Here you will read everything about Tiberanic's birth and how from an idea, she become a reality who slashes through the seas with one unique, majestic appearance.
2001 to 2002
|
NOTE: This story is entirely fictional. The companies
and people mentioned are only for entertainment. |
Greece was running out of ideas..
This fact was enough to make some of the richest people in Greece think.. How will we get back in business? And if we can, then on what aspεct? Can we really prevail? We have one of the biggest ports in the world, all the huge cruise ships are visiting Greece.
The thing is.. we don't have any big ship to go against these titans. Although we do have the technology to built a ship like these, we also need the means to do that. And so Piraeus mayor took the lead and started to meet many people, maybe this was the answer, a Greek cruise ship.
After many meetings with the richest people in Greece and others, they came to an agreement.. Since we can do this, then let's just do this!
The best cruise ship in the world will be our comeback, a huge benefit for our Greek economy, and out answer. The richest people will pay for the materials, the most brilliant minds will combine their ideas, and the best designers will design a really beautiful ship.
Many responded positively to the invitations for the project! After many more boring meetings, a wide area of 500m in the port of Piraeus had been reconstructed for the ship building. Now all that was left was to put all the puzzle pieces together, and soon start with the building.
The thing is.. we don't have any big ship to go against these titans. Although we do have the technology to built a ship like these, we also need the means to do that. And so Piraeus mayor took the lead and started to meet many people, maybe this was the answer, a Greek cruise ship.
After many meetings with the richest people in Greece and others, they came to an agreement.. Since we can do this, then let's just do this!
The best cruise ship in the world will be our comeback, a huge benefit for our Greek economy, and out answer. The richest people will pay for the materials, the most brilliant minds will combine their ideas, and the best designers will design a really beautiful ship.
Many responded positively to the invitations for the project! After many more boring meetings, a wide area of 500m in the port of Piraeus had been reconstructed for the ship building. Now all that was left was to put all the puzzle pieces together, and soon start with the building.
They hired the best crew and workers in ship building for the construction of the ship. They took inspiration from some historical designers, combined the classic with fresh ideas from nowadays ship designs, and came up with the most beautiful ship ever built!
They hired the best safety staff to ensure that the ship will be the safest in the world, and of course.. most of them had to be Greeks!
They hired the best safety staff to ensure that the ship will be the safest in the world, and of course.. most of them had to be Greeks!
But the mayor did not stop at that point,
He offered to major other country companies the chance to develop new devices for the ship, And He came to an agreement with all the 3 major companies. He payed a lot for that.. but it was worth it!
1) NEDA: A Nevada space research company that specializes in next generation satellites and GPS devices. They will create software and hardware for Tiberanic to pin point the ship's location in real time with their satellites. They will use 8 of them, only for the Greek ship.
2) TechDream: A high end USA super computer company that sells very expensive hardware and software. They will built 3 super computers for Tiberanic, and develop custom software for the ship's complete control.
3) Sonde: A Japanese digital entertainment company that has a a very big line of high end screens and sound devices. They will create speakers, televisions, and basically handle everything "tech entertainment" thing on the ship.
2) TechDream: A high end USA super computer company that sells very expensive hardware and software. They will built 3 super computers for Tiberanic, and develop custom software for the ship's complete control.
3) Sonde: A Japanese digital entertainment company that has a a very big line of high end screens and sound devices. They will create speakers, televisions, and basically handle everything "tech entertainment" thing on the ship.
They really didn't care for the cost, they wanted the best of the best for this, and they will stop at nothing to
achieve what they wanted!
achieve what they wanted!
The safety staff advised to use the hardest metal known to man for he structure, and again, they all accepted. They would use a combination of chromium and titanium, the hardest metals in the world and not to mention that chromium is one of the hardest metals to operate and it would cost A LOT more than regular steel, also chromium would come into many many big plates that will be put on the ship's shell, outside her regular titanium hull to increase the vessel's defense. Such metal of course, never used for superstructures on any other ship before! |
Due to the fact that chromium was a rare and expensive metal, they decided to also use titanium for the ship's hull. They would use 7cm titanium for the entire structure, and cover it with 3cm chromium. That will be one harder than rock wall of 10cm width! Even a missile would not be able to damage this hull! Chromium is well known for it's durability, and is pretty much a god in terms of hardness!
