Royal Carribean orders a city

[Jason's Storm]

Royal Caribbean Orders Large Cruise

All Associated Press News
OSLO, Norway (AP) - Royal Caribbean International has ordered the world's largest and most expensive cruise ship, Europe's largest shipbuilder, Aker Yards ASA, said Monday.

The contract price for the new ship, designated Project Genesis, is 900 million euros -- or about $1 billion -- making it "the most valuable ship ever ordered in the history of commercial shipbuilding," the Oslo-based group said in a statement.

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The company said the 1,181-foot ship will have a capacity of 5,400 passengers. Its size will exceed by 43 percent Aker's "Freedom of the Seas," which is to be the world's largest cruise ship when it is delivered to Royal Caribbean in April.

The newly ordered ship is to be delivered in late 2009 after its construction at one of the group's Finnish yards, Aker Yards said.

The contract, which is contingent on final approval of financing, includes an option for a second ship.

Aker Yards said it has been building cruise ships for Miami-based Royal Caribbean for 35 years. The Royal Caribbean International brand is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

The shipbuilder's shares rose almost 6 percent to 347 kroner ($52.47) in morning trading on the Oslo stock exchange. Shares of Royal Caribbean rose 3 cents to $44.33 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Aker Yards employs about 13,000 people at 13 shipyards in Norway, Finland, Germany, Romania and Brazil.
-------------------------
Damn, where are they going to park that ship.

~JS

[deangreenhoe]

Damn, where are they going to park that ship.

In the ocean. They haven't gotten to the "where to park" question yet. :lol:

More importantly, where are they going to sail? Can you imagine piling off a ship on some small island with 5400 other passengers, especially when there are a few other baby behemoths in port at the same time?

I think this "size matters" in the cruise industry is getting out of control and sort of cheapens the experience.

I suppose next someone else will announce an even bigger ship with a roller coaster and ferris wheel on board. Go cart racing at sea anyone? <_<

[Jason's Storm]

I meant more along the lines, what pier would be able to handle such a large ship.

~JS

[trvlgirl]

I like the smaller ships...to me it is more of an experiance then a cattle call

[Anita Dunham-Potter]

I have calls into the various port authorities in the Caribbean where this ship "may" be able to berth. It will be limited. She's too big for 80% of the Caribbean ports. When I find out, I'll post here.

Anita

[jfrenaye]

I expect that aside from St. Thomas, perhaps Ochi, and maybe Cozumel when it is rebuilt, this will be a tender port ship.

Although I cannot imagine trying to disembark that many people on tenders, but hey there could be a new innovation...some sort of easily deployed 500 passenger quick boat to shuttle.

Time will tell--it is till many years off and almost a billion dollars away!

[deangreenhoe]

Thanks, Anita. It will be interesting to see just where this baby can actually go. We may have finally reached the saturation point where these gussied up aircraft carriers just might have to go out and do circles at sea.

Maybe Royal Caribbean should have kept the old baby ships like Song of Norway and Nordic Prince to use as tenders on this new class. B)

I still enjoyed cruising more in the old days when you could sail on more intimate ships without having to pay for super luxury. I think it was far easier to get to know your fellow passengers and enjoy their company. Service was far less hurried and impersonal.

I guess that just makes me sound old. Sigh.

[joyceandrews]

Sorry, but I think this is absolutely ridiculous. I have no desire to sail on a ship that large.

[pezmanffx]

I would love to go on it. I cant wait till it gets up to 2000 feet.

[Jason's Storm]

I read in the paper, that this ship is part of "Project Genisis" for Royal Carribean. So they could likely build a sister ship to this. I wonder what they would call it, because Genisis of the Seas, sounds dumb.

~JS

[Ned]

I suspect this ship is way too big for me. It will be interesting to see how they are going to tender in. Maybe they'll use jet boats or hydrofoil based boats which can really move.

