Deployment Schedule 2016-2017. Let the guessing begin

[MADflyer]

[quote name='celebrity_fan']

BTW: it was announced today that also the new itineraries for Harmony and Ovation will be announced next month... can't wait! [emoji5][/QUOTE]

I was actually surprised that they plan to release both Ovation and Harmony in April 2016, but I do now think that is now linked to the continued Indy bookings in the Caribbean, when it appears Indy is heading to Europe. Anthem and Ovation then become almost directly interchangeable as to which one is based in Cape Liberty and which one in Florida.

I had expected to hear that Ovation would not be released until June 2016 or later.

I am starting to wonder if some changes in deployment have been brought on by the recent flood of announced new ships into Miami by the competition.

[woodscruise]

When we were on Voyager of the Seas after the refit in Singapore last year, we noticed that the ship was modify greatly to the Asian market. There were numerous high end shops placed onboard, and one shop assistant even commented that the ship was catering for the Asian market. They advised that all they do is change the shops products for the Australian market. The signage around the ship is in both languages, and the menus cater for all languages. The casino on board was enlarged and they open up the various areas as required. Therefore it would be easy to send any ship from the Asian market.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

[quote name='MADflyer']I was actually surprised that they plan to release both Ovation and Harmony in April 2016, but I do now think that is now linked to the continued Indy bookings in the Caribbean, when it appears Indy is heading to Europe. Anthem and Ovation then become almost directly interchangeable as to which one is based in Cape Liberty and which one in Florida.

I had expected to hear that Ovation would not be released until June 2016 or later.

I am starting to wonder if some changes in deployment have been brought on by the recent flood of announced new ships into Miami by the competition.[/QUOTE]

I'm still trying to figure out what ships will be sailing from Florida summer 2016...

1 Oasis Class year round in PE
1 Oasis Class seasonally in PE
1 Oasis Class year round in PC
Ovation year round? from PE? 7 nights? 6/8 nights?

Do you think any other ships will sail from Florida throughout the summer? I would personally hope for a ship to do longer itineraries (8-10 nights) throughout the summer, but I don't if that is even a possibility.

I noticed you mentioned Miami and competition, do you think Royal would ever base another ship there? Edited February 25, 2015 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[norcalemt02]

[quote name='Dave85']Very interesting... They're doubling down on the Bionic Bar. I wonder what it will replace on the promenade.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app[/QUOTE]


Also said that Starbucks will be relocated to the boardwalk. Could be located there instead.

[kruzerci]

[quote name='norcalemt02']Also said that Starbucks will be relocated to the boardwalk. Could be located there instead.[/QUOTE]


That's smart to get some traffic going out there. It's kind of under-utilized.

[kkorman]

[quote name='OfTheSeasCruiser']

Do you think any other ships will sail from Florida throughout the summer? I would personally hope for a ship to do longer itineraries (8-10 nights) throughout the summer, but I don't if that is even a possibility.
[/QUOTE]

They had difficulty filling vision on short sailing this summer, cannot imagine a bigger ship with longer itineraries. Though that would be the only ship sailing it.

[Tall-Cruiser]

[quote name='MADflyer']I was on both the Oasis and Quantum TA sailings and just from the perspective of internet connection, the Oasis was 'smarter' than Q.

I would think the Bionic Bar might be placed on deck 6 across from the Schooner bar as I know they plan to greatly reduce the 'footprint' of the Focus photo shops on all the ships like they have done on Quantum.

I am not sure if the Royal promenade includes only deck 5, but it would seem to include the area of deck 6 above the promenade.[/QUOTE]

Or maybe the Bionic Bar goes were Cup Cake is, and Cup Cake gets moved somewhere else, maybe to the Boardwalk if they still decide to keep it.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

[quote name='Tall-Cruiser']Or maybe the Bionic Bar goes were Cup Cake is, and Cup Cake gets moved somewhere else, maybe to the Boardwalk if they still decide to keep it.[/QUOTE]

Well the cupcake place got removed from Oasis so I don't think they'd even bother putting it on Harmony, which would then free up enough space for the Bionic Bar. :)

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

[quote name='kkorman']They had difficulty filling vision on short sailing this summer, cannot imagine a bigger ship with longer itineraries. Though that would be the only ship sailing it.[/QUOTE]

Well I guess I can keep my fingers crossed and hope I get lucky! ;) I'm not even asking for a big ship, I'd be happy with a Vision/Radiance/Voyager class ship!

