a new class of ship for rcl

RCI is riding the crest of a cruising wave projecting it will continue into the future. This over capacity will come back to bite them when the economic cycle takes a downturn. Much more flexibility with smaller ships.

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If RC plans to make Royal Caribbean a more mass-market brand with larger ships, while Celebrity has smaller ships to go after the cruiser wanting to visit smaller cities, the one thing that RC needs to do is unify the loyalty programs.

 

It makes no sense that a cruiser can't accumulate points while sailing on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and other RC cruise lines.

 

If you look at the airlines, you can belong to one frequent flyer program while accumulating miles on other airlines within an alliance, as well as hotels and rental cars.

 

I'm not saying that RC should have a loyalty program with the myriad ways to accumulate miles as an airline F/F program, but at least let us get C&A points while sailing on Celebrity.

I personally have no use for more 150,000+ gross ton ships. I'd like to see them service the mid size ship market more. A new class around the size of the Radiance would be nice.

They have Oasis class in the Med now, so maybe they give up the smaller ports if they are able to fill the huge ships.

Yes, but not on the Eastern Med, eg. Venice, Ravenna, Croatia, Villelfrance (France), etc.

RCI is riding the crest of a cruising wave projecting it will continue into the future. This over capacity will come back to bite them when the economic cycle takes a downturn. Much more flexibility with smaller ships.

Other than another Quantum and Oasis ship coming, RCI has nothing on order. It somewhat depends on when the wave crests.

I personally have no use for more 150,000+ gross ton ships. I'd like to see them service the mid size ship market more. A new class around the size of the Radiance would be nice.

If not Radiance sized, at least similar to Voyager.

Other than another Quantum and Oasis ship coming, RCI has nothing on order. It somewhat depends on when the wave crests.

2 more Quantum Class ships actually (not including Ovation).

Other than another Quantum and Oasis ship coming, RCI has nothing on order. It somewhat depends on when the wave crests.

According to the RCI blog five mega ships are on order, planning or just starting service soon. These mega ships have high fixed costs. Moreover, there is a problem with scale. The volume goes up with the power 3 making the cost per passenger less. But, the surface area goes up with the power 2 making less deck area for amenities such as the open air pool area. This leads to overcrowding.

I think the sweet spot in design is between Radiance and Freedom class.

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According to the RCI blog five mega ships are on order, planning or just starting service soon. These mega ships have high fixed costs. Moreover, there is a problem with scale. The volume goes up with the power 3 making the cost per passenger less. But, the surface area goes up with the power 2 making less deck area for amenities such as the open air pool area. This leads to overcrowding.

 

I think the sweet spot in design is between Radiance and Freedom class.

 

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While mathematically you are correct, as it applies to ships it isn't completely accurate since open air areas like the pool deck and boardwalk on Oasis are not counted towards the gross tonnage (volume) of the ship. Even areas like pool decks enclosed by glass walls and even partially decked over, are considered to be open spaces (as are the promenade decks), and not counted towards tonnage.

That's true, but most of the time info comes out before the SEC fillings. All of the info about those 7 ships listed in the SEC fillings was out before the fillings. Also, the SEC fillings have no info about the ships - just very general plans. We already have more info about the Project Edge ship (size, capacity) from other sources.

Yes I'm sure, but it's speculation. Rather than speculate before the information is available, I'd rather read it from the horse's mouth, as reported directly to a federal regulator. Perhaps I am naive, but their SEC filings are the most authoritative source and some of the info in those filings can shed light on why things are happening. I had no idea for instance that some of RCCI's employees filed a class action suit against the company over gratuities -- or that they have the capacity to collectively bargain. Anyway, just my two cents. I still enjoy reading this board, I have learned alot.

soon , royal will order a new class of ship bigger than the oasis class ( more than 230 000) , they will be made in france

Every line is ordering new ships and the leader is MSC, they have new ships coming until 2026.

Every line is ordering new ships and the leader is MSC, they have new ships coming until 2026.

I read that they are building 4 ships over 200K tons.

First MSC World Class LNG ship is scheduled for 2022, last for 2026.

steamboats

2 more Quantum Class ships actually (not including Ovation).

Must have missed the announcement of a fifth Quantum class ship.

Must have missed the announcement of a fifth Quantum class ship.

This was announced early Nov 2015 (see here). Delivery is announced for fall 2019.

steamboats

I just hope they keep up the Voyager- and Freedom-class ships for as long as we're interested in cruising. We prefer what those ships have to offer as compared to Oasis-class and later (and we have no interest in any of the newer ships any longer). They have eliminated features with the design/build of Oasis and onward that are important to us, and the features that have been added are not, in many cases, ones that attract us.

 

We like having the variety in size/class of ship, and the more interesting itineraries these may permit. It seems likely that as the smaller, older ships age, they will be moved out of the fleet. And perhaps we'll move along as well.

