Empress Returning to RCCL?

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Confirmed, Spring 2016 to Royal Caribbean with extensive refurbishment.

 

 

Wow! This is definitely surprising, but I'm excited!

[Tagsalong]

I have recently met and have spoken directly to someone (so this is heresay, not 1st hand knowledge from me directly!) who is presumably in direct dealings with Cuba on various business and investment activity. I asked him specifically about travel and even more specifically about cruising... he said no doubt within 12 months there'll be USA cruise ships there. Take that for what it's worth... maybe I can look back on this post in a year and say "You heard it here first from me" :eek::D Note... new RCL deployment will be next spring for 2017/18.

 

Btw it's just not travel/cruising, various large US corporations also... the flood gates may be opening up very quickly from what I've been told. I guess we'll all see soon.

 

So... Enchantment for 7 day Cuba itinerary out of Miami??

I'm in!!!!!!! :D

(Empress takes over 3/4 day Bahamas??)

 

On Freedom in September of this year, had "meal with an officer" and our officer table mate was a very high ranking member of the marine team. (I will never name names of my sources.) He/she said Royal Caribbean is currently working out the details to send the Majesty of the Seas to a port of call in Cuba starting some time in 2016. Many things must fall into place to meet their target date (unspecified).

 

Of course the ship to Cuba could change with the return of the Empress, but I personally doubt this will be the case.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

On Freedom in September of this year, had "meal with an officer" and our officer table mate was a very high ranking member of the marine team. (I will never name names of my sources.) He/she said Royal Caribbean is currently working out the details to send the Majesty of the Seas to a port of call in Cuba starting some time in 2016. Many things must fall into place to meet their target date (unspecified).

 

Of course the ship to Cuba could change with the return of the Empress, but I personally doubt this will be the case.

 

So maybe Empress will replace Majesty on the 3/4 night itineraries? But Majesty will be up in PC, which wouldn't be an ideal homeport for a Cuba-bound ship. Or maybe they realized that Majesty wouldn't be able to call at Cuba yet (size), but Empress could. Just thinking out loud here...

Edited October 23, 2015 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[ryano]

I love seeing pics of the older ships but all I see is smaller cabins, cramped spaces and very little accessibility. Although I enjoyed my cruise on Monarch, Sovereign class is bad enough with only 4 accessible cabins. I wont be rushing to get on Empress :) I doubt she will come to PC, Tampa or PE so that puts me out anyway.

[MADflyer]

That's what I'm thinking. IMO, its going to be pretty long time before any mega-ships will be able to call at Cuba. Empress might be the answer for Royal!

 

With the destination focus that Cuba is going to allow, early passengers will place very little demand on the facility of the ship offered.

 

Even though it is still unclear if this is for a Cuban product, the concept works with all port intensive sailings.

 

The announcement yesterday by Thompson Cruises that they will be using Discovery, the former RCI Splendour of the Seas, on a series of port intensive sailings from Barbados with no sea days was of interest.

 

They are basically going to be offering an 'All-inclusive' product, which adds perceived value with beverages and Wifi included, but then the ship is going to be in port with such frequency that it will reduce associated costs of operations and service.

[negc]

The Empress of the Seas was our favorite RCCL ship. We were on one of the last sailing of the ship (Philadelphia to Bermuda) before she was booted from the fleet. She had already undergone "improvements" to bring her in line with other RCI ships.

 

Gone were the lounge areas on each cabin deck next to the open Atrium. They had been replaced by children play areas, a game area (the game room and library having been taken over by a pay for restaurant) and various other functions that had been squeezed out of their dedicated areas by an increase in the number of cabins.

 

She was a sad shadow of her former self and the overall cruise experience did deteriorate due the disappearance of formerly available public space and the increase in the number of passengers. No longer the "yacht" of the RCI fleet, she become the now typical RCCL cattle car with too many passengers.

 

So for anyone with fond memories of long ago cruises on the little beauty that was the Empress, that cruise experience will not reoccur unless a complete restoration of the ship before the "improvements" is done.

Why not tell us how you really feel about RCI ships? The term "Cattle car" isn't something that immediately comes to mind when we think of Royal Caribbean ships and even their largest ships seem to handle what you describe as "too many passengers" very well.

Bringing back this ship to the RCI fleet sounds like it could possibly work quite well for shorter cruises from a variety of ports.:)

[Canadian Tyler]

I wonder if it will join the Monarch class, or be a class of its own. Looking forward to more details about the refurb and itinerary. Has to be soon if it's launching spring 2016.

