Royal Caribbean International

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Royal Caribbean International

logo
legal form subsidiary
founding 1968 NorwayNorwayNorway 
Seat 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami , Florida United StatesUnited StatesUnited States 
management Michael Bayley ( President and CEO )
Number of employees 30,000
Branch Tourism (cruises)
Website RoyalCaribbean.com RoyalCaribbean.de

Royal Caribbean International is a cruise company founded in 1968 and a subsidiary of the Liberian company Royal Caribbean Group .

Company and brand history

US headquarters in Miami , Florida

In 1968 the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) was founded by the Norwegian shipping companies Anders Wilhelmsen & Company, IM Skauge & Company and Gotaas-Larsen and two years later put its first cruise ship , the Song of Norway, into service. In the following year, the fleet doubled when the Nordic Prince went into service . In 1972 the Sun Viking finally followed . After four years of successful operation of the RCCL, the Song of Norway was lengthened by around 25 meters.

An attempt to take over the RCCL by Carnival Cruise Lines was fended off at the last moment. While Skaugen and Gotaas-Larsen wanted to accept the offer, Wilhelmsen, in conjunction with the Hyatt hotel group, circumvented the Carnival offer. The two partners are now the sole owners of the RCCL. In 1988 the RCCL merged with Admiral Cruise to form Royal Admiral Cruises (later, however, RCCL again). After restructuring the company, they introduced the Sovereign of the Seas - the largest cruise ship of its time. Two years later, the Nordic Empress and Viking Serenade entered service and continued the rapid growth within the company.

The following year, the Monarch of the Seas went into service, the second ship in the Sovereign class. The Majesty of the Seas was delivered a year later. The large passenger capacity of the ships and the growing market share encouraged RCCL to go public in 1993. The company continued to grow in the years to come. The new headquarters in Miami was completed and the Nordic Prince was replaced by the Legend of the Seas . The next year brought a profit. Two more ships went into service, the Splendor of the Seas and the Grandeur of the Seas . In 1996 the company signed a contract with Aker Yards for new 130,000 GT ships. The oldest ship, Song of Norway , was sold and two new Vision- class ships entered service, the Rhapsody of the Seas and the Enchantment of the Seas . The company acquired the Celebrity Cruises and changed the name from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to Royal Caribbean International. The following year, the company was labeled a "modern cruise company" when the Song of America and Sun Viking went out of service. In 1998 the Vision of the Seas went into service, the last ship in the Vision class. In 2004 the Enchantment of the Seas was extended by around 22 meters.

In 1999 the Voyager of the Seas was put into service. She was the largest cruise ship of its time and received a lot of media attention. The next two years followed the Explorer of the Seas and the first environmentally friendly cruise ship, Radiance of the Seas , as well as the new destination Alaska . In 2002 the Navigator of the Seas and the Brilliance of the Seas , the second ship in the Radiance class, made their debut. In the same year, RCI sought a merger with P&O Princess Cruises Ltd. (P&O), Carnival then submitted a $ 5.67 billion purchase offer for P&O Princess Cruises, which was ultimately accepted by P&O shareholders. RCI remained number two in the cruise business. Climbing walls were introduced on the Serenade of the Seas and the Mariner of the Seas , making them the new hallmark of Royal Caribbean. The Jewel of the Seas followed in 2004, and the Nordic Empress was renovated and renamed the Empress of the Seas .

Construction of the Freedom of the Seas began in 2005 at Aker Finnyards. The ship went into service as the largest passenger ship in the world. There are two other ships in the Freedom class: the Liberty of the Seas and the Independence of the Seas , which were completed in 2007 and 2008. Even larger ships, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas , have been in service since 2009 and 2010, respectively. The Quantum class ships ordered in 2011 were the second largest passenger ships in the world when they were completed in 2014 and 2015. In 2013, RCI ordered another Oasis- class ship with an option for two more ships. They will be 2.5 meters longer than the other ships in the Oasis class, making them the largest passenger ships in the world. In May 2014, the first option was converted into a firm order, so a fourth ship will be built by 2018.

From 2015 to 2017, 13 Royal Caribbean ships are to be equipped with scrubbers . One of the six main engines of the Liberty of the Seas was equipped with a scrubber back in 2012. The systems are supplied by Wärtsilä and Alfa Laval . Scrubbers were built into the ships of the Quantum class from the start.

