Ultra-Voyager!

[Cruising Forever!]

Well, maybe this isn't such an update, but while on NOS last week, I spoke with the Captain (at dinner in Portofino's- he walked up to our table and just started chatting- really nice guy. He's now home this week for a vacation- he'll be back on NOS in mid- July, I think) about Ultra-Voyager.

 

While he didn't get into detail (and I got the impression he wasn't holding anything back- he seemed enthused about the project)- he told me that the Ultra-Voy class would be about 90 feet longer then the Voyager class and that this would translate into a much larger pool area (yay!) and larger Royal Promenade as well. Of course, this also means all of the other venues have more space- 90 feet is a lot of space even on a BIG ship.

 

At the Crown and Anchor welcome back party, the captain assured the audience that the Ultra-Voyager would be "bigger then the QM2" to much applause!

 

At a Diamond member meeting that my sister was invited to (I'm still 5 cruises away!) she said that the captain stated that Ultra-Voyager would be ready by 2006. Since no new builds are listed anywhere that I'm aware of, my guess is that it would be LATE '06 at best unless RCCL has the plan finalized already?

 

Anyway, I want on- now!

 

Cheers,

Paul

 

CCL Holiday- August '94

CLB Horizon- April '95

CCL Fascination- May '96

CCL Inspiration- Feb '98

RCI Majesty- March '00

RCI Grandeur- June '00

RCI Vision- April '02

RCI Explorer- May '03

RCI Navigator- May '04!

RCI Voyager- Coming Soon!!!

---------------------------

Ready for Ultra-Voyager- NOW!

 

 

[jnnifer01]

LOL- too funny

We posted about the same time, and you answered my question

 

 

Explorer of the Seas

(Royal Suite) 4/17/05, 7 Day Eastern Caribbean (2nd Anniversary)

 

Carnival Pride

(Category 11) 4/25/04, 7 day Mexican Riviera (1 year Anniversary!)

 

Carnival Conquest

(Category 12)4/27/03,7 Day Western Caribbean(Honeymoon & 1st cruise)

 

Notail

 

Jennifer & Shaun on the Conquest

 

Jennifer & Shaun on the Pride

[newguyhere]

Our travel agent said the Ultra Voyager will debut in May 2006. She hopes to start booking the ship at the beginning of next year but no word abou that from RCCL.

 

Scott

RCCL Sovereign 1996

CCL Destiny 1998

CCL Destiny 1999

RCCL Voyager 2003

RCCL Mariner 2004

Seabourn Legend 2004

 

RCCL Navigator September 25, 2004

 

[Bandit236]

Thanks for the info. My friends and I will definitely cruise on that ship. The last 3 years we've done the Adventure, Navigator, Mariner and in 2005 we'll go back to the Navigator. Thanks again.

[superjerryw]

Did the captain mention anything about a roller coaster....

 

 

Donuts, is there anything they can't do....

[jnnifer01]

Is there any news about where it's home port will be and where it plans to sail? If it's done in time, this could be our 3rd anniversary cruise!

 

 

Explorer of the Seas

(Royal Suite) 4/17/05, 7 Day Eastern Caribbean (2nd Anniversary)

 

Carnival Pride

(Category 11) 4/25/04, 7 day Mexican Riviera (1 year Anniversary!)

 

Carnival Conquest

(Category 12)4/27/03,7 Day Western Caribbean(Honeymoon & 1st cruise)

 

Notail

 

Jennifer & Shaun on the Conquest

 

Jennifer & Shaun on the Pride

[Cruising Forever!]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jnnifer01:

Is there any news about where it's home port will be and where it plans to sail? If it's done in time, this could be our 3rd anniversary cruise!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Someone asked this at the C&A - he wanted to know if Miami would be the home port of Ultra-Voy. The Captain stated that there was no word yet, but that he thought it would probably be in Miami. Miami is the hub of RCCL, after all...

