Why was the enchantment the only stretched ship?

[nachos26usa]

Just curious if anyone has any insight into why you think Royal decided to stretch one ship and not the others?

It's just amazing to me how different each ship is in comparison despite they are the same in each class. I really think these ships could have benefitted from the extra length.

 

 

Thoughts?

[yes!yes!yes!]

I thought a few had been stretched. the rhapsody has

[tomatosauce]

Only the one Vision class was extended which is why Vision is actually 4 different classes of ships (2, 2, 1 and 1). It worked well as an experiment but the cost wasn't worth the gain. Also stretching a Vision class doesn't really allow it to add features to turn it in to a Radiance class or similar.

[Paulxyz2004]

I thought a few had been stretched. the rhapsody has

 

 

Not true! In the current RCI fleet the Enchantment otS is the only ship that has been stretched.

 

The reason for not stretching any of the others is simply econnomics. They figured that it din´t make sense Money wise to Stretch any others. In Addition not every ship can be easily stretched. Ships are built in segments, almost like if you put Lego´s on each others. Now if they Stretch a ship, they Need to find a space where they have an "easy" clear cut through the ship and not all ships will have that.

 

I think one of the most recent Stretches is the MSC Armonia and the plan is to Stretch all ships of the Mistral class of MSC.

 

Other ships that come to my mind are the Balmoral that has been stretched. And one of the first, or even the first to do this was the Royal Viking line back in the 80´s.

[FLACRUISER99]

Not true! In the current RCI fleet the Enchantment otS is the only ship that has been stretched.

 

The reason for not stretching any of the others is simply econnomics. They figured that it din´t make sense Money wise to Stretch any others. In Addition not every ship can be easily stretched. Ships are built in segments, almost like if you put Lego´s on each others. Now if they Stretch a ship, they Need to find a space where they have an "easy" clear cut through the ship and not all ships will have that.

 

I think one of the most recent Stretches is the MSC Armonia and the plan is to Stretch all ships of the Mistral class of MSC.

 

Other ships that come to my mind are the Balmoral that has been stretched. And one of the first, or even the first to do this was the Royal Viking line back in the 80´s.

NCL has also stretched some ships. Windward & Dreamward come to mind. Edited December 20, 2014 by FLACRUISER99

[OTownNick]

As others have alluded to, the stretch was not enough bang for the buck.

Edited December 20, 2014 by OTownNick

[SC_Floaters]

In 2005, the Enchantment of the Seas was overhauled. Part of overhaul included stretching the vessel by cutting it in two amidships and adding a 73-foot (22 m) long section. Enchantment of the Seas entered dry dock at Keppel Verolme shipyards in Rotterdam on 15 May 2005. The mid-body extension section was built at Aker Finnyards ahead of time, allowing the construction to be done in just over a month.

 

The ship resumed service on July 7, 2005, less than two months after entering dry dock. The new section included 151 new staterooms, outdoor trampoline bungees, suspension bridges, an expanded pool area, a 64-jet interactive fountain area for kids, and floor windows allowing an unobstructed view of the ocean below. During its time out of service, Enchantment of the Seas also received an overall renovation, which included paintings by Paul Critchley for the Windjammer cafe.

 

When the extension project was approved, an extension of Enchantment of the Seas '​s sister ship, Grandeur of the Seas was also planned, with tentative plans to extend other ships in the Vision class (and possibly throughout the fleet). However, while the Enchantment of the Seas project was successful it proved to be prohibitively expensive, and all future extension projects have been cancelled. Instead, the Voyager class was extended on paper, and the Freedom class was created, using the shipyard capacity previously booked for the Vision class extensions.

 

Dennis & Sue

[island lady]

The stretch added more cabins, but not more common areas except for the biggest pool area in the small ship fleet ;). The inside common areas then added more crowding due to carrying more passenger load.

Edited December 20, 2014 by island lady

[Clarea]

The stretch added more cabins, but not more common areas except for the biggest pool area in the small ship fleet ;). The inside common areas then added more crowding due to carrying more passenger load.

I agree, I notice the crowding most in Windjammer.

Edited December 20, 2014 by clarea

[Paulette3028]

The stretch added more cabins, but not more common areas except for the biggest pool area in the small ship fleet ;). The inside common areas then added more crowding due to carrying more passenger load.

 

This makes no sense. If they slide in a new midsection (which basically is what they did), yes they did add 151 more cabins, but there HAD to be more common area added on at the same time.

 

The ship resumed service on July 7, 2005, less than two months after entering dry dock. The new section included 151 new staterooms, outdoor trampoline bungees, suspension bridges, an expanded pool area, a 64-jet interactive fountain area for kids, and floor windows allowing an unobstructed view of the ocean below.

Dennis & Sue

 

As you can see from what SC_Floaters posted there were these specific common areas added and I am sure some additional generic seating areas as well.

[SC_Floaters]

Boleros (Latin Lounge) was added during the stretch.

 

Check out the article on Royal's Site from 2005 at

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ourCompany/pressCenter/pressReleases/info.do?prDate=07-06-2005&prCode=A

 

Dennis

[Clarea]

This makes no sense. If they slide in a new midsection (which basically is what they did), yes they did add 151 more cabins, but there HAD to be more common area added on at the same time. ...