Frankly, I don't want to hit port with 5400 fellow passengers. The other cruise lines will surely follow with more ships of 5000 or passengers. Can you image four or five of these ships hitting any Caribbean port in the same day, plus some of the smaller ships too. Can you imaging 20,000 to 30,000 passengers going ashore in Aruba, for example? It doesn't look good to me.

I don't want to be at any port with one of these babies docked or tendered. It will be more crazy than some of these ports are already. The ports can't take unlimited numbers of passengers each day if the passengers expect any kind of quality day in port.

[Kairho]

I'm not a big fan of cruising in the first place (unless it's a 100' dive liveaboard!), so the prospect of sharing a tin can with 4999 others for a week is quite offputting.

[silver cloud]

I'm one of the lesser few who are really excited to see this ship! Royal Caribbean has a knack of building ships that amaze me. First the Voyager class - there was 3300 of us not including staff and it wasn't ever truly crowded...except on a sea day by the pool. But no more crowded than on a smaller ship I've taken. Now here comes the Freedom class and then (drum roll please) Project Genesis.

I love cruising and love anything new that comes out so I'm really excited about it. To me the ship is the destination - not the port anyway. I'm been to most of the caribbean port of calls - so it's no big deal. At least to me...but then again I'm a dork! :lol:

Mary

PS: I know I'm a RCCL fanatic so take pity on me... :)

[Gesualdo]

Originally posted by Jason's Storm@Feb 7 2006, 09:55 PM
I read in the paper, that this ship is part of "Project Genisis" for Royal Carribean.* So they could likely build a sister ship to this.* I wonder what they would call it, because Genisis of the Seas, sounds dumb.

~JS
19733


Maybe it'll be Adam of the Seas...

[pezmanffx]

cruising is great. Your entire hotel moves while you sleep. The most crowded feeling ship I have been on was Carnival Fantasy (of course the entire cruise has issues). The least croweded ship was the old Norwegan Sea. Size doesnt matter. Its how you use it that matters. So has anyone ever been on rccl's Enchantment?

[cruiser]

This planned ship is way too large for me. However apart from port calls imagine what it's going to be like boarding and disembarking; it's bad enough on the present ships. Unless they also rebuild the cruise terminals I will avoid something this large. My ideal size of ship is somewhere between Holland America's ships and RCCL's Serenade of the seas which just gets through the Panama Canal.

[nobody122]

I've never really understood being on a cruise. Personally, I think they are pointless (basically like booking a vacation and spending 85% of the time in the hotel)--but I guess that appeals to a certain group of people. However, I don't think ports will have too many problems changing to accommodate given the time frame--I mean (as somebody who holds a masters in economics) 5400 people spending a few hours buying products (all made in china of course), using tour services, eating at local establishments, using cabs, ect ect will be a great benefit to the local economy (not to mention the port charges per passenger). But, IMHO, I dread vast amounts of tourists (I live in Europe so every May-September, my friends and I depart and go into seclusion with about 80% of the local population) and the effect they will have on the environment (all the trash and consumables have to be disposed of) and the prices in the local economy (tourists spending more money than the average resident makes will definately cause prices to increase pricing the local population out of many goods/services).

[weblet]

I've never really understood being on a cruise.

They have their place. I'm not a fanatic about them, but most clients who have been hesitant and I've sent on a first time cruise usually come back converted. These days there are so many ways to cruise that there really is one for everybody. The Caribbean isn't the only place to cruise..... Check out this company that I just got an email from, www.adventurecanada.com. This is about as far off the stereotype as you can get.

[nobody122]

Actually the only cruise I have been on was on a full-rigged yacht in the South Pacific. I am also big fan of Abercrombie&Kent (trying to secure an Antarctic cruise in 2 years), these types aren't "cruises" but more like adventures with ecology/history/education/culture attached. I see no point in being on a floating hotel with 2000+ other "guests" with no place to run to, plus where is the whole culture/history/exposure you get with standard traveling--its just not me.

