Updates on Sovereign and Monarch (merged)

[Cruising89143]

Press Release Source: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Transfers Royal Caribbean International Ship to Pullmantur; Replaces Ship Serving Port Canaveral

Friday October 12, 11:03 am ET

 

MIAMI, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced today that Royal Caribbean International's Sovereign of the Seas will be reassigned to the company's Pullmantur fleet, and the Los Angeles- based Monarch of the Seas will assume Sovereign of the Seas' sailings out of Port Canaveral. These changes will take place in October and November 2008.

"We are fortunate that our mix of brands allows us the flexibility and opportunity to expand in key strategic markets and to diversify in existing ones," said Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Adam Goldstein. "We thank our partners at the ports of Los Angeles, Ensenada, Catalina and San Diego for our outstanding and ongoing relationship. We look forward to providing our Monarch of the Seas guests with exceptional vacations as we visit those locations through next fall."

 

Sovereign of the Seas' last scheduled sailing for Royal Caribbean International will be on October 31, 2008. Two subsequent cruises, scheduled for November 3 and 7, will be canceled, and guests booked on those cruises will receive a full refund and an onboard credit for rebooking an earlier Sovereign of the Seas sailing during 2008 (excluding holidays). All rebookings must be made by December 31, 2007. All guests currently booked on Sovereign of the Seas on or after November 10, 2008, will be re-accommodated onboard Monarch of the Seas.

 

Monarch of the Seas will make its last regularly scheduled sailing out of Los Angeles on October 13, 2008. All guests currently booked on a subsequent sailing will receive a full refund and an onboard credit for rebooking a three, four or five-night Caribbean sailing, or a seven-night Mexican Riviera sailing, onboard Royal Caribbean International in 2008 (excluding holidays). All rebookings must be made by December 31, 2007.

 

On October 17, 2008, Monarch of the Seas will reposition to the East Coast when it departs Los Angeles on a 16-night Panama Canal cruise to Miami. The ship will then undergo a scheduled, weeklong dry-dock before welcoming its first Port Canaveral guests for three and four-night Bahamas sailings starting November 10, 2008.

 

Royal Caribbean International has established a special help desk to assist its guests and travel agents impacted by these changes. The toll free phone number is 1-888-281-9344.

 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 35 ships in service and seven under construction. It also offers unique land- tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin and South America and New Zealand. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebrity.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaracruises.com, or www.rclinvestor.com.

 

 

Source: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

 

Wonder if they are going to replace the Monarch on the west coast? Interesting.

[kittymom65]

Good to hear. Monarch is a newer ship and should be a nice replacement.

 

...........now if they would only say which ship will replace the Mariner?

 

My feelings exactly.:)

 

Does anyone know when they will open up the new bookings for the Monarch out of PC? We were planning on booking the Sovereign for Febrauary 09 during the sale next week, but obviously won't now....It would be great if they could open the new Monarch bookings in time for the sale event.

[RM]

Does anyone know if the Monarch has been refurbished???? I've been aboard her twice and she's fine, but she doesn't hold the memories that Sovereign has. Will definately get aboard the Sovereign a couple more times before she leaves us.

[CruzTigger19]

We were on the Sovereign in late September. While we were aboard we decided to book for 2008. We thought it would be fun to do a Halloween cruise in 2008. Now it turns out to be both a Trick and a Treat...:D

[papakaiser]

WE have sailed on Sovereign 5 times, including our first cruise that was with her. We'll hate to see her leave the fleet, but at least RCI is not leaving Port Canaveral high and dry.

[cruisePRN]

I can't imagine San Pedro without a 3 night and 4 night cruise. With the last Monarch cruise sailing Oct 13 2008 what will we do?:eek: There goes my annual girls cruise every Dec.:mad:

 

Monarch of the Seas will make its last regularly scheduled sailing out of Los

Angeles on October 13, 2008. All guests currently booked on a subsequent sailing

will receive a full refund and an onboard credit for rebooking a three, four or

five-night Caribbean sailing, or a seven-night Mexican Riviera sailing, onboard

Royal Caribbean International in 2008 (excluding holidays). All rebookings must

be made by December 31, 2007.

 

On October 17, 2008, Monarch of the Seas will reposition to the East Coast when

it departs Los Angeles on a 16-night Panama Canal cruise to Miami. The ship will

then undergo a scheduled, weeklong dry-dock before welcoming its first Port

Canaveral guests for three and four-night Bahamas sailings starting November 10,

2008.