The ship will be pretty much unsinkable!
For the ship's appearance he wanted to do something completely different from the other ship lines. Instead from the typical block of flat cruise ship design with balconies and top heavy structures, he would go bottom heavy, and focus on the interior areas.
He wanted something classic.. something that will make you say 'wow' when you look at the ship, something that every Greek will be proud of. Something that will make headlines! And a typical cruise ship wouldn't do that. He knew that.
There was no question on what he was thinking for the ship's appearance, he was a long time 4 funnel old ships fan so it didn't took him long to decide her appearance with the designers..
The ship will be pretty much unsinkable!
For the ship's appearance he wanted to do something completely different from the other ship lines. Instead from the typical block of flat cruise ship design with balconies and top heavy structures, he would go bottom heavy, and focus on the interior areas.
He wanted something classic.. something that will make you say 'wow' when you look at the ship, something that every Greek will be proud of. Something that will make headlines! And a typical cruise ship wouldn't do that. He knew that.
There was no question on what he was thinking for the ship's appearance, he was a long time 4 funnel old ships fan so it didn't took him long to decide her appearance with the designers..
He would use a combination, past and future.. past for the ship's appearance and future for the ship's features!
That line soon become their motto ("Past And Future")
That line soon become their motto ("Past And Future")
FOR THE GREEK HISTORY AND PRIDE
The days were passing. Greece and all the other countries in the world were waiting for anything that had to do with that mysterious ship to be published. Almost everything, even the little news were top secret, and even the ship itself that was already being build behind the port was unknown to the public. They could see that something big was going on there, but no one paid much attention to it,
The mayor didn't want anything to be published, until he announces the ship later when he wanted it. As soon as he finished all the stuff that had to do with paper works for the ship, Sonde, TechDream and Neda started the development of the goodies that Greece ordered..
The mayor didn't want anything to be published, until he announces the ship later when he wanted it. As soon as he finished all the stuff that had to do with paper works for the ship, Sonde, TechDream and Neda started the development of the goodies that Greece ordered..
Everything was already in motion and was going smoothly. According to the mayor's plans the ship would be ready to sail in just 3 years!
While everything was going well in Greece and the ship's started to taking shape behind the port of Piraeus, ship lines worldwide started to worry.. They were pretty much the owners of the sea world. One can't just barge in the cruise ship club and take the throne.. It just doesn't work like that. They worked really hard to get to where they were. So, either Greeks have lost their minds, or they are indeed after something big with this new "best ship in the world" of theirs.
The competition with the best ship in the world wouldn't be an actual competition, and there was no doubt for that. If the little details that Greece shared so far were real, then ALL the other ships and their lines worldwide will come second, third, and so on. With Tiberanic being 1st. And locked there for long, long time.
Where did the Greeks found all the money needed anyway? Did they dig up some forgotten ancient goldmine of theirs or something?
They quickly shown interest in Greece and Tiberanic. It was expected, and the mayor played the game carefully. He never got himself in something as big as this before. He will have to prove all his "we are the best" talk at some point..
The competition with the best ship in the world wouldn't be an actual competition, and there was no doubt for that. If the little details that Greece shared so far were real, then ALL the other ships and their lines worldwide will come second, third, and so on. With Tiberanic being 1st. And locked there for long, long time.
Where did the Greeks found all the money needed anyway? Did they dig up some forgotten ancient goldmine of theirs or something?
They quickly shown interest in Greece and Tiberanic. It was expected, and the mayor played the game carefully. He never got himself in something as big as this before. He will have to prove all his "we are the best" talk at some point..
They had to do something quickly to overcome this threat (maybe), but with the fact that Greece had shared ONLY a few things about the cruise ship, Greeks weren't certain these companies were foes or not..
There was going to be competition no matter what, and the mayor was actually looking forward to that. After Tiberanic's launch that competition would be as easy as pie to overtake.
The first company who seemed to have some interest to the Greek ship was also a major ship line that is well known all over the world. Thanks to not all of their ships, but one. One famous very strong and beautiful ocean liner..
Let's take a closer look at that ship line.
