Jumping Cruiser

Anthem’s TA this year was 15th October and her repositioning next year is 14th October, so to have it this early is not unusual.

Here is an interview with a VP at Royal Caribbean regarding deployment of Indy in UK. https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tour-operators/independence-of-the-seas-to-homeport-in-uk-in-2025 It is interesting though how they are looking at marketing it. They are not trying to target current Anthem cruisers, but more people who cruised on Indy in the past and new to brand families. “There are two opportunities for agents here: it’s a great chance for people to go on Anthem next summer, and if they are a fan of Independence then they should make two bookings.” Bouldin encouraged agents to revisit their databases of customers who sailed on Independence of the Seas when it previously departed from Southampton, as well as urging fans of Anthem of the Seas to secure a final sailing on the ship next summer. “A change [of ship] is important because we have a number of guests that like to sail from Southampton every year so having a fresh ship, fresh itineraries and fresh entertainment for people to see is key.” The highlighted part of makes me laugh though! Their definition of fresh is definitely different to mine! 😂

Only 1 Canaries cruise and NO MEDITERRANEAN! Oh dear! I suppose at least it’s not copy and paste like it has been over the past couple of years, but this was not what I was hoping for! 😔 Seems to be a huge focus on ‘short getaways’, but what shocks me is the lack of warmer destinations, considering she is more suited to this climate than Anthem. Definitely trying to push people towards fly-cruises rather than ex-UK. Also, I don’t imagine short getaways to attract international guests, which is maybe why the shrink in capacity will be acceptable.

This is what I expect based on port bookings, but recent events in Israel may have changed that. Amsterdam (May to August) Haifa, Israel (August to October)

Port Days: Free - Short Ride (Up and Down) Sea Days: Paid - Longer Ride (Up, Down and Over) Port Days: Free (1 Minute) Sea Days: Paid - Extended Experience (2 Minutes) Yes, cabin service is now once a day. You will be visited by the stateroom attendant on embarkation day who will ask your preference for morning or evening service. In my experience, they are quite good at working around your morning/evening plans. I know that there are Morning Dance Fitness classes at the minute. I believe this is similar if not the same as Zumba. The current cruise director is Danny Turner, who took over on 21st September.

I agree. I am also expecting edge-class sized ships as well over the next 5 or so years. I think this is known internally as ‘Project Discovery’ if I remember right. These will be needed to start to replace Radiance and Voyager class. I wonder though whether they will build 3 Icons then a PD vessel, or just 4 Icons one after the other?

I agree. The late August call could possibly be part of a repositioning between Northern Europe and Israel, similar to what is being offered on Jewel next August.

Leixoes, Portugal - Port Bookings (Correct as of 17/10/23) 2 additional port calls have been made for Brilliance OTS, while one has had the date updated. 24th April 2025 - Brilliance OTS. *NEW* 27th April 2025 - Brilliance OTS 19th May 2025 - Brilliance OTS. *UPDATED* 27th August 2025 - Brilliance OTS. *NEW*

Possibly, but that does limit 7-night options, especially with Norwegian Fjords likely off the table. I would understand Indy being the ‘Hot’ ship if there were two, but not when she’s the only one. Surely they won’t just commit to longer and warmer cruises?

Visited here in the Summer on Anthem. It was a great stop, just like a hot Britain with lots of picturesque scenery. Not to mention…. TAX FREE! 👀😉😂

Le Havre, France - Port Bookings *UPDATE* (Correct as of 17/10/23) 3 Independence OTS calls have now been removed for 2025, so they definitely seem to be having ‘second thoughts’ with lots of their bookings 🤔. This suggests that there will only be one of the usual ‘France & Spain’ 7-nighters, quite a change compared to what we are used to with Anthem. The only remaining call is: 23rd September 2025 - Independence OTS

Gibraltar Port Bookings - *UPDATE* All Independence OTS calls in Gibraltar have now been removed for 2025. There is now no RC ship planned to call here throughout the 2025 European season. However, this is not unusual, as there are no scheduled calls in 2024 either.

There are some port bookings in Australia for Ovation and I would tend to think that these may be placeholders for Anthem, but there are also none showing for Quantum. In my opinion, I think Ovation will go back to Aus alongside Anthem, while Quantum will go to Asia. I highly highly doubt that they will send Ovation anywhere else, especially with a dry-dock looming in early 26. The only place a deployment would make sense other than Aus is LA, but they will likely keep Navigator there.

Brilliance is on port bookings in Iceland for 2025. I presume that itineraries will be pretty much the same as what’s currently offered on Jewel.

Possibly something to do with the Transpacific from Alaska to Aus?