I couldn't agree more with this except we are g sailing oasis til next year. We are SUPER happy with freedom class and I sailed Adebture last summer and loved it too

While we are trying oasis, I feel freedom class will likely be our go to

soon , royal will order a new class of ship bigger than the oasis class ( more than 230 000) , they will be made in france

Let's hope not to many people.:mad:

I couldn't agree more with this except we are g sailing oasis til next year. We are SUPER happy with freedom class and I sailed Adebture last summer and loved it too

 

While we are trying oasis, I feel freedom class will likely be our go to

Don't get me wrong--Oasis and Allure are beautiful ships, well-designed, with some nice additional dining options, and the entertainment is superior (especially the aqua theatre), but the staff seemed strained by the greater ratio of passengers to staff and very unhappy. We also don't care for the location and design of the fitness center and locker rooms/spa on Oasis-class ships, especially that the sauna and steam room are in a profit center rather than free of charge as on Voyager- and Freedom-class ships. The thermal suite costs quite a bit and doesn't provide a sauna and steam room as nice as the aforementioned classes of ships, and the space is noisy and not relaxing.

Let's hope not to many people.:mad:

Looks like the MSC ships will be very close in passenger capacity to the Oasis and Allure with 2700 cabins and double occupancy of 5400.

http://gcaptain.com/msc-cruises-reveals-plan-to-build-worlds-largest-lng-powered-cruise-ships-for-4-5-billion/

I think this would be Harmony and Oasis 4, being built in France, and which are marginally larger then their Oasis class sisters.

 

 

 

Given RCI's move back smaller on the Quantum class, and the port limitations, I don't see much market for a ship larger than Oasis, nor even for more of the current Oasis class.

How about Miami, they are going to build a new terminal

Don't get me wrong--Oasis and Allure are beautiful ships, well-designed, with some nice additional dining options, and the entertainment is superior (especially the aqua theatre), but the staff seemed strained by the greater ratio of passengers to staff and very unhappy. We also don't care for the location and design of the fitness center and locker rooms/spa on Oasis-class ships, especially that the sauna and steam room are in a profit center rather than free of charge as on Voyager- and Freedom-class ships. The thermal suite costs quite a bit and doesn't provide a sauna and steam room as nice as the aforementioned classes of ships, and the space is noisy and not relaxing.

I don't think they will ever build a new ship without charging for the sauna/steamer [emoji851]

I don't think they will ever build a new ship without charging for the sauna/steamer [emoji851]

I agree, unfortunately. Now that they've turned it into a profit center, they won't go back. It's our hope that they leave the older ships alone and don't mess with the fitness center/locker room setups as these ships are updated from time to time.

HI

here is today an insteresting article about delivery for harmony ....

It's in his huge outdoor amphitheater that was held yesterday in Saint-Nazaire, the ceremony delivery Harmony of the Seas. Commissioned in December 2012 by the American shipowner for its subsidiary RCCL Royal Caribbean International, this giant of 362 meters long, 66 meters wide and 227 700 GT is the largest cruise ship in the world. It slightly outperforms the first two ships this series, the Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, left the Finnish shipyard in Turku in 2009 and 2010. More importantly, the "A34" as it is called at STX France, far exceeds all cruise ships that previously emerged in the estuary of the Loire. the last two records were broken in terms of tonnage, that of the Queen Mary 2 (G32, delivered in December 2003), with its 151 400 GT for a length of 345 meters and a master-bau 41 meters

... and that of Norwegian Epic (C33, June 2010) a 155,800 GT ship along 329 meters to 40.6 meters master-bau. As for MSC ships, the largest to date are the last units of the Fantasia class, with 333 meters long, 37.9 meters master-bau and 139,400 GT.

This is the third time in almost thirty years, that Saint-Nazaire out the largest cruise ship of its time. Before the Queen Mary 2, there was in December 1987 the Sovereing of the Seas (A29), commissioned in spring 1985 by Royal Caribbean already. And it is precisely with this ship of 268 meters, 73 000 GT and 1140 booths, presented at the time as a giant that former Chantiers de l'Atlantique survived by cruise ships of great specialty. (see publication in dinosaurus croisierus yesterday)

A giant crown reviving yards Three decades later, history repeated itself, Harmony of the Seas constitutes a saving control for a project that, in 2012, was in trouble. With this contract of 1 billion euros, doubled in 2014 with the confirmation of the construction of a sistership (B34), available in 2018, STX France has recovered and, riding the health of the cruise market but also competitiveness efforts, the commands are then chained. "This bet was won thanks to the huge efforts made ​​throughout the company, whose competitiveness plan is part and to the investment of all our co-directors " , said Laurent Castaing. The CEO of STX France this "teamwork" has given birth to the most complex work ever undertaken on the Loire. A technical tour de force from top and human reviving Saint-Nazaire shipyards, which now have before them unprecedented visibility with projects spanning until 2026 (12 boats cruise including 8 for MSC Cruises). Among them, there is the B34, the youngest of the Harmony of the Seas, which RCI leaders still refuse to say whether it will operate in the Chinese market, but also three units of 117,000 GT and 1450 cabins for Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of high Premium range of RCCL. these ships (the first two firm orders and canceled the third order) are available late 2018, early 2020 and late 2021. all these four boats representing an investment of 3 billion.