 

CCL Holiday- August '94

CLB Horizon- April '95

CCL Fascination- May '96

CCL Inspiration- Feb '98

RCI Majesty- March '00

RCI Grandeur- June '00

RCI Vision- April '02

RCI Explorer- May '03

RCI Navigator- May '04!

RCI Voyager- Coming Soon!!!

---------------------------

Ready for Ultra-Voyager- NOW!

 

 

[Cruising Forever!]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by superjerryw:

Did the captain mention anything about a roller coaster....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Superjerryw,

 

Didn't mention a roller coaster... but hmm... what a cool idea!!!

 

Seriously though- there was mention that RCCL was taking suggestions for additions to the next generation of cruisers. Which leads me to believe that the Ultra-Voys are still in planning stages?

 

At any rate, if the dates are correct for delivery- we should start hearing some news soon, I imagine.

 

CCL Holiday- August '94

CLB Horizon- April '95

CCL Fascination- May '96

CCL Inspiration- Feb '98

RCI Majesty- March '00

RCI Grandeur- June '00

RCI Vision- April '02

RCI Explorer- May '03

RCI Navigator- May '04!

RCI Voyager- Coming Soon!!!

---------------------------

Ready for Ultra-Voyager- NOW!

 

 

[Diva Onboard]

Yahoo! Count me in - I'm ready! I hope they feature a new and exotic itinerary too. I would love to cruise the Ultra in May 2006.

 

 

<Marquee>I'm getting out there - SERENADE OF THE SEAS - July 18, 2004<Marquee>

 

 

[BirmanCrazy]

Forget the rollercoaster! I want a Lazy River to float around in.

 

Fantasy '94

Fascination '95

Enchantment of the seas '97

Rhapsody of the Seas '98

Rhapsody of the Seas '00

Enchantment of the Seas '01

Rhapsody of the Seas '01

Celebration 2-02

Adventure of the Seas 9-02

Jubilee 1-03

Navigator of the Seas 9-03

Splendour of the Seas 4-17-04

Grand Princess 11-13-04

Rhapsody of the Seas 7-?-05

 

 Grand Princess 11-13-04

 

 

[dougp26364]

I heard there would be parasailing and skeet shooting off the stern. I'm hoping not at the same time.

 

I also heard they'd be installing a trout fishing lake to cut down on all the fishing lines coming off the boat. Unfortunately, I heard the nasty rumor that there would be a $3.95 per fish surcharge and if you wanted your fish cooked for dinner, there would be a $10 fry panning fee. My guess is this will meet stiff resistance with many people changing cruise lines because of it.

 

Future cruises

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[superjerryw]

Dougp26364 - you are partially correct. There will be trout fishing on board, but there will not be any per fish surcharges as this will be the way you get your dinner. If you don't catch anything you don't eat. I don't even want to think about what you have to do to get a steak.....

 

 

Donuts, is there anything they can't do....

[BigDave]

Most folks are posting fun stuff, but I'll be a fudd and use the thread to post my personal pet peeves.

 

These are the things I'd really like and they don't even depend on ship size;

 

The two things I really miss the most at sea when on RCCL;

 

1. Fresh water pools.

I don't enjoy salt water pools. I was amazed to find out they were salt water on my first cruise, and never went swimming on the ship last cruise because it just wasn’t worth it.

Princess does it, why not RCI?

 

2. Laundry Rooms on the guest levels.

I'd like to pack less and just go down for a load or two of laundry mid week while reading a book.

It's especially hard to dry off swimsuits and shirts worn swimming on excursions a laundry room would fix that.

(No I don't want to send off my clothes to their laundry I want the ability to clean what, when, and how I want)

Since most other lines have them why not RCL?

 

BigDave

 

Enchantment 10/2002, Rhapsody 4/2004.

