Royal News
Quick Updates from Around the Fleet.
Oasis Revamped
For two months last fall, fan-favorite flagship, Oasis of the Seas, underwent a major makeover as part of the Royal Amplified fleet modernization—a project where Royal Caribbean is investing more than $1 billion to transform 10 ships in four years. While Independence of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Mariner of the Seas were the first in line for state-of-the-art remakes, Oasis of the Seas took her spot as the first in the Oasis Class up for the massive transformation.
The ship that revolutionized the cruise industry with her size, seven neighborhoods, and one-of-a-kind AquaTheater marked her 10-year anniversary with the larger-than-ever amplification at a whopping $165 million.
After the amplification, guests sailing Oasis are treated to a reimagined Pool and Sports Zone; The Perfect Storm; Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; the cruise line’s first barbecue venue, Portside BBQ; Spotlight Karaoke and Music Hall; Royal Escape Room—Mission Control: Apollo 18; and so much more.
She showed off all her newness when she sailed out of Royal Caribbean’s state-of-the-art Terminal A in Miami on Caribbean itineraries. New Yorkers and New Jerseyans can check out her revamp closer to home starting in May 2020, when she sails to the Big Apple to reposition to her new summer home at Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. She will be the largest ship to sail from the area. Look for seven-night sailings to the Bahamas with visits to Royal Caribbean’s newly transformed private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The new karaoke venue.
Portside BBQ.
Allure Amplified
Not to be outdone by her sister ship, Allure of the Seas is second in the Oasis line to be amplified. Royal Caribbean will invest $165 million on her transformation, which will take approximately 58 days. She will show off similar updates as Oasis including the reimagined Pool and Sports Zone featuring Ultimate Abyss, The Perfect Storm, and Portside BBQ; additional highlights include: Spotlight Karaoke, Music Hall, and a Royal Escape Room. On ships sailing the Caribbean, be sure to check out the cruise line’s signature bar, The Lime and Coconut.
Look for Allure in Europe starting in May 2020, sailing from her homeport Barcelona, Spain, for the summer, and then in the Caribbean come November 2020, sailing from Miami’s new Terminal A.
View of Ultimate Abyss and the AquaTheater on Allure of the Seas.
Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Micahel Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean attend the ceremony.
Anticipating an Odyssey
Coming soon: Look for an exciting new addition to Royal Caribbean’s extraordinary fleet.
Odyssey of the Seas is scheduled for delivery November 2020. At her keel-laying ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, customary coins were placed under the 79-ton block before being lifted onto the dock with an 800-ton crane.
The cruise line explained that the coins stay there until the end of construction. According to a press release, “[o]nce the ship is nearing completion, the coins are retrieved and presented to the ship’s captain and crew to be placed onboard the ship. According to maritime tradition, the coins are said to bring luck to the ship during its construction and then to its captain and crew when she is at sea.”
Spectrum sails the Asian seas.
Spectrum Heads to Asia
Another revolutionary Royal Caribbean ship began sailing the high seas last summer. Spectrum of the Seas, part of the Quantum Ultra Class and custom-built for the Chinese market, sailed into Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in Shanghai in June after launching in March. The cruise line welcomed Spectrum to her new homeport with a grand naming ceremony, where the ship’s godparents, Xiaoming Huang and Angelababy, officially named and blessed the ship.
Spectrum introduced many firsts to the fleet, such as an exclusive enclave only for suite guests. Spanning three forward decks, a special keycard grants access to the private elevator that opens up to a world of luxe amenities. Think a dedicated restaurant and lounge, The Balcony, a private outdoor space for sunbathing and relaxing, and The Boutique, where guests can arrange for private shopping experiences. Spectrum also debuted a new specialty restaurant, Sichuan Red, a tea room and café parlor, Leaf and Bean, and the premier place to karaoke, Star Moment. Quantum Class favorites on Spectrum include an enhanced SeaPlex, North Star, RipCord by iFly, FlowRider, and Two70, along with the addition of the next-level Ultimate Family Suite that accommodates up to 11 guests.
