Jumping Cruiser

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.

According to Anthem’s Captain Srecko, she will be in Australia after Alaska in 2025. Also, only Ovation has a TP up for sale in April 25, which makes this look like she will indeed replace Quantum for the summer season. Historically, the ships positioned in Alaska go to Australia for Winter, usually Ovation and Quantum. If Anthem is replacing Quantum in Alaska, I would like to think that she would also replace Quantum in Australia. (Port bookings may just be placeholders) However, Royal would still need an additional QC for the Asian market when Anthem leaves, which is where Quantum will come in, especially since she is well orientated to that region. My ‘guess’ is that she will head to Asia from Australia in April 25. This is all based though on the idea that Anthem is going to Alaska. Things may have changed since he told me a couple of months back. I think Ovation will have her dry dock (in Singapore?) after the Australia season 25/26 has ended, presumably going to Alaska or Asia afterwards.

Odyssey: Cape Liberty, NJ to Civitavecchia, Rome Independence: Miami, Florida to Southampton, England Explorer: I suspect this will be split in 2. Miami, Florida to Barcelona, Spain THEN Barcelona, Spain to Ravenna, Italy. Allure: Miami, Florida to Dry Dock in Cadiz, Spain (NON-REVENUE?) Brilliance: New Orleans, Louisiana to Amsterdam, The Netherlands (?) Voyager: Port Canaveral, Florida to Barcelona, Spain (?) All early 2025 TA’s should become available in November/December, but these are my best guesses based on port bookings and other general info.

I suspect these will be the QC deployments for 2025, based on port bookings and general knowledge. The only one that is a complete guess would be Singapore/China from May 2025. I suspect that the two ships will be Quantum and Spectrum, but not sure on which one would be based where. Quantum: Brisbane, Australia (Jan-Apr 2025) & Singapore/China (From May 2025) Anthem: Singapore (Jan-Apr 2025) & Alaska (May-Oct 2025) & Australia (From October 2025) Ovation: Sydney, Australia (Jan-Apr 2025) & Alaska (May-Oct 2025) Spectrum: Shanghai, China (Jan-Apr 2025) & Singapore/China (From May 2025) Odyssey: Cape Liberty, NJ (Jan-Apr 2025) & Civitavecchia, Italy (May-Oct 2025)

I agree that they leave it late, but they always seem to be able to capture demand regardless of when they release itineraries.

Just to confirm, Katie Knowles left Anthem today and Danny Turner has officially taken over.

Ponta Delgada, Azores - Port Bookings (Correct as of 15/09/23) Two new calls have been added for Explorer OTS, while one call for Independence OTS has been removed and replaced by another. 24th April 2025 - Brilliance OTS 27th April 2025 - Jewel OTS 4th May 2025 - Odyssey OTS 6th May 2025 - Independence OTS 7th May 2025 - Explorer OTS 10th May 2025 - Voyager OTS 8th August 2025 - Independence OTS 21st October 2025 - Explorer OTS. *NEW* 25th October 2025 - Independence OTS. *NEW* 29th October 2025 - Odyssey OTS 6th November 2025 - Explorer OTS *NEW*

Keep an eye on the 2025/26 deployment thread for all the details.

We had a few cabins on Anthem in June and not one of us got a bill emailed after we departed. We got a mid-cruise statement but nothing else and apparently lots of other guests were the same. I presume you will have to contact shoreside guest relations and see what they can do.

Ponta Delgada, Azores - Port Bookings (Correct as of 11/09/23) A new call has been added for Odyssey OTS, likely for her eastbound TA. The origin is marked as Cape Liberty, so this will probably be her 1st port of call, before continuing onto Cadiz. Also, Independence OTS has an additional call in October, probably for her westbound TA to Ft Lauderdale. 24th April 2025 - Brilliance OTS 27th April 2025 - Jewel OTS 4th May 2025 - Odyssey OTS. *NEW* 6th May 2025 - Independence OTS 7th May 2025 - Explorer OTS 10th May 2025 - Voyager OTS 8th August 2025 - Independence OTS 22nd October 2025 - Independence OTS. *NEW* 29th October 2025 - Odyssey OTS

As mentioned previously, it is expected that Allure will sail the 7-day Med itinerary in 2025, as a result of her dry dock. Today, I noticed that Royal have posted a ‘2024 Fleet Guide’ and the key for ‘amped’ ships is a small star emblem. Surprisingly, Allure has this star next to it. Either this is a mistake or possibly our first ‘official’ hint that an amplification is coming as part of her 2025 drydock.

I noticed that Royal have posted a ‘2024 Fleet Guide’ and the key for ‘amped’ ships is a small star emblem. Surprisingly, Allure has this star next to it. Either this is a mistake or possible our first ‘official’ hint that an amplification is coming in 2025.

Definitely! I hope it doesn’t give them any ideas! 😩

Amsterdam, Netherlands - Port Schedule (Correct as of 01/08/23) The latest monthly update for Amsterdam! A few new bookings have now appeared for Brilliance, as the port authority release bookings exactly 2 years before the proposed call. 17th May 2025 - Brilliance OTS 26th May 2025 - Brilliance OTS 7th June 2025 - Brilliance OTS 19th June 2025 - Brilliance OTS 27th June 2025 - Independence OTS 1st July 2025 - Brilliance OTS 13th July 2025 - Brilliance OTS 23rd July 2025 - Independence OTS 25th July 2025 - Brilliance OTS 6th August 2025 - Brilliance OTS. *NEW* 18th August 2025 - Brilliance OTS. *NEW* 30th August 2025 - Brilliance OTS. *NEW*