The first company who seemed to have some interest to the Greek ship was also a major ship line that is well known all over the world. Thanks to not all of their ships, but one. One famous very strong and beautiful ocean liner..
Let's take a closer look at that ship line.
A Friend.. and a foe,
|
Without a doubt, they were the biggest ship line that Tiberanic had to face.
Cunard is the proud owner of two from the best ships in the world but only one from them was actually able to match Tiberanic's greatness.
Yes, there were other ships and companies, but Cunard has the toughest ship. Able to stand against Tiberanic.
Cunard is the proud owner of two from the best ships in the world but only one from them was actually able to match Tiberanic's greatness.
Yes, there were other ships and companies, but Cunard has the toughest ship. Able to stand against Tiberanic.
QM2 is Cunard’s flagship and the most magnificent ocean liner ever built. With her massive length of 345m. long and her unbelievable luxury as well as her endless entertainment onboard! She offers so much space on board and such an array
of state of the art facilities including a 3D Cinema, planetarium and a superb spa. Built with more care and tougher steel than the steel used traditionally, so she would be able to survive rough seas. Just like Tiberanic, Queen Mary 2 is built like a tank. But unlike Tiberanic, QM2 is an ocean liner. Ocean liners traditionally are ships that take you from one point to another, no matter the weather conditions. |
Although Tiberanic was offering more than QM2 onboard, QM2 was much bigger. She was taller, and a whole 59 meters longer than Tiberanic and that's a big difference, that wasn't the only ace that QM2 holds against Tiberanic though..
The competition with traditional cruise ships wasn't a big deal for Greece. Tiberanic was one very strong ship, much stronger than all cruise ships, there was no competition. But this doesn't include Queen Mary 2. She isn't a cruse ship.
Cunard Line cared a lot about their Queen's prowess, they did not gave up so easily on the competition, and offer to Greece a large amount of money to purchase Tiberanic's build plans, to see with their own eyes if Tiberanic was a match for their queen, but Greece rejected their offer. They put so much love on Tiberanic the last two years with research and development, to give up their secrets so easily to any other.
But Cunard did not stop there. Oh no they did not. 2 months after the 1st rejection, Cunard Line offered something harder to just pass on. They offered a larger amount of money and a chance to work alongside Cunard Line in the future. This would ensure Tiberanic's success and future and NOT under Cunard's name! Tiberanic would still hold her own name without any other owner than Greece and Piraeus.
The mayor asked for some time to think about it, and arranged another meeting with the people that were working on Tiberanic.
The mayor could not hide his excitement, it was a great offer. No one would be stupid enough to reject something like this! Furthermore, the ship will still remain under Greek ownership, without anything added other than a flag with Cunard's Line logo on Tiberanic's 1st mast, and that was it. The mayor will still have the right to add a Greek flag, a flag with an ass, a flag with a donkey making out with a dog, or any other flag he wanted on the ship.
It was a hard decision, some agreed, some didn't, and others asked for a couple of weeks to thing about it. It was Tiberanic's future they were talking about. They couldn't reject an offer like this, just like that. Something that was ensuring a stable future for the ship was a big deal.
Of course the mayor was against it, but he wanted a fair voting with everyone, to make one final fair decision. Even if he likes it or not. But thankfully, he wasn't the only one against this offer.
The competition with traditional cruise ships wasn't a big deal for Greece. Tiberanic was one very strong ship, much stronger than all cruise ships, there was no competition. But this doesn't include Queen Mary 2. She isn't a cruse ship.
Cunard Line cared a lot about their Queen's prowess, they did not gave up so easily on the competition, and offer to Greece a large amount of money to purchase Tiberanic's build plans, to see with their own eyes if Tiberanic was a match for their queen, but Greece rejected their offer. They put so much love on Tiberanic the last two years with research and development, to give up their secrets so easily to any other.
But Cunard did not stop there. Oh no they did not. 2 months after the 1st rejection, Cunard Line offered something harder to just pass on. They offered a larger amount of money and a chance to work alongside Cunard Line in the future. This would ensure Tiberanic's success and future and NOT under Cunard's name! Tiberanic would still hold her own name without any other owner than Greece and Piraeus.
The mayor asked for some time to think about it, and arranged another meeting with the people that were working on Tiberanic.
