Anyone know about cruise ships?

[DoubleIT]

Part of my script takes place on a cruise ship. Ive never been on a cruise (if this wasnt spec, that would have been the first thing i did!) and really do not know much about it. Wikipedia didnt have much, neither does how stuff works. I need to learn about their general setup, the crew positions, what the captain does, where he usually is and just all sorts of general info that would spark ideas... any one know of a good site on this or even a book/

[MMo]

Carnival Cruise Lines posts a virtual tour of many (most?) of its "fun" ships:
http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/Virtual_Tours_Triumph.aspx
I've heard it said that Carnival is a party line; that other lines cater to other interests: seniors, singles, more sedate fun-seekers.

Check out a large travel agent on line and learn some cruise line names, then run a search on those. I know the information is out there. I did some web work for a small travel agent several years ago, and the owner sent me a boxful of cruise line magazine/catalogues.

Good luck.

Mo

[dpaterso]

When people advise "Write what you know" they're talking about you. :)

I Googled cruise liner layout and found plenty of info and pics on modern liners and classics (I consciously had to stop myself and get out after 20 minutes, it was getting too interesting), but I guess you did the same and didn't get enough from this.

I'd keep it simple, the captain's either on the bridge, in his cabin asleep, or having dinner at the head table with VIP passengers. Crew duties and positions, think Star Trek, except with waiters. Bluff it out -- who's to know otherwise?

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

[maestrowork]

Don't forget muster drills... they're fun.

[DoubleIT]

When people advise "Write what you know" they're talking about you. :)

I Googled cruise liner layout and found plenty of info and pics on modern liners and classics (I consciously had to stop myself and get out after 20 minutes, it was getting too interesting), but I guess you did the same and didn't get enough from this.

I'd keep it simple, the captain's either on the bridge, in his cabin asleep, or having dinner at the head table with VIP passengers. Crew duties and positions, think Star Trek, except with waiters. Bluff it out -- who's to know otherwise?

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

Well the cruise ship sinks soon enough so i just want to have basic knowlege of it before :)

[MadScientistMatt]

I've only been on a cruise ship once as a passenger on an older Carnival ship for my honeymoon. But here are my observations:

1. The typical passenger cabins are on the small side, and the bathrooms are truly tiny. It's hard to shower without bumping into the walls or the curtain.

2. Much of the time, the crew is invisible except for service staff. The captain would occasionally address the passengers at some of the special events that were held in a theater towards the bow of the ship. Most of the time, I presume the captain was at the bridge or in his room.

3. The food is one thing you really notice on a cruise ship. Carnival is one of the less expensive cruise lines, and the food was comparable in quality and presentation to the food served at the Ritz-Carlton. (Which is where my wife and I had stayed just before going on the cruise.) When I ordered lox and bagels, the lox looked like it had been prepared by a sushi chef. There were three restaurants and a snack bar on the lido deck aboard our ship. Most items, except for booze and soda, are included in the ticket price, even if you want second helpings of lobster.

4. The higher-up staff member that the passengers see most often is probably the cruise director. His job includes conducting presentations about the shore excursions, which are essentially pre-packaged tours conducted by outside contractors. The one on our trip was a rather comical fellow. His briefing on what to do when we returned to our port of departure included stating that all Cuban cigars purchased in Mexico should be turned over to him so he could smoke them all before reaching port.

5. The ship we were on was powered by eight large diesel engines. Being a gearhead, I tried to persuade the staff to let me tour the engine room, but they refused.

6. Ship decor normally looks like an upscale hotel, but the ship has a large number of curiously industrial-looking signs about safety information, muster stations, and the like.

7. This one may be rather important since you have the ship sinking. If it is likely that everyone must abandon ship, they will announce over the PA system for everyone to report to their muster station. Each cabin will have life jackets, and each life jacket is marked with a letter. The ship has signs all over with letters, corresponding to the letters on the life jackets, with arrows and signs that say "muster station." Passengers are supposed to go to the muster station indicated on the life jacket.

8. Lifeboats on a modern cruise ship are covered with a shell that I believe to be fiberglass. They look like miniature submarines. You can find a clear picture of one here (http://www.geocities.com/freighterman.geo/pictures4.html). This page also has a few pictures of one. (http://www.sethwhite.org/nb%20palmer.htm)

[DoubleIT]

I've only been on a cruise ship once as a passenger on an older Carnival ship for my honeymoon. But here are my observations:



Wonderful!! Thank you so much

[DevinPhilips]

I also had a cruise on Carnival and it was their ship the Fantasy.

I had different circumstances in that it was my girl roommate that invited me to go along… with 21 strippers from Rachel’s Gentlemen’s Club in West Palm Beach, FL. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/Emotesnoopy.gif

The only time you saw the Captain, was at the captain’s dinner at which you were required to wear a suit.

The Fantasy had two glass capsule shaped elevators which were located in a very large open area toward in the center of the ship.

The ship is powered by diesel engines that were connected to generators that drove electric motors on the propellers.

The food was very good and you could eat practically anytime you wanted.

There were two evening dinner schedules, so you could eat early or late.

All the way forward on the ship is a pizza shop that is open 24 hours a day!!

Above the swimming pool area there is a close off deck area where bathing suit tops are optional… so you can guess where the 21 strippers were, when they weren’t drunk!!! http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

The ship’s crew is not supposed to mingle with the passengers, but they do on the sly.

If they get caught, they are terminated.