ongoing discussions for other vessels if Royal Caribbean has not announced new order yesterday, ongoing discussions for future projects are now official: "RCCL will supplement its fleet in the coming years, and our commercial action continues with them, especially as they are satisfied with the work on Harmony " said Laurent Castaing, who hopes to quickly complete the STX France backlog through its uS customer. this does not hide his desire to develop cooperation with the french manufacturer "the success of this project puts us confidence to do more in Saint-Nazaire" , yesterday said Richard Fain, chairman RCCL, during the delivery ceremony of the Harmony of the Seas. "this ship is not just the most wonderful, the greatest and most environmentally friendly in the world, is also the most expensive" , highlighted the big boss of the US group, world number 2 of the cruise, particularly complimentary toward the Saint-Nazaire shipyards on this outstanding achievement standards: "We are happy to be in France because there is a French touch, not only in aesthetics, but also in the extraordinary work of engineering and technologies developed to achieve such a ship " . Richard Fain also welcomed the French funding, "imaginative and innovative" , with "the involvement of Coface and of the banks" . These famous financial arrangements without which a command of this type is not possible and that is thanks to the work carried out since 2012 by Bercy and bank pools, more efficient and thus interesting for shipowners.

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The next will they even bigger? While Saint-Nazaire still has room for two boats out of giant cruise in 2021 and 2023, some speak of additional units for the Oasis class. A hypothesis that would be surprising because it is unclear the American company, always very advanced on innovative products, re-enlist with a design unveiled in 2006 and operational since 2009. The new projects are most likely on a significant change in the design or on any new platform. As for the size, no indication at the moment. The only certainty Royal Caribbean usually very large ships and STX France can make even bigger than the Harmony of the Seas. Holds its construction and its weapons pond (450 meters long and 90 meters wide each) have indeed been sized for the giant tankers made ​​in the 70 The four supertankers of Batillus class, long 414 meters , wide 63 meters and posting a deadweight of 550,000 tonnes, still moreover, to date, the bigger boats made ​​here. Saint-Nazaire is able to produce ships exceeding 400 meters and 300,000 tonnage GT. The limit will be that shipowners based on the concept they want to develop and boats operating constraints, particularly in terms of port infrastructure: "We can build even bigger ships than the Harmony of the Seas but if it does, it has to be to make things more compared to other ships. This was the case for Royal Caribbean with Oasis, whose size has allowed for example to develop outdoor central areas " , said Laurent Castaing. Until we know more about the future plans of RCCL, which will also provide for the renewal of vessels of its other subsidiaries, as Azamara Club Cruises, and that is not the only owner that may be interested in the slots still available in Saint-Nazaire, Harmony of the Seas is a fabulous showcase for yards French. the most beautiful showcases for French shipyards While this ship is on paper the third in his class, but in reality, it is in many ways a serial head. While the Finns were not - and you can understand them - very cooperative to deliver the plans for the first two ships of the series, engineers from STX France remade much of boat Studies. And above all, they technically greatly improved especially with a hull and propulsion and power generation optimized. The consumer has ultimately been significantly reduced and the environmental impact of the boat is less than 20 % than its elders. "the results are beyond our expectations and, with this ship, we deliver two weeks in advance of the contractual date, we have shown our ability to master the most projects complex. It is an asset to compete " , rejoices the CEO of STX France, who mentioned in passing that the A34 has 3000 people working for three years.

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Delivered but not fully completed and we are active d Besides still on board because if Harmony of the Seas comes in advance, which is exceptional for a project of this magnitude, it will welcome its first passengers on May 19 That's why the vessel was yesterday, giving the impression of not being finished. As is usually the case in a week of commissioning, finishing work and development of public spaces full swing. Several hundred employees of STX France and especially its subcontractors, helped by the crew are on deck to complete this floating town with 66,000 m² of public spaces. With 2,747 cabins and suites, twenty restaurants, as bars and lounges, Aquatheatre but also a large indoor show, an ice rink, a casino, a vast internal shopping street (the Royal Promenade), an outdoor landscaped park with more than 12,000 plant species, a large Spa , huge pools bridges ... We must ensure every detail of the implementation works of art to that covered in each restaurant, good lighting lamps installed thousands of chairs and armchairs. Not to mention the latest technical interventions on networks, the final brush strokes and times of carpets ... This final stretch is a titanic work to ensure that the assembly is impeccable lorsqu'arriveront the first passengers.