[silver cloud]

Nobody, while I can understand your distaste of the idea of being stuck in a hotel I have to tell you that cruising can be whatever you want it to be. I have taken classes at sea, toured the ship which was very educational, read a book lying by the pool, exercized in the gym, jogged on the track at sunrise, met many, many good friends (we still email almost daily) and broadened my world. To me the ship is the destination, not the port. I am a cruise addict and proud of it. I'm not saying it's for everyone, but truly- until you've really experienced it how do you know?

Oh...the wonder of cruise builders even with the biggest of ships, is that they can put 3k+ people on a ship and it's truly never crowded. I'm serious. (ok, except on sea days by the pools.) I think they're magicians.

Anyway, I respect anyone who doesn't wish to cruise. But there is more to it than meets the eye.

[weblet]

Originally posted by nobody122@Feb 9 2006, 07:01 AM
Actually the only cruise I have been on was on a full-rigged yacht in the South Pacific.* I am also* big fan of Abercrombie&Kent (trying to secure an Antarctic cruise in 2 years), these types aren't "cruises" but more like adventures with ecology/history/education/culture attached.* I see no point in being on a floating hotel with 2000+ other "guests" with no place to run to, plus where is the whole culture/history/exposure you get with standard traveling--its just not* me.
19832


A&K - love those people. Wish I could get more clients to realize that yes, they are expensive, but worth every penny. I'm with you, though, on the 'adventures with ecology/history/education/culture attached.' No offense to silver cloud.

[jfrenaye]

And of course----the airline inndustry cannot be outdone....this is ridiculous!

http://www.travelfox.com/archive/20040705.htm

[weblet]

Wow. Not sure I'm going to get on one of those... :huh:

[susanliber]

Wow is right!! I cannot imagine shopping, bowling or swimming in mid air - how come there is no casino??!! LOL

[joyceandrews]

No one would ever get me on that plane. I remember when everyone was going to be flying the Concord. It didn't happen and hopefully neither will this plane.

[jfrenaye]

I actually flew the Concord on one of her last flights. BA invited me to fly from IAD to JFK before it's final flight home from JFK with all the muckety mucks.

A short hop, but quite an experience! And free to boot!

[weblet]

No need to rub it in that you mingle with the muckety-mucks... Hey, if you're mingling with those people how come this industry is still in a shambles???

[jfrenaye]

BA is doing fine! We are as well. Now the other legacy carriers------

BA Stock $56.51
CO Stock $21.20

Nuff said

[jfrenaye]

Man, I guess this has RCCL execs spinning...

http://www.travelfox.com

[weblet]

Originally posted by jfrenaye@Feb 9 2006, 05:46 PM
Man, I guess this has RCCL execs spinning...

http://www.travelfox.com
19925



AAAAHHHHHGGGGGG! It's the Poseidon Adventure!!

[Jason's Storm]

Originally posted by jfrenaye@Feb 9 2006, 05:46 PM
Man, I guess this has RCCL execs spinning...

http://www.travelfox.com
19925

I'd hate to be the island that has that ship getting ready to dock there. That is like having a county dock in your port.

~JS

[Ned]

Originally posted by Jason's Storm@Feb 9 2006, 07:19 PM
I'd hate to be the island that has that ship getting ready to dock there.* That is like having a county dock in your port.

~JS
19930

There would be no reason to get off the ship if you're a golfer. That par 72, 18 hole course will keep you swinging. Rumors are floating around that they've applied to the PGA to hold the Crown International Open on the course as a regular tour stop. TPA members are balking at the prospect, however. They say the course has too many water holes.

[cruisealot]

John,
How did the ship get from Kyrgyzstan to the ocean, being Kyrgyzstan is land locked? Did the super jumbo jet airlift it to the sea? Those are 2 funny stories! I wish they had made up a picture of the plane. Swimming on a plane; a little turbulance, and everybody gets wet!

[pezmanffx]

It looks like it doesn't have enough life boats. How did they get anyone to certify them?

