FUTURE VACATIONS 

Picture yourself sunning beside a tropical lagoon. Palm trees encircle the beach. A tanned water skier weaves white spray above the emerald waters. But you are suddenly disoriented -- your 'island' is moving!

No, you haven't been affected by the sun. You're aboard the latest luxury cruise ship: a floating island -- one of the new mobile marine structures that will provide a 'dream vacation' from the moment you step aboard to cruise to, and by, exotic ports. These ships will be able to handle more than 2000 passengers and will cater to every whim.

What kind of fantasy is this? Not fantasy at all. Just an opportunity that will be available in the not-too-distant-future when the first of the new super 'holiday cruising centres', known technically as SWATH 2000 (For Small Water-Plane Area Twin Hull), roll down the ways from the Wartsila Marine Shipyards in Finland.

The future's cruise business will include ships which tow their own docks. Not legendary trans-Atlantic liners or the port-a-day ships now available, but shorter cruises in local waters, beginning and ending sometimes in the same port. All on a ship that contains everything.

I know, it sounds like a stock story con job. But Wartsila's plans are solid, and they are the world's leading cruise line builder with 43 ships on record including 19 cruise ferries (among them the superfast GTS Finnjet) and 11 liners including the fabled Song of Norway, Royal Princess and Seaward. Wartsila, with the largest market share (30 percent) of the world's cruise liner business, have a further ten vessels under construction, including three 70,000 ton cruise ships. Now they are really going big time.

Their totally new 'floating city' concept is not just an enlargement of ships past. These cities contain high rise buildings that move through cruising scenery on command. Fourteen decks high, they feature outside cabins for all, and greater height in public areas. All passengers can be served in the amphitheatre dining room at one sitting! A 3000 sq. metre outdoor deck is located in the superstructure's centre.

The outdoor garden deck is as wide as a normal cruise liner but is protected by the "hotel" wings and main halls. It contains a swimming pool large enough to hold its own island and surfing beach. From this island double escalators lead to the sun deck (water slides - starting at the 13th deck - are available for faster entry back to the pool) and the Garden Cafe with a dance floor opens to the stars (covered, of course, by a sliding transparent roof in case of inclement weather). The ship will be able to carry its own helicopters, hang gliders, gyrocopters, surfsailers, assorted launches and undersea buses.

Underwater and celestial observatories, a non-stop world news room, computer arcades, gambling casinos, dancing and exercise rooms are all aboard, and the ship's own 'metrotube' (it has a jogging track underneath) gets you quickly around the ship.

Why this sudden spurt to such massive size? Well it isn't that sudden. Cruise ships have been growing for decades. With trends showing a steady market growth, and large areas of untapped potential, it was necessary to take a new look at the boat business.

Wartsila is not your traditional stuck-in-the-past British shipbuilder. Their corporate philosophy stress the "open mind" approach. Their SWATH design gives greater volume for payload, and in turn larger open deck spaces, greater freedom for interior design, and increased passenger comfort, even in very heavy seas. All that leads to financial viability for the operators. It also presents that irresistible image -- a touch of the future.

Will you be there?

* * *

< previous | chapter index | next >
back to Main Chapter Listing
back to Home Page