Cruise With Christine Pappin: Oasis-class

Showing posts with label Oasis-class. Show all posts

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Oasis' Third Sister is Named

Harmony of the Seas^℠

Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas^℠ is the next addition to the Oasis class. Keeping with the tradition of innovation, she will have Royal Caribbean's first water slides at sea. This artist rendering shows the water slides, which will span three decks with exhilarating twists and turns.

Additional Announced Features

Harmony of the Seas also will feature a new Bionic Bar on the Royal Promenade.
Guests onboard Harmony of the Seas will enjoy RFID technology with Royal WOWBands.
Suite guests also will have exclusive new areas to enjoy like Coastal Kitchen and a Suite Sun Zone sun deck.
Dynamic Dining will come to Harmony of the Seas. Those preferring a more traditional cruise dining style may select the “Classic”option which will offer two set seating times. Dynamic Dining’s “Classic”option allows guests to rotate through each of the main complimentary restaurants at an early- or a late-seating time throughout their cruise with their dining group and the same assigned waiter each evening.
New specialty restaurant concepts including Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, Sabor Modern Mexican restaurant and Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine.

This ship, currently under construction at STX France, will be the third ship in the Oasis class which includes Allure of the Seas the largest ship at sea. It is scheduled to debut in April, 2016. A fourth unnamed ship is scheduled to be completed in 2018.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

50 Million Guests Can't Be Wrong

#RoyalWOW

Royal Caribbean International®

Celebrates Major Milestone

50 Million Guests

This year there has been a lot of negative press and attention to the cruise industry. While the majority of the press was aimed at one particular cruise line, all lines have seen an impact. The industry is strong and in the long run, this will only be a small blip on the radar. In fact, Royal Caribbean International has just welcomed their 50 millionth guest onboard their ships.

We live in what seems like "tragic times".   Every night on the news there are more stories with sad news about death, injury, and disasters, than there are uplifting stories with happy endings. Through the marvels of technology, we are connected in ways never before imagined and can be "live" on the scene anywhere in the world as news breaks out.

Unfortunately, there are many people that have considered cruising, but were not certain it was right for them.   When prospective first-time cruisers listen to the news and hear only negative "facts", it is understandable that they have doubts, and often decide to stay within their comfort zone.

Here is an Uplifting Story With More Happiness to Come

Royal Caribbean International was founded as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1968. They currently operate with a fleet of 21 ships, two of which are the largest ships afloat in the entire industry. There are three more ships being built over the next 3 years.

When you go on vacation, whether it be on a cruise, or to a hotel nearby or far from home, you have some expectations about your experience.    Royal Caribbean strives to deliver the "WOW" to each and every guest each time they sail on one of their ships.

Royal Caribbean, upon achieving this milestone, has demonstrated that it has delivered on that goal over the years. Guests who sail on RCI are very loyal. In fact their Crown & Anchor® Society just recently expanded their tiers to recognize members with 700 or more cruise points (which reflect the number of cruises, nights, and type of accommodations).

Celebrating All Year

Royal Caribbean is celebrating this milestone all year long.   Currently they are asking guests to submit their "WOWs" via Facebook, Twitter, or other means. For more information see their 50 Million Guests Page.   Watch this video to learn more about this milestone.

As part of this year-long celebration, we are collecting your ideas about what you'd like to see on the next Oasis-class ship. Maybe your idea will come to life ...   What Would You Like to See on Third Oasis-Class Ship

CONGRATULATIONS ROYAL CARIBBEAN ON THIS ACHIEVEMENT

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President Sales and Trade Support & Service, and the entire Royal Caribbean family for being such great travel partners. Together we strive to exceed our guest's dreams day after day. It is pretty easy to do when we can offer such a great product as RCI delivers the #RoyalWOW.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

What Would You Like to See on Third Oasis-Class Ship

Submit Your Ideas On our Facebook Page

As Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas begin the first signs of visible construction, Two Sisters Under Construction, it would be easy to overlook a third new build that is about to start. Construction of the third Oasis-class ship will begin in September 2013 at the STX France shipyards. The ship is expected to be delivered to Royal Caribbean sometime in 2016.

It is too early for details to be released, but amongst the reader's comments on the blog article Building New Cruise Ships: Unique & Unusual Stories, written by Adam Goldstein, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, he asked readers what they would like to see on the new ship. You'll have to see that article for some of the examples posted so far.

What Would You Like To See On New Oasis Ship?

As you know, Royal Caribbean has taken the best features from Oasis and Allure and, via the Royal Advantage program, are introducing them fleet wide. Our assumption is that the new Oasis-class ship will preserve the features of her sister ships, but there's always room for new innovation as well.

We thought it would be fun to build our own list of things we'd like to see on the new ship. There is so much to do on the current Oasis-class ships, and so many innovations already in existence today... but what is missing? If you were part of the planning committee, what ideas would you bring to the table?

Submit Your Ideas - Click the Image above to Enter Them via our Facebook Fan Page

We'll Gather Them and Bring them with us to our National Conference next month and share them with the Royal Caribbean Executive Team.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Another Sibling for Oasis and Allure

Oasis of the Seas Meets Allure of the Seas for First Time
Photo Courtesy Royal Caribbean

Two Sisters

Met in 2010

Another Sister

Planned for 2016

On Saturday, November 13, 2010, a historic first occurred when the two largest ships afloat met for the first time. The Allure of the Seas had just arrived from Finland to its home port of Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida when it was met by it's sister-ship Oasis of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean Confirms New Build

Royal Caribbean International has been in contract talks with ship-builder STX France. It appears that talks broke down with STX Finland, who built the currently sailing Oasis-class ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. RCI has just confirmed plans to build a third 5400 ton vessel, yet to be named, by mid-year 2016.

The Oasis-class ships have been so successful, with their seven neighborhoods and specialty dining options, that Royal Caribbean is in the midst of a $700 million revitalization program across the entire fleet. (see our Grandeur of the Seas Revitalization articles for one of the latest upgrades).

The cost of the new sister ship was not disclosed in the Royal Caribbean announcement, but when the rumors first surfaced in November, Royal had indicated the cost of the third ship was expected to be less per berth than the previous ships.

Royal Caribbean also has a one-year option to build a fourth ship in the Oasis-class.