Royal and other R class ships and updated SOLAS rules

[piper28]

I was glancing through Cruise Travel magazine, and was reading the article at the back about the upcoming SOLAS changes that are becoming an issue for some older ships. (Not that the article was a fountain of good information, it referenced a Crown Princess balcony fire in 2006, when obviously that was the Star). However, what really caught my eye was the talk about how difficult it would be for a ship like the Regal Empress to be brought up to code because, among other things, it has extensive wooden paneling throughout the ship that would have to be removed. Which got me thinking, one of the things I really liked about the Royal Princess was the character that the wood paneling gave to the ship, and I'd hate to think that they might have to remove that. Anyone have any ideas whether they would?

[dforeigner]

I read that article as well. The need to retro fit (renovate/remodel) some of the older ships to meet the new compliance was rather interesting.