Smaller is Smarter
STX EUROPE UNVEILS A NEW CRUISE SHIP CONCEPT
the attractiveness of the concept. An im-
of the Seas – the world’s biggest
proved ratio results in a smaller price tag
cruise ship – in October, with the
sister ship Allure of the Seas wai-
Photos: STX Europe
STX Europe is set to launch Oasis
for the ship and better earnings,” Eloranta explains.
Due to the new, innovative space ar-
ting in the wings. The two giants
rangement one can operate the ship with
are the talk of the industry. Howe-
a smaller crew as well. Furthermore, small-
ver, the creative minds at STX Eu-
er gross tonnage constitutes power sav-
rope are already thinking about
ings too.
the Next Big Thing – which, it turns
out, may not be that big after all.
”The size of the ship impacts the
need for power a lot more than the
number of people on board, for instance.”
A crude comparison: if the number
L
aunched in Miami in March, the new
of people is reduced by 20% but the ship
cruise ship design concept is called xp-
size remains the same, the need for pow-
Tray. The name reveals the plot (at least in
er is cut by less than one percent. If one
part): the idea is to serve rich experienc-
were to trim the size of the ship by 20%,
cruise lines can afford them. xpTray can
es on a tray and dazzle the cruise-goers.
the need for energy is reduced by almost
provide the key functions of the big ships
the same 20%.
efficiently within the compounds of a
Sauli Eloranta, Vice President, Product Development & Innovation at STX Eu-
Mr. Sauli Eloranta, Vice President, Product
Development & Innovation of STX Europe.
smaller ship.”
rope, explains that the new concept is
MAXIMISE THE EXPERIENCE
based on two things: simplicity and ver-
Eloranta acknowledges that one can not
DREAMING THE DREAM
satility.
fill the ship simply with passengers – the
STX Europe had been playing with the idea
”Same space can be utilised for many
cruise patrons climb onboard hungry for
for some time, but the actual concept de-
different purposes,” he says and provides
experiences and one must not let them
velopment is less than a year old. Eloranta
an example: under the concept, an in-door
down. The xpTray has about the same
says that the company utilised an “Open
theatre is replaced by an outdoors thea-
number of services and activities as tradi-
Innovation team” to really strive for some-
tre that is positioned on the sundeck. This
tional luxury cruise ships, even if the size
thing unique. With 25 people in the team,
way, once the fun-in-the-sun is done for
of the ship goes down.
only seven came from STX.
the day, the space can host a gala dinner
and a show – with fireworks, if need be.
However, Eloranta says that the Age
of Giants is far from over.
“Bigger ships are and will always be
MAKE IT COMPACT
more efficient to operate per passenger
The starting point for the concept was
than smaller vessels.”
“We had expertise from all over –
architects and designers as well as people
from the world of cruising, catering and
hospitality business.”
The team did not hit a home run right
cost-efficiency and earnings – and against
Still, Eloranta believes that the new
away: Eloranta reveals that the initial vi-
this background, it is easy to see why the
concept may well work in the new eco-
sions proved to be too technical in nature.
cruise lines have been very interested to
nomic situation where the cruise lines are
“It was only after we put user expe-
learn more about the concept.
hesitant to place orders for billion+ dol-
rience in the centre, and let loose our in-
lar ships.
dustrial designers, that things started to
“Using this concept, the ship will be
more compact than previously – a reduced
“The biggest ships are simply so huge
GT/pax ratio is achieved without sacrificing
as one-off investments, that only very few
42
seatec 2/2009
click,” says Eloranta, a ship-building engineer himself.