A great accomplishment by a small country!
Although often associated with their Scandinavian “Viking” neighbors; Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the inhabitants of Finland never were Vikings.
But, apparently, they too can build ships.
(Perhaps the following is slightly off-topic, but all the same it might be of interest to some people here)
Furthermore, they also know how to fight. Little, brave Finland is the only country to ever defeat the Soviet Union (with the possible exception of Afghanistan, depending how one views the Soviet-Afghanistan War).
Even before Finland became a sovereign nation, the Finns were feared by the Russians and many others. One major reason to the success my Sweden enjoyed in her wars with Russia, Denmark and the Catholics at the time Finland was a part of Sweden was the role of the elite Finnish light cavalry known as the “Hakkapeliitta”. This name derives from their war cry “- Hakkaa päälle, pohjan poika!”, meaning “Hack on, son of the North” or less literally translated “Cut them down, Nordic sons!”
In fact, “Hakkaa päälle!” still is the motto of the Finnish Army.
Some might view it as barbaric, but that matters little considering they could do what the troops of Hitler could not.
Anyhow, some nice videos featuring this magnificent ship:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thRYv5kzE0Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fqrhmUnPO4
How many Muslim prayer rooms does it have?
A vacation spot for those who fear travel on land and crave the security of the womblike ship
Two words: Poseidon Adventure.
Allure of the Seas departure from Turku, Finland 29.10.2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qzOtg5l8y8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwgY5oonLzU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpwLQGGdL90
Having recently cruised the Adriatic Sea on a “small” ship of about 2000 pax, I’ve experienced the wait to get off. Every day. Sometimes a few times.
I wonder how they solve that problem in a ship many times that size. Its not just in the number of tender stations, but the logistics of staggering departing passengers, and apportionment to each station. On the ship I was on, they made use of numerous theaters and gathering points, passed out little colored stickies, hold up “lolly pop” signs to gather ‘round, and have escorts to follow.
Oh, we can't have the people making their own choices. That's not good for diversity.
My husband and I cruised on her sister ship Oasis last month. Never felt crowded, had super fast debarking at all the ports (she was full that week). When you go during hurricane season, the bigger the ship the smoother the ride :)
Sorry, but when I look at a cruise ship, I see a great big juicy target.
Surface to surface missiles are not that hard to come by. The Iranians have plenty of them, and Hezbollah and Hamas can certainly get them.
Would you believe my wife and I will be on this cruise? with my bro, his wife, and my 95 yr. old mom, 93 yr. old dad...... 14th deck, balcony....
bump for book mark
Ha ha Had to laugh, Talofa from Samoa.
I live in Samoa a small island state in the Pacific Ocean, we are about twenty years behind the Caribbean as far as cruise ships are going, but we will get there, but had to laugh !!!i
P & O cruise ship the Oriana turned up last sunday, with i guess about 1500 Aussie tourists, well in Samoa Sunday is church, family, eat and sleep. I drove to town and saw about 500 lilly white tourists walking up and down Beach Rd , our main drag along the bay, nothing was open, no vendors, no businesses open, nothing to do or see, just a few cab drivers touting for business,i had to laugh, who planned to bring 1500 people for the day to a country of 180,000 people, when it is closed.,
Imagine if this ship turned up !!!