RCI Bermuda sailings 2015 and 2016

[modelman]

So the Quantum of the Seas will not be doing the Bermuda run in 2015 as had been rumored. Instead the Liberty of the Seas will be doing the Bermuda, Caribbean and NE/Canada sailings from Bayonne for the spring / summer / early fall of 2015. I would imagine that the Liberty, as a lengthened version of Explorer, can navigate the channels to the Dockyard without dredging, which gives Bermuda another year to complete modifications required for the wider Quantum class. Quantum's sister Anthem of the Seas is to start the fall / winter Caribbean sailings from Bayonne in late 2015, so maybe she will be doing the Bermuda run in 2016 if they have been able make the required changes to the channels.

[MagicMike]

So the Quantum of the Seas will not be doing the Bermuda run in 2015 as had been rumored. Instead the Liberty of the Seas will be doing the Bermuda, Caribbean and NE/Canada sailings from Bayonne for the spring / summer / early fall of 2015. I would imagine that the Liberty, as a lengthened version of Explorer, can navigate the channels to the Dockyard without dredging, which gives Bermuda another year to complete modifications required for the wider Quantum class. Quantum's sister Anthem of the Seas is to start the fall / winter Caribbean sailings from Bayonne in late 2015, so maybe she will be doing the Bermuda run in 2016 if they have been able make the required changes to the channels.

 

I was trying to figure out why the Breakaway can get to the Bermuda dock but not the Quantum. The only real difference is that the Quantum is about 100 feet longer. The breakaway is 133 feet wide at the waterline, Quantum 135. Breakaway extends 27 feet beneath the waterline, Quantum 28 feet.

[njhorseman]

I was trying to figure out why the Breakaway can get to the Bermuda dock but not the Quantum. The only real difference is that the Quantum is about 100 feet longer. The breakaway is 133 feet wide at the waterline, Quantum 135. Breakaway extends 27 feet beneath the waterline, Quantum 28 feet.

 

One or two feet could be the difference between an acceptable margin of safety and an unacceptable margin. Also it's not just a matter of the numbers. The individual ship's handling characteristics have to be taken into account. The Quantum might "squat" more (sit lower in the water) while accelerating than the Breakaway. That's why it was the channel dredging requirement was only determined after they modeled the Quantum's performance in a lab. A few years ago Holland America thought the Veendam could safely pass through Town Cut to St. George's based on the numbers, but when they modeled the ships performance they found it couldn't, and the original plans to dock in St. George's had to be scuttled.

Edited April 17, 2014 by njhorseman

[Charles4515]

One or two feet could be the difference between an acceptable margin of safety and an unacceptable margin. Also it's not just a matter of the numbers. The individual ship's handling characteristics have to be taken into account. The Quantum might "squat" more (sit lower in the water) while accelerating than the Breakaway. That's why it was the channel dredging requirement was only determined after they modeled the Quantum's performance in a lab. A few years ago Holland America thought the Veendam could safely pass through Town Cut to St. George's based on the numbers, but when they modeled the ships performance they found it couldn't, and the original plans to dock in St. George's had to be scuttled.

 

That is true. They do simulations since they can't use an actual ship for obvious reasons. As far as the Veendam it probably could have passed thru the cut when they made the initial announcement of doing Hamiltion and St. George but before they deployed they added 40 staterooms and 250 tons of steel. See page below.

 

http://grandbahamashipyard.com/portfolio-items/veendam-and-rotterdam-2/