[garnetpalmetto]

I wonder if it will join the Monarch class, or be a class of its own. Looking forward to more details about the refurb and itinerary. Has to be soon if it's launching spring 2016.

 

One can't "join" a class you weren't part of to begin with and there is no Monarch class. She's of a fundamentally different design than the Sovereigns therefore she's not a Sovereign class ship. She's a one-off in a class unto herself.

Edited October 23, 2015 by garnetpalmetto

[Debitoo]

Just got an email update from one the industry newsletters that stated the following:

 

Pullmantur is refocusing on Europe after concentrating passenger sourcing efforts on Latin and South America after the Spanish market went soft.

 

The company is also shedding a ship, with the Empress reportedly going back to Royal Caribbean.

 

Pullmantur did not respond to several inquiries for comment, but issued a press release in Spain, outlining that the Monarch will head for Europe in 2016, helping the company to concentrate on the Spanish and French markets.

 

The Monarch had previously been deployed on a year-round itinerary in the Southern Caribbean sourcing passengers from Latin America.

 

The 1990-built Empress will head back to the Royal Caribbean brand early next year, said Pullmantur.

 

This will be very interesting if true.

Thanks for the heads up Dave. Very interesting. I'll keep my eye on this one. I'd LOVE to go to Cuba. ;)

[Canadian Tyler]

One can't "join" a class you weren't part of to begin with and there is no Monarch class. She's of a fundamentally different design than the Sovereigns therefore she's not a Sovereign class ship. She's a one-off in a class unto herself.

 

Oh dear...very sorry to have bothered you with such a silly question then ;)

[Susie51]

The Empress of the Seas was our favorite RCCL ship. We were on one of the last sailing of the ship (Philadelphia to Bermuda) before she was booted from the fleet. She had already undergone "improvements" to bring her in line with other RCI ships.

 

Gone were the lounge areas on each cabin deck next to the open Atrium. They had been replaced by children play areas, a game area (the game room and library having been taken over by a pay for restaurant) and various other functions that had been squeezed out of their dedicated areas by an increase in the number of cabins.

 

 

It seems a lot of ships in various cruise lines have turned public areas into specialty restaurants and cabins.

 

Does the Empress have balconies? Newer ships have lots of balconies which passengers enjoy.

[garnetpalmetto]

Oh dear...very sorry to have bothered you with such a silly question then ;)

 

Not a silly question at all, just providing an answer. The only real exception to what makes a "class" is the Vision class, but otherwise each member of a class is generally built to the same specification - all Radiances are roughly similar, all Sovereigns are roughly similar, etc.

[MADflyer]

While they have confirmed that Empress is returning to the RCL Fleet, has it actually been confirmed that she is returning to RCI?

 

I have not listened to the financial Q3 Financial podcast yet, but what is written only confirms that they have done a $399.3 million write down on Pullmantur and removed all intangible assets (goodwill, trademarks...) along with 'a reduction in the carrying value of select vessels in the Pullmantur fleet'

 

This $399.3 million write down was taken against record profits for RCL and results in a direct tax benefit to RCL of $12 million.

[alfaeric]

Confirmed, Spring 2016 to Royal Caribbean with extensive refurbishment.

 

 

Edit- can't direct link to RCI blog site- but in the royal caribbean blog this is the end you can copy /2015/10/23/royal-caribbean-confirms-empress-of-the-seas-will-return-fleet

 

Saying the same things, basically. Just using more words... :D

 

So the big question is- what is "extensive refurbishment" ?

 

The port speculation is interesting- with Cuba being so close to Miami- it's not hard to imagine a 7 night 5 or even 6 port cruise. Circle Cuba, and there's so much we don't know about. And the small ship does mean the ports don't need huge development to fit.

 

One can even wonder if the refurbishment will include two new life boats that can double as tenders.

Edited October 23, 2015 by alfaeric

[skyking]

It seems a lot of ships in various cruise lines have turned public areas into specialty restaurants and cabins.

 

Does the Empress have balconies? Newer ships have lots of balconies which passengers enjoy.

 

Very interesting move that is for sure, and yes she does have some balconies.

[CT Sean]

Confirmed, Spring 2016 to Royal Caribbean with extensive refurbishment.

 

 

Can't wait to see what they'll do with her.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

While they have confirmed that Empress is returning to the RCL Fleet, has it actually been confirmed that she is returning to RCI?

