Zambia-Zaire

Well the thing is...it was said that O5 would not port in the Caribbean...which leads to the idea, its home port may be out of the thread title.

Royal may be in the process as we speak, if not a topic of discussing, parting ways & replacing it with another named venue.

@CGTLH you're right...interesting....wonder what's going there if DL is now on 4?

The Diamond Lounge is moving to the 4th deck...have not heard that mentioned. That space must be where the new teen area is being located. Actually, looks like where Porkside BBQ is located vs being Wonderland.

The space where Hook's is located on Symphony was empty space above the Bristo on the other Oasis class ships. On Symphony, that level was built or added, to occupy/use that empty space...I imagine they will add/bulid that level onto Oasis & probably Allure, as Porkside BBQ....as was done with Hook's Seafood on Symphony.

"Cats" has ran its course...time to move on to something better. Very fond of the Caribbean style resort area and Coconut & Lime Bar additions, as it is on Navigator OTS. Not to fun of Abyss; but, kool with it...helps spread the activities & congestion around the ship. Wish they could update the zipline to go around the back-half of the ship, around Windjammer, using rollers so it can curve around vs cables & a straight line, short ride, pattern. I really enjoyed Dazzles...the Music Hall on Anthem was fun too...so it's the best of both worlds. Wife will be thrilled of the BBQ joint...hopefully, Royal come up with a different them on each Oasis Class Ship...seafood on Symphony & Harmony, pork on Oasis & Allure, whatever on O5 & O6. ?

Hmmm....the Music Hall does appear to be replacing Dazzles & it looks like the stairs to the second level may be moved to the entrance, allowing more room for the stage & dance area. I guess Diamond Club stays, given no mentioning of Wonderland. Think the Bionic Bar will be a waste of space...would love for that to be the new Bamboo Lounge.

Lengthening of Enchantment or any previous ship, that was done, was part of the refurbishment, for that ship, regardless of cruiseline... which has been several. Royal has done it a few times, Enchantment was the last they've done. I don't think anyone suggesting it should or should not be done. I've simply asked what ship would anyone like to see extended. The extension proved to add not only more cabin, but a few additional venues as well...which add to the overall enjoyment of the ship, versus the original. More is always better, in this case. The post got hi-Jack from just a fun little thought, to how it not cost effective, when it apparently was...enough to be considered a success.

@RCVoyager, you readily admit you don't know if any of that is true...that's all conjecture on your part. I'm going off what is actually stated, from what I read. That's a difference vs anyone's feeling/think what is the case.

@twangster, where are you getting this notion of cost overruns...from everything I gather, they finish the extension ahead of schedule and on budget? Apparently, the only reason royal didn't proceed further with the remaining Vision Class Ships, because of budgetary reasons involving the orders for Oasis class ship & Freedom Class ships that was currently, at the time, being built. If orders for the Oasis class ships would have come later, Grandeur OTS was next in line to be extended to a similar retrofit.

From what I understand, they drop plans to extend the others, in the Vision Class because of the future contract order for the 1st Oasis Class which started to be built two years later in Nov 2007. Couple that with 3 Freedom Class ships(Freedom OTS being less than a year from completion) & Liberty OTS set to start being built, and a contract signed for Indy. Royal pull back it's ambitious plans for extension of Vision Class ship, which Enchantment OTS was deemed a success & was not Royal 1st attempt at extending a ship length. They have done it before & Enchantment was the fourth ship Royal have extended.

Should some ships be considered for lengthening? What ships would you like to see lengthen & by how much? Several ships has been extremely refurbished in such a manner. One of the most well known ship many here would be familiar with is Enchantment of the Seas. At $55-60 million, in January of 2005, Enchantment OTS grew 73 feet longer & added 2500 tons, while only losing 0.2 nautical miles in speed. Bet Boleros and Ben & Jerry's was ecstatic about that. ? For more information on the whole process, here the link & an interesting read I must say, for those interested to learn more. https://www.vacationstogo.com/articles/cruise_articles_Stretching_Ship.cfm