Tendered in Villefranche on Anthem, which is the same class as Odyssey, back in June. I have to admit that it was pretty chaotic. The night before the ship advised everyone that tender tickets would start to be given out at 7am from a few different locations (MDR, 270, Theatre, Casino, Music Hall) and you MUST have a tender ticket to disembark. I went to 270 at 6:15 and was the second person in line, which meant I was group 1. They started lowering tenders from the ship and bringing others from the harbour to assist. We didn’t arrive until 10am and first tender was expected to be 10:30. At about 10:20 we noticed a boat load of people heading ashore, so we headed to the esplanade to find out what was going on as no ticket numbers had been called. It turns out people who stayed in bed and got the later tickets (40….) were complaining that it would be hours before they got off, so they just opened the barrier and it was a free-for-all in the end, with no attempt to check tickets. This was completely unfair to all those who had earlier tickets, but lucky enough we were just in the right place at the right time. Just be mindful that even though the ship initially says one thing about tickets, they won’t necessarily stick to it, so keep an eye out by the gangway entrance if numbers aren’t being called. However, Odyssey is more experienced with the tendering process due to calling in Santorini regularly, so hopefully this might be more streamlined than Anthem Anyway, Villefranche is a lovely port and actually my favourite, so you will have a fabulous time.

They can make more money in many other markets at the minute and that’s what’s most important to them, so China is probably completely off the table. I could see China getting an Oasis Class in a couple of years, which would be shared with Australia, but I think a brand-new Icon Class wouldn’t be worth it. I hoped that Star would do a short summer season in the Med, especially since she is launching in the Summer, before she crossed the Atlantic. However, I now could just see her going straight to PC, as is the case with Utopia. The Caribbean is their money-maker at the minute and I think Royal knows that lots of people will travel to experience Icon Class, regardless of homeport.

Correct! These photos are for Icon, but similar blocks will star to appear for Star. They build the ship in these sections and then piece it together like Lego, which is why they are able to build a few different ships at a time.

Here’s the official name reveal video, just in case anyone missed the news! Nice to see that she is on track still for Summer 2025.

Port schedules indicate that she will remain in the Caribbean until at least April 2026. I would expect itineraries to remain the same or very similar to what is on offer for early 2025. The official deployment release should be over the next couple of months.

Port bookings in Limassol (Cyprus) and Haifa (Israel) indicate that there will be two Holy Land cruises in 2025, both of which look to be in September.

As Odyssey is based in Civitavecchia (Rome) for Summer 2025, I would expect the WB TA to start here. There is a call for Odyssey in Villefranche on 22nd October and a call in Ponta Delgada (Azores) on 29th October. I think the TA will start earlier in 2025 than it does in 2024, probably around 20th October, and expect her to be in NJ by around 4th November.

Definitely! She is expected to return to NJ for Winter 25/26, based on a WB TA Port booking with destination marked as Cape Liberty.

St Maarten, Caribbean - Port Schedule (Correct as of 01/10/23) Lots of additional bookings made for WINTER 25/26 & SPRING 26. There seems to be a few dates with two OC/IC ships, but overall lots of bookings. As always, some may be past/future place holders to secure berths (Harmony/Icon and Symphony/Allure situation?). See list below: November 2025: 5th November - Jewel OTS & Symphony OTS 6th November - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS & Independence OTS 7th November - Jewel OTS 8th November - Brilliance OTS 9th November - Odyssey OTS 10th November - Jewel OTS 11th November - Icon OTS 12th November - Allure OTS & Symphony OTS 17th November - Jewel OTS 20th November - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 24th November - Jewel OTS 25th November - Icon OTS 26th November - Symphony OTS December 2025: 1st December - Jewel OTS 4th December - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 8th December - Jewel OTS 9th December - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS 10th December - Allure OTS & Symphony OTS 15th December - Jewel OTS 18th December - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 22nd December - Jewel OTS 23rd December - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS 24th December - Symphony OTS 29th December - Jewel OTS January 2026: 1st January - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 4th January - Oasis OTS 5th January - Jewel OTS 6th January - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS 7th January - Allure OTS & Symphony OTS 8th January - Odyssey OTS 12th January - Jewel OTS 15th January - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 19th January - Jewel OTS & Odyssey OTS 20th January - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS 21st January - Symphony OTS 26th January - Jewel OTS 29th January - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS February 2026: 2nd February- Jewel OTS 3rd February- Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS & Odyssey OTS 4th February - Allure OTS & Symphony OTS 9th February - Jewel OTS 12th February - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 16th February - Jewel OTS 17th February - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS 18th February - Symphony OTS 23rd February - Jewel OTS 25th February - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS March 2026: 2nd March - Jewel OTS 3rd March - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS 4th March - Allure OTS & Symphony OTS 9th March - Jewel OTS 12th March - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 16th March - Jewel OTS 17th March - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS 18th March - Symphony OTS 23rd March - Jewel OTS 26th March - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 30th March - Jewel OTS 31st March - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS April 2026: 1st April - Symphony OTS 6th April - Jewel OTS 9th April - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 13th April - Jewel OTS 14th April - Brilliance OTS & Icon OTS 15th April - Symphony OTS 20th April - Jewel OTS 23rd April - Harmony OTS & Icon OTS 27th April - Jewel OTS 28th April - Icon OTS 29th April - Symphony OTS

Despite weighting 14000 tonnes more, Icon is only 3m longer than Oasis. I presume this means that any Oasis ports could also handle Icon. The only thing that may affect it is the depth of the hull, which I don’t think has been confirmed yet (?), but again I would imagine this to be very similar to OC.