Ovation confirmed to China

[MADflyer]

After doing two preview sailings from Southampton, Ovation of the Seas will first sail to Barcelona and on to Dubai and Singapore for deployment from Beijing, Tianjin, China.

 

The first itineraries are posted on website cruise cal dot com.

 

Ovation Of The Seas Depart: 05:00 PM 06/12/2016 Singapore

Ovation Of The Seas 06/13/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas 07:00 AM - 06:00 PM 06/14/2016 Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam

Ovation Of The Seas 06/15/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas 06/16/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas Arrive: 08:00 AM 06/17/2016 Hong Kong, China

Ovation Of The Seas Depart: 03:00 PM 06/18/2016 Hong Kong, China

Ovation Of The Seas 06/19/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas 10:00 AM - 07:00 PM 06/20/2016 Okinawa, Japan

Ovation Of The Seas 06/21/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas 09:00 AM - 08:00 PM 06/22/2016 Seoul (inchon), Korea

Ovation Of The Seas 06/23/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas Arrive: 07:00 AM 06/24/2016 Beijing, Tianjin, China

[MADflyer]

Ovation is currently scheduled for a short maiden voyage from Southampton on April 17th 2016.

 

Ovation Of The Seas Depart: 05:00 PM 04/17/2016 London, Southampton, England

Ovation Of The Seas 07:00 AM - 07:00 PM 04/18/2016 Cherbourg, France

Ovation Of The Seas 07:00 AM - 09:00 PM 04/19/2016 Le Havre (Paris), France

Ovation Of The Seas 04/20/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas 07:00 AM - 06:30 PM 04/21/2016 Brussels (Zeebrugge), Belgium

Ovation Of The Seas Arrive: 07:00 AM 04/22/2016 London, Southampton, England

[MADflyer]

The second Southampton sailing is a 7 night sailing.

 

These calls had been found as 'Anthem' at port websites, but confirmed today from cruise cal dot com.

 

Ovation Of The Seas Depart: 04:30 PM 04/22/2016 London, Southampton, England

Ovation Of The Seas 04/23/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM 04/24/2016 Gijon, Spain

Ovation Of The Seas 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM 04/25/2016 Bilbao, Spain

Ovation Of The Seas 04/26/2016 At Sea

Ovation Of The Seas 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM 04/27/2016 St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Ovation Of The Seas 07:00 AM - 09:00 PM 04/28/2016 Le Havre (Paris), France

Ovation Of The Seas Arrive: 05:30 AM 04/29/2016 London, Southampton, England

[tx121]

Maybe they have seen how unpopular the Quantum class is in the Western market and have decided to place them in the Far East.I personally enjoyed the Quantum class. Dynamic Dining was ok, preferred traditional dining. I'm surprised they are still trying to roll out dynamic dining on the Oasis class. When will they learn it doesn't work?

[MADflyer]

I enjoyed the Quantum class as well, but can imagine there are efficiencies to market Quantum from Shanghai and then Ovation from Beijing at the same time, rather than having different classes of ships from the two major ports.

 

I would have never predicted this a few years ago, but it seems to make sense now.

 

When I think that it is only the top 1% of the Chinese market that will even be potential passengers, the strategy of putting old ships to develop this high end market does not seem very wise now.

[wolfganghowell]

Sorry kind of ridiculous that both Q class ships will be in Asia. There are many of us in the US that would like to sail them but can only afford, both financially and time-wise, to stick to the Caribbean for a week vacation. Not cool.

[Bobal]

Sorry kind of ridiculous that both Q class ships will be in Asia. There are many of us in the US that would like to sail them but can only afford, both financially and time-wise, to stick to the Caribbean for a week vacation. Not cool.

 

Agree. What a shame to send 2 of the newest and most innovative ships to China :(

[PompeySailor]

I enjoyed the Quantum class as well, but can imagine there are efficiencies to market Quantum from Shanghai and then Ovation from Beijing at the same time, rather than having different classes of ships from the two major ports.