I fail to see how Brexit is the reason Rccl is pulling Indy out of SH. I've been cruising since 2007 & have only cruised Rccl & Norwegian. Since 2014, I have noticed how not only has Royal prices been increasing fairly steady by no huge amount, imo; but, the cost of many of the onboarding prices as well as reductions in perks & the pushing of products & packaging. Now I certainly contribute this to their Amp-Up investments. They have known long before 2018 of their Amping investments plans & have been pricing according in increments. That's the price of paying for Mega-ships, new & Amped private islands, amped ships live Mariner/Navigator and more to come, as well as the New Icon LNG technology, plus whatever bells & whistles that comes with all of that. As far as Indy moving...it simple to me, given, Indy(a Freedom class ship) is a warm weather ship compared to Anthem which is built for either climate. Sales are truly down in the SH arena, because of the exorbitant prices, given credence that both ships currently in that market, at Rccl cost, is not feasible...so one ship had to be moved to booming region that hope to cash in on the new amp private island...like sales of some of the recent amped ship. Rccl will continue this business model, because of the huge investments made on their overall Amped-Up Program...higher cost and nickle & diming is to be expected; and, as long as they continue to roll out the mega-ships(170,000+ ton), don't expect them to be customer friendly anytime soon. We all are paying for the latest & greatest and until Norwegian, Carnival, MSC, Virgin start rolling & increasing the competition for the latest & greatest, Rccl will continue cornering the market.

Well if looking at capacity per week, on average, base on a 7D cruise(I know all cruises are not 7 days)...that about 83,150 cruisers a week, not at max, on all available ships. Cowboys or Giants stadium has about as many fans at any given Sunday, on one day for one game. Keep in mind, not all of the 83,150 total cruisers, are cruising the U.S. I honestly don't see a possible issue with filling ships, if adding more vessels to the U.S. market. I'm pretty sure Royal is not considering flagging a Vision Class ship solely for the Hawaiian market; but, I sure wish they would. I'm sure there is a possible reduction in revenue; otherwise, they may have done it by now...however, I'm sure money can be made up with additional U.S. & Intl sailing, if not equal to or better than, one of there current lower renue sailing.

Personally...my gut feeling, it will be based in Australia

@twangster how is the South American Market? Could they move Anthem or Ovation to SA's mild/cold regions equivalent to the New York south to Bermuda/Bahamas route...for an example Santiago, Lima, a port or private island of Ecuador, or on the East coast of SA, from Buenos Aries, Montevideo, north to a port or private island in the Southern Caribbean(I know there isn't any private island in SA currently...just thinking of an article I read a number of months back, about RCCL intent on building several new private areas along new & existing routes)?

Be nice if the sail: Seattle to Ensenada Or Vancouver to San Diego/LA

A retractable rail zipline that goes around the whole outside of the ship, starting at slightly more starboard of its original location around the ship, ending on the portside of the boardwalk near to the portside rock-climbing wall. A cascading pool in the Solarium like on Anthem ots. Finally, the ability, at certain hours in the day, to be able to use the Auqa theater pool, for recreation, like the other pools...to relieve or redirect some of the crowd from the other pools.

Central Park by nature, is built to be more of the higher end community versus the other communities, on the Oasis Class Ships.

That would follow suit with Harmony & Symphony; so, there is some precedent. However, I personally would prefer the Bamboo Room...if nothing else, the setting & atmosphere.

Hmmm...ok, I can certainly see that...would anchor the opposite end of Boleros I believe. That may not be a bad idea.

Replacing what....where would they put it? Not sure I see that happening; even though that would be great.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12224650 Small part in the Grand Scheme of things...

Not sure what to think of this....on one hand, it would be great to have an Oasis Class cruise the Pacific; but, I like for it to include Hawaii somehow...be it the Pacific Triangle of Australia to Hawaii, Hawaii to Asia, Asia to Australia, vice-versa or any combination there of.

My wife & I sailed Anthem; for us, we had no issues as far as service is concern. However, concerning MTD, we did witness an older couple with their Daughter & two grandkids, in the reservation line face the confusion in seating as you describe...walking them to the semi-middle of the dining room, and leave them, trying to determine where to seat them. The grandmother expressed her frustration as the attendant desperately scrambled trying to seat them. By the time we were to be seated, one of the escorts commented to the attendant, she was sorry for putting the attendant in that situation, that she's just tired & loss focus essentially. The attendant said she understood, she was tired as well. So I ask, how much personal time do you all get? She stated not much in the last month or so. So, it may just simply be, at that time of your dining, you may have experience possibly, some exhausted workers.