A cruise ship surf park:

Joanandjoe · June 7, 2006

Joan and I have made it abundantly clear that we do not like big ships, glitz, and gimmicks such as surfer parks. Nonetheless, cruise line execs. are not crazy. They put this stuff on ships because it attracts an audience. If a 3,600 PAX ship were sailing most of the time with 500 PAX, instead of 4,200 including kids, the executives would have different types of ships built.

Brady121291 · June 7, 2006

Hey, if they can attract passengers, why not right?

JohnG · June 8, 2006

I read this morning in a trade paper that Costa'a newest ship under construction will have a Grand Prix simulator, and not just the arcade game type.

Joanandjoe · June 8, 2006

We read that too. Again, they're doing this because they think it will induce more people to cruise.

JohnG · June 8, 2006

"A Grand Prix car driving simulator was installed this past week aboard the Costa Concordia, the newest ship in its final stages of completion for Costa Cruises. The simulator recreates the feel of driving a Grand Prix car at speeds of almost 350 km/h. Passengers behind the wheel will be able to record their performances and compete in a virtual Grand Prix as they race against the clock.

The simulator is located on high a top the 112,000 ton ship. The attraction results from real-time vehicle modeling, the same technology that is used by Grand Prix champion drivers when they are training."