Wonder how much fuel Cruise lines consume annually, and how long they can continue in business.

[dixiegrrrrl]

Am I the only one who has been thinking about the impact of less oil/gas resources, thus higher prices,
and the effect on the transportation systems which have so much invested in continued use of fossil fuels.?

[MADem]

1. A lot.

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/cruise-ship3.htm

Modern cruise ships use either gas turbine or diesel electric engines as their power source for propulsion, as well as for the ship's systems. The larger the cruise ship, the greater the demand for electrical power. Some larger ships rely on two different power sources: one for propulsion and one exclusively for electrical power.
Aero derivative gas turbine engines generate heat that is converted from mechanical energy into electrical power. To achieve this, compressed air is ignited in a combustion chamber. The hot exhaust is forced over a turbine that spins to mechanically drive a shaft. This power can then be used to spin electrical generators. Diesel-electric engines work much the same way, yet use a direct drive system rather than a turbine. Output shafts are connected to electrical generators to produce electrical power.
Both engine types require fuel, and lots of it. For example, the QE2 consumes about 380 tons of fuel daily if it's traveling at a speed of 28.5 knots and carries enough fuel to sail nonstop for 12 days [source: Warwick]. Cruise ships usually fill up at various ports, using fueling barges like floating gas stations. They use a lower-grade diesel that tends not to burn as cleanly as road-going diesel-powered vehicles. No doubt when prices rise at the pump, cruise ships also feel the pinch.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. I just love that DU folks can come up with such good answers so quickly!

[RKP5637]

2. Hi-tech future cruising! ?

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Reminds me of those "old" pics of SF piers

where all you could see was a long wall of masts and sails.

I read that some of the anchored ships were sunk to provide a bed for extending the shoreline at the waterfront.

[IDemo]

20. With hemp sails and rigging

like God intended.

[RKP5637]

23. Exactly!!! n/t

[Katashi_itto]

4. "Maltese Falcon" Worlds 3rd largest Sailing Yacht

On 4 November 2007, in a 60 Minutes profile, Perkins suggested the yacht cost more than $150 million, but less than $300 million, refusing to be more specific
Type: Luxury yacht
Displacement: 1,240 t (1,220 long tons; 1,367 short tons)
Length: 88 m (289 ft)
Beam: 12.6 m (41 ft)
Draught: 6 m (20 ft)
Propulsion: 2 × Deutz TBD 620
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Sail area 2,400 m2 (25,833 sq ft)
Speed: 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph)
Capacity: 12 passengers
Crew: 18

[loli phabay]

5. awesome yacht. though it looks cluttered in some way

If I won the mega millions this I would definetly buy.

[RKP5637]

6. It'll do. I'll just need one, please.

[RKP5637]

7. I looked again ... I know why it looked somehow familiar ... the

sails look sort of like 3 beer kegs in a row!

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Ahhh...the beer drinkers Rorschach test....

[RKP5637]

14. I'll drink to that!!!

[Katashi_itto]

10. Damn...now that you mention it...I suddenly feel thirsty...

[RKP5637]

13. LOL

[Katashi_itto]

15. Inside would make a Bond Villian Proud

Maybe Darth Vader...

[Katashi_itto]

16. More...

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. what is "2 × Deutz TBD 620 "????

[loli phabay]

12. engines and props I presume

[FarCenter]

11. Around 200 gallons/mile. So with 4000 aboard, 20 passenger miles per gallon

And then add in the energy costs of air travel to/from the ports.

In a few years when oil is $200 / barrel, the cruise ship industry will start to suffer.

As will leisure travel in general. Now that most of air travel is in 4 companies, expect no additions in capacity and a slow transition of existing capacity from leisure to business and luxury class travel as energy prices go up.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Wonder if those folks in the Floating World ship will end up stranded.

True, it is a floating condo for 300 very very very rich and select passengers, but when the cost to fuel it zooms...

callled ResidenSea

[kelliekat44]

17. More and bigger is no BETTER. Greed gets the greedy in the end. Stocks should tumble. nt

[maxsolomon]

21. Cruise ships pay for their fuel.

The US Navy? The USAF? YOU pay for their fuel.

[Cleita]

22. Back in the old days, I believe they were fueled with steam. However, that

meant they had to burn something like coal or oil to make the steam. The designation on the ships names would read like "SS Look Out" meaning "Steam Ship Look Out". I wonder what they fuel the new ships with? I really don't know. It would be interesting if there was a way to run ships on steam again without the dirty fuel. Maybe a clever inventor could come up with a way to fuel steam ships with solar panels. Of course there is the old fashioned way, SAILS! But in this case the sails could be fueling the steam. I dunno, I am running off some silly stuff now.