[Kairho]

Originally posted by pezmanffx@Feb 10 2006, 11:12 AM
It looks like it doesn't have enough life boats. How did they get anyone to certify them?
19975

The Coast Guard recently approved a football-sized lifeboat package which has a complete lifeboat for 25 passengers made of a new "miracle fibre" developed by NASA which is only about 175 molecules thick. So it can easily fit in the package along with another miracle foam material which, upon contact with water, gives off inert nitrogen which inflates the boat. The covering of the football is water soluble and activates/dissolves immediately upon hitting the sea, thus permitting full deployment in about 25 seconds. Passengers and crew simply take the footballs out of their storage container and toss them into the sea. Larger ships can easily carry hundreds, or even thousands, of the devices.

[weblet]

Originally posted by Kairho@Feb 10 2006, 10:24 AM
The Coast Guard recently approved a football-sized lifeboat package which has a complete lifeboat for 25 passengers made of a new "miracle fibre" developed by NASA which is only about 175 molecules thick.* So it can easily fit in the package along with another miracle foam material which, upon contact with water, gives off inert nitrogen which inflates the boat.* The covering of the football is water soluble and activates/dissolves immediately upon hitting the sea, thus permitting full deployment in about 25 seconds.* Passengers and crew simply take the footballs out of their storage container and toss them into the sea.* Larger ships can easily carry hundreds, or even thousands, of the devices.
19978



Hmmm... No more obstructed view cabins??

[silver cloud]

It looks so dorky!!

BROBDINGNAGIAN

Of or relating to a gigantic person or thing.

[lmyrvold]

Last October when the Celebrity Galaxy was in Nassau, there were 7 ships in port: 2 Celebrity, 2 Carnival, one each Disney, Holland America and a small something. Thousands milling around in a very small area.

Not fun. Add Freedom or any other mega ship, and you might as well just stay on board. Might as well just go the a good resort in Kona-Kailua.

[Ned]

Originally posted by lmyrvold@May 23 2006, 09:18 PM
Last October when the Celebrity Galaxy was in Nassau, there were 7 ships in port:* 2 Celebrity, 2 Carnival, one each Disney, Holland America and a small something.* Thousands milling around in a very small area.*

Not fun.* Add Freedom or any other mega ship, and you might as well just stay on board.* Might as well just go the a good resort in Kona-Kailua.
27087

Imyrvold, I've been in ports, where I felt two ships were more than enough. Aruba is an example of that. If Freedom and another ship are in Aruba at one time, that's the same as 3 ships in port. It's too much as far as I'm concerned. When I'm in Aruba I stay away from the shop district of Oranjestad when ships are in port. There are enough resort areas to handle the daily influx of off-ship excursioners, but the shop area becomes wall to wall ship passenger bargain hunters. It's not all that pleasant. Many seem out of control, almost crazed as the pour into town out of the ships.

[silver cloud]

Ned, It does get pretty crazy when all the boats disembark. I usually wait a little bit and depending on the port I stayon the boat. I'm sure it's obvious by now that (other than shopping a bit in port) I really just love the boat! :lol:

[bodega]

Imyrvold, I have said the same thing. While I enjoy the amenities on board newer ships, I do not enjoy the ports when several are in at the same time. Last year in Nassau was absolutely awful. It was like Disneyland when the gates open, only worst. Unfortunately, Nassau has choosen to go the tourist route and we will never go back.

I think as a TC, I will sell the ships, such as Freedom of the Seas, as a destination and the ports as secondary for this exact reason.

[jjjenny]

I guess the ship could be sold as a destination. Think about it, so many people look at the resorts on land and many times choose the ones that offer the most (restaurants, bars, activities, etc).

[Ned]

Originally posted by jjjenny@May 25 2006, 10:49 AM
I guess the ship could be sold as a destination.* Think about it, so many people look at the resorts on land and many times choose the ones that offer the most (restaurants, bars, activities, etc).
27199

I think that's a great approach for many people. For myself, and especially my wife, it's the wrong approach. Without great off the ship excursions we don't book a cruise.