 

I have not listened to the financial Q3 Financial podcast yet, but what is written only confirms that they have done a $399.3 million write down on Pullmantur and removed all intangible assets (goodwill, trademarks...) along with 'a reduction in the carrying value of select vessels in the Pullmantur fleet'

 

This $399.3 million write down was taken against record profits for RCL and results in a direct tax benefit to RCL of $12 million.

 

I cannot confirm, but according to a certain blog, it was specifically mentioned that her name will be changed back to "Empress of the Seas". Assuming that that statement came from someone at Royal Caribbean Corp, it would confirm that she is returning to Royal Caribbean International.

[alfaeric]

I cannot confirm, but according to a certain blog, it was specifically mentioned that her name will be changed back to "Empress of the Seas". Assuming that that statement came from someone at Royal Caribbean Corp, it would confirm that she is returning to Royal Caribbean International.

 

That is in the unlinkable royal caribbean blog (dot) com. Take the spaces out.

[eroller]

I wonder if it will join the Monarch class, or be a class of its own. Looking forward to more details about the refurb and itinerary. Has to be soon if it's launching spring 2016.

 

 

She is one of a kind. A class all her own with no sister ships.

[DEIx15x8]

So in Spring 2016 the Majesty of the Seas is no longer leaving the fleet, the Empress of the Seas is returning to the fleet, the Ovation of the Seas is being delivered and the Harmony of the Seas is being delivered. That is going to be a big season for Royal Caribbean and without a doubt a record setting jump in capacity for them if not any line for such a short period. Considering the ships they were shedding were to help balance new builds I wonder how this could effect fleet wide capacity and pricing.

[John&LaLa]

So in Spring 2016 the Majesty of the Seas is no longer leaving the fleet, the Empress of the Seas is returning to the fleet, the Ovation of the Seas is being delivered and the Harmony of the Seas is being delivered. That is going to be a big season for Royal Caribbean and without a doubt a record setting jump in capacity for them if not any line for such a short period. Considering the ships they were shedding were to help balance new builds I wonder how this could effect fleet wide capacity and pricing.

 

I think Splendour goes away during that cycle

[MADflyer]

So in Spring 2016 the Majesty of the Seas is no longer leaving the fleet, the Empress of the Seas is returning to the fleet, the Ovation of the Seas is being delivered and the Harmony of the Seas is being delivered. That is going to be a big season for Royal Caribbean and without a doubt a record setting jump in capacity for them if not any line for such a short period. Considering the ships they were shedding were to help balance new builds I wonder how this could effect fleet wide capacity and pricing.

 

The financial quarterly report just issued for RCL the holding company of RCI shows capacity figures across the entire company and not by cruise line.

 

While the Empress situation might have been discussed in the conference call, I can not find it included in the written report. I am thinking capacity must include even TUI where RCL own just 50%, but am unsure.

 

They state the following:

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND CAPACITY GUIDANCE

 

Based upon current ship orders, projected capital expenditures for full year 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are $1.6 billion, $2.3 billion, $0.5 billion, $2.4 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively.

 

Capacity increases for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are expected to be 5.4%, 6.4%, 3.4%, 3.7% and 6.6%, respectively. These figures do not include potential ship sales or additions that we may elect to make in the future.

[Clarea]

I think Splendour goes away during that cycle

That's correct, she leaves Spring 2016.

[MADflyer]

I think Splendour goes away during that cycle

 

Splendour remains in the RCL fleet in one way as TUI Cruises is the owner and they will in turn lease the ship to Thomson Cruises. Splendour certainly leaves the RCI fleet, though.

 

All of the ships now are actually held by separate companies held by RCL.

 

Splendor is currently owned by Splendor of the Seas, Inc. and Managed by RCL and operated by RCI.

 

It will be interesting to check how this register changes after May of 2016.

 

https://exchange.dnv.com/Exchange/Main.aspx?EXTool=Vessel&VesselID=18426

Edited October 23, 2015 by MADflyer

[MADflyer]

I cannot confirm, but according to a certain blog, it was specifically mentioned that her name will be changed back to "Empress of the Seas". Assuming that that statement came from someone at Royal Caribbean Corp, it would confirm that she is returning to Royal Caribbean International.

 

Ok. I did listen to the podcast. It was unclear as the CFO quoted works for RCL and reports for all the lines together.

 

He did state that she will certainly return to RCI and will change name to Empress of the Seas at minute 13 of the podcast.

 

He stated in the next sentence stating that the only growth areas for capacity would be the Caribbean where bookings were strongest and in Europe where yields were reaching record levels, but that capacity would remain 'about the same'