ApexoftheSeas Posted July 3, 2023 Report Share Posted July 3, 2023 Will there be a class of cruise ship bigger than Oasis but smaller than Icon? Will they order more icon-class cruise ships? Will they only have 3 icon-class then order a new bigger class? What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted July 3, 2023 Report Share Posted July 3, 2023 The sizes aren't that much different to try to create something in between tingtang, Xaa and dr martini 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff P Posted July 3, 2023 Report Share Posted July 3, 2023 There’s a thread or part of a thread on here somewhere (I couldn’t find it) that was talking about a new class that had been discussed to replace some of the older smaller ships, but nothing announced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rackham Posted July 3, 2023 Report Share Posted July 3, 2023 More icon-class? I'd be willing to bet on that. Bigger class? Never say never, but I got a feeling Royal's hitting the current ship maximum when it comes to size and passenger count. While larger ships have economies of scale, they do require beefy shoreside support and enough staff to make them work. On back to back, fully booked Oasis sailings, Royal's needing to demebark and embark ~11,200 passengers and their luggage in maybe 12 hours. Refueling the ship and bringing new provisions aboard has to happen. Which means having suppliers who can reliably deliver or provide the shear quantities of food and fuel required. The port has to be able to screen and check-in approx. 5600 people within a narrow window of time. Larger ships will require additional shoreside peeps just to get people aboard in facilities probably not designed to handle that many. Next, the ship needs places to go. There's only so many ports which can handle an Oasis-class ship. Not just with docking, but also with shorex opportunities and things to do with that many people visiting at once (not to mention any other ships in port). asquared17 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanenz84 Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 More Icon-Class - most definitely. I'd say at least 2 or 3 more. I think around 2030 they might have to do some smaller vessels but no smaller than the current Voyager Class i'd say. Something like a RCL take on the Edge-Class could be a possibility. As the Radiance Class & Voyager Class will be approaching 30 years old by then. steverk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 I don't think a size in between would be worth it-- the size difference isn't THAT much that an in between one would make sense. Maybe some new, slightly smaller ones and definitely more Icon ships, that's already in the works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cakemeister Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 Rackham posted this link in another thread. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-ship-orderbook/ It shows Icon 2 and 3 planned for '25 and '26. Once Icon starts sailing next year, they'll make a decision what to build next. Seems to me like they should just amplify Liberty, Allure, and maybe the smaller ships, but maybe they will do that once some of the Covid debt is paid off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erin6112 Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 Royal confirmed Allure is going into dry dock for a couple of months beginning of 2025 if they don’t amplify her at that time I’m not sure how popular the ship would be do the main summer season in Europe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan79 Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 What would be the point of a ship class between Oasis and Icon, when those are already close in size? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXcruzer Posted July 4, 2023 Report Share Posted July 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Ryan79 said: What would be the point of a ship class between Oasis and Icon, when those are already close in size? no point at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexoftheSeas Posted July 11, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 How many Icon class do you think they will make? 3? 6? 10? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper44 Posted July 11, 2023 Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 14 minutes ago, ApexoftheSeas said: How many Icon class do you think they will make? 3? 6? 10? Based on nothing more than the pattern of previous classes, I feel like it's safe to assume that another batch of 3 Icons will be ordered a few years down the road from now, maybe 6-10 years behind the first batch. But that's assuming a lot of things will stay the same… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexoftheSeas Posted July 11, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 13 minutes ago, Thumper44 said: Based on nothing more than the pattern of previous classes, I feel like it's safe to assume that another batch of 3 Icons will be ordered a few years down the road from now, maybe 6-10 years behind the first batch. But that's assuming a lot of things will stay the same… Do you think a new class could be ordered to fill the gap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rackham Posted July 11, 2023 Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 2 hours ago, ApexoftheSeas said: Do you think a new class could be ordered to fill the gap? With one step down in sizing, Royal has the Quantum classes, that have only 5 ships between them, which could be ordered. On the smaller end, there's rumors of a Discovery-class in the handy Panamax size to slot in between Voyager and Radiance classes as Royal's tiniest ships leave the fleet. There's really no reason to design another Oasis or Icon