 

I would have never predicted this a few years ago, but it seems to make sense now.

 

When I think that it is only the top 1% of the Chinese market that will even be potential passengers, the strategy of putting old ships to develop this high end market does not seem very wise now.

 

For just one country with a population of 1,363 950 000 billion people

At 1% that's still targeting 13,639 500 pax just for China.

Interesting where you got the 1% from

 

Now the U.S. population at 324,444 843 at 1% would be only 3,244 484 pax

I can see why they targeted China:)

 

And to add with probably 80% of those on the ships gambling, I can see the bean counters already licking their lips

 

Will also include others from the East and Australasia and Europe as well.

I am sure RC have done their math and homework..:D

 

NOTE: populations were accurate statement 6:00PM according to world population clock

Edited March 24, 2015 by PompeySailor

[MADflyer]

Agree. What a shame to send 2 of the newest and most innovative ships to China :(

 

Well, hopefully if these 2 ships are successful, they will help finance the many newer and more innovative ships that may come to the US market in the future.

 

RCI maintain their older ships very well and keep them updated with new features and in 2016 they will have the newly renovated Liberty at Galveston, the newly renovated Explorer at Seattle, the new Anthem at Cape Liberty and the new Harmony at Port Everglades along with the newly renovated Allure and the newly renovated Oasis at Port Canaveral.

 

I hardly see the record deployment to the US ports as neglect.

[Bobal]

Well, hopefully if these 2 ships are successful, they will help finance the many newer and more innovative ships that may come to the US market in the future.

 

RCI maintain their older ships very well and keep them updated with new features and in 2016 they will have the newly renovated Liberty at Galveston, the newly renovated Explorer at Seattle, the new Anthem at Cape Liberty and the new Harmony at Port Everglades along with the newly renovated Allure and the newly renovated Oasis at Port Canaveral.

 

I hardly see the record deployment to the US ports as neglect.

 

I didn't mention neglect and nor do I have any great interest in which ships sail from which US ports - if you take care to note my signature I am not from the US but from the UK and I and sail often in Europe, as well as the US and have enjoyed cruises in the Far East and Australia over the last few years.

 

I am well versed in the different RC ships and the improvements which have been made to them, having sailed in many of them during my cruises with RC, both pre and post revitalisation.

 

However, I still think it's a shame that they send 2 of their newest and most innovative ships to China. Sorry - that's just the way I feel :)

Edited March 24, 2015 by Bobal

[MADflyer]

I didn't mention neglect and nor do I have any great interest in which ships sail from which US ports - if you take care to note my signature I am not from the US but from the UK and I and sail often in Europe, as well as the US and have enjoyed cruises in the Far East and Australia over the last few years.

 

I am well versed in the different RC ships and the improvements which have been made to them, having sailed in many of them during my many cruises with RC, both pre and post revitalisation.

 

However, I still think it's a shame that they send 2 of their newest and most innovative ships to China. Sorry - that's just the way I feel :)

 

Ok. Sorry, I was basing that response as your reply was to the poster that did specifically mention the US.

 

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion. I just think RCI seem to be doing the best they can with the resources they have.

[nyc12345]

If you look at the prices they are charging for Quantum in China, you would understand why they are sending the newest over there. Although I am interested in Quantum, and also interested in going to China, I would not pay the price they are demanding at this time. I wonder if people from China are paying the same price or even more money than those who live in other countries. Or would they reduce price at the end because they can't fill the ship to capacity with just the locals?

[Havingfun2010]

If you look at the prices they are charging for Quantum in China, you would understand why they are sending the newest over there. Although I am interested in Quantum, and also interested in going to China, I would not pay the price they are demanding at this time. I wonder if people from China are paying the same price or even more money than those who live in other countries. Or would they reduce price at the end because they can't fill the ship to capacity with just the locals?

