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Royal Caribbean planning major cruise fleet upgrade

In:
11 Jul 2011

Royal Caribbean is planning a spending spree to upgrade its fleet of cruise ships over the next three years to help keeps its older ships competitive in the cruise market.  

This $300 million revitalization called "Royal Advantage", will allow most of its Vision, Voyager and Radiance class vessels to get a series of upgrades including

  • Restaurants from Oasis Class of ships
    • Chops Grille steakhouse
    • Rita's Cantina Mexican restaurants
    • Izumi Restaurant (sushi)
    • Chops Grille (Steak house)
    • Park Café (sandwiches and salads)
    • Boardwalk Doghouse (brats and wieners)
  • New cabin designs
  • Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
  • Wi-fi throughout ship
  • Digital Wayfinding Systems
  • Oversized LED video screens on pool decks

There's more planned but no details are available quite yet.  These changes sound quite similar to the changes that have already been made to ships such as Radiance of the Seas mostly recently.

These overhauls will require each ship to enter into a lengthy drydock process where the ship will get its upgrades.  The schedule of upgrades are as follows

  1. Splendour of the Seas - November 2011
  2. Rhapsody of the Seas - March 2012
  3. Grandeur of the Seas - May 2012
  4. Serenade of the Seas - November 2012
  5. Legend of the Seas - 2013 or 2014
  6. Vision of the Seas - 2013 or 2014
  7. Navigator of the Seas - 2013 or 2014
  8. Voyager of the Seas - 2013 or 2014
  9. Explorer of the Seas - 2013 or 2014
  10. Adventure of the Seas - 2013 or 2014
  11. Brilliance of the Seas - 2013 or 2014

We know that the overhaul for Splendour, Grandeur and Serenade of the Seas will take place in Cadiz, Spain after Royal Caribbean signed a deal to have those ships rehauled there last month.

Royal Caribbean also mentioned that Independence of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas will receive smaller, less significant upgrades.

Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein is excited about the changes that will help keep the cruise line competitive, "The Royal Advantage revitalizations takes many of the best features that we have created in recent years and introduces them across our fleet, offering our guests enhanced vacation choices around the world."

Royal Caribbean to overhaul two more ships in 2011

In:
08 Nov 2010

Two more ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet will receive upgrades in 2011.  Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas will receive ship wide enhancements.

Radiance of the Seas will enter dry dock in mid-2011 and will add a Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse as well as a Mexican-themed restaurant caled Rita's Cantina.  Both restaurants will debut on Allure of the Seas later this month.  In addition, Radiance will get a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program members, a Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, interactive flat-panel televisions in all cabins, and wireless Internet throughout the ship.

Splendour of the Seas will recieve the same upgrades that Radiance has, which includes the two new specialty restaurants, the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, a new Diamond and Concierge Lounge, flat-panel televisions in every cabin, and wireless Internet throughout the ship, as well as adding new balcony cabins to Splendour of the Seas and also enhance select cabins and public areas, including the Windjammer Marketplace.

Also receiving updates in 2011 are Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas

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