whitsmom Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 I just read on a Cruise Critic message board that the Majesty of the Seas will not be getting the water slides and DreamWorks Experience. I am so disappointed as we are booked for August 1st and taking our 8 & 10 years old granddaughters and they were so excited to have those features. Why did they elect to leave those off of the upgrades? MNatoshaMt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 I reached out to RC to get confirmation. DocLC and whitsmom 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 You are correct. Matt just posted this: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/01/18/royal-caribbean-scales-back-majesty-of-the-seas-refurbishment-plans#.Vp2s2kCWEGA.delicious Disappointing as the changes really would have brought the Majesty in line with the rest of the fleet. I wonder if it proved to be too cost prohibitive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 I wonder if it proved to be too cost prohibitive? We may never know the why behind the change. There are a multitude of factors that the public will never be shown. We can certainly speculate about what it could be, but I am not certain we will ever know the real answer. This is odd in that they had announced the changes and then rolled it back. Then again, RC changed their minds on expanding Dynamic Dining too. DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 There are going to be a lot of disappointed people. Let's be honest, most ppl who booked Majesty was strictly for/because of the the refurbish details....and nothing else. To advertise, promote, take bookings and then just say NAH, we won't bother to do that now is not a great way to conduct a customer driven business. While I know its not past the final payment date for any of those cruises, so customers can cancel and get full refunds that is not the point. Many would have potentially booked flights, hotels, time off work etc to plan this vacation. While some things are beyond control, this is just a decision that RCI made obviously based on their best interests not the customers. Glad I didn't join the rush to book.... Now, I wonder what changes they may decide to not make with Empress now that they have lots of bookings confirmed with that ship as well....hmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 From a PR perspective, this is really a complete DISASTER. These recent whiplash changes (PRICEY refurbs to Oasis and Allure in preparation for DD and then changing their mind - completely wasteful....Quantum is going to NYC ! YAY ! Oh...nevermind, we're sending her to CHINA instead and we're ripping up and redesigning this BRAND NEW ship !!!! Majesty in - Majesty out - Majesty in and promised refurbs -oops...never mind...let's bring an old ship back (Empress) after we have already purged her...on and on...) just SCREAMS POOR STRATEGIC MANAGMENT. The fact that we don't (and never will) receive any kind of explanation only adds to the problem. As montocguy suggests, it leaves the customers wondering whether they can trust anything that RCI promises. RCI has already made some pretty sketchy price increases that have put a lot of cruisers off...and this kind of betrayal is producing a lot of very bad press...and confusion...and mistrust. Sometimes ya just gotta suck it up and follow through with your plans even if it costs ya a few bucks. Disappointing management decision. VERY bad. ...and it is making me VERY uncomfortable about my plans to cruise on the Empress in April. If I haven't heard something to confirm that they are going to follow through on those refurbs I may well cancel Empress before final payment. Adam P. and DocLC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 I agree that a lot of RC's decisions and then changes in decisions tend not to sit well with guests in the short term. I suspect they are looking long-term and trying to make the best decisions they can, with the info they have at that time. I commend them for admitting mistakes and trying to rectify them, at the risk of PR blunders. Case and point is DD when they realized it was not a good plan for the fleet and changed their minds. I know sometimes management can be stubborn about decisions like that and stay the course even when it is clearly not a good idea anymore. All of that being said, I definitely understand the frustration of cruisers who plan around things and then must change. No one wants that to happen to them. At the end of the day, Royal Caribbean is a business and they are in business to make money. They will make more money by having satisfied and happy customers, but they also need to respect their bottom line even at the risk of offending some customers who were told one thing earlier and then changed. In short, it's complicated but both sides have good points to raise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam P. Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 From a PR perspective, this is really a complete DISASTER. These recent whiplash changes (PRICEY refurbs to Oasis and Allure in preparation for DD and then changing their mind - completely wasteful....Quantum is going to NYC ! YAY ! Oh...nevermind, we're sending her to CHINA instead and we're ripping up and redesigning this BRAND NEW ship !!!! Majesty in - Majesty out - Majesty in and promised refurbs -oops...never mind...let's bring an old ship back (Empress) after we have already purged her...on and on...) just SCREAMS POOR STRATEGIC MANAGMENT. The fact that we don't (and never will) receive any kind of explanation only adds to the problem. As montocguy suggests, it leaves the customers wondering whether they can trust anything that RCI promises. RCI has already made some pretty sketchy price increases that have put a lot of cruisers off...and this kind of betrayal is producing a lot of very bad press...and confusion...and mistrust. Sometimes ya just gotta suck it up and follow through with your plans even if it costs ya a few bucks. Disappointing management decision. VERY bad. ...and it is making me VERY uncomfortable about my plans to cruise on the Empress in April. If I haven't heard something to confirm that they are going to follow through on those refurbs I may well cancel Empress before final payment. Well said.... I have also had my heart skip a few beats wondering about if they will follow through with the Empress refurb now... I'm on that same cruise April 11th but will also be on the April 7th sailing so my final payment date is even a bit sooner..... This all makes me nervous, which is sad that us, as their most loyal clients, have to be worried about such things. BIG fail RCI! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Always better from a PR standpoint to under promise and over delivery than to over promise and under deliver. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Amen to that DocLC!! Interesting to see what happens to Majesty bookings as a result....and will hold my breath on Empress. That being said, Empress had some very good pricing, it has some nice itinerary's and the fact it came back to the fleet will keep those bookings high I think. DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderknite Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 Do we think that Majesty will have refreshed/refurbed rooms? This is what it says on my reservation for May 30: Bahamas bound guests will enjoy a newly remodeled pool deck, expanded Day Spa & Fitness Center, plus tastefully refurbished staterooms, featuring luxurious bedding and eye-popping flat-screen TVs and more. And of course, there's still the Bahamas powdery beaches and crystal clear water to look forward to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderknite Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I guess they've had a change of heart on the water slides? The ships page has been updated to reflect the following: "It's time to ditch ordinary vacations - and discover extraordinary in paradise. The ultimate family vacation, with thrills for adventurers of all kinds, and all ages. The new Majesty of the Seas has been made over from bow to stern to offer more splashes, more excitement, and more family fun. Kids can have fun by the gallon at the new Splashaway Bay aqua park, and catch a movie at the new poolside movie screen. Plus there's more to do with your time away from the kids too. Like casino action at a fully reimagined Casino Royale, and updated venues and bars. And you can share every moment with VOOMSM, the fastest Internet at sea. All while sailing to our exclusive island - CocoCay - where you can unwind a private cabana, or discover even more ways to play at the floating aqua park." Cite: Royal Caribbean International - Majesty of the Seas. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?shipClassCode=SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I guess they've had a change of heart on the water slides? The ships page has been updated to reflect the following: "It's time to ditch ordinary vacations - and discover extraordinary in paradise. The ultimate family vacation, with thrills for adventurers of all kinds, and all ages. The new Majesty of the Seas has been made over from bow to stern to offer more splashes, more excitement, and more family fun. Kids can have fun by the gallon at the new Splashaway Bay aqua park, and catch a movie at the new poolside movie screen. Plus there's more to do with your time away from the kids too. Like casino action at a fully reimagined Casino Royale, and updated venues and bars. And you can share every moment with VOOMSM, the fastest Internet at sea. All while sailing to our exclusive island - CocoCay - where you can unwind a private cabana, or discover even more ways to play at the floating aqua park." Cite: Royal Caribbean International - Majesty of the Seas. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?shipClassCode=SS Ironically, they still show a water slide in the picture next to the mention of the aqua park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Yeah, I see that in the rendering....but they don't mention it at all in the verbiage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 We confirmed last month Majesty's refurb was being scaled back: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/01/18/royal-caribbean-scales-back-majesty-of-the-seas-refurbishment-plans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderknite Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 We confirmed last month Majesty's refurb was being scaled back: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/01/18/royal-caribbean-scales-back-majesty-of-the-seas-refurbishment-plans The Majesty of the Seas page reflected the scaled back plans prior to the latest update. This update to the ships page is fairly recent, as in a week or so. The rendering of the slides is new as well, as is the rendering of the ship in the water. It shows the blue and yellow Royal Caribbean logo on the stern, that I am not sure is there currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 The Majesty of the Seas page reflected the scaled back plans prior to the latest update. This update to the ships page is fairly recent, as in a week or so. The rendering of the slides is new as well, as is the rendering of the ship in the water. It shows the blue and yellow Royal Caribbean logo on the stern, that I am not sure is there currently. Ha, imagine if RCCL's next update is, "LOL JK, we're putting slides on." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Ha, imagine if RCCL's next update is, "LOL JK, we're putting slides on." I would love it if they did go with that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 That wouldn't surprise me in the least. Sometimes I don't think they have a CLUE what they're doing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Actually... just looking at this again, I bet the picture of the water slide was referring to some kind of mini-slide for kids they'd put in the water park (similar to something I saw in a tour of Brilliance), rather than the slides that just got put in on Liberty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Actually... just looking at this again, I bet the picture of the water slide was referring to some kind of mini-slide for kids they'd put in the water park (similar to something I saw in a tour of Brilliance), rather than the slides that just got put in on Liberty. That's a good possibility and that thought crossed my mind, too. However, this would be the first water play area with a slide outside of the dedicated kids pool on the Radiance class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderknite Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 In the verbage it is specified as a Splashaway Bay. The same that have been installed on the new Oasis and Liberty if I'm not mistaken. I also noticed they've dropped the idea of two new hot tubs/whirlpool. Thunderknite 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 While many like and love this ship it just doesn't fit in with the current branding, marketing, and direction of RCI. I'm sure they looked at the numbers and it is all about the numbers....by the numbers it is time to replace this ship. With so many new ships coming I'm sure we will soon see a large more modern ship replacing Majesty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderknite Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 I agree. I think these smaller ships will stick around for another 5-10 years though. There is a market for the smaller more intimate ships. Maybe not with RCI but in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 I think the smaller ships will stay in the fleet for some time as the larger ships are yet able to dock at as many ports. This is particularly true for some of the more exotic itineraries. KLA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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