Stretch Limo
Folks have been building stretch limousines for years, of course. They cut a car in half and add an extension, resulting in a huge vehicle. So, since that works so well, why not apply the same technique on a much large scale and produce a stretch cruise ship? That is exactly what Carnival Cruise Lines Royal Caribbean did.
It sounds like an unforgettable magic trick - sawing a cruise ship in half.
But this is no illusion, as the owners of this 916ft liner really did cut it open to extend its length by 73ft.
Such measures may seem extreme, but the £30million cost of the job is just a fraction of the £500million - and years of labour - needed to launch a new ship.
The Enchantment of the Seas now has an additional 151 rooms to rent. And it is currently cruising loaded up with passengers.
UPDATE: Got the wrong cruise line, sorry about that.
World news | Gaius Monday, 25 August , 2008
By Anthony (Los Angeles), Monday, 25 August , 2008 @ 7:00 pm
I hope the stitches don’t come apart….
By Surly, Monday, 25 August , 2008 @ 8:02 pm
Royal Caribbean stretched Song of Norway in 1978 and Nordic Prince in 1980. Stretching is nothing new.
By ray, Monday, 25 August , 2008 @ 10:18 pm
Norweigan (NCL) did this several years ago to the Dream and the Wind. Sister ships, both expanded the same way.
By Mockinbird, Wednesday, 27 August , 2008 @ 3:16 pm
Great! 300 more passed out drunks to step over on the way to my cabin.