can see just above the bridge!. 7th biggest cruise ship and I have to say I am converted. Cruises are just ******* ace. Got everything I wanted, casino, entertainment, terrific food, lazy sun days, day trips to different cities, formal dinner nights and so on and so on. Been on two now and need to book the 2015 one trip sometime soon.

      They have 2 self serve restaurants. They have 4 other normalish ones and they have formal dinning every night. Just need to get the right ship.

      Not for everyone I can see but something that needs to be tried. Particularly good if you have 12/teen kids as you can get rid of them for most of the time as well.

      +1 to cruises for me. Go big though.
      Last edited by northernladuk; 6 November 2013, 10:47.
      'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Mich the Tester View Post
        this was made most obvious to me when I worked at TomTom in Amsterdam,
        What's obvious to the rest of us is you didn't fooking test anything while you were there

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by oracleslave View Post
          What's obvious to the rest of us is you didn't fooking test anything while you were there
          And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

          Comment


            #6
            Being the people person wot I am, the biggest negative to me is being trapped on a ship, no matter how large, with other people for that length of time. I just know that I'd run into someone I couldn't stand, be too polite to tell them to eff off, and spend the rest of the trip failing to avoid them. I don't really like the idea of staying in my cabin just to get some time not having to deal with other people when I've spent that much.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
              I thought the same but as it happens we went on our first cruise on the exact ship shown in the first picture, Voyager of the Seas. Got engaged on the front deck you can see just above the bridge!. 7th biggest cruise ship and I have to say I am converted. Cruises are just ******* ace. Got everything I wanted, casino, entertainment, terrific food, lazy sun days, day trips to different cities, formal dinner nights and so on and so on. Been on two now and need to book the 2015 one trip sometime soon.

              They have 2 self serve restaurants. They have 4 other normalish ones and they have formal dinning every night. Just need to get the right ship.

              Not for everyone I can see but something that needs to be tried. Particularly good if you have 12/teen kids as you can get rid of them for most of the time as well.

              +1 to cruises for me. Go big though.
              WNLUKS+1 , but with the caveat that we really don't like the big ships. Smaller ships have a much better atmosphere and you get better service, in our experience. Also, try and avoid the overtly American ships like Princess or Royal Caribbean. They tend to be more expensive on board and will charge you through the nose for anything they think they can get away with. Other than that cruising is great. A five star hotel where you wake up in a different city every morning. Done 4 now and planning for next year as well. Thinking we may do the Fjords this time.

              As far as the OP goes, I agree. The big ones shouldn't be taking that route in and out of the lagoon.
              "Being nice costs nothing and sometimes gets you extra bacon" - Pondlife.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by DaveB View Post
                WNLUKS+1 , but with the caveat that we really don't like the big ships. Smaller ships have a much better atmosphere and you get better service, in our experience. Also, try and avoid the overtly American ships like Princess or Royal Caribbean. They tend to be more expensive on board and will charge you through the nose for anything they think they can get away with. Other than that cruising is great. A five star hotel where you wake up in a different city every morning. Done 4 now and planning for next year as well. Thinking we may do the Fjords this time.

                As far as the OP goes, I agree. The big ones shouldn't be taking that route in and out of the lagoon.
                Interesting. We did wonder about the smaller ships so we can go more often. The big ones are a tad expensive to say the least but still have to say worth every penny on the two we went on. Need the big ones if we are taking the kids though.

                Also agree about not coming in to the lagoon but it is a balance. The west med cruise as the ports were nearly an hour coach trip to the big cities.
                'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

                Comment


                  #9
                  Cruises
                  Are for


                  Let us not forget EU open doors immigration benefits IT contractors more than anyone

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by DaveB View Post
                    WNLUKS+1 , but with the caveat that we really don't like the big ships. Smaller ships have a much better atmosphere and you get better service, in our experience. Also, try and avoid the overtly American ships like Princess or Royal Caribbean. They tend to be more expensive on board and will charge you through the nose for anything they think they can get away with. Other than that cruising is great. A five star hotel where you wake up in a different city every morning. Done 4 now and planning for next year as well. Thinking we may do the Fjords this time.

                    As far as the OP goes, I agree. The big ones shouldn't be taking that route in and out of the lagoon.
                    But if you prefer the smaller ships, wouldn't it be nice to travel on a ship that actually looks beautiful? OK, if you're inside you don't see it, but as soon as you get off you see the beauty of a liner. Wouldn't this be worth paying for?



                    I know a chap who has a collection of memorabilia from old liners, and he and I sometimes wonder how we could persuade shipping companies that liners could actually be profitable if they market cruises on tasteful liners to, if you like, 'a different class of customer'.
                    And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

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