For Royal Caribbean: Bigger is Better X2

     
       If you have any interest in the cruise industry, from the occasional cruiser to the most hard core fan of cruising; you have heard of Royal Caribbean Line's ships, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas.  These two mega ships, each capable of carrying more than 5400 passengers, are the largest cruise ship ever built.  Even though they are very popular with travelers and command a premium price, they also have many detractors because of their size and inward ship focus.  Well, love em or hate em, Royal Caribbean is doubling down.  It has ordered not one, but two new ships of the Oasis-class, each in fact will be larger than the existing vessels.

       According to a report from Reuters, Royal Caribbean has just ordered a 4th ship of the Oasis-class to be built for delivery in 2018.  The 3rd ship in the series was ordered last year and is scheduled to go into service in 2016.  The two vessels will be built in France, and at 225,300 tonnes, will be larger than the existing ships, capable of carrying over 6000 passengers.  Each ship is budgeted to cost $1.8 billion.  Overall Royal Caribbean has increased its ship building budget from $5 billion to $6.8 billion thru 2018.

       No matter what you think of the Oasis-class vessels, just based on their sheer size and capacity, they will have a huge impact on the cruise industry.  Very few ports can handle ships of that size.  But with a booming demand for cruises in Asia, the cruise industry is responding by adding more capacity in that region.  Royal Caribbean has just reported it will send its newest ship, Quantum of the Seas, to China year round starting in 2015, after it was reported the Chinese are building a brand new port terminal for her.  Other ports in Asia and the Caribbean are reported to be expanding their port capacities in order to handle the larger vessels.  In the US, Port Canaveral in Florida is planning to build a brand new terminal and 1000 space parking garage for Royal Caribbean; for the rumoured new home port for one of the Oasis-class ships.