[rclcruzer]

ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Oh NOOOO!! :eek::eek: where did you hear this?? Oh my gosh, that's terrible news, that's are annual January get away with our group!

I am so upset, wow. I guess it's back to expensive Vegas now!

We Cruise (I guess for the last time) this Jan. 25th. YIKES!

I am now officially in mourning.....Wait till my friends and DH here's about this one :(:(:(

[zippytime]

Now all we need to see is an announcement for Freedom or Liberty going to PC. :D

[AdMaven]

Isn't the Vision going to take over the 3&4 night cruise when Mariner comes to LA in '09?

[cruisePRN]

If you go to RCL's web site OCT 13 2008 is the last cruise you can book. I called RCL this morning to verify this info and it's true:eek::mad:

[zippytime]

Vision is supposed to take over the Southern Caribbean from the Dominican Republic.

[CP3o]

http://www.streetinsider.com/Press+Releases/Royal+Caribbean+Cruises+Ltd.+Transfers+Royal+Caribbean+International+Ship+to+Pullmantur%3B+Replaces+Ship+Serving+Port+Canaveral/3023417.html

[cruisePRN]

Congratulations to Port Canaveral on gaining the Monarch

[Gator0178]

Whew Hoo!! I was wondering what was going to replace the Sovereign since it is going to Pullmanteur. So is the Monarch good??

[CP3o]

Congratulations to Port Canaveral on gaining the Monarch

 

Thanks. I was considering it a pretty even swap for the loss of SOS but I don't really know. What makes Monarch special? I'm guessing if you don't mind the drive to the Miami port, Majesty would trump its sister ships because of the recent remodel but would be curious of others opinions.

[crookedhalo]

She must be the one replacing Sovereign;)

[rclcruzer]

Whew Hoo!! I was wondering what was going to replace the Sovereign since it is going to Pullmanteur. So is the Monarch good??

yes she is!!!!!! To us local's she's a little slice of heaven in our backyards! Nothing way fancy, just the best service and most fun!!!

[AdMaven]

I can't understand why RCI would give up 3 & 4 night cruises out of Los Angeles. I guess I won't be cruising often. 7 night cruises aren't happening for us more than once a year, if that.

[rclcruzer]

There is another thread up top on this from CPRN

and all I can say is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! :(:(:(I am so bummed, I can't believe it!! This is sad news for our group! We are scheduled this Jan 25th.

:Looks like our last cruise on her!! I already made some phone calls to our friends and they are so upset! Having MOnarch in our backyard (well 40 minutes away, I am in OC) is like heaven. Cheaper than Vegas, and way more fun! I will NOT do Carnival out of San Pedro, so we are sooo bummed!

Congrats FLorida, you will love her! Just a really fun ship with the best staff ever IMO!!! ;) We need a replacement and quick! I'm not talking mega ship Mariner (which I also love). I am officially in mourning, like I stated in a previous post! :p

[rclcruzer]

I can't understand why RCI would give up 3 & 4 night cruises out of Los Angeles. I guess I won't be cruising often. 7 night cruises aren't happening for us more than once a year, if that.

Same with us.....DItto

[PH8]

Well, looks like my Sept 12,2008 cruise on the SS will be my last time on her:( ...........shes a good ole ship...........but having been on the Monarch twice, that will work out too:) ..........

[Cruising89143]

Well, looks like my Sept 12,2008 cruise on the SS will be my last time on her:( ...........shes a good ole ship...........but having been on the Monarch twice, that will work out too:) ..........

 

Since I have cruised on the SOS four times and the Majesty twice, I will more than likely hold off and go on the Monarch. Hope that they decide to place a JR's on the Monarch. I don't use the dining room at all on those short cruises.

[Cal Cruiser]

Good thing I am going this year! I guess Carnival will be the only 3 or 4 days sailing out of L.A.???????????

[traveler/]

We had many happy cruises on the Monarch. MOS sailed close to full mostly, so I'm hopeful that RCL will replace with another ship. Vision is being replaced by Mariner? However, Vision was not a year round ship in LA and sailed Alaska part of the year.

We are hoping for the best!

[SherriZ366]

Now all we need to see is an announcement for Freedom or Liberty going to PC. :D

From your mouth to RCI's ears!!!!!