Deployment 2018-19 booking season begins

[dsvd79]

But hasn't Quantum been Asianised? They took the music hall and other rooms out for a bigger casino?

[MindyJohn]

Can someone recap the speculation about Vision's delayed deployment after her October 2018 transatlantic back to Miami?

[Hoopster95]

Geoff2802, I hope your guesses are wrong because that means the number of ports that can berth the ships reduce, then the cruises become all about the ship rather than destination calls.

 

This post resonated to me... I feel this is exactly what Royal wants... mega ships comprised only of Voyager/Freedom/Oasis and Q Classes, less ports, thousands more stay on board to spend more money. The Royal cruise experience is evolving into ship focus and not at all itinerary focus. If you want great itineraries, you have to start thinking about leaving Royal

 

 

Whatever ship that would eventually replace Radiance, assuming it alternates with the Alaska itinerary as Radiance currently does, would also have to "fit" into the Alaskan ports of call. I'm thinking specifically of fitting under the bridge in Vancouver.

 

Lots of "ifs."

 

Another great post. Radiance Class has been a staple out of Vancouver for years (before it was Vision). HA and Princess has super old ships still operating up here due to the Lion's Gate Bridge height constraints and I think they will continue to do so to get them into Vancouver. Perhaps the final Radiance Class to exist in RCL when they are being sold will be doing the Alaska run (such as the revamped Empress to go to Cuba). Radiance is THE perfect ship for Alaska... along with Q Class!!

 

The only way Q Class comes to Alaska is to take over for Explorer, which makes perfect sense in my humble opinion. And I think that Q Class (only about 100ft longer than Solstice) can easily fit into Juneau and Skagway as Explorer and Solstice does by looking at all my photos of sail-in and sail-aways. But what do I know... maybe that extra 100ft length of the ship etc has issues in some of the ports, or getting her into Tracy Arm or Endicott Fjord for glacier viewing?

[suzyluvs2cruise]

This post resonated to me... I feel this is exactly what Royal wants... mega ships comprised only of Voyager/Freedom/Oasis and Q Classes, less ports, thousands more stay on board to spend more money. The Royal cruise experience is evolving into ship focus and not at all itinerary focus. If you want great itineraries, you have to start thinking about leaving Royal.

 

I think you may be right. Each year I eagerly await the new itineraries only to be disappointed. So far this year's releases are taking ports/itineraries away and not adding anything new and exciting.

[joandian]

Nope, was changed to TBD... http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2017_2018/17054855_Deployment_OpeningSchedule_Flyer.pdf

 

Ok thanks. I was getting all excited and ready to book.

[joandian]

Geoff2802, I hope your guesses are wrong because that means the number of ports that can berth the ships reduce, then the cruises become all about the ship rather than destination calls. There are already too many Australasia and Pacific Island port calls that other lines do which Royal goes nowhere near, so it becomes like the Caribbean same old same old.

 

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Me too. I enjoy the Voyager class and smaller ships and hate the mega liners. We went on Oasis once and decided it was way too big and crowded for us. We cruise to go somewhere not to just enjoy the ship.

[MAS2017]

Me too. I enjoy the Voyager class and smaller ships and hate the mega liners. We went on Oasis once and decided it was way too big and crowded for us. We cruise to go somewhere not to just enjoy the ship.

 

 

While I agree with this, I'm now finding when I sail out of Australia I'm looking more for the experience of the ship - there are limited ports Australian based ships sail to and we've done them all already. I find I do international sailings based on the ports and prefer Aussie ones for the ship. So in this instance I'd love them to bring a mega liner here.

 

In saying that, I've never done an Oasis class or Quantum class (I've been worried they're too big). I've got Harmony booked next year and will do Ovation when it comes back so will see how they are. The largest I've done is Freedom class and was happy with that.

 

With the ships being too big for ports down here, you can see that already with Ovation. It doesn't do any of the tropical pacific islands and only goes to New Zealand. Maybe Royal will do what they did in the Caribbean and improve the ports in those islands?

 

 

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[springaussie]

Whatever ship that would eventually replace Radiance, assuming it alternates with the Alaska itinerary as Radiance currently does, would also have to "fit" into the Alaskan ports of call. I'm thinking specifically of fitting under the bridge in Vancouver.

 

 

 

Lots of "ifs."

 

 

 

An Asian/ China ship could replace Radiance in Australia and the Alaskan Radiance Class come thru the Panama.

