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Ship Shape
World's Largest Cruise
Ship Set for First Transatlantic Luxury Voyage Continued  With their ever-increasing size, and with the
new luxury features, the ships themselves may be becoming a
more important vacation destination than the countries their
sailing to. And navel architects say such cruise ships are not
even near their maximum possible size.
Experts on terrorism say a ship the size of the QM2
is a potential target. But some people see it as a safe
option.
"Yes, basically is," said Liz Lourie, a prospective
passenger. "And the bigger the better, because the bigger the
safer."
The Same Hobnob'
To get on board the first trans-Atlantic crossing, you have
to be rich or clever, or both.
Dan Tobey of Philadelphia, among the increasing number of
Americans who are booking ocean cruises, booked his Queen
Mary 2 ticket two years ago. To say he is an ocean cruise
buff would be an understatement.
"The Queen Mary 2 will be my 31st sailing," Tobey
said. "I must have spent weeks deciding what to pack.
Believe it or not, I actually have a second tuxedo packed in
here.
"I'm in the cheap seats," Tobey added. "But you know what?
I'm on the ship. I'm eating the food. I'm going to be walking
around the same decks, the same hobnob."
Cruise Boom
The departure of the Queen Mary 2 may set new
standards for maritime travel. And there are a lot of people
hoping it does the same for the cruise industry.
"Most of the travel industry has been really static, or in
a bit of a decline since 9/11," Glab said. "The cruise
industry has been the exception. Their passengers' numbers
have continued to grow."
There are several reasons.
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