A cruise ship you can’t swim in.

[MacMadame]

6 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

And yet, ships have them. And ice skating rinks. And bumper cars. And sports decks. And ropes courses. 

I really want to take a cruise on a ship with an ice skating rink! Especially if one of the skaters in the show is someone I know or was a fan of their skating when they were competing.

 

6 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

As for the OPs comment, have we forgotten what it was like when we first started cruising, how certain things weren't as we expected them to be onboard? Some may have been sailing since they were kids so cruising is all they've ever known but most of us came to it as adults. Even though I "grew up" on Navy ships I was still amazed by cruise ships when we started cruising.

When I was a kid, I remember going to hotels and the pools seemed fine but they seem so small now. Same with cruises. At least with cruises, they are open most of the time. You go to hotels and half the time the pool is closed for the season or just because at least since Covid hit.

Edited March 28 by MacMadame

[sparks1093]

40 minutes ago, MacMadame said:

I really want to take a cruise on a ship with an ice skating rink! Especially if one of the skaters in the show is someone I know or was a fan of their skating when they were competing.

 

When I was a kid, I remember going to hotels and the pools seemed fine but they seem so small now. Same with cruises. At least with cruises, they are open most of the time. You go to hotels and half the time the pool is closed for the season or just because at least since Covid hit.

You can also skate during open skate, if you want to (as I understand it). 

[Elaine5715]

On 3/25/2024 at 6:27 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

Why would they be so deep that you cannot stand with a drink?  To prevent the below:

 

All inclusive resorts or hotels in a warm climate that has a swim up bar, you see people there for hours drinking and they never leave their spot for ANY REASON.  

 

This is part of the larger pool and in my opinion, you are just swimming in a toilet.

 

 

 

On 3/25/2024 at 6:59 AM, Essiesmom said:

It also keeps kids from taking over the pools.  EM

Some of the Excel ships on Carnival have a max depth of 5 foot.  Being 5 foot, 3 inches myself, I cannot stand and drink in those pools unless I like pool water.   

[clo]

On 3/28/2024 at 6:46 AM, ldubs said:

 

I suspect the primary reason is demand/usage would be pretty low making it hard to justify.  

Kinda like the current thread of someone who wants a real promenade walk.

[mjkacmom]

I’ve never seen anyone actually swim in a pool on a cruise, they’re packed in like sardines. 

[Actuality251]

On 3/28/2024 at 9:46 AM, ldubs said:

But there’s need for TWO boxing rings? Really? 

I suspect the primary reason is demand/usage would be pretty low making it hard to justify.  

 

On 3/28/2024 at 9:46 AM, ldubs said:

 

I suspect the primary reason is demand/usage would be pretty low making it hard to justify.  

 

[ldubs]

8 hours ago, Actuality251 said:

 

But there’s need for TWO boxing rings? Really?

 

I might have missed something here.  I've never seen boxing ring on a cruise ship.   

[Actuality251]

Virgin’s Valiant Lady has two boxing rings and no full size swimming pool. Cause they’re all in on “fitness” provided it involves punching. 

[Nebr.cruiser]

On 3/27/2024 at 12:41 AM, MacMadame said:

I am someone who swims as part of fitness and also training for races/events. Therefore, the lack of a lap pool bugs.

 

It's too bad that ships don't have an endless pool, maybe in the gym. If ships can have a FlowRider, I don't see why they couldn't have an endless pool. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to swim laps on vacation!

NCL used to have some ships with a swim against the current pool.  I've seen one, I think on the Jewel.  I have no idea if they still have these.  It would probably be on their older ships.

[CroozeNoob]

On 3/25/2024 at 6:27 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

Why would they be so deep that you cannot stand with a drink?  To prevent the below:

 

All inclusive resorts or hotels in a warm climate that has a swim up bar, you see people there for hours drinking and they never leave their spot for ANY REASON.  

 

This is part of the larger pool and in my opinion, you are just swimming in a toilet.

 

 

 

There are two types of people in this world.

 

Those who pee in pools, and those who are liars.

[Aquahound]

On 3/26/2024 at 10:41 PM, MacMadame said:

I am someone who swims as part of fitness and also training for races/events. Therefore, the lack of a lap pool bugs.

 

It's too bad that ships don't have an endless pool, maybe in the gym. If ships can have a FlowRider, I don't see why they couldn't have an endless pool. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to swim laps on vacation!

 

On 3/27/2024 at 2:24 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

I would suggest that this would be an insurance no-no for a ship.  Not that many people that would understand or have experience using an endless pool.

 

I've seen endless pools on a couple Princess ships.  

[CDNPolar]

19 hours ago, Aquahound said:

 

 

I've seen endless pools on a couple Princess ships.  

 

Would I assume that they employ Life Guards?  Or, at the very least there is someone there overseeing the operation?

Edited April 11 by CDNPolar

[MacMadame]

2 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

Would I assume that they employ Life Guards?  Or, at the very least there is someone there overseeing the operation?