 

 

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[geoff2802]

An Asian/ China ship could replace Radiance in Australia and the Alaskan Radiance Class come thru the Panama.

 

 

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Or Radiance home ports in Brisbane and continues to do the TP and Alaska. This would be handy for you guys up there.

Has the new Brisbane terminal been approved yet? To me it looks very likely to be built.

 

 

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[springaussie]

Or Radiance home ports in Brisbane and continues to do the TP and Alaska. This would be handy for you guys up there.

Has the new Brisbane terminal been approved yet? To me it looks very likely to be built.

 

 

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Approved in principle yesterday new Brisbane Terminal.

 

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/agreement-reached-over-new-brisbane-megacruise-ship-terminal-20170409-gvgz7t.html

 

Melbourne Ports claim Radiance is doing 3 turnarounds in January and February 2019.

 

 

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[LEtue]

Whatever ship that would eventually replace Radiance, assuming it alternates with the Alaska itinerary as Radiance currently does, would also have to "fit" into the Alaskan ports of call. I'm thinking specifically of fitting under the bridge in Vancouver.

 

Lots of "ifs."

 

Total agreement and I would never sail the Explorer in Alaska based on the horrible itinerary. Not to mention that the itineraries that interest me are port intensive and the amount of passengers getting off is an issue. Even more so In Alaska where the ports towns are small.....

 

I just changed from the Symphony to the Jewel in the Med because I don't think there is any advantage to a mega ship there either.

[skiiergirl]

This post resonated to me... I feel this is exactly what Royal wants... mega ships comprised only of Voyager/Freedom/Oasis and Q Classes, less ports, thousands more stay on board to spend more money. The Royal cruise experience is evolving into ship focus and not at all itinerary focus. If you want great itineraries, you have to start thinking about leaving Royal

 

 

 

 

Another great post. Radiance Class has been a staple out of Vancouver for years (before it was Vision). HA and Princess has super old ships still operating up here due to the Lion's Gate Bridge height constraints and I think they will continue to do so to get them into Vancouver. Perhaps the final Radiance Class to exist in RCL when they are being sold will be doing the Alaska run (such as the revamped Empress to go to Cuba). Radiance is THE perfect ship for Alaska... along with Q Class!!

 

The only way Q Class comes to Alaska is to take over for Explorer, which makes perfect sense in my humble opinion. And I think that Q Class (only about 100ft longer than Solstice) can easily fit into Juneau and Skagway as Explorer and Solstice does by looking at all my photos of sail-in and sail-aways. But what do I know... maybe that extra 100ft length of the ship etc has issues in some of the ports, or getting her into Tracy Arm or Endicott Fjord for glacier viewing?

 

I was told several months ago by a very reliable source that OA class will be able to sail to Aruba, Curaçao, more southern islands, etc within a few years. (thinking 2019 but might have said 2020)

[geoff2802]

Approved in principle yesterday new Brisbane Terminal.

 

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/agreement-reached-over-new-brisbane-megacruise-ship-terminal-20170409-gvgz7t.html

 

Melbourne Ports claim Radiance is doing 3 turnarounds in January and February 2019.

 

 

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Excellent. I wonder whether a Radiance class ship is a possible year round option from Brisbane. Unlikely perhaps given the revenue they can make in Alaska and on the two TPs.

 

Perhaps Princess homeporting Golden is tempting Royal to give Melbourne a try?

 

 

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[mommykim]

I am looking for a silver lining for the TBD on Australia. On the plus side I will be on a cruise ship most likely when it releases.

[MsDolly]

I am looking for a silver lining for the TBD on Australia. On the plus side I will be on a cruise ship most likely when it releases.

 

Well I personally am going to be very frustrated if it doesn't happen sooner then latter.:(

 

Belinda

[pspercy]

Can someone recap the speculation about Vision's delayed deployment after her October 2018 transatlantic back to Miami?

 

It's all gone quiet:cool:

[pspercy]

Geoff2802, I hope your guesses are wrong because that means the number of ports that can berth the ships reduce, then the cruises become all about the ship rather than destination calls. There are already too many Australasia and Pacific Island port calls that other lines do which Royal goes nowhere near, so it becomes like the Caribbean same old same old.

