Royal Caribbean Fans

Image renderings of the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal which is due to open later this year, shows an Oasis class ship berthed at the Terminal.

(Image: plusmood.com)

The terminal which has two berths can accommodate ships of up to 1,492 feet. The berths will be capable of handling two Oasis class vessels (1,187 ft) at the same time. Not even the terminal at Port Everglades can currently do that.

The renderings pose a good question about where the next Oasis class vessel will be posistioned. A third Oasis class ship in the Caribbean year round would be very unlikely. Asia is a rapidly growing cruise destination, with 7 million cruise passengers predicted to visit by 2020. In 2012, Hong Kong itself welcomed almost 1.4 million passengers.

The ship is currently planned to be built in France after Finland lost out on the project.

Royal Caribbean has announced today that it has signed a contract with STX France to construct a third Oasis-class vessel with an expected delivery date of mid-2016.

In addition is an option for a second ship with a potential delivery in mid-2018.

“The Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have fundamentally transformed the cruise experience for our guests,” said Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

“These ships have consistently generated outstanding guest satisfaction ratings and continue to produce superior financial results. We are thrilled to be adding a sister to this extraordinary class of vessels at a compelling price. Being back building in France just adds to the pleasure.”

The third ship will be built at the STX shipyard in France instead of the Aker Yard in Turku, Finland, where Oasis and Allure were built. 

“STX France is proud to partner with Royal Caribbean again and continue our decades-long relationship by building the third Oasis-class ship,” said Laurent Castaing, chief executive officer of STX France. “Royal Caribbean has always been an important part of our shipyard’s success, and we are delighted to add this highly innovative and spectacular ship to the list of vessels we have built together.”

The newbuild contract includes the transfer of Pullmantur’s Atlantic Star as part of the consideration.

Additionally, the contract is subject to satisfaction of financing and other conditions.

STX France has also provided the company with a one-year option for the mid-year 2018 delivery of a fourth Oasis-class vessel at similar pricing.

Royal Caribbean has confirmed that it is in negotiations for the possible construction of a third Oasis class cruise ship that would delivered in middle to late 2016.

Royal Caribbean announced the news during its third financial results meeting. Royal Caribbean first commented on the news in early October as 'just a rumor' however they have now confirmed, there is a possiblity for a third ship.  

Royal Caribbean has not entered into any sort of agreement at this time, it does hope to place an order by the end of the year. The new ship is expected to cost less on a per berth basis than either of the first two Oasis-class vessels.

Royal Caribbean chairman Richard Fain confirmed the news during his talks, "The Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have proven themselves to be exceptionally attractive ships by generating the highest guest satisfaction ratings in the fleet coupled with very compelling financial returns. Ordering another such ship for delivery in 2016, at a lower cost, with better energy efficiency is very consistent with our balanced goals of prudent growth, return improvement and debt reduction."

This third Oasis class ship would be in addition to the other two Sunshine Class ships Royal Caribbean has already ordered and is in the process of being built.

Royal Caribbean's Cupcake Cupboard restaurant that is found on its Oasis class ships, as well as some of its recently refursbished ships, has inspired a new cookbook that the cruise line has launched all about cupcake recipes as well as ice cream flavors.

"Cupcakes & Scoops" features recipes to bake the perfect cupcake. The cookbook costs $34.95 and can be purchased aboard Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas as well as online.

Included with the book is 1 apron, 1 piping bag, 3 piping tips, 25 regular cupcake liners, 25 mini cupcake liners and 12 decorative picks.

A $1 donation from each book sold will be benefit the cruise line’s charitable partner Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Bahamas police are investigating an apparent suicide of a British man on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas that occurred last Friday. This investigation is related to the incident that was first reported about a man who fell off the ship.

The Police report that at 7:10am while aboard Allure of the Seas, the man committed suicide while the ship was off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico.

American Federal agents are assisting the police in the Bahamas, including Superintendent Paul Rolle, Head of the Central Detective Unit, along with officers from the Broward County Sheriff's Office and Customs and Border Protection.

"We do not have much information we can share with the public at this point. All we know is a British man is dead and it may or may not have been suicide. We are still conducting our on scene investigations and interviewing eyewitness. We are being assisted by other law enforcement agencies and expect to wrap up our investigations shortly. At that time, I will provide an update," he said.

Royal Caribbean also issued a statement that said the 30-year-old fell from the balcony of his stateroom on Deck 11. The statement also said, "The ship made multiple public announcements and began a complete search of the ship, in efforts to locate the guest. When the guest did not respond to the pages and was not found onboard, the captain alerted the local authorities of the situation."

A British passenger sailing onboard Allure of the Seas is missing after apparently going overboard.

The passenger fell over the railing from his stateroom as the ship was sailing to Cozumel, Mexico, according to a fellow passenger. CCTV footage on board the ship confirmed the story of the passenger falling off the 11th deck balcony.

According to Royal Caribbean International, multiple public announcements were made and a complete search of the ship did not locate the guest. The Allure of the Seas left Sunday on a seven-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale.

The Mexican Navy and Coast Guard, the Allure of the Seas, and a pilot boat are assisting in the search for the passenger. Royal Caribbean said, 'Our Care Team is providing support to the guest's family and our thoughts and prayers are with them'.

The following report comes from Jim Walker of Walker & O'Neills Maritime Lawyers: (www.cruiselawnews.com)

The world's largest cruise ship was the location for two shipboard rapes during a 10 day Christmas and New Year cruise which returned to South Florida yesterday.

The first reported incident occurred on the last night of the cruise and has been reported by several local news stations. It involved a 15 year old girl who was lured from a cruise line teen club under false pretenses back to a passenger cabin and then sexually assaulted by a 20 year old man and another 15 year old boy.