Caribbean Princess, E Carib. 11/27/2004

Valor, W. Carib. 2/6/2005, Radiance, E. Carib 2/13/2005

[dougp26364]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by superjerryw:

Dougp26364 - you are partially correct. There will be trout fishing on board, but there will not be any per fish surcharges as this will be the way you get your dinner. If you don't catch anything you don't eat. I don't even want to think about what you have to do to get a steak.....

 

 

 

Donuts, is there anything they can't do....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Now I'm worried about how I'll get cream for my coffee!

 

Future cruises

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[Cruising Forever!]

This just in:

 

"Ultra Voyager class to feature it's own airport!"

 

"Now you can fly directly to your cruise vacation! You can even "miss" the boat as your plane can easily be diverted to the Ultra-Voyager's latest location! No more flying out a day before the cruise- fly at your own ease!"

 

"Note: Direct landing flights are only available on airfares booked through RCCL; When not used as an airstrip, the runway will double as the ship's softball/soccer/hockey field, and at night as it's dance club "under the stars"! Passengers are advised to be wary of the sheer drop of thirty decks to the sea- there are NO guard rails."

 

"Note: RCCL reserves the right to add lead bricks to the ship's belly at any time to increase the ship's mass and make sure those sneaky folks over at Carnival don't build something bigger"

 

(And if you believed any of the above... God help you... )

 

CCL Holiday- August '94

CLB Horizon- April '95

CCL Fascination- May '96

CCL Inspiration- Feb '98

RCI Majesty- March '00

RCI Grandeur- June '00

RCI Vision- April '02

RCI Explorer- May '03

RCI Navigator- May '04!

RCI Voyager- Coming Soon!!!

---------------------------

Ready for Ultra-Voyager- NOW!

 

 

[jnnifer01]

Cruisin' Forever, thanks for the port info. I'll have to keep an eye out for new info in the coming year.

 

 

Explorer of the Seas

(Royal Suite) 4/17/05, 7 Day Eastern Caribbean (2nd Anniversary)

 

Carnival Pride

(Category 11) 4/25/04, 7 day Mexican Riviera (1 year Anniversary!)

 

Carnival Conquest

(Category 12)4/27/03,7 Day Western Caribbean(Honeymoon & 1st cruise)

 

Notail

 

Jennifer & Shaun on the Conquest

 

Jennifer & Shaun on the Pride

[pcur]

What you folks are talking about, of course, is the REAL Freedom Ship. It WILL have an airstrip!!

 

http://www.freedomship.com/

 

I would looooove to get on this some day!

 

Peggy - RCI since 1973

[TheParrotHeads]

That is absolutely amazing. I was really taken back by the concept of what they are proposing to do. How "real" is this idea?

 

The PH'S (Lauren & Andrew)

 

<img src=http://www.caribbeansoul.com/images/animation.gif>

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;6;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500> 'Till the AOS

 

2001 NCL SKY-Western Caribbean

2001 NCL Sun-Exotic W. Caribbean

2004 RCCL Navigator of the Seas-Western Caribbean

[timbo89]

Parrot heads.....yes it's true...here's the press release from last year............

 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Orders Ultra Voyager

 

Miami - Helsinki - September 19, 2003 - Building on the popularity and success of its Voyager-class ships, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today ordered an even larger model -- the Ultra Voyager -- for delivery in May 2006.

 

Destined for the Royal Caribbean International fleet, the new ship will be built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland, continuing a shipbuilding tradition that produced five Voyager-class ships, two Vision-class vessels and four earlier ships.

 

Roughly 15 percent larger than Voyager, the Ultra Voyager will be 126 feet by 1,112 feet, and will stand 18 stories high while cruising at approximately 22 knots. At 100 percent occupancy, it will carry 3,600 guests and 1,400 crew.

 

"The Voyager-class ships clearly changed the face of cruising," said Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain. "The Ultra Voyager will extend that success and, with a lower per berth capital and operating costs, provides even better economies of scale."