 

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That's what I've been thinking for a while. Even in the Caribbean seems like there's no attempt to show any imagination in new itineraries and so on, very disappointing.:loudcry:

[Biker19]

I was told several months ago by a very reliable source that OA class will be able to sail to Aruba, Curaçao, more southern islands, etc within a few years. (thinking 2019 but might have said 2020)

Oasis class could go to ABC islands tomorrow if warranted, the problem is they can't get there in the weekly 7 day cycle (and do all the ports) from FL ports. I suppose once they have 4 O class in FL, they could sprinkle in 9 or 10 day itineraries to break up the usual 7 day ones.

[CRUISEBOY305]

 

 

Deployment flyers for Vision have vanished [emoji33]

 

 

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[WaveSplasher]

At least till 2019

 

Part of Radiance Schedule ( I'm guessing this is the Australia Top end Itinerary) Probably Bali is scheduled

Radiance Of The Seas is in Perth on 20th march 2019

Radiance Of The Seas is in Darwin on the 28th march 2019

Raidance Of The Seas is overnighting in Carins on 31 March 2019 and leaving on 1st April 2019 ( Tender)

 

 

Voyager Of The Seas is in Cairns on 20 April 2019 on a repositioning back to Singapore ( Previous Port: Airlie Beach, Next Port: Darwin 23 April)

[harz99]

So Radiance is doing clockwise circumnavigation in 2019.

 

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[Hoopster95]

I was told several months ago by a very reliable source that OA class will be able to sail to Aruba, Curaçao, more southern islands, etc within a few years. (thinking 2019 but might have said 2020)

 

Yes, good call. I remember Aruba & Curacao were discussed in a thread or two quite a while back (maybe last year's deployment thread??) regarding trying to find new ports for Oasis Class. However with entertainment bookings, drink packages, loading/off loading ship schedules, re-stocking food and supplies during cruise, staffing, schedules geared toward family cruising, kids out of school, etc (probably hundreds other issues) I can only guees that a Saturday-to-Saturday or Sunday-to-Sunday schedule are what I believe RCL deems as necessary to fill the ship, and the want Oasis Class to be the focus in order to maximize revenue and not the itinerary.

 

So where does Oasis Class home port from in order to get to both Aruba and Curacao in a 7 day cruise? The only option I see is from San Juan, 2 days at sea, stop at at Aruba + Curacao, then 2 days at sea back to San Juan for a 7 day cruise. She can then do a St Martin/St Thomas/St Kitts eastern itinerary the next week which could then be a decent b2b for those who can stay on for 14 days. I think Oasis from San Juan could be problematic for families concerning airfare costs for an entire family. So unless RCL plans for more than just the norm 7-day cruises from Miami or FLL, I don't think Oasis goes to the southern route. I guess they will gauge how Freedom Class does down there this coming season.

[Hoopster95]

Yes, good call. I remember Aruba & Curacao were discussed in a thread or two quite a while back (maybe last year's deployment thread??) regarding trying to find new ports for Oasis Class. However with entertainment bookings, drink packages, loading/off loading ship schedules, re-stocking food and supplies during cruise, staffing, schedules geared toward family cruising, kids out of school, etc (probably hundreds other issues) I can only guees that a Saturday-to-Saturday or Sunday-to-Sunday schedule are what I believe RCL deems as necessary to fill the ship, and the want Oasis Class to be the focus in order to maximize revenue and not the itinerary.

 

So where does Oasis Class home port from in order to get to both Aruba and Curacao in a 7 day cruise? The only option I see is from San Juan, 2 days at sea, stop at at Aruba + Curacao, then 2 days at sea back to San Juan for a 7 day cruise. She can then do a St Martin/St Thomas/St Kitts eastern itinerary the next week which could then be a decent b2b for those who can stay on for 14 days. I think Oasis from San Juan could be problematic for families concerning airfare costs for an entire family. So unless RCL plans for more than just the norm 7-day cruises from Miami or FLL, I don't think Oasis goes to the southern route. I guess they will gauge how Freedom Class does down there this coming season.

 

 

Oasis class could go to ABC islands tomorrow if warranted, the problem is they can't get there in the weekly 7 day cycle (and do all the ports) from FL ports. I suppose once they have 4 O class in FL, they could sprinkle in 9 or 10 day itineraries to break up the usual 7 day ones.

 

Just saw Biker's response... I guess I repeated it :)

[internetwhiz]

 

 

Deployment flyers for Vision have vanished [emoji33]

 

 

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So strange.

[ckelly14]

I booked my West Med cruise RT from Barcelona on Symphony when they first opened . I was checking the website today and now it is offering cruises departing from Rome as well. Looks like they are doing alternating ports on the same circuit like NCL does with their ships. When did this happen?