The mayor could not hide his excitement, it was a great offer. No one would be stupid enough to reject something like this! Furthermore, the ship will still remain under Greek ownership, without anything added other than a flag with Cunard's Line logo on Tiberanic's 1st mast, and that was it. The mayor will still have the right to add a Greek flag, a flag with an ass, a flag with a donkey making out with a dog, or any other flag he wanted on the ship.
It was a hard decision, some agreed, some didn't, and others asked for a couple of weeks to thing about it. It was Tiberanic's future they were talking about. They couldn't reject an offer like this, just like that. Something that was ensuring a stable future for the ship was a big deal.
Of course the mayor was against it, but he wanted a fair voting with everyone, to make one final fair decision. Even if he likes it or not. But thankfully, he wasn't the only one against this offer.
Ocean liner heritage, and modern cruise ship standards
Ships of the old golden age of ocean liners were really beautiful with serious attention to detail. Back in the 18th century sea was the only way to travel from the one continent to the other. One after the other, ocean liner companies were in a serious competition. They started small (small as 100m ships, small) and skyrocketed really fast!
Titanic for example was 269m long when she launched, easily the biggest ocean liner of it's time. Beating the previous biggest ocean liner (RMS Lusitania) by 29 whole meters! So you can understand that ships of that era were advancing really fast.
Companies eased up in ship size around the beginning of the 19th century, and the next step to advance was passenger accommodations.
Back then passengers were being separated by class. Rich people on ocean liners were being treated like royalty, because they were in fact, royal. From big company bosses to really successful filmmakers and actors, all were eager to travel on ocean liners. So ocean liner companies made their ships ultra luxurious as well!
From perfect wooden, carefully detailed walls with golden accents, to big suites and cabins. Easily rival even top tier 5 star hotels of the time! Ocean liners back then were no joke. A LOT of money was being spend on their creation, because rich passengers back then had really high standards.
Apart from luxurious, these ships were strong as well. Their purpose was to take you from one point to the other as fast as possible, no matter the weather conditions, so they were being built like tanks.
Because ship accidents weren't as rare as nowadays, the ships had to be able to take a beating. And we are talking about serious beating. From huge tidal waves that could slam you from any direction during a storm, to a serious crash on another ship, or iceberg.
Ships were being built in compartments (think it like a big lego creation) and each compartment could seal itself, if water finds a way to get in it. It seals itself with doors so water will be locked in that one compartment, and won't be able to sink the ship. Ships could survive with 2,3 and even 4 of these watertight compartments breached, and still be able to get to the next port.
Ships were really hard back then because the times were difficult.., and our mayor was a big fan of these ships. He was sinked into the ocean liner history, but he knew it was history. Ships don't have to be built like tanks anymore..
Titanic for example was 269m long when she launched, easily the biggest ocean liner of it's time. Beating the previous biggest ocean liner (RMS Lusitania) by 29 whole meters! So you can understand that ships of that era were advancing really fast.
Companies eased up in ship size around the beginning of the 19th century, and the next step to advance was passenger accommodations.
Back then passengers were being separated by class. Rich people on ocean liners were being treated like royalty, because they were in fact, royal. From big company bosses to really successful filmmakers and actors, all were eager to travel on ocean liners. So ocean liner companies made their ships ultra luxurious as well!
From perfect wooden, carefully detailed walls with golden accents, to big suites and cabins. Easily rival even top tier 5 star hotels of the time! Ocean liners back then were no joke. A LOT of money was being spend on their creation, because rich passengers back then had really high standards.
Apart from luxurious, these ships were strong as well. Their purpose was to take you from one point to the other as fast as possible, no matter the weather conditions, so they were being built like tanks.
Because ship accidents weren't as rare as nowadays, the ships had to be able to take a beating. And we are talking about serious beating. From huge tidal waves that could slam you from any direction during a storm, to a serious crash on another ship, or iceberg.
Ships were being built in compartments (think it like a big lego creation) and each compartment could seal itself, if water finds a way to get in it. It seals itself with doors so water will be locked in that one compartment, and won't be able to sink the ship. Ships could survive with 2,3 and even 4 of these watertight compartments breached, and still be able to get to the next port.
Ships were really hard back then because the times were difficult.., and our mayor was a big fan of these ships. He was sinked into the ocean liner history, but he knew it was history. Ships don't have to be built like tanks anymore..