The alleged assailants are two Brazilian passengers who were sailing aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, which is based on Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

According to the Broward County's Sheriff's Office, the 15 year old girl was at the cruise ship's teen club called "Fuel" when a 15 year old boy told her he was having a party in his room. The young girl, who is reportedly from Iowa and was vacationing with her family, was led to believe that she would meet friends there. However, after entering entering the cabin, she was confronted by an older passenger, Luiz Scavone, age 20. The Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) said that Scavone and the 15 year old boy prevented her from leaving, removed her clothing, forced oral sex, and then both raped her. "The victim told them 'no' several times and tried to leave but was not able to," according to the BSO.

Scavone and the 15-year-old boy have been charged with "lewd and lascivious battery." Scavone is in jail in Fort Lauderdale. His Broward County Sheriff's mugshot is to the left.

A judge in Broward County ordered Scavone to relinquish his Brazilian passport. According to CBS Channel 4, the judge stated that if the immigration hold is lifted, and Scavone is released on bond, he must be fitted with a GPS monitor and is barred from applying for a replacement passport. The judge cited the case of a Boynton Beach police officer who fled to Brazil last July using a replacement passport after he was indicted on a drug charge. The U.S. used to have an extradition treaty with Brazil for decades, however Brazil now prohibits its citizens from being extradited to other other countries to face criminal charges.

The second incident occurred in the early morning hours of January 1, 2012. It also involved a Brazilian passenger, believed to be in his 40's, who sexually harassed and then sexually assaulted and battered an U.S. college student. The young woman was treated in the ship infirmary and underwent a rape examination. Unlike the incident involving the 15 year old victim where the assailants were arrested, the Brazilian man was released by the FBI and the Broward Sheriff's Office. He returned to Brazil and cannot be extradited.

This incident has not been reported in the media. Royal Caribbean has not issued a statement regarding the second allegation of sexual assault.

Issues to consider:

These incidents raise questions regarding the adequacy of the security aboard the world's largest cruise ship. The Allure and its sister cruise ship, the Oasis of the Seas, can carry 6,500 passengers. Both ships are essentially small cities with no police force. We have been critical of Royal Caribbean's refusal to employ a sufficient number of security guards on its cruise ships and its refusal to monitor closed circuit television cameras to respond to potential criminal activities.

A year ago, the Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain and President Adam Goldstein were aboard the Allure's sister ship with microphone in hand and supposedly open for all questions. But they refused to provide any information about the safety and security of the passengers. Certainly U.S. passengers who pay thousands of dollars each to sail on this mega-target of a ship deserve straight forward answers whether their families will be safe from crime. Here are the questions which I posted on my blog which remain unanswered:

"Q: The LA Times reported that for a period of 32 months, there were over 250 incidents of sexual assault, battery, and sexual harassment against guests and crew members on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. In light of these problems, how many security guards are employed on the Genesis class of cruise ships?

Q: How many security guards are assigned to the seven "neighborhoods" on the cruise ships? Are there security "sub-stations" in each of the neighborhoods?

Q: How many security guards patrol the neighborhoods from 10:00 p.m. to 4 a.m., a time period we have found when female passengers are at a higher risk of being assaulted? (Both of the alleged rapes this week occurred in the early morning hours when Royal Caribbean has virtually no guard patrolling).

Over a year ago, I also asked the question:

Has Royal Caribbean invested adequately into safety and security technologies and personnel to protect you and your family? The cruise line executives will never tell, but we shall soon find out."

Thanks to www.cruiselawnews.com for allowing us to publish this article.

UPDATE:

If you have read our Cruising over Christmas article {bit.ly/ztJMg2} you may have figured that Cruisers Connect Founder, Chris Harms and Brad Lenz were onboard Allure of the Seas when the rapes occured. Here is their message on the situation:

'In regards to the situation aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure Of The Seas last week. My thoughts are with the victims family right now, during this terrible situation. On the nights of both given situations Royal Caribbean uniformed security guards were out and about throughout all of the public areas aboard. Passengers we're not informed of any of the given situations as I believe privacy is an important element in all of this. I have faith in the American justice system and Royal Caribbean Cruises to ensure both of these situations get handled appropriately.'

An outbreak of Norovirus has broken out on one of the largest cruise ships afloat. Over 50 passengers onboard Oasis of the Seas suffered from the illness, Norovirus on their cruise last week. Royal Caribbean promptly sanitized the ship thoroughly, before the next cruise could set sail.

Royal Caribbean reported that 54 passengers and 10 crew members became ill due to the Norovirus on the cruise that finished on Saturday 26th.

Oasis of the Seas was sanitized to help combat the spread of the illness and Oasis left port again on schedule to begin another seven day cruise.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas is the newest Royal Caribbean ship to feature a Starbucks coffee shop onboard. Like its sister Allure of the Seas, there's now a Starbucks store on its Royal Promenade.

Royal Caribbean's senior vice president of hotel operations, Lisa Bauer, spoke about the addition, "Starbucks is a huge hit on Allure of the Seas, and the new Starbucks store aboard Oasis of the Seas is sure to be equally as successful".

The new Starbucks is open from 7am to 11pm and will cost extra to passengers who wish to have a coffee from there.

Wow! I found Paul Merton's Adventures on Channel 5 awesome!

UK fans had a treat tonight, with an hour long travel documentary following Paul Merton on Allure of the Seas. It featured all the things that you can do on a Royal Caribbean ship and on a cruise in general. I didn't warm to Paul that much, but one character, I loved. This was Guest Relations, Scot, Sam! She was very funny!

We'll try to add the programme onto our site if it is released on YouTube.