I'd be very surprised if they had lifeguards given that most cruise lines don't have them for the regular pools which are a lot less safe. Also, they don't have them for the jacuzzis and a swim spa/endless pool is just a rectangular jacuzzi with a controllable current and a leash to hold you into position if you want to use one.

[Maisyboo]

I agree pools on VV are small … but will not be filled with kids . Silver lining 😎

[cantgetin]

I've certainly seen pools on ships that are much bigger than on Virgin, but I've never seen a "full size" pool on any ship.  Princess had several, one of which was rarely used, so if I wanted to really swim, that was the place.  But again, it wasn't anywhere near really "swimming laps."  Also, most cruise ship pools are a max of 5' deep. VV had the smallest pools I've seen.  If your cruise goes to Bimini, there are nice pools at the Beach Club.

 

[Essiesmom]

3 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

I've certainly seen pools on ships that are much bigger than on Virgin, but I've never seen a "full size" pool on any ship.  Princess had several, one of which was rarely used, so if I wanted to really swim, that was the place.  But again, it wasn't anywhere near really "swimming laps."  Also, most cruise ship pools are a max of 5' deep. VV had the smallest pools I've seen.  If your cruise goes to Bimini, there are nice pools at the Beach Club.

 

Except for the kiddie pool, pools on MSC are usually 2 meters deep.  Keeps people from standing around in the pool drinking.  EM

[cantgetin]

1 minute ago, Essiesmom said:

Except for the kiddie pool, pools on MSC are usually 2 meters deep.  Keeps people from standing around in the pool drinking.  EM

Good to know.  I've never been on MSC.

[Tyler414]

Virgin "pools" are more like a water feature.  Celebrity E-class ships have one of the bigger (if not biggest) pool at sea.

[Watchmen]

I’ve been on a few different cruise lines. None of them have had lap pools. Virgin’s pool is in line with the marketed party vibe. 

[BeasleysMom66]

On 3/25/2024 at 3:59 AM, Essiesmom said:

It also keeps kids from taking over the pools.

 

How many kids sail on Virgin?  None.  There is zero chance kids will take over the pool.  I don't disagree a full size pool isn't needed but VV could and should have put in a bit bigger pool for their passengers.

[Btr2trvl]

My room doesn’t have a bathtub can get 30 people to explain why. 

[FFMilesJunkie]

On 3/25/2024 at 5:46 AM, chengkp75 said:

You are looking for a "full size" pool, by which I assume you mean a 25 yard pool (most common public pool in US).  Think about where the pools are located on cruise ships, up on the highest decks so they are out in the open.

 

A 25 yard pool holds about 250 metric tons of water, and placing that much weight that high on a ship would adversely affect the stability (the ability of the ship to stay upright) of the ship.  Additionally, the "free surface effect" (the change in center of gravity as the water sloshes from one side or end to another as the ship moves) further degrades the ship's stability.  Finally, the longer the pool, the more likely it is to have water sloshing out of the ends as the ship moves, flooding the open decks and requiring constant make up of tons of fresh water that requires energy to produce from sea water.

 

No cruise ship in operation today has a "full size" pool.  Even Titanic's pool was only 30 feet long (about 5-6 body lengths) by 14 feet wide.

 

And, even if the pool was "full size", think about having it used by 2000 people at the same time.  Would there be room to swim laps?

 

The Celebrity Edge Class ships have a 25 yard pool on the main deck.  I've seen people swim laps in the morning before the crowds or in the evening after the crowds.  

 

This short video from Cruise Critic gives you an idea of the size 

 

 

 

[eroller]

The Virgin pool is tiny, no way around it.  It's a pretty bad pool even by cruise ship standards which of course are smaller to begin with.  On the plus it does have a nice and large surround to get your feet wet.  To make matters worse it's really the only outdoor pool for 2770+ passengers. I love VV but there is no getting around the dismal swimming pool.  Getting rid of that aft "net" gimmick and putting in a second pool would be huge plus.  

 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, my favorite shipboard pool on CELEBRITY APEX.  It's so big it even has a damper built-in, that raises up from the floor in rockier weather to prevent the "wave effect" of so much water sloshing around.  The damper essentially divides the pool in two and breaks up the momentum that so much water can create.  Even half this pool is far larger than VV's postage stamp size pool.  

 

 

[Btr2trvl]

On 3/31/2024 at 12:06 PM, mjkacmom said:

I’ve never seen anyone actually swim in a pool on a cruise, they’re packed in like sardines. 

To truly appreciate it you need to watch Meryl Streep in Let Them All Talk.  She does laps on the QM2

[eroller]

5 minutes ago, Btr2trvl said:

To truly appreciate it you need to watch Meryl Streep in Let Them All Talk.  She does laps on the QM2

I’ve swam many times in QM2’s pools during various crossings.  Three pools and one with a retractable glass ceiling.  They are not as big as Celebrity’s Edge Class but a decent size, and rarely crowded.  The teak decking is wonderful too.