Well, first of all it's the hantavirus.

Royal Carribbean launches "Oasis of the Seas," a ship that's five times as big as the Titanic, can't dock in many ports because of its size, and can spread Huntavirus to almost 7000 people at once

I feel a sense of connection with this ship. Though I can only spread Hanta to three, maybe four people at once. Tops.

I've got Huntavirus: It's opening day for deer in the Southern Zone of New York tomorrow! Huzzah!

This could make an interesting city ship.

It's so big you have to use a cruise liner to transfer passengers from the docks to the Oasis of the Seas?

Too many people. Who wants to get on a cruise ship only to have to stand in line to engorge yourself with lobster?

I don't get the appeal of being on board a ship that's so huge and decked out with parks, restaurants, facilities, etc. that it's like being on land in a giant modern tourist district/shopping mall. Why not just stay on land and go to a tourist district/shopping mall? I suppose the fact that it goes places makes it a bit different, but I'd rather fly someplace exotic and spend more time at that place than spend a couple of weeks in a hotel within an upscale mall while spending less time exploring a foreign port.

FTFA: "Dreamed up six years ago when the economy was booming"

The economy was booming 6 years ago? maybe not as bad as we are now, but it was still on the downward slope...

But do they have opera?

Nah. Sounds like a mediocre ship that will start an imaginary feud with Blur of the Seas, operate too much like the Beetles of the Seas, and ultimately sink when the captain and first mate drunkenly fight with each other and split up.

/Obvious

"Huntavirus", subby?

Really?

I thought you got hantavirus from inhaling little clouds of freshly-swept mouse poops.

dittybopper: Huzzah!

Huzzah? Who talks like that?

Where are the Wall-E's?

unimpressed

Huntavirus? Is it infested with rodents all ready?

Subby must mean Norovirus.

Impasse: But do they have opera?

cc_rider: "Huntavirus", subby?

Really?

That's better than having a coontavirus.

Yes, because when I want to relax and get away from it all, one thing I definitely need is 6,296 other people right next to me relaxing and getting away from it all too.

Fabric_Man: Nah. Sounds like a mediocre ship that will start an imaginary feud with Blur of the Seas, operate too much like the Beetles of the Seas, and ultimately sink when the captain and first mate drunkenly fight with each other and split up.

/Obvious

I was going to say that the first couple of voyages will probably be great, and then sharply decline in quality after that.

So they built a city that floats. Again.

Wake me when they make one that you can tell is actually a boat when you're on it.

Fabric_Man: Nah. Sounds like a mediocre ship that will start an imaginary feud with Blur of the Seas, operate too much like the Beetles of the Seas, and ultimately sink when the captain and first mate drunkenly fight with each other and split up.

/Obvious

Nice...Definitely came in here to make the reference, but it wouldn't have been as good as yours.

WELCOME TO FLOSTON PARADISE!

Do they have a Ruby Rod on the ship?

/zzzzst zzzst zzzzst zzzzzststts

Cthulhu himself cannot sink that ship.

I'm intriqued by this "faux sand" in the "beach pool". One would have to assume it's simply shards of glass.

Reaperman: Huntavirus? Is it infested with rodents all ready?

Subby must mean Norovirus.


Beat me to it.

Oi! Body's still warm, innit. Facking disgrace.

There appears to be a stripper pole in the "youth zone" on that cruise ship. Where's my farking credit card?

Dire: I don't get the appeal of being on board a ship that's so huge and decked out with parks, restaurants, facilities, etc. that it's like being on land in a giant modern tourist district/shopping mall. Why not just stay on land and go to a tourist district/shopping mall? I suppose the fact that it goes places makes it a bit different, but I'd rather fly someplace exotic and spend more time at that place than spend a couple of weeks in a hotel within an upscale mall while spending less time exploring a foreign port.

I personally like them. It's a good family vacation. Kids are safe, plenty for everyone to do and you aren't stuck in some tourist trap for longer than you need to. We all know it's nice to lounge in Cabo but there's only so much beach, ex-pat Parrotheads and kids screaming "Chicle" one can take. That amount is exactly eight hours for me...just in time to return to the ship for mid afternoon snack (followed by dinner, late snack, midnight buffet and the runs)

I'm just a hunta, hunta, burnin' virus.

I look forward to the robocalls offering me a free trip below the waterline of this ship.

I keep wondering when all this "my penor is bigger than yours" stuff will end. I guess I'll have to keep wondering a bit longer.

/a bit longer

Impasse: But do they have opera?

Nor do they have a Corbin Dallas MultiPass

/waiting for the day that Milla Jovavich forgets her passport

Impasse: But do they have opera?

I fail to see what this has to do with a web browser.

Shut down everything?

dittybopper: I've got Huntavirus: It's opening day for deer in the Southern Zone of New York tomorrow! Huzzah!

Brave soul. Be mindful of the idiots.

Fabric_Man: Nah. Sounds like a mediocre ship that will start an imaginary feud with Blur of the Seas, operate too much like the Beetles of the Seas, and ultimately sink when the captain and first mate drunkenly fight with each other and split up.

/Obvious

This is almost a WIN.
Except that it's The Beatles.

I've never taken a cruise. I'm worried that I'll stab 10-20 Midwesterners.

I would rather do something like this. Getting on that floating zoo does not appeal to me.

http://cruisedealsalaska.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/cruise_west_Alaska. 2 3574856_std.jpg

I thought it was the Norwalk virus?

Ah, another floating environmental disaster.

Rapmaster2000: I've never taken a cruise. I'm worried that I'll stab 10-20 Midwesterners.

Obvious solution is to stab the 21st.

I'm an obnoxious hipster-type, yet I don't mind cruise ships. You know why? How else am I going to spend time with my grandparents and my siblings and cousins with their young kids? They're great for all-generations family reunions.

crab66: I would rather do something like this. Getting on that floating zoo does not appeal to me.

http://cruisedealsalaska.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/cruise_west_Alaska. 2 3574856_std.jpg


here we go

Wow. the comments on the linked article are good for a chuckle or two.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere near St. Thomas when that sucker docks during the high season. You get 3 ships half that size on the same day and the island is in gridlock.

Corporate Mofo: I'm an obnoxious hipster-type, yet I don't mind cruise ships. You know why? How else am I going to spend time with my grandparents and my siblings and cousins with their young kids? They're great for all-generations family reunions.

This. Did the same thing. Wheeled gramps around. The niece played with all the other kids and prefered to do the "night club" at night with the other 7 year olds.

/bored with just wife and me
//probably do it again with everyone

Anyone else think "bowthrusters" sounds delightfully filthy?

Single women outnumber single men on cruises about 5 to 1, a fact I happily discovered a few years ago on my first cruise. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. Since the ratio remains the same regardless of the size of the ship, more passengers means more selection. And that isn't just true when it comes to available women. A larger ship means more dining options, more activities, and more secluded spaces for a quickie on deck at 3:00 am.

All that cost and size, and it still can't cross the ocean. Dallying around the coast in a circular route for a few island day trips where you don't have enough time to leave the tourist traps always seemed pointless to me.

Give me a real ship any day: