In the end, the deal went to Germany, as RCCL first signed a letter of intent with Meyer Werft to build the first
vessel of a new generation of cruise ships
in February, and then solidified the deal
in March.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Developed under the code-name “Project
Sunshine,” this undertaking did not materialise overnight – RCCL says that “Sunshine” is a result of over a year of research
and development.
The new vessel design is supposed
to incorporate new and exciting features
that “take advantage of the best of Royal
Caribbean’s experience and imagination”.
At the same time, RCCL is opting
to trade size for versatility. While the Oasis-class boasts 225,000 gross tons (GT),
the new ship class is considerably smaller
at 158,000 GT. Also, Oasis-class can accommodate 5,400 passengers and Sunshine vessel can fit 4,100. Still, RCCL argues that the ship will still be jam-packed
with entertainment and special features.
The blockbuster deal calls for one
ship to be delivered in the autumn of 2014
with an option for a second ship for spring
2015. The estimated all-in cost per berth
is about euro 170,000. This all-in cost includes the yard’s base contract price plus
everything needed to design, operate and
build the vessel, from architect fees to supervision costs and all loose inventories
from computers to art and bed linens.
DON’T DROP THE BALL
Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd, has promised that the next generation “will not
disappoint”. While RCCL sticks to its policy of keeping its newest ideas and features under wraps during the early stages of construction, Fain did say that he is
very excited about “the passion and imagination” that has been devoted to the
project already.
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