Lengthening, of Enchantment of the Seas!

Hi Everyone,

I received this press release from Royal Caribbean and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com


Royal Caribbean International Announces Lengthening, Refurbishing of
Enchantment of the Seas

MIAMI, Jul 28, 2004
Royal Caribbean International today announced plans to lengthen and
extensively refurbish its Vision-class ship Enchantment of the Seas.

A 73-foot midsection built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards will be inserted
into the ship at the Keppel Verolme Shipyard in Rotterdam, increasing
the vessel's overall length to 990 feet and its tonnage from 74,140 to
80,700 tons. The new midsection will add 151 staterooms, as well as a
number of indoor and outdoor public areas.

Enchantment of the Seas' transformation comes in the wake of extensive
enhancements to other ships in the Royal Caribbean International
fleet. Nordic Empress was revitalized this spring and made her debut
as Empress of the Seas at the cruise line's new Cape Liberty Cruise
Point in Bayonne, N.J., in May. Monarch of the Seas underwent a
similar refurbishment in early 2003. The line also has announced plans
to revitalize Sovereign of the Seas this fall.

"The refurbishment of Enchantment makes tremendous sense from both an
economic and a strategic standpoint. We add substantial revenue
without adding commensurate costs, while significantly improving the
overall guest experience," said Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain. "We
have taken what we have learned during the new-build process and
applied best practices to upgrade our existing ships."

The additional space and extensive renovations will accommodate new
public areas onboard Enchantment of the Seas, including a new
specialty restaurant, Royal Caribbean's hallmark Boleros Latin lounge
and Latte'tudes coffee shop, where guests can enjoy Seattle's Best
Coffee(R) and Ben & Jerry's(R) ice cream. In addition, existing spaces
will be extensively reconditioned. The ship's pool deck, main dining
room, shopping area, casino, jogging track, fitness facility, day spa
and art gallery are among several areas to be expanded and
revitalized.

Royal Caribbean has long been a trendsetter in the evolution of the
cruise ship. The line was the first in the industry to lengthen a
cruise ship in 1978, when an 85-foot section was inserted into the
Song of Norway. The company also extended the Nordic Prince in 1980.

Enchantment of the Seas will be out of service from early May until
early July 2005. Launched in 1997, the ship currently sails a rotating
schedule of four- and five-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,
to ports in the Western Caribbean. Following the lengthening,
Enchantment of the Seas will sail a special series of cruises from
three ports in the Northeast throughout the summer and fall before
returning to Fort Lauderdale. She will offer itineraries of varying
lengths to New England and Canada from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in
Bayonne.

The recently refurbished Empress of the Seas will be homeported in
Fort Lauderdale from May 5 to Oct. 6 during special sailings for
Enchantment of the Seas. Empress of the Seas will offer four- and
five-night cruises to ports of call including Key West; Cozumel and
Costa Maya, Mexico; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that
operates Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, with a
combined total of 29 ships in service and one under construction. The
company also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Canada and
Europe. Additional information can be found by contacting your travel
professional.

Ray Goldenberg wrote:


Royal Caribbean International Announces Lengthening, Refurbishing of
Enchantment of the Seas

A 73-foot midsection built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards will be inserted
into the ship at the Keppel Verolme Shipyard in Rotterdam, increasing
the vessel's overall length to 990 feet and its tonnage from 74,140 to
80,700 tons. The new midsection will add 151 staterooms, as well as a
number of indoor and outdoor public areas.

[snipped]

The additional space and extensive renovations will accommodate new
public areas onboard Enchantment of the Seas, including a new
specialty restaurant, Royal Caribbean's hallmark Boleros Latin lounge
and Latte'tudes coffee shop, where guests can enjoy Seattle's Best
Coffee(R) and Ben & Jerry's(R) ice cream. In addition, existing spaces
will be extensively reconditioned. The ship's pool deck, main dining
room, shopping area, casino, jogging track, fitness facility, day spa
and art gallery are among several areas to be expanded and
revitalized.

In light of recent discussions, this is certainly an undesirable change.
Most of what's being added into these 6,500 tons of space (e.g. over
300 passengers, extra fee restaurant and coffee bar, "art gallery") are
cookie cutter, revenue enhancers. Another beautiful ship hits the dust.

Howie

Howie wrote:

Ray Goldenberg wrote:


Royal Caribbean International Announces Lengthening, Refurbishing of
Enchantment of the Seas


A 73-foot midsection built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards will be inserted
into the ship at the Keppel Verolme Shipyard in Rotterdam, increasing
the vessel's overall length to 990 feet and its tonnage from 74,140 to
80,700 tons. The new midsection will add 151 staterooms, as well as a
number of indoor and outdoor public areas.

[snipped]

The additional space and extensive renovations will accommodate new
public areas onboard Enchantment of the Seas, including a new
specialty restaurant, Royal Caribbean's hallmark Boleros Latin lounge
and Latte'tudes coffee shop, where guests can enjoy Seattle's Best
Coffee(R) and Ben & Jerry's(R) ice cream. In addition, existing spaces
will be extensively reconditioned. The ship's pool deck, main dining
room, shopping area, casino, jogging track, fitness facility, day spa
and art gallery are among several areas to be expanded and
revitalized.


In light of recent discussions, this is certainly an undesirable change.
Most of what's being added into these 6,500 tons of space (e.g. over
300 passengers, extra fee restaurant and coffee bar, "art gallery") are
cookie cutter, revenue enhancers. Another beautiful ship hits the dust.