But I would love them to at least continue the 6/8 itineraries throughout the summer, instead of just winter. :) I've been wanting to sail the 8 night itinerary for a long time, but it seems to never work with our schedules. Edited February 26, 2015 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[Paulette3028]

[quote name='kkorman']They had difficulty filling vision on short sailing this summer, cannot imagine a bigger ship with longer itineraries. Though that would be the only ship sailing it.[/QUOTE]

DH and I would love to take longer cruises...but 14 day cruises just don't fit our schedule....even an 11 day cruise when we have to fly to Europe (as an example) and plan for 3-5 additional days, just doesn't work for us and our work schedules.

We found an 8 day itinerary from S. Florida that fit for us and just came off Indy. That extra day (since our longest prior cruise was 7) was great.

Would we love to have a 9 or 10 day itinerary option available from S. Florida sure. Will it happen....unlikely is my guess. Having multiple ships in S. Florida -- it would be nice to have a ship do a 9 day then a 5 day, for a complete two week rotation. Then do it again....it gives people who can only take off a short time, the opportunity and then those that can get away for a few extra days....an opportunity for them. As I said, I don't expect it.

[kruzerci]

[quote name='Paulette3028']D



Would we love to have a 9 or 10 day itinerary option available from S. Florida sure. Will it happen....unlikely is my guess. Having multiple ships in S. Florida -- it would be nice to have a ship do a 9 day then a 5 day, for a complete two week rotation. Then do it again....it gives people who can only take off a short time, the opportunity and then those that can get away for a few extra days....an opportunity for them. As I said, I don't expect it.[/QUOTE]


They have that already. They have regular 9, 10, 11, and 12 night sailings on Legend and Serenade this year and next year.

[Tall-Cruiser]

[quote name='OfTheSeasCruiser']Well the cupcake place got removed from Oasis so I don't think they'd even bother putting it on Harmony, which would then free up enough space for the Bionic Bar. :)[/QUOTE]


Sorry I forgot about that. Changed to a Kate Spade shop.

[Ourusualbeach]

[quote name='Elizanessie']With Ovation and Harmony coming out at the same time then I am guessing one of them will sail in Europe while the other sails from Florida. Best of both worlds.

[url]http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1130/new-generation-oasis-class-ship-harmony-of-the-seas-unveils-new-thrills-and-adventures/[/url][/QUOTE]

I'm guessing that they will both spend the summer in Europe. Ovation sailing from Southampton and Harmony sailing from Barcelona.

In the fall Ovation makes her way to FLL and Harmony to Port Canaveral.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

[quote name='Ourusualbeach']I'm guessing that they will both spend the summer in Europe. Ovation sailing from Southampton and Harmony sailing from Barcelona.

In the fall Ovation makes her way to FLL and Harmony to Port Canaveral.[/QUOTE]

Regarding Ovation: That's what I was originally thinking, however, recent bookings of Indy in Northern Europe (as mentioned earlier in this thread) lead me to believe that Ovation and Indy might have recently switched places, with Indy going to Southampton along with a Voyager Class ship, and Ovation coming straight to Florida. But that's just my $.02!

[Ourusualbeach]

[quote name='OfTheSeasCruiser']Regarding Ovation: That's what I was originally thinking, however, recent bookings of Indy in Northern Europe (as mentioned earlier in this thread) lead me to believe that Ovation and Indy might have recently switched places, with Indy going to Southampton along with a Voyager Class ship, and Ovation coming straight to Florida. But that's just my $.02![/QUOTE]

Missed that part about the Indy. Could she be there as a placeholder? Seems strange that Southampton would get Anthem in 2015 and then back to Indy in 2016 unless the bookings for Anthem were down.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

[quote name='Ourusualbeach']Missed that part about the Indy. Could she be there as a placeholder? Seems strange that Southampton would get Anthem in 2015 and then back to Indy in 2016 unless the bookings for Anthem were down.[/QUOTE]

Apparently (I have no first hand experience), Anthem is not as well received in the UK as expected. I've seen reports that people would prefer Indy. Not sure if this really is accurate, but a possibility.

[springaussie]

With the amount of new ships heading to Florida November 2016 maybe Royal could just send Harmony to Singapore for the higher cruise fares and the mighty gambling $$$$.

[geoff2802]

[quote name='springaussie']With the amount of new ships heading to Florida November 2016 maybe Royal could just send Harmony to Singapore for the higher cruise fares and the mighty gambling $$$$.[/QUOTE]


Agreed - the Caribbean cruise market is saturated with capacity, as evidenced by the fares and level of promotional activity. I can understand Royal deploying their latest and greatest to Florida, so its probably more likely that an earlier Oasis class moves to Asia rather than Harmony.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[woodscruise]

How much alteration do they do to a ship for the Asian market? Does it cost big dollars. If this is the case then it may make sense in sending Harmony directly to Asia.