 

"We are pleased that the partnership and tradition with Royal Caribbean continues," said Jorma Eloranta, president and chief executive officer at Kvaerner Masa-Yards. "The Ultra Voyager will reflect this legacy of trust and support."

 

The yard and cruise line signed a preliminary agreement last June, outlining the design and specifications of the new ship. Today's contract formalizes that agreement and results in a capacity growth of about 3% in each of 2006 and 2007. The company estimates total all-in costs to be just over $200,000 per guest berth. The yard also granted the company an option for a second Ultra Voyager, with a 2007 delivery date.

 

In related news, the company announced it would not be exercising its options for a fifth and sixth Radiance-class vessel.

 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise company that operates Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, with a combined total of 26 ships in service and two under construction. The company also offers unique cruise-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada and Europe

[pcur]

Um, I think he's referring to the Freedom Ship. If so.......

 

this, Mr. Parrothead, is really for real. I've been watching this for about 2 years, hoping they get enough backers to build the thing! Pretty cool, huh?

 

Peggy - RCI since 1973

[Cruising Forever!]

This Just In...

 

Ultra Voyager to feature grand scale parks and wildlife preserves, a petting zoo, a three ring circus, and the world's first fully functioning plastic surgery center on the seven seas..."

 

Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas to be mounted as lifeboats for the Ultra Voyager!!!

 

Six Flags Amusement Park to be mounted on top deck (near runway) of Ultra-Voyager class ships! (yes, there IS a roller coaster!)

 

 

just me being silly... I really can't wait to hear what the REAL features of this ship will be!!!

 

CCL Holiday- August '94

CLB Horizon- April '95

CCL Fascination- May '96

CCL Inspiration- Feb '98

RCI Majesty- March '00

RCI Grandeur- June '00

RCI Vision- April '02

RCI Explorer- May '03

RCI Navigator- May '04!

RCI Voyager- Coming Soon!!!

---------------------------

Ready for Ultra-Voyager- NOW!

 

 

[RvrCrzr]

Maybe they will copy PRINCESS' MOVIES UNDER THE STARS with a huge movie screen on deck.

 

Maybe a bigger, free'er, JOHNNY ROCKETS!

 

YES! FRESHWATER pools!

 

Navigator of the Seas- 12-13-2003 (7 days) Western

Ocean Princess - 02/2002 (10 days)Southern

Enchantment of the Seas - 02/1999 (7 days) Western

[thedrunkrock]

Actually I belive it was NOrdic Prince or Song of America, or one of those ships of RCI's past actually had a movie screen outside by the pool, didn't go over to well so they nixed it, to bad, I still have a Drive in theater here, I love the concept.

[TheParrotHeads]

PCUR: Yes I was referring to the Freedom Ship. I am surprised I never heard of such a thing before. I was aware of the "residentsea" program or something of the sort, but not this at all. This thing is unreal. The concept just amazes me to see where our technologies and capabilities are leading us. Again thanks for the information and please keep us updated as to what you find out.

 

The PH'S (Lauren & Andrew)

 

<img src=http://www.caribbeansoul.com/images/animation.gif>

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;6;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500> 'Till the AOS

 

2001 NCL SKY-Western Caribbean

2001 NCL Sun-Exotic W. Caribbean

2004 RCCL Navigator of the Seas-Western Caribbean

[mconthehighseas]

I really like the idea of direct flights to the ship. It will save a lot of nerves for people who are concerned about the ship leaving with out them. But won't all the cab drivers protest?

Will RCCL team up with an airline? Will we be able to use Frequent Flyer miles to get a cruise? Will we have to tender in international waters to get to some islands that have shallow coasts? Will people in suites be allowed to have private tenders? I wonder when these issues will be addressed.

 

I just hope there will be a bigger ice skating rink, and that in addition to an ice show, there will be speed skating, preferably the Olympic trials.

 

Counting down to the Rhapsody OTS - 12/05/04