Modern cruise ship standards
Let me introduce you to what the mayor calls "huge atrocities".
The modern ships are huge, and the Greeks knew that this wasn't in their agenda. Not that they didn't have the money to do that (Greece had a big funding from many around the globe), but that wouldn't do the trumble they were looking for.
The only thing the mayor liked about these ships was their accommodations. Huge spaces that were awesome to look at.., and that was it. He knew that modern ships are not strong, he knew that they weren't built like the historical ocean liners. It's worth mentioning that cruise ships generally avoid bad weather and storms, again, because they don't have to get in to these. Cruise ships take safe seas in order to offer the best possible cruise experience. And here is what the mayor hated about these ships. The fact that they were actively avoiding to offer an actual ship experience. Again, Greeks wanted to take the "Cruise ship" label and prove everyone wrong.
Tiberanic will be a cruise ship, but with a huge emphasis on older ocean liner standards, effectively blurring the line between ocean liners and cruise ships. She will be the strongest and safest ship in history, and also the most entertaining one.
Tiberanic will be the first ship to have a full amusement park on it! Greeks were after young people, so amusement was in their priorities. This park will have everything from bumper cars, horror rooms and crazy rides, to a freaking 40 meter tall tower! It wasn't just "let's put a few games in there and call it an amusement park", it was going to be the full amusement park experience! And this will be the ships main attraction. Other cruise ships have planetariums, theatres and swimming pools (Tiberanic has all of these as well), but Greeks wanted to bring something new to the table.
The only thing the mayor liked about these ships was their accommodations. Huge spaces that were awesome to look at.., and that was it. He knew that modern ships are not strong, he knew that they weren't built like the historical ocean liners. It's worth mentioning that cruise ships generally avoid bad weather and storms, again, because they don't have to get in to these. Cruise ships take safe seas in order to offer the best possible cruise experience. And here is what the mayor hated about these ships. The fact that they were actively avoiding to offer an actual ship experience. Again, Greeks wanted to take the "Cruise ship" label and prove everyone wrong.
Tiberanic will be a cruise ship, but with a huge emphasis on older ocean liner standards, effectively blurring the line between ocean liners and cruise ships. She will be the strongest and safest ship in history, and also the most entertaining one.
Tiberanic will be the first ship to have a full amusement park on it! Greeks were after young people, so amusement was in their priorities. This park will have everything from bumper cars, horror rooms and crazy rides, to a freaking 40 meter tall tower! It wasn't just "let's put a few games in there and call it an amusement park", it was going to be the full amusement park experience! And this will be the ships main attraction. Other cruise ships have planetariums, theatres and swimming pools (Tiberanic has all of these as well), but Greeks wanted to bring something new to the table.
So, while the mayor didn't like these ships because of their uninspiring design and lack of strength, he wanted his to be an actual cruise ship. Offering everything that makes a cruise ship great, without their disadvantages.
So the only one that could actually compete with Tiberanic, was an actual ocean liner. And the Queen Mary 2 was one.., and the best one in history as well. So yes Cunard Line did ask for proof, to see what's this Tiberanic is all about. So far the only thing that Greeks were was talk and more talk. No ship design news, no actual ship news in general.
But Greece really had something here. It's just that they wanted everything about it to be a secret, until they were ready to show things. So with Cunard's pushing Greece finally responded. Only it was public.., and one that made a big wave in the business!
So the only one that could actually compete with Tiberanic, was an actual ocean liner. And the Queen Mary 2 was one.., and the best one in history as well. So yes Cunard Line did ask for proof, to see what's this Tiberanic is all about. So far the only thing that Greeks were was talk and more talk. No ship design news, no actual ship news in general.
But Greece really had something here. It's just that they wanted everything about it to be a secret, until they were ready to show things. So with Cunard's pushing Greece finally responded. Only it was public.., and one that made a big wave in the business!
The big "NO"
The voting is done, the agony raises and mayor says the big NO to Cunard Line and their offer in public in front of people and TV reporters.