In December 2019, 21 people were killed (many of them passengers on the Ovation of the Seas ) when the volcano erupted on an excursion to White Island .

Equipment and fleet

The ships of the RCI apart from the ships of the Oasis- class and the Quantum- class include the Viking Crown Lounge with panoramic view, which can be found on the top deck. Furthermore, most ships offer u. a. a climbing wall, bars, lounges, fitness and relaxation centers, a main dining room and alternative dining rooms. There are special programs for children and young people.

Project "Icon"

In October 2016, Meyer Turku placed an order for two ships measuring around 200,000 GT, subject to financing. The ships are due to be delivered in 2022 and 2024 and will be powered by LNG. Meyer Werft plans to use fuel cells for a large part of the power supply in the hotel section. These have not yet been approved for use on such ships and are therefore to be gradually introduced on previous ships of the shipyard. A third ship with delivery in 2025 was ordered in 2019.

Quantum class

The ships of the Quantum class are built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg and have been delivered since 2014. The class is named after the type ship Quantum of the Seas . The ships have a measurement of around 167,800 GT, offer space for 4,180 passengers, are 348 meters long and 41 meters wide. This made the Quantum of the Seas the third largest passenger ship in the world at the time of commissioning. The maximum speed is 22 knots. Three ships were put into service by 2016, with two more ships to follow in 2019 and 2020.

Oasis class

Oasis of the Seas

The first ship of the class, the Oasis of the Seas , was completed in October 2009 and replaced the Freedom class as the largest passenger ship in the world. The Allure of the Seas followed in 2010 . The Oasis of the Seas and has no Viking Crown Lounge since a 2014 renovation. The ships of this class have a tonnage of 225,282 GT and are able to carry up to 6,400 passengers. The construction costs were around $ 900 million per ship. In May 2016 the Harmony of the Seas was put into service. This is a slightly enlarged version of the Oasis class, the measurement is around 227,700 GT. A fourth ship, the Symphony of the Seas , entered service in 2018. In May 2016, a fifth ship named Wonder of the Seas was commissioned from STX France . It should be delivered in 2021. In 2019, Royal Caribbean ordered a previously optioned sixth ship of the class with delivery in 2023 from Chantiers de l'Atlantique .

Freedom class

The Freedom of the Seas left the Aker Yards shipyard in Turku, Finland on April 24, 2006. The ship was christened in New York and began her first cruise on June 4, 2006. With a measurement of 154,407 GT, it surpassed the RMS Queen Mary 2 as the largest passenger ship in the world. The second ship, the Liberty of the Seas , was delivered in May 2007. Since then it has been cruising the Caribbean. A special feature is the Flow Rider and the H2O zone for children. The Freedom of the Seas follows the tradition of the Voyager class with a shopping arcade called the Royal Promenade , it includes an Irish pub, shops, bars and a cafe open 24 hours a day.

Voyager- class

Adventure of the Seas

The lead ship of this class, the Voyager of the Seas , was the largest passenger ship in the world when it was commissioned. The ships were built at Aker Yards (then Aker Kvaerner) in Finland. You have a shopping arcade. There are many sporting options on board: basketball / volleyball fields, ice rink, three swimming pools, mini golf course, skate ring, Walk-A-Mile (on deck 12) and a climbing wall.

Radiance class

All ships in this class have environmentally friendly gas turbine drives. The ships of the Radiance class have elevators made of glass, over 700 balcony cabins, two dining rooms with windows, a glass roof at the pool area, an outdoor pool and a billiard room. They were built between 1998 and 2004 at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg / Germany. The shipping company dropped the option of two more ships.

Vision class

Enchantment of the Seas

The ships of the Vision class are measured at around 69,000 to 83,000 GT. The Splendor of the Seas was sold in 2016, the Legend of the Seas in 2017.

In 2004 the Enchantment of the Seas was extended by around 22 meters and the guest area was enlarged. The ship was equipped with a pool with a suspension bridge and a specialty restaurant.

The Legend of the Seas and the Splendor of the Seas differ somewhat from the other ships in the Vision class, as they are the only ships in the class to be equipped with a golf course. Both ships are around 5,000 GT smaller.

The vision class is to be handed over in the next five years. What happened to the ships is not yet known.

