Hotels are going the boutique route. Cruise ships are going the opposite direction.
Each year, cruise ship operators seem to be upping their “mine is bigger and fancier than yours game.” And nobody does it better than Royal Caribbean.
The cruise line made a big splash, as it were, with its remake of the Oasis of the Seas about five years ago. Then came its ever-so-slightly bigger sister ship, Allure of the Seas. Both ships carry roughly 5,400 passengers and feature seven distinct “neighbourhoods,” along with a carousel and designer shops.
Last year, the cruise line launched Quantum of the Seas: 168,666 tons, 4,180 guests, a sky-diving simulator and a giant viewing pod that suspends out over the water.
Now comes word of a new and improved ship for 2016 called Harmony of the Seas, the newest of the Oasis class from Royal Caribbean. With room for 5,479 passengers, it will be the world’s largest cruise ship.
Harmony of the Seas also will feature the Central Park garden theme and various neighbourhoods, but they’re adding three separate three-storey waterslides; better than most hotel pools by a long shot. They also are promising “larger balcony and suite staterooms than her sister ships (and) new virtual balcony staterooms.” Virtual balcony rooms have an 80-inch high-definition screen that projects the views from outside the ship into your inside room, thus providing the illusion of that great view of your ship steaming into port in San Juan.
As with the Quantum of the Seas ship, Harmony of the Seas will have robotic bartenders called Makr Shakr, as well as special wristbands you can use to pay for your upgraded dining experience or for a shore excursion. They also are promising high-speed Internet (at what price we don’t know) so you can talk with friends on Skype or download videos of yourself spiralling down a three-story waterslide as the ship steams between St. Maarten and St. Thomas.
Harmony of the Seas will span 16 decks, encompass 227,000 gross registered tons and carry up to 5,479 guests in 2,747 staterooms. The cost is reported to be about $1.5 billion (U.S.). Plans are for the ship to make its maiden voyage in April of next year. The ship’s itinerary is expected to be announced later this month in case you’re desperate to attain bragging rights.
Source: The Globe and Mail