sized ship when both of those classes are no where near their end of life. DDaley 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted July 11, 2023 Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 2 hours ago, Rackham said: With one step down in sizing, Royal has the Quantum classes, that have only 5 ships between them, which could be ordered. On the smaller end, there's rumors of a Discovery-class in the handy Panamax size to slot in between Voyager and Radiance classes as Royal's tiniest ships leave the fleet. There's really no reason to design another Oasis or Icon sized ship when both of those classes are no where near their end of life. My guess is that Project Discovery will yield a neoPanamax sized ship. I really don't see them building something as small as a Panamax vessel. Thumper44 and steverk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper44 Posted July 11, 2023 Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 27 minutes ago, twangster said: My guess is that Project Discovery will yield a neoPanamax sized ship. I really don't see them building something as small as a Panamax vessel. I think you're exactly right about Project Discovery. Also Meyer Turku shipyards announced a climate-neutral cruise ship project that they projected for 2035, which seems to be several years behind the rumors of Project Discovery, of which various insiders and ship's captains have said is just a few years out (if that's accurate). So I'm seeing the following ship launch schedule: 2025 Icon 2 confirmed 2026 Icon 3 confirmed also 2026? Project Discovery ship 1? from (Chantiers de L'Antlantique or Meyer Werft perhaps?) 2027? Discovery 2? 2028? Discover 3? 2029-2034 additional batch of Icons or Discovery ships? This is the timeframe where we might see Radiance or Voyager ships being retired. 2035 Meyer Turku's next class of ship after Icon? steverk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonOasis Posted July 11, 2023 Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 2 hours ago, Rackham said: With one step down in sizing, Royal has the Quantum classes, that have only 5 ships between them, which could be ordered. On the smaller end, there's rumors of a Discovery-class in the handy Panamax size to slot in between Voyager and Radiance classes as Royal's tiniest ships leave the fleet. There's really no reason to design another Oasis or Icon sized ship when both of those classes are no where near their end of life. I think Royal is done with Quantum class ships I don't think we will see any more orders for another one of those although I do think Quantum Class ships would be perfect for cruises out of the Middle East (Dubai), South America/Antartica these of course are seasonal markets, however, I don't see Royal placing their ships in those markets except for the occasional repositioning cruise. My hope is Project Discovery will yield a ship somewhere in size between Radiance and Freedom that will keep Royal in markets where large mega ships like Oasis and Icon simply can't go do to their size. I also would love to see a ship that would allow Royal to better compete against NCL in the Panama Canal market. In 2024 NCL is offering 19 Panama Canal cruises between January through April and then October through December while Royal only has 3 cruises for the entire year. With Royal only offering 3 cruises if the dates don't work for me I have to scratch Panama Canal cruises from my list or cruise on a different line. I would love to see Royal offer a more Panama Canal cruises but I'm not holding my breath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper44 Posted July 11, 2023 Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 3 minutes ago, JasonOasis said: My hope is Project Discovery will yield a ship somewhere in size between Radiance and Freedom that will keep Royal in markets where large mega ships like Oasis and Icon simply can't go do to their size. I also would love to see a ship that would allow Royal to better compete against NCL in the Panama Canal market. Do cruise ships go through the larger Neo-panamax locks yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steverk Posted July 11, 2023 Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 37 minutes ago, Thumper44 said: Do cruise ships go through the larger Neo-panamax locks yet? Yes. Several cruise ships do, but none from Royal. I understand the Celebrity Edge class ships occasionally go through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted July 12, 2023 Report Share Posted July 12, 2023 Norwegian bliss, similar size to freedom/quantum class, went through a few years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Lion Posted July 12, 2023 Report Share Posted July 12, 2023 Whatever Royal does, they better do it rapidly. MSC is very aggressive and very well funded. JasonOasis and Vancity Cruiser 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonOasis Posted July 12, 2023 Report Share Posted July 12, 2023 1 hour ago, smokeybandit said: Norwegian bliss, similar size to freedom/quantum class, went through a few years ago In 2024 NCL will send Encore, Bliss through the canal several times as well as some small ships like Gem, Jewel and Sun. So yes larger ships can go through the canal but they have to be of the right design and I believe in a different thread twangster stated Royals ship can't fit because of the overhang and also the life boats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzywuzzy Posted July 26, 2023 Report Share Posted July 26, 2023 At some point the industry will come to terms with bigger not always being better, and build ships that may be smaller but satisfy the needs of them and their passengers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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