I agree. Well stated.


Ben

Howie

Benjamin Smith wrote:

Howie wrote:

In light of recent discussions, this is certainly an undesirable
change. Most of what's being added into these 6,500 tons of space
(e.g. over 300 passengers, extra fee restaurant and coffee bar, "art
gallery") are cookie cutter, revenue enhancers. Another beautiful
ship hits the dust.


I agree. Well stated.


Ben

RCCL's Vision Class ships are truly beautiful in design. We did a long
Spring crossing on the Splendour of the Seas when she was just about
brand new. To date, she was more beautiful than any other ship on
which we have sailed. We had such a great time that we repeated this
same crossing on the Splendour one year later. There was such poor
upkeep on this ship that many areas already looked like hell. IMO, RCCL
would do much better to spend their stockholders money by keeping their
ships in mint condition and their cuisine of high quality, rather than
by adding cabins and other revenue enhancing bells and whistles.

I would gladly repeat my crossing on the Splendour at a reasonable
increase in price, if her ambiance, food, and entertainment were up to
the standards of our first trip on this ship, and her complimentary
coffee was now decent. But, I guess I am in the minority.

Howie

Folks. It's a business. Revinue enhancement is part of it. Many of the
cruising public had shown they want larger and larger ships. The only revinue
enhancements being added are "personal choice options". I like options.

HDawson228 wrote:

Folks. It's a business. Revinue enhancement is part of it. Many of the
cruising public had shown they want larger and larger ships. The only revinue
enhancements being added are "personal choice options". I like options.

I know it's a business, and I know that revenue enhancement is part of
this. One way to enhance revenue is to charge somewhat higher prices
for a product that is different from, and really superior to, others in
the same category.

Howie

Folks. It's a business. Revinue enhancement is part of it. Many of the
cruising public had shown they want larger and larger ships. The only
revinue
enhancements being added are "personal choice options". I like options.

Speaking of revenue, a reprofile often means better seakeeping ability,
superior performance in speed, range and economy.

-Heather
Remove CanOspam to email
http://members.aol.com/nookeybear/index1.htm

HDawson228 wrote:

Folks. It's a business. Revinue enhancement is part of it. Many of the
cruising public had shown they want larger and larger ships. The only revinue
enhancements being added are "personal choice options". I like options.

I know it's a business, and I know that revenue enhancement is part of
this. One way to enhance revenue is to charge somewhat higher prices
for a product that is different from, and really superior to, others in
the same category.

Howie

In article t,
Benjamin Smith wrote:

In light of recent discussions, this is certainly an undesirable change.
Most of what's being added into these 6,500 tons of space (e.g. over
300 passengers, extra fee restaurant and coffee bar, "art gallery") are
cookie cutter, revenue enhancers. Another beautiful ship hits the dust.


I agree. Well stated.

I just read another thread about the lenghening on Cruise Critic.
Interesting thread. They seem to favor the idea there. Particularly
EKR, Ernie Roller!!!
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=60111

Also Ernie posts a link to a picture of before and after
http://63.217.28.3/images/other2/enchantment_kvaerner_big.jpg

Also someone in the thread suggests that the Celebrity Century class
will also be lengthened.

--
Charles

"Charles" wrote in message
d...
I just read another thread about the lenghening on Cruise Critic.
Interesting thread. They seem to favor the idea there. Particularly
EKR, Ernie Roller!!!
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=60111

Also Ernie posts a link to a picture of before and after
http://63.217.28.3/images/other2/enchantment_kvaerner_big.jpg

Also someone in the thread suggests that the Celebrity Century class
will also be lengthened.

--
Charles



In general I don't mind lengthening projects for mass-market ships. The new
mid-section adds a proportionate amount of deck space, public lounges,
cabins, and crew areas. What I don't condone is adding an entire deck as in
the case of CARIBBEAN PRINCESS. In this instance, over 250 cabins were
added but NO additional public space, crew areas, or deck space was added.
A win for Princess Cruises and increased revenue, but a loss for the
passenger who receives less space than other similar Grand Class ships.

I am all for Royal Caribbean investing in older tonnage. These are not just
cosmetic cover-ups that so many other cruise lines perform, but complete
makeovers which bring older tonnage up to date with the latest ship in the
fleet. It's a chance to add signature lounges like Bolero's and branding
projects like Seattle's Best Coffee. It's perfect for the market these
ships are geared for, and by making them "new again", RCI should also be
able to increase per diems, or at the very least sustain them.

I applaud RCI for taking the initiative to invest in what they've already
got. Too many other lines are concentrated only on what the next new ship
is, meanwhile the older ships are looking worn and tired. This move also
makes good economic sense for Royal Caribbean. I believe the expense for the
lengthening is about ?45. That equates to approximately ?149,000 per berth.
I believe this is much cheaper than building a vessel from scratch. If you
look at QM2, my rough calculations put the per berth cost at just over
$300,000. I think most ships are somewhere around $200,000 to $280,000 per
berth. So it would seem that stretching is a relative bargain.

If RCI does the same procedure to all four Vision Class ships (which I
imagine they eventually will), they will increase capacity by 1208 berths,
or about that of a smaller to mid-sized cruise ship. The other advantage is
the short amount of time the ship will actually be out of service compared
to that of building a new ship from scratch. This means RCI can see a return
on the investment almost immediately. I would also imagine the financing is
a bit more attractive then a newbuild, and the lower cost helps RCI from
increasing it's debt, which is already quite high.

Ernie