 

I doubt very much they have a issue with filling the ships in China. It's a big market, and the last I checked, they have more locals than the US.

[Havingfun2010]

However, I still think it's a shame that they send 2 of their newest and most innovative ships to China. Sorry - that's just the way I feel :)

 

 

I agree. One yes, but not two

[brfan]

Sorry kind of ridiculous that both Q class ships will be in Asia. There are many of us in the US that would like to sail them but can only afford, both financially and time-wise, to stick to the Caribbean for a week vacation. Not cool.

 

Both? Poor Anthem the forgotten Q class ship :D Anthem is currently scheduled to be sailing out of New Jersey starting in November 2015 until at least 2017. Of course that is assuming Bermuda gets their dredging done.

[nyc12345]

Both? Poor Anthem the forgotten Q class ship :D Anthem is currently scheduled to be sailing out of New Jersey starting in November 2015 until at least 2017. Of course that is assuming Bermuda gets their dredging done.

 

Both Quantum and Ovation, two out of three...

[pspercy]

Slightly OT but what is the smoking policy on China sailings?

[MADflyer]

Slightly OT but what is the smoking policy on China sailings?

 

I think RCI currently keep their smoking policy the same across the fleet. As they are selling some Shanghai and Beijing sailings on the global market, I would expect they would continue to do so.

 

That certainly may not be the case for the RCI/CTRIP joint venture line SkySea Cruises that is starting up in April. The ships added to this fleet might have altered policies.

[sauvichick]

If anyone has read the Jan/Feb issue of cruise travel many lines are sending over ships to Asia. RC will have a total of 4 ships excluding the Ovation. Carnival will have 4, Costa 3, and Princess 2. I understand that 2 of Royal's ships are new, but we will have 2 new ones and many others.

Edited March 25, 2015 by sauvichick

[DirtyDawg]

I guess some of my fellow cruisers are just going to have to learn to share their toys with others.

 

Welcome to the new world order.

[MADflyer]

The Ovation of the Seas preview sailings and repositioning cruises to China are now open for sale on the RCI website.

[nyc12345]

I think RCI currently keep their smoking policy the same across the fleet. As they are selling some Shanghai and Beijing sailings on the global market, I would expect they would continue to do so.

 

That certainly may not be the case for the RCI/CTRIP joint venture line SkySea Cruises that is starting up in April. The ships added to this fleet might have altered policies.

 

They may need to add more places for people to smoke (when cruising in China) if they want to keep their customers happy.

[Bobal]

They may need to add more places for people to smoke (when cruising in China) if they want to keep their customers happy.

 

Well they'll be making the casino bigger and that's one big smoking room on all RC ships anyway :(

[somerandomidiot]

 

And to add with probably 80% of those on the ships gambling, I can see the bean counters already licking their lips.

 

 

I'd be interested on what the % are, especially considering this is a population used to the insane table minimums they have in Macao, even for mass market players.

 

I'm not sure if RCI currently breaks out their hold percentages but it'd be fun to see how they compare to Chinese subsidiaries of co's like lvs mpel mgm wynn

[PompeySailor]

I'd be interested on what the % are, especially considering this is a population used to the insane table minimums they have in Macao, even for mass market players.

 

I'm not sure if RCI currently breaks out their hold percentages but it'd be fun to see how they compare to Chinese subsidiaries of co's like lvs mpel mgm wynn

 

Even if RC get a small slice of the Macau pie, it will be some major revenue for sure.

Having played at casinos in Macau and Genting pretty sure minimum wage will be $25 and VIP area minimums will be $100.

That was what we experienced, so would figure RC would follow the land based casinos for that demographic of punter.

 

There will be no craps table, that's for sure, and about 10 Baccarat tables.

This is what I was told from an employee who works for CR.

Casino will be gutted and reconfigured to fit in as many tables as possible.

 

Probably will be a 100% smoking casino as well, this part I am assuming;)

Edited March 25, 2015 by PompeySailor