[silver cloud]

While I would never WANT to disagree with Ned (he's my hero) I do have to say that this ship IS the destination to me. However, when I take my Windjammer cruise - it will be all about the cool port of calls.

:P mary

7 months, 3 weeks and 4 days until Freedom of the Seas

[Ned]

Originally posted by silver cloud@Jul 18 2006, 09:46 AM
While I would never WANT to disagree with Ned (he's my hero) I do have to say that this ship IS the destination to me.* However, when I take my Windjammer cruise - it will be all about the cool port of calls.

:P* mary

7 months, 3 weeks and 4 days until Freedom of the Seas
31841

Never huh. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Don't forget, I want a complete report, especially as how a ship that large really works out. When you're on a ship that large do you feel like you're just a number, not a person? Do you feel like you're in a captive space with wall to wall people? And how well do they work getting on and off the ship at ports?

Enjoy the trip in 241 days (Best guess from an earlier post you made on when the cruise departs.).

[bodega]

My comment after our last Caribbean cruise was that there are TOO many cruise ships in port. The cruise lines are loving the ports of calls to death and the experience of each port is like Disneyland when they open the gates in the morning.

I love the amenities that the larger ships provide, but the amount of people per ship times 6-8 ships in at port, equals the population of a small to medium size town. Not enjoyable to me.

I would love to take a Windjammer Cruise or a Barefoot Cruise. Getting into smaller ports or coves without the crowds would be delightful.

[wrp96]

Bodega, if you want empty ports, try a cruise out of San Juan or go on a longer cruise. If you go on a 7-night cruise out of Florida, the ships all reach the same ports at the same time. When you start further south or go on a longer cruise, you hit the popular ports when no one else is there, and pick up ports that aren't traditionally reached on the Florida cruises. For example, I did a 10-night Panama Canal cruise, and we were the only ship in port in Grand Cayman, where it is now common for there to be 6 ships or more there on any given day. I did a 7-night out of San Juan, and we were the only ship in port in St. Martin and had only one ship with us in St. Thomas (both ports are usually extremely crowded).

[Ned]

Originally posted by wrp96@Jul 19 2006, 02:44 AM
Bodega, if you want empty ports, try a cruise out of San Juan or go on a longer cruise.* If you go on a 7-night cruise out of Florida, the ships all reach the same ports at the same time.* When you start further south or go on a longer cruise, you hit the popular ports when no one else is there, and pick up ports that aren't traditionally reached on the Florida cruises.* For example, I did a 10-night Panama Canal cruise, and we were the only ship in port in Grand Cayman, where it is now common for there to be 6 ships or more there on any given day.* I did a 7-night out of San Juan, and we were the only ship in port in St. Martin and had only one ship with us in St. Thomas (both ports are usually extremely crowded).
31933

That's certainly true sometimes, but if you're sailing on a Mega ship, that's like 2 or 3 ships coming into port itself.

[bodega]

Sometimes you can get lucky with a port, but like Ned stated, the larger ships still bring a lot of people into port. The ports we visited 22 years earlier, were not the same, quiet Caribbean towns in 2005. Nassau is nothing like it was back in 1983, on our first visit. We were so turned off by Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island, that we went back to the ship for day and the same with Ensenada on another cruise. Add 15,00-20,000 tourists at one time into this mix and it ijust s not pleasant. My clients have been complaining about Alaska, too, which is why we flew up and did an FIT(flexible itinerary....we drove around) instead.

Cabo isn't a little fishing area any longer, Kona-Kailua looks nothing like my parents saw it on their honeymoon in 1948 or how we first saw it in 1982. Cancun is the Maui of Mexico. Costa Rica is trying to make the Guanacaste area like Maui, which IMHO would be awful. When a location becomes a tourist destination, the charm often gets lost in all the 'improved' development.

Tourism can love a place to death :(

[Silly Jefferey]

[Removed post. This post had nothing to do with the Forum, topic, or discussion thread, or Travel in any way at all. There were no existing topics at Tripso in which the post fit. - Ned, Moderator]