"NO! Greece is only just a few steps before being all famous again with our very own Royal Greek Cruise Ship Tiberanic, the best ship in the world! Cunard Line maybe has the means and the money to purchase the entire world but NEVER something that Greece owns, period!" |
This speech within hours was already in dozens of websites throughout the world and Cunard Line soon got the message. The announcement of Tiberanic was the next day's major new, TV news worldwide shared the news very soon, as well as numerous radio podcasts, newspapers, magazines.. you name it!
Cunard line soon replied to this, but instead of building a competition with Greece, their reply was more that welcome!
"Touche Greece, touche. So bring your Greek titan to the seas. Let him stand tall and strong alongside our Queen (if he can). Remind everyone that heritage and strength are more than just colorful swimming parks and weak ships.
We look forward to see Tiberanic's four funnels in the seas".
Greeks reply was just a simple "Game on :)"
So Cunard line ended up being an ally, and a foe at the same time. Only Greece and England had the toughest ships, so a friendly competition, and friendship was created between them. Unexpected, but welcome for Greece.
Within a couple of weeks everyone knew that the rumors about the Greek cruise ship were real and the mayor's rejection was a shocking new.
Illegally, a few adventurous people managed to take a few photos of Tiberanic and publish them online in many websites..
"Tiberanic was indeed one pure, breathtaking diamond"
"Touche Greece, touche. So bring your Greek titan to the seas. Let him stand tall and strong alongside our Queen (if he can). Remind everyone that heritage and strength are more than just colorful swimming parks and weak ships.
We look forward to see Tiberanic's four funnels in the seas".
Greeks reply was just a simple "Game on :)"
So Cunard line ended up being an ally, and a foe at the same time. Only Greece and England had the toughest ships, so a friendly competition, and friendship was created between them. Unexpected, but welcome for Greece.
Within a couple of weeks everyone knew that the rumors about the Greek cruise ship were real and the mayor's rejection was a shocking new.
Illegally, a few adventurous people managed to take a few photos of Tiberanic and publish them online in many websites..
"Tiberanic was indeed one pure, breathtaking diamond"
By the beginning of the next year many people were already visiting Piraeus port because they wanted to take a look at Tiberanic, but the area that the ship was being built was off limits to the public and that was making things somehow difficult (only a few managed to pass unnoticed and enter the restricted area, but they were experienced on this, and were hiding).
It wasn't a surprise to the mayor that this was happening, he didn't really care because Tiberanic was already known around the globe.
The days were passing and the ship was already visible from outside the port because of her tall funnels and her huge ass stern! The funnels were taller than the port's clock tower, which was 58 meters tall.. it was something impressive to the people that were passing by, they were even taking photos of her glory.
It wasn't a surprise to the mayor that this was happening, he didn't really care because Tiberanic was already known around the globe.
The days were passing and the ship was already visible from outside the port because of her tall funnels and her huge ass stern! The funnels were taller than the port's clock tower, which was 58 meters tall.. it was something impressive to the people that were passing by, they were even taking photos of her glory.
The ship was that beautiful and not only the mayor was all proud for her, but everyone that was seeing her there was feeling the same.. and Tiberanic started to become Piraeus main attraction thanks to the media, and the Greeks sharing photos.
Soon Greece released more news, but the most important of all was the all waited date for Tiberanic's launch. And of course, the news about the event went worldwide within days and all the major ship lines show interest on this.
Soon Greece released more news, but the most important of all was the all waited date for Tiberanic's launch. And of course, the news about the event went worldwide within days and all the major ship lines show interest on this.
Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Corporation & plc,
Seaborn Criuse Line, Cunard Line, P&O Princess Cruises as well as many other not so famous lines got invitations for next year
to attend this historical event of the Royal Greek Cruise Tiberanic, the best ship in the world in her home
Pireaus to touch the sea for her first time! The mayor was now certain that his wish was now a reality!
And the world will know who is the boss in marine and fresh ideas,
Tiberanic has born! And she will be the master of the seas!
Seaborn Criuse Line, Cunard Line, P&O Princess Cruises as well as many other not so famous lines got invitations for next year
to attend this historical event of the Royal Greek Cruise Tiberanic, the best ship in the world in her home
Pireaus to touch the sea for her first time! The mayor was now certain that his wish was now a reality!
And the world will know who is the boss in marine and fresh ideas,
Tiberanic has born! And she will be the master of the seas!