MS Grand Princess

There is no denying her size. Driving to the pier, past other huge ships, you can't help but notice Grand Princess. Half again as large as the next largest ship sailing from her Port Everglades winter home, Grand Princess dwarfs her surroundings, looking more like a high rise apartment complex than a cruise ship. Embarking passengers will find themselves awed by her presence. But, that is the last time Grand Princess will make her great size apparent to passengers. Once on board, nothing is of a scale that will awe or intimidate. Rather, all facilities, showrooms, lounges and dining rooms, are designed on a scale that would be right at home on the company's Royal Princess, a mid size ship 1/3 the size. It can be a bit under whelming to be aboard the worlds greatest liner and not have reminders of that fact, but, that was the feeling the designers of Grand Princess wished to provide. They succeeded! Were it not for the wealth of activities on board, one could easily mistake this for a ship of only moderate dimensions.

The process of embarking upwards of 3000 passengers, surprisingly, is quite painless. Here, there are no numbers being handed out at the door; no sitting around in frustration, holding number "14", while listening and watching passengers holding number "3", line up after being called to queue. Embarkation for Grand Princess was designed for mature adults! Passengers queue at one of over 20 check in desks, arranged according to cabin location. Despite our 1:00pm arrival, in the crunch of embarkation, we stood in lines only 5 deep. Credit card authorizations are taken as part of the check in process, eliminating the hassle of having to do so once on board. Leaving the check in desk, the next stop is before a component of Princess' new security system, a "Box", into which, the passenger's newly provided "cruise ID card" is inserted. Passengers pictures are then digitally recorded and, from that point on, appear on screen every time the passenger leaves the ship, or returns on board. A simple insertion of the cruise card, "DING", is all it takes to provide the highest degree of security of any ship in the industry. This system really works!

Five o'clock sees the beginning of the exodus from port, each of the other ships dropping their lines and pirouetting before the Grand Princess, as if in homage! After nightfall, and well after the others have departed, it becomes time for Grand Princess to make her graceful exit. For the departure, passengers are advised to make their ways to the port (left) side of the ship as she makes her way through the channel, and past the high rise condominiums who's residents put on quite a show of celebration to the departing matriarch of the sea. This is a highlight, don't miss it!

A few other details:

Below deck, in the engine spaces, there is a railroad track and trolley for moving parts and machinery throughout the area.

All vital machinery is located at least 26 feet from the hull, providing a safety buffer assuring operational integrity in the event of a collision.

The ship was originally proposed to sport twin funnels. These were replaced by the, now trademark, half moons now appearing on ALL new princess ships.

The Captain has a "training simulator" program loaded into his personal computer so he can practice maneuvering the ship from the comfort of his home.

To reduce the possibility of leakage, and although the ship is designed with a double bottom intended to be used for fuel, it will be used, only, during voyages taking the ship away from areas with a risk of grounding or collision, however remote (i.e., transatlantic crossings). In normal circumstances, fuel will be stored only in tanks located within the safety buffer I spoke about earlier, where, in the event of accident, it is protected from breach and spillage into the ocean. Princess management felt that reducing the risk of polluting the environment superseded the need for alternate use of the space now occupied by these huge tanks.

Grand Princess sports the company's first enclosed bridge wings. Although real sailors love open wings, the company pushed for the enclosure to protect expensive equipment that would, otherwise, be exposed to the elements.

The ship is maneuvered by Joystick, integrating screws, rudder, and side thrusters into one, wrist operated, control. Although originally panned by traditionalists, the control provides needed additional capability when fighting the effects of wind pressing against the broad expense of sail that is the side of the ship.

The steel used to manufacture Grand Princess would have built 28,000 cars!!

Grand carries 22 life boats. Two of them are "fast rescue boats" designed for rapid deployment and capable of 35 knot speeds. A test run on the Sun Princess managed to: sound a warning, launch the boats, recover the victim and return to the side of the ship for recovery within 8 minutes!

Grand carries "smoke helmets" containing a thermal imaging camera inside. Firefighters can see passengers trapped in otherwise impenetrably thick smoke.

All water, even that piped on board from shore, is treated with chlorine AND Ultraviolet rays to eliminate ALL waterborne organisms! Bubbles are added to water to add volume and reduce consumption.

Arrangements have been made with Los Angeles's Cedar-Sinai Medical Center for telemedical services. When needed, a video, audio, and data link is established to provide access to shoreside medical specialists.

Grand Princess carries portable cardiac defibrillators, placed strategically throughout the ship.

Two tender platforms are accessed by 4 dedicated elevators ESPECIALLY designed to take wheelchair bound passengers down one deck to the tenders.

Pool areas are fitted with lifting devices know as "Oxford Dippers." Their design is to provide pool access to physically challenged passengers.

Grand Princess is 951 feet long, 118 feet wide (although her bridge deck extends her width to 159 feet., with a 26 foot draft. She is registered in Liberia with, largely, British officers and an International crew. She has a service speed of 22 knots with a top speed of 24. Propulsion is provided by 6 Generators driven by diesel engines