Ruby Princess leaves the town...

[otumay]

It was an awesome sight; she was gliding effortlessly and gracefully over the waves, as if at a standstill. Only the change in her size and angle gave away her departure. In a few minutes, she was but a speck on the horizon, a diminishing member in the southbound caravan of ships heading for warmer waters. M8 with MATE.
Best,
Osman

 

[shtarka1]

That is the Largest Monster I've Ever Seen! Wonderful Series Osman!

 

[kalex]

thats a big one

 

[otumay]

Thank you, Steve and kalex, very kind of you.

 

[Maggie O]

Avast! That's a big 'un!!! The tankers look small in comparison!

 

[otumay]

Yes, Maggie, looks as if the ship has jumped out of a Fellini movie, doesn't it?

 

[Maggie O]

Yes, Maggie, looks as if the ship has jumped out of a Fellini movie, doesn't it?

It's crazy. I took an Alaska cruise on the Diamond Princess, which was the biggest cruise ship in the Pacific at the time, but the Ruby Princess is a whole order of magnitude larger! Here's a shot of the ship I was on:

 

[otumay]

Wow! These are other-worldly, Maggie! I guess the Diamond Princess is the larger one on the right. Both vessels constitute a stark contrast to their subtle surroundings.
One day I'm hoping to visit Alaska, Fairbanks in particular. That way I will have seen both ends of the Pan-American Highway.

 

[doug]

I'm amazed those ginormous cruise ships don't capsize. Must be electronic stability control. Impressive photos!

 

[otumay]

Thank you, Doug. I think stability is more of an issue in container vessels, where placement and/or displacement of bulky containers may cause the ship to capsize.

 

[Double Negative]

Nice shots! I was just onboard the Caribbean Princess, for the second time. Touring down in the Caribbean... This was taken in Grand Turk. I'll actually be back aboard her for a third time early next year...

 

[otumay]

Marvelous capture, Double Negative. And she is a beauty, isn't she? Actually, I enjoy watching them from the shore more than traveling in them...

 

[jonoslack]

Impressive yes . . . but I can imagine nothing worse . . . . they look like prison hulks!
I'm sure they're luxurious but the idea of being banged up with all those people

 

[m_driscoll]

It was an awesome sight; she was gliding effortlessly and gracefully over the waves, as if at a standstill. Only the change in her size and angle gave away her departure. In a few minutes, she was but a speck on the horizon, a diminishing member in the southbound caravan of ships heading for warmer waters. M8 with MATE.
Best,
Osman

Osman: Osman: Great photos! They're impressive structures. I like this last one with the other two ships in it's wake.

It's crazy. I took an Alaska cruise on the Diamond Princess, which was the biggest cruise ship in the Pacific at the time, but the Ruby Princess is a whole order of magnitude larger! Here's a shot of the ship I was on:

Maggie: That must be Juneau? Those beasts are in and out of
Seattle all Summer. When you're on the water and they're bearing down on you, it's a little unsettling. I've heard that's a very pretty trip up the inside passage.

Nice shots! I was just onboard the Caribbean Princess, for the second time. Touring down in the Caribbean... This was taken in Grand Turk. I'll actually be back aboard her for a third time early next year...

doublenegative: Nice image with the perspective and the clouds.

Impressive yes . . . but I can imagine nothing worse . . . . they look like prison hulks!
I'm sure they're luxurious but the idea of being banged up with all those people

Jono: You're being unkind to Prison Hulks, which actually were less ungainly looking. It reminds me of the Fhloston Paradise in the Fifth Element film.

Cheers, Matt

http://mdriscoll.zenfolio.com

 

[Maggie O]

Maggie: That must be Juneau? Those beasts are in and out of
Seattle all Summer. When you're on the water and they're bearing down on you, it's a little unsettling. I've heard that's a very pretty trip up the inside passage.

Yep, that's Juneau! It's a gorgeous cruise...even with the constant wind and rain.

 

[Double Negative]

I'm not one for guided tours or anything with a schedule - so initially I didn't even think about cruising. Turns out, they're fantastic for sampling destinations and finding ones you like - and returning directly later. Of course, there are marvelous photo opps everywhere, and I always bring gear.

Here are the pictures from my three cruises thus far...

Marvelous capture, Double Negative. And she is a beauty, isn't she? Actually, I enjoy watching them from the shore more than traveling in them...

Thank you! It's a pretty impressive ship. It's Princess' largest, at 3,100 max passengers. Commissioned in 2004, I was onboard in 2006 and just two weeks ago, 2010. They're definitely interesting to watch in motion, like huge ant colonies - especially in port! Your'e so right. Here's the info on all the ships.

Impressive yes . . . but I can imagine nothing worse . . . . they look like prison hulks!
I'm sure they're luxurious but the idea of being banged up with all those people

They're so big, it's not that bad - and of course, quite luxurious. If it's a sunny day, it does get a little nutty on the sun deck. Heh. The key is to get a stateroom with a balcony - so you have your own little retreat. For my 4th cruise next year, I'm actually going to pop for a mini-suite.

I've done the "Eastern Caribbean" twice (different ports), the "Western" once and my 4th will be a "Southern."

 

[doug]

I've heard that's a very pretty trip up the inside passage.

I like the Inside Passage best as a deck passenger on the Alaska State Ferry.

 

[Double Negative]

@Matt:Thank you!

 

[otumay]

Thank you, Matt.
Jono, I see your point, and not averse to it.

 

[rayyan]

Impressive yes . . . but I can imagine nothing worse . . . . they look like prison hulks!
I'm sure they're luxurious but the idea of being banged up with all those people

Osman, I agree with Jono here. I am a loner, maybe two people. But this!!