Zambia-Zaire

Maybe well pass time to let Majesty go & replace it with something new. RCL may start to cannibalize itself as more & more people are becoming more & more attracted to the latest & greatest mega ships & ignore some of the smaller ships who offer much less, for a price that some passengers may deem not worth it.
A newer class of smaller ships, could offer much more & help cement more, Royal's leadership & innovation, in the world cruise industry, imho.

Not sure all ships(RCCL or industry wide) should be non-smoking compliant; I'm not a smoker myself & consider it a bad choice by those who do. However, if smoking on ships never become a banned activity, I wish certain measure would be considered, if possible.
One being better ventilation in the casino area of the ship...a much more better ventilation system I have experienced this far.
Another being creating a smoking are on the top deck of ship, maybe areas surround the exhaust stacks of ships...creating an area comparable to a sundeck, primarily for smokers...keeping the smoking area presently on ship I have cruised, away from pool area that patrons both young/old, adult/child, have to navigate through.
I'm sure their other ways, to not impede, on smokers ability, to partake, in their habit, while provide a much more conducive atmosphere for their non-smoker patrons & employees.

When the Panama Canal announced the project to expand the Panama Canal for larger ships it created a new trend in shipping.  The neo or Post-Panamax standard was developed for super sized ships that couldn't fit through the original Panama Canal.  The original Panama Canal can only handle ships built to the Panamax standard.
When the new Panama Canal expansion project was announced ports around the Northern hemisphere all realized they needed to expand and grow to accommodate the new super sized cargo, container and tanker ships that would be looking for ports to drop their goods.  This spawned a race among larger ports to be ready for the Post-Panamax vessels for if they didn't they would be forgotten and ignored by the shipping industry.
This includes the Port of Miami who had to deal with their relatively narrow and shallow channel and harbor that ships use to reach the port docks.
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/Navigation-Projects/Miami-Harbor-Deepening/
The work to make the Port of Miami ready was completed in 2015 just nine months before the new Panama Canal locks opened for Post-Panamax vessel traffic.
Had the Port not deepend the channel and harbor Oasis class ships would not be able to visit or home port in the Port of Miami.    
And so it is not inaccurate to say that we can all enjoy Oasis class ships home porting in the Port of Miami and the beautiful new Crown of Miami terminal because of the Panama Canal and specifically the neo-Panamax shipping standard that spawned from its recent expansion.  

Just confirm via RCCL! ALLURE OF THE SEAS Galveston dates to be released later today! WOOOOHOOOO!

It has to be! 😃

We spent a week at an all-inclusive resort on Antigua this spring. We felt safe and found several tours to get a better feel for the local culture and history. WE wandered freely in the towns and some tourist areas. Being a history buff, Nelson's dockyard was a great stop for me.
The people and the place are very nice. I don't agree with some of their methods of raising capital, but I guess they do what they must. I am referring to Investment Citizenship. A person invests (Pays) a large sum and the government awards them Antiguan citizenship. This screams of opportunity for abuse.
I like Antigua. We'll go back.

The port recently announced that they have budgeted for the projects that they will do to support the new terminal next year. However the port also said that they expect to sign the final contract by the end of 2019, so it’s not signed yet. Construction would start in April 2020 with an 18 month construction period. That puts completion in late 2021, which was the original schedule. 

My wife & I were photograph three times at Labadee...once with the ship in the backdrop of the mountains & cove, another under a low laying palm tree, and the final one with the zipline subtlely in the backdrop of another set of mountains & sea. Some of the best photos take of us was there...as well as on the spiral staircase, at the Promenade.

Well, Oasis ots has vegetation in Central Park...at first glance, it doesn't appear that Wonder otS Central Park has any...looks more like Tiananmen Square.

I will take it, only if it help my Social Credit Score. 😐

@Zambia-Zaire Well said! I'm gonna give you a RED heart!

I bet there will be only 2 pools on pool deck.  

Well, Oasis ots has vegetation in Central Park...at first glance, it doesn't appear that Wonder otS Central Park has any...looks more like Tiananmen Square.

Well, Oasis ots has vegetation in Central Park...at first glance, it doesn't appear that Wonder otS Central Park has any...looks more like Tiananmen Square.

Day 7 Night
As we make our way along the chain of Hawaiian Islands towards Maui the North Star was empty and they were begging for participants to justify the ride.  Minimum 6-7 was being requested.  So... why not?





Later on my balcony I spotted an old friend... the Milky Way.  We've come far enough South that it's still visible.   It's hard when shooting off the side of the ship given the ship's forward motion so I had to crank up the ISO and shorten the exposure.

Agree

As far as RCI is concern....their 4000 passengers ship would be an Quantum class...assuming Ovation ots. However, this could also suggest a Freedom class ship which capacity is 3800 passengers, if such a ship is being repositioned. Indeed interesting....

Here Are Some Night Time Photos On Harmony Of The Seas. Hope You Enjoy!!

More To Come!!

Apparently, Windstar cruises are planning to stretch a number of ships this month, starting with the Star Breeze, than proceeding on to the Star Legend and Star Pride.
These are smaller more intimate ships...cost expect to be around $250 millions dollars in refurbishments.
 
https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/3509/

@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.

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.

Apparently, Windstar cruises are planning to stretch a number of ships this month, starting with the Star Breeze, than proceeding on to the Star Legend and Star Pride.
These are smaller more intimate ships...cost expect to be around $250 millions dollars in refurbishments.
 
https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/3509/