Shape Of Things To Come?

Is this the start of the era of affordable supersonic travel? I read this week that Richard Branson is set to order 10 supersonic boom jets. These will reach New York from London in just three and a half hours!  Everything planned seems to be reducing the noise, improving fuel efficiency and how to limit the impact on the ozone level.  Ok, this is for flights but what about ships and cruising in general?  Let’s face it, 50 years ago no one would have dreamt that ships would carry 5000 passengers so why not think of ships in the future to be like these supersonic planes?

A photo posted by @crs_industries on Aug 31, 2015 at 2:30am PDT

A bit too far fetched you think? Designs have already been finalised for the worlds “greenest” cruise ship. The maiden voyage has been pencilled in for 2020! This 55,000 ton Ecoship will feature a host of environmentally friendly features – adding up to a promise of “zero” emissions, as well as no sea dumping. The climate on board will be maintained naturally. A “closed-loop” water system will see all waste water purified and repurposed along with rain and seawater for irrigating the on board gardens.  Costa Cruises have already announced plans to build the next generation of cruise ships, so it can’t be just words can it?

With all this information buzzing around in my head, I wonder what the cruise ships will really be like, say in 5 or 10 years time?  Ok, at the moment I cant quite believe they will be faster then a plane (time will tell!) but what will they look like? What about a ship which looks like a tropical island? Or how about a ship which looks like a city? – The Royal Caribbean Central Park concept does make you think! Or what about a ship that never moves but is in the sea all the time? Say the Maldives, with all accommodation underneath the sea, giving you great views of the coral reef, that is if there is any left then.

I don’t think we are far off from having a “skyscraper” cruise ship either. Might not look great but with so many people wanting to cruise, how else can you build these ships?  I did see a design called the “lily pad”. In the shape of course, but with everything covered in green , certainly would look different!  There are already hotels like this, plans for better planes so why not something really out of the ordinary on a ship?

You may think I am mad, but one day I think these will be reality.