Cronos

It's been a while since Yanko Design (The DREADCO of the design world) gave us a truly awful yacht, but they've made up for lost time with this monstrosity.

Not only is it hideous and sports pointless wings guranteed to catch every swell, but the helm is set so deep inside the saloon that it's impossible to steer because you can't see anything.  It's awe inspiring.

Oasis of the Seas

With a name right out a Star Trek movie, welcome to the Oasis of the Seas aka Project Genesis; a cruise ship being built for Royal Caribbean Lines by Akers Yards, Finland. With a displacement of 220,00 gross tons and a length of 1,181 ft and a beam of 154 ft, it is not so much a cruiser liner as an aircraft carrier* with shuffleboard.

If these things get any longer, you'll be able to put the duty free shops on the fantail and never need to leave port. Though I must admit that I do like the idea of the Rising Tide bar, which will be on some sort of a lift and bob up and down between three decks. That way I can for once get totally lost after a hard night on the mint juleps and have a completely justifiable alibi.

*USS Ronald Reagan: 1,092 ft long, 97,000 tons.

Queen Victoria

The Cunard Line announces the launch of their newest luxury ship the Queen Victoria.

I think "opulent" sums her up nicely.

Passing of an Era

The RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, last of the transatlantic liners, has been sold to Dubai, where she will be converted into a floating hotel in 2009.

I suppose that many people, though saddened to see her leave service, will at least take solace that she's been spared the breaker's yard-- even if it means becoming a tourist attraction at a Gulf resort. For me, I'd rather see her broken up. I've never cared for the idea of museum ships; and less for the floating hotel. A ship is a living thing that is only truly what she is when she is going about her business on the sea. I'll be the first to admit that I love being able to see and even walk the decks of such great vessels as HMS Victory, the Cutty Sark, Gypsy Moth IV, or HMS Belfast, but there is also something profoundly sad about them in dry dock or permanently tethered to some quay where they are like aging race horses that are set out to pasture. It's even worse when some preserved vessel catches fire or capsizes at her moorings as has happened in the past and recently.

No, unless a ship has some incredible historic importance, such as with Victory (which is still a commissioned warship, by the way), I can't help feeling that it is better for for her to fade with dignity into history.