Sovereign class

Built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire , France, the ships were the first to have an open atrium. The Sovereign- class ships have pools, bars, lounges and a large theater. In 2004 the Monarch of the Seas was renovated in dry dock, followed in 2005 by the Sovereign of the Seas and in 2007 by the Majesty of the Seas . Innovations are larger cabins, larger lounge areas, Johnny Rockets, a climbing wall, new pools and more space for guest comfort. The Sovereign of the Seas switched to Pullmantur Cruises in 2008, followed by the Monarch of the Seas in 2013 .

Empress of the Seas

Empress of the Seas

The Empress of the Seas (previously Nordic Empress ) is the smallest ship in the fleet and the only ship in this class. In 2003 Royal Caribbean International carried out a complete renovation. New restaurants have been added, new windows installed, additional cabins, larger guest areas and an atrium, new pools and more space for guest comfort. In 2008 the ship moved to Pullmantur Cruises on the Spanish market. After a stay in dry dock, the ship became part of the Royal Caribbean International fleet again in spring 2016.

Sold ships
List of cruise ships
Facts
ship Order Launch Maiden voyage
at RCI 		GT status out of service
at RCI
Song of Norway 2nd December 1969 1970 18,000 Scrapped in 2013 1996
Nordic Prince July 9, 1970 1971 23,000 Scrapped in 2015 1995
Sun Viking November 27, 1971 1972 18,455 as Sun Viking on the move 1998
Song of America November 1, 1979 November 26, 1981 5th December 1982 37,584 as Celestyal Olympia in motion 1999
Sovereign of the Seas June 1, 1985 April 4th 1987 January 16, 1988 73,529 Scrapped in 2020 2008
Nordic Empress
Empress of the Seas 		1st December 1987 August 26, 1989 June 25, 1990 48,563 in service
Viking serenade March 12, 1980 October 16, 1981 1990 40.132 Scrapped in 2018 2002
Monarch of the Seas September 21, 1990 November 17, 1991 73.937 Scrapped in 2020 2013
Majesty of the Seas August 29, 1991 April 26, 1992 74,077 in service
Legend of the Seas March 1, 1993 5th September 1994 May 16, 1995 69,472 as Marella Disvovery 2 on the move 2017
Splendor of the Seas March 1, 1993 June 17, 1995 March 31, 1996 69,130 as Marella Disvovery momentum 2016
Grandeur of the Seas February 14, 1994 March 1, 1996 December 14, 1996 73,817 in service
Rhapsody of the Seas August 1, 1996 May 19, 1997 78,491 in service
Enchantment of the Seas August 3, 1994 November 20, 1996 July 13, 1997 82,910 in service
Vision of the Seas September 1, 1997 September 1, 1997 78,491 in service
Voyager of the Seas January 7, 1997 November 27, 1998 November 21, 1999 138.194 in service
Explorer of the Seas March 20, 1997 November 4, 1999 October 28, 2000 138.194 in service
Radiance of the Seas April 28, 1998 October 15, 2000 April 7, 2001 90,090 in service
Adventure of the Seas June 17, 1998 January 5, 2001 November 18, 2001 137.276 in service
Navigator of the Seas May 24, 2000 January 25, 2002 December 14, 2002 139,570 in service
Brilliance of the Seas April 9, 1998 May 31, 2002 July 19, 2002 90,090 in service
Serenade of the Seas November 15, 1999 June 20, 2003 August 1, 2003 90,090 in service
Mariner of the Seas February 28, 2003 November 16, 2003 138.279 in service
Jewel of the Seas November 15, 1999 March 13, 2004 May 8, 2004 90,090 in service
Freedom of the Seas September 18, 2003 August 19, 2005 May 6, 2006 154,407 in service
Liberty of the Seas September 30, 2004 August 4, 2006 May 19, 2007 154,407 in service
Independence of the Seas April 2, 2005 September 14, 2007 May 2008 154,407 in service
Oasis of the Seas February 4, 2006 November 21, 2008 December 1, 2009 225,282 in service
Allure of the Seas March 31, 2007 November 20, 2009 November 2010 225,282 in service
Quantum of the Seas February 2011 August 13, 2014 November 1, 2014 168,666 In service
Anthem of the Seas February 2011 February 21, 2015 April 20, 2015 168,666 in service
Ovation of the Seas May 30, 2013 February 18, 2016 April 14, 2016 168,666 in service
Harmony of the Seas December 27, 2012 19th June 2015 May 20, 2016 226.963 in service
Symphony of the Seas May 9, 2014 June 9, 2017 2018 228.081 in service
Spectrum of the Seas May 2015 February 25, 2019 2019 169.379 in service

Private beaches

Labadee
Coco Cay

RCI operates two private beaches, which are also served on the routes in the Caribbean and the Bahamas : Labadee , a part of the coast in the north of Haiti and Coco Cay (previously: Little Stirrup Cay), a private island ( Berry Islands ) in the Bahamas region. Each island has several beaches, canopies for dining, sanitary facilities, lounge chairs and palm trees.

safety

After some incidents on cruise ships, RCI has made it its business to further improve safety on board. That is why more and more security personnel and cameras are used.