Yes, more common space was added in the center of the ship, but not at the ends, where Windjammer, fitness center, and the theater are located.

[PSCruiser]

While Boleros was a nice addition, I think the crowding is most noticeable in the theater - too bad there was no way to add a bunch more seats.

 

Currently on Serenade, CD John Blair and wife Katrina do a detailed (2 one hour presentations) on the history of RC. If I'm not mistaken they talk about one or two ships that were stretched in the infancy of RC.

[island lady]

I agree, I notice the crowding most in Windjammer.

 

Yup, we folks are jammed in there for sure! I get to jam in again in about a week from now. ;)

Edited December 20, 2014 by island lady

[island lady]

This makes no sense. If they slide in a new midsection (which basically is what they did), yes they did add 151 more cabins, but there HAD to be more common area added on at the same time.

 

 

 

As you can see from what SC_Floaters posted there were these specific common areas added and I am sure some additional generic seating areas as well.

 

151 cabins, at an average of 2 per cabin....hmmm...not hard to do the math for

dining areas, main lounges, theater, etc. where most congregate.

 

We still love the Enchantment and looking forward to yet another cruise on board in a few

days. Though she is starting to show her age, still a great way to celebrate the new year!

[Scotty G]

Yup, we folks are jammed in there for sure! I get to jam in again in about a week from now. ;)

 

Granted there is the nice sized pool and Boleros but the general overcrowding and no added lifts make her less fun than might have been. Elevators seem to be the least of RCI's concerns at least up to the Freedom Class. Yea I know they can't be added but doesn't make it any better :(

 

We too enjoy Enchantment and hope she is at PC for a long time.

 

Take care my friend!

[The Big Booper]

We were on the Enchantment right after the stretch, on the special 7 night run out of Boston up thru New England including Martha's Vineyard. Standing on the pier you could see where the new section was carefully inserted.

 

The Vision class is actually three sets of twins. The Enchantment was chosen because it's sections don't overlap like lego bricks so only one cut top to bottom is needed. The costs were prohibitive and that was the simplest ship to extend; that explains why the sister ship, Grandeur, was not stretched. On the other 4 ships the sections overlap so it would have necessitated cutting thru cabins on certain decks, crazy expensive.

 

I had all my pictures from that trip on only one computer and that hard drive crashed so I can't post any pics. Lesson learned - you can't have too many copies of trip pictures stored.

[Scotty G]

Yes, more common space was added in the center of the ship, but not at the ends, where Windjammer, fitness center, and the theater are located.

 

Agree Bob! All one has to do is look at the areas below the new arches on the top deck. That was the new section.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Enchantment_of_the_Seas#mediaviewer/File:Sportsandmainpool.jpg

 

Best picture I could find showing the arches spur of the moment. RCI tends not to put Enchantment specific pictures up but uses Vision generic.

Edited December 20, 2014 by Scotty G
clarify

[Debde]

.....and they took away the Basket Ball court!! :(

I know to some this sounds strange but will not book this ship again and that is the main reason. We also found it one of the most crowded WJ experiences too.

[Paulette3028]

Yes, more common space was added in the center of the ship, but not at the ends, where Windjammer, fitness center, and the theater are located.

 

The inserted section was put in the middle, it could not add space to the ends. But additional common space is still additional common space. I have been in theaters where they were not nearly full for a show, the WJ will never have enough space for everyone all at one time, or even for half of the cruisers at a given time (I don't believe they ever planned it for that capacity even) and the same for the gym.

[Ourusualbeach]

While Boleros was a nice addition, I think the crowding is most noticeable in the theater - too bad there was no way to add a bunch more seats.

 

Currently on Serenade, CD John Blair and wife Katrina do a detailed (2 one hour presentations) on the history of RC. If I'm not mistaken they talk about one or two ships that were stretched in the infancy of RC.

 

You are correct. Both Song of Norway and Nordic prince were stretched prior to the Enchantment.

[Scotty G]

The inserted section was put in the middle, it could not add space to the ends. But additional common space is still additional common space.

 

I have to say that your observations are correct but real usable common space other than Pool, Boleros, Casino, and the Photo Gallery was not added.

 

Our experiences on Enchantment show that overcrowding does occur in most venues outside these areas. In fact the added Boleros is about 1/4 the size of Boleros on The Sovereign Class and it gets overcrowded.

Edited December 20, 2014 by Scotty G

[island lady]

Granted there is the nice sized pool and Boleros but the general overcrowding and no added lifts make her less fun than might have been. Elevators seem to be the least of RCI's concerns at least up to the Freedom Class. Yea I know they can't be added but doesn't make it any better :(

 

We too enjoy Enchantment and hope she is at PC for a long time.

 

Take care my friend!

 

Hello Ian and Linda!! :)

 

Still hope to have our cruises coincide at some point in the future again, and wishing

you both a wonderful holiday! :)

[yj_eugene]

We too enjoy Enchantment and hope she is at PC for a long time.

 

Not me. I'd rather see Enchantment move to Miami to replace Majesty and something else take her place at PC.

[tahqa]

.....and they took away the Basket Ball court!! :(

I know to some this sounds strange but will not book this ship again and that is the main reason. We also found it one of the most crowded WJ experiences too.

 

None of the Vision class ships have ever had a basketball court.