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from Seatrade Insider:================ RCCL orders Ultra Voyager, drops Radiance19/9/2003
Royal Caribbean Cruises has firmed an order for a big, new Ultra Voyager ship that would supplant Queen Mary 2 as the world’s largest cruise vessel. The 160,000gt newbuild will deliver from Kvaerner Masa-Yards in May 2006. At the same time, Royal Caribbean decided not to exercise its options for a fifth and sixth Radiance-class vessel at Meyer Werft. Ultra Voyager is an even bigger version of the four-ship (soon to be five, with the delivery of Mariner of the Seas) Voyager class. Roughly 15% larger, its dimensions are 126 feet by 1,112 feet (38.6 metres by 339 metres). It will carry 3,600 passengers and 1,400 crew.
‘The Voyager-class ships clearly changed the face of cruising,’ says RCCL chairman and ceo Richard Fain. ‘The Ultra Voyager will extend that success and, with a lower per berth capital and operating costs, provides even better economies of scale.’
Kvaerner Masa-Yards and the cruise line signed a preliminary agreement last June, outlining the design and specifications of the new ship. Today's contract formalizes that agreement and also grants RCCL an option for a second Ultra Voyager, with a 2007 delivery date. The order means capacity growth of about 3% in each of 2006 and 2007 for the Miami operator. The company estimates total all-in costs at just over $200,000 per berth.
Yesterday, Meyer Werft dismissed reports that the Star/NCL Group was picking up the Radiance options. The yard’s Thomas Weigand told Seatrade Insider the builder was in active talks with NCL but that the newbuilds under discussion were different from the Radiance vessels. Royal Caribbean had extended the Radiance options numerous times.
Nasty. Just Nasty. Disgusting.
[ 09-19-2003: Message edited by: CGT ]
This is very interesting news. However, I noticed that the beam of the Ultra-Voyager will be 126 feet whereas the regular Voyager class ships have a beam of 157 feet. Any idea why they decided to make it skinnier?
kevin
Anyone seen any renderings of the new Ultra Voyager? How about possible names?
I've always liked:Goddess of the SeasMaiden of the Seas
However, with the lack of imagination among cruise lines today I wouldn't be surprised to see:Triumph of the SeasConquest of the SeasGlory of the SeasSpirit of the SeasorValor of the Seas
[ 09-19-2003: Message edited by: Fairsky ]
quote:Originally posted by CGT:Pity that the mantra today is "let's keep building ever bigger, bloated behemoths".
Whatever we think, the cruising public just love em. Big ships generate their own publicity!
quote:Originally posted by kph06: Any idea why they decided to make it skinnier?
I can only guess: The big hole in the middle of the voyager class (Royal Prom) gave them big structural headaches?
Maybe it is a modification required becase of the extra tonnage?
quote:Originally posted by Keitaro:Looks like the Ultra-Voyager will not be 200,000 grt after all.
Ships are normally increased in size gradually - I think 200, 000 tons is a decade off yet, if it is ever achieved?
The economic factors could be more of an obsticle than the technical ones: i.e. can they fill a 200,000 ton ship with passengers everyweek?
If we ever see a disaster with the loss of a few hundred lives the industry, and huge ships, will be set back decades.
But do they really need to be that big? What is the point?
[ 09-19-2003: Message edited by: Rex ]
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:Whatever we think, the cruising public just love em.
Whatever we think, the cruising public just love em.
And it is well known around these parts what I think of the "general cruising public".
quote:Originally posted by rd77:. Pity for Meyer Werft though. They're a real quality yard, so I hope they do land that NCL/Star order....
Agree with you rd77, and I am glad JLM landed two orders for SC/NCL today.
quote:Originally posted by Rex:though, out of curiosity, I may be making a cruise to Canada on the Voyager.
That's what everyone does, so it works!
quote: sslewis said:It would be interesting to see a bigger Grand class.
Captainnorway, from what I heard the "Ultra Voyager" will only be a bigger version of the Voyager-class and maybe a little changes. Why change if the design is successful (I hope they don't) .
quote: recab said:Longer yes, higher no!And yes, a real pity we will see no more RD´s!
Bingo! You have an instant 275, 000 ton ship!
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