[sparkx]

[quote name='Dave85']Very interesting... They're doubling down on the Bionic Bar. I wonder what it will replace on the promenade.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app[/QUOTE]


Id just assumed it would replace the Champagne/R Bar location. But equally the space opposite schooner where focus is could be a good location

[bigeck]

Been looking at Serenade.
It shows up in Copenhagen then disappears. So it must be doing similar to this year and changing to Stockholm and then back to Copenhagen before the Ta. Stockholm's schedule hasn't been released yet.

I also noticed this years itinerary's for Serenade is selling well and are pretty expensive. Some have 3 nights in St Petersburg and also to the North Cape.

[Ethanol95]

[quote name='woodscruise']How much alteration do they do to a ship for the Asian market? Does it cost big dollars. If this is the case then it may make sense in sending Harmony directly to Asia.[/QUOTE]

I agree, especially since they have decided to put Bionic Bar and Wonderland on Harmony. The South-East Asian Market as well as Hong Kong are very fussy eaters and generally like more classier service and products such as food. So I see this as being a step forward that RCI is taking to capture the market while the money is still here.

[woodscruise]

Geoff and Springaussie,

I noticed that the Sydney ports was updated 25 February and it is still showing the Celebrity Solstice being in Sydney when according to Celebrity website she is in Singapore drydock. I know I have mentioned this before, but am now wondering if this could be a placement for another RCCL ship, as the Celebrity has released there schedules. Also Springaussie, the March entry with Explorer and Azamara Quest still showing.

[shipfriend_max]

[quote name='bigeck']Been looking at Serenade.
It shows up in Copenhagen then disappears. So it must be doing similar to this year and changing to Stockholm and then back to Copenhagen before the Ta. Stockholm's schedule hasn't been released yet.

I also noticed this years itinerary's for Serenade is selling well and are pretty expensive. Some have 3 nights in St Petersburg and also to the North Cape.[/QUOTE]

Yes, it seems that Serenade is offering such cruises in 2016 as well, if the Copenhagen cruise list is still accurate. [emoji5]
IMHO very interesting sailings!
But I still have no idea about Harwich, whether those sailing are selling well to offer them again in 2016, or if they will be dropped down in the next season?? :confused:

And to the fact regarding Ovation, I also see Ovation switching directly to US after her debut in Europe, and Indy heading back to Europe.
I think, especially the UK market with rather conservative cruise clients does not demand for such ships with the latest gimmicks...

[MADflyer]

I actually fully understand the value of the Australian market for the growth of RCI, but I guess I just see the growth potential a little different.

When I look at the CLIA stats for 2013 it indicates some interesting things.
One thing is that Australians prefer longer cruises with the greatest growth in the 8 to 14 day segment. That must be a major factor.

[url]http://www.cruising.org.au/downloads/CLIA-Report-2013.pdf[/url]

But then when I look at what markets they travel to at a distance, Asia does not stand out.

What stands out for me, especially with the growth of the Gulf airlines feeding other markets is that they are traveling in great numbers to Europe.

With River Cruise growth at 25% with most represented in Europe and then with 7% of Australian cruisers choosing MED cruises annually now and only 2.9% Northern Europe sailings, but with a total growth of 34% in Europe, I see Australians as a major feeder market for Europe.

So, I actually see RCI gaining more by raising the number of Australians traveling to Europe to above 20% annually than the current 16% or so than by them getting more of them to cruise close to home. Market penetration in Australia has now surpassed the USA market and thus the deployment of so many ships there.

So for me, the more Asians and Australians who travel to Europe along with the well developed American market, bring travelers that spend more money onboard and on excursions, the farther they have traveled to cruise.

With Asian sailings, especially those that go after the casino money on the short term, offering shorter sailings and then adding how deployment to Asia 'changes' the product, I actually see a ships deployment to Europe as more targeted to the Australian market than putting a ship in Asia.

Another thing that stands out for me is that while the lines have been easily attracting Australians to Europe, the failure appears to be in the Caribbean with only 2.3 % of Australians choosing to cruise in the region and only 2.9% to Alaska.

While Europeans travel in droves to the Caribbean, it is understandable why the Australians do not see the region as a major draw with the proximity of their favored South Pacific region sailings.

So while 2/3rds of their sailings are close to home in Australia, New Zealand and the south pacific, I see their value in other markets as more important as a key feeder market to fill ships all around the globe for longer periods of time, not short casino junkets in Asia.

So, when RCI grow in Europe, Florida and other international US tourism hubs this is also a crucial part of taking advantage of the growth of cruising in Australian and Asian home port markets.