Zambia-Zaire

I suspect Royal is constantly looking at opportunities to break into new markets or tweak & find new ways, of making past markets more attractive & viable to its bottomline.
One consideration is overnight stays in some major U.S. cities like SF or LA on 7N cruises to/fro Vancouver. Explorer ots have done that in the past...still, with the Amped project in play, this may make things more attractive. Also, a 4N and/or 5N sailing from LA to any Mex port & back may provide a more attractive alternative...same scenario out of San Diego. Finally, maybe invest & creating a private island like at Islas Coronado or Islas de Todos Santos, for an example.
There are ways to increase the viability of the West Coast market imo; no doubt, a huge amount of capital would need to be invested, similar to their Private Island Initiative, they plan to build in certain markets around the world. Dubai have certainly shown how to construct artificial islands...if Royal want to go that route as well.

I suspect Royal is constantly looking at opportunities to break into new markets or tweak & find new ways, of making past markets more attractive & viable to its bottomline.
One consideration is overnight stays in some major U.S. cities like SF or LA on 7N cruises to/fro Vancouver. Explorer ots have done that in the past...still, with the Amped project in play, this may make things more attractive. Also, a 4N and/or 5N sailing from LA to any Mex port & back may provide a more attractive alternative...same scenario out of San Diego. Finally, maybe invest & creating a private island like at Islas Coronado or Islas de Todos Santos, for an example.
There are ways to increase the viability of the West Coast market imo; no doubt, a huge amount of capital would need to be invested, similar to their Private Island Initiative, they plan to build in certain markets around the world. Dubai have certainly shown how to construct artificial islands...if Royal want to go that route as well.

I will gladly pay the $6.70 extra to be able to sail an Oasis Class from Texas  ?

TERMINAL 3 UPDATE: Here is an update on the Galveston Terminal 3 project. This was posted in the Galveston daily News today.
Royal Caribbean and the Port of Galveston signed a memorandum of understanding in December. The port of Galveston trustees approved the deal in January. However, a final lease agreement has not been signed due to unspecified leadership changes at Royal Caribbean.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirms that nothing has changed with their intentions to construct a new,  state-of-the-art, cruise terminal in Galveston, and plans are continuing to move forward. Royal Caribbean has already sent survey crews and divers to inspect the condition of the new terminal site.
The Port Board of Trustees  unanimously approved the spending of $300,000 to begin engineering work to collect physical data of the site, and for pavement work at another location to allow relocating of facilities from the Terminal 3 site to a new location.  This move expresses confidence by the Port of Galveston that the deal will be finalized soon. 
 Passenger fees were increased from $8.30 to $15 per passenger on January 1 of this year. That has generated over $500,000 in new income for the port so far this year. That will help fund the Port’s cost for the new work going into Terminal 3.

"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. ?

Booked Allure for Jan 2020. Wanted to book Oasis because we Knew she would be amped by then but because we could not be assured that cats was no longer going to be playing at that time. Booked a different ship just to avoid Cats lol.

I’m hoping the slides are more like Navigator and less like Harmony. The Navigator slides were a big step up. 

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.

So will I...looking forward to see what the smaller/older ships have to offer. The emphasis have been on the latest & greatest megaships like Oasis, Quantum, & Freedom Class ships. I'm interested to see blogs on the Voyager to smaller class ships like the Radiance class. I want to start sailing these class of ship in the future, in the mist of sailing the latest & greatest.

@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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

I think one thing that could be a boost is overnight itineraries either at private island resorts or major U.S. or Intl cities...or some combination of both, if applicable.
 
Ex: port out of Vancouver, overnight stay in SF or LA. Or if cruising to Hawaii out of Vancouver, an overnight in Honolulu. Or out of Sydney, Australia, overnight stay at a private island resort rumored to be built in the region the same in the caribbean. In Europe, a number of Mediterranean cities for an overnight stay.
Explorer OTS did that once in consecutive weeks, in SF. Be nice to see a lot more of that.

Sabor is done...that's what El Loco Fresh is for...and moved to a good location. If RCCL entertained any thoughts on retaining Sabor or somekind of Sabor Express spinoff(which essentially what ELF is), to preserve a familiar name that RCCL cruisers would know....RCCL would have moved Sabor where ELF is located, call it express; and, ELF wouldn't have ever come into existence. The new name suggest a different type of eatery venue...one that is definitely more express and less bar/lounge as Sabor.

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

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

Oh My...How That Would Be Dream! I know It Won't Happen; But, I Royally(no pun intended) Wish An Oasis Class Ship Could Make A Seasonal Run Up The Cali/Riveara Coastline & A Sailing Or Two, To The South Pacific Thru Hawaii From Southern Cal.
Yeah...It's A Fantasy, I Know. ?

Finally got to Central Park today

SkyPad is no more...so that's one less experience; and again, Nav ots is unique & a one of a kind Refurb...that's what set it apart from Mariner.

So will I...looking forward to see what the smaller/older ships have to offer. The emphasis have been on the latest & greatest megaships like Oasis, Quantum, & Freedom Class ships. I'm interested to see blogs on the Voyager to smaller class ships like the Radiance class. I want to start sailing these class of ship in the future, in the mist of sailing the latest & greatest.

So will I...looking forward to see what the smaller/older ships have to offer. The emphasis have been on the latest & greatest megaships like Oasis, Quantum, & Freedom Class ships. I'm interested to see blogs on the Voyager to smaller class ships like the Radiance class. I want to start sailing these class of ship in the future, in the mist of sailing the latest & greatest.

Symphony does have outside dining at Jamie's but it's more like patio dining to Central Park.