Some security measures are:

  • Metal detector and X-ray machines (like at the airport) to e.g. B. to prevent arms smuggling.
  • Face recognition makes it possible to identify every passenger.

Incidents

On the night of May 26-27, 2013, at 2:50 a.m., a fire broke out on board the Grandeur of the Seas . The fire spread from the mooring deck (deck 3) to deck 6 at the stern of the cruise ship. The fire was extinguished after two hours. None of the 2,224 passengers and 796 crew members were injured. The ship was diverted to Freeport to be checked for damage.

The George Allen Smith case

In July 2005, George Allen Smith disappeared without a trace during his honeymoon on the Brilliance of the Seas . Blood was later found on part of the ship below the young couple's cabin. After a search, it was found that George Allen Smith appeared to have fallen overboard. Later, the relatives received a severance payment of around one million US dollars.

Web links

Commons : Ships of the Royal Caribbean  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 19 cruise ships equip Royal Caribbean with scrubbers. (No longer available online.) December 22, 2014, archived from the original on December 22, 2014 ; accessed on December 22, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.schiffe-und-kreuzfahrten.de
  2. ↑ Royal Caribbean and Carnival are upgrading scrubbers. December 23, 2014, accessed December 23, 2014 .
  3. ↑ DER SPIEGEL: Survivors and victims' relatives want to sue cruise operators after a devastating volcanic eruption - DER SPIEGEL - Panorama. Retrieved April 27, 2020 .
  4. ^ Meyer Turku wins two new large cruise ship orders from Royal Caribbean. October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
  5. ^ Meyer Turku wins third Icon class ship contract from Royal Caribbean. July 2, 2019, accessed October 2, 2019 .
  6. ^ Quantum of the Seas , Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  7. ^ Quantum of the Seas , Royal Caribbean International.
  8. ^ Anthem of the Seas , Royal Caribbean International.
  9. ↑ Third Oasis-Class ship is called “Harmony of the Seas”. February 23, 2015, accessed February 23, 2015 .
  10. ↑ Start of construction of the "Oasis 3" - Royal Caribbean builds the largest cruise ship in the world. In: T-Online portal. September 24, 2013, accessed October 13, 2013 .
  11. ↑ RCCL commande de nouveaux Paquebots in Saint-Nazaire. May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016 .
  12. ↑ Commande d'un nouveau paquebot de la classe Oasis. February 18, 2019, accessed February 19, 2018 (French).
  13. ↑ The fifth ship is called Symphony of the Seas. May 26, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
  14. ↑ NCL orders two luxury liners. Retrieved March 4, 2014 .
  15. ↑ https://www.schiffe-und-kreuzfahrten.de/royal-caribbean/royal-caribbean-bekommen-drei-weiter-oasis-class-schiffe/129838/
  16. ↑ a b c d RCI ships on Fakta om Fartyg (Swedish)
  17. ↑ Technical and administrative data of the "Oasis of the Seas". DNV GL, accessed on October 12, 2016 .
  18. ^ Maiden voyage of the "Quantum of the Seas". (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on April 29, 2014 ; Retrieved April 28, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.go7seas-kreuzfahrten.de
  19. ↑ Royal Caribbean signs contract for third Quantum class ship. May 30, 2013, accessed September 18, 2014 .
  20. ^ Royal Caribbean orders third Oasis class ship. December 27, 2012, accessed February 23, 2015 .
  21. ^ Saint-Nazaire met à l'eau le Symphony of the Seas. June 9, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2017 .
  22. ↑ Royal Caribbean and Meyer Werft agree fourth ship in the Quantum class. May 8, 2015, accessed September 6, 2017 .
  23. ↑ Fire on the Grandeur of the Seas ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.schiffe-und-kreuzfahrten.de archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Ships and Cruises, May 27, 2013.
  24. ↑ FAZ.NET Cruise crime - death goes with you. January 29, 2007