Royal Caribbean has announced all ship amplifications are to be postponed until further notice due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The cancellations will hit planned enhancement for Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas.
Allure of the Seas was to have undergone a $165 million enhancement as part of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified fleet upgrade program – the planned overhaul of 10 cruise ships at a cost of over a billion dollars.
However, last month we reported sources in Cadiz, Spain, where Allure of the Seas is in dry dock and where the enhancement was to have been carried out as saying that the ships cabins would not be upgraded.
>>Best Prices on Cruise Direct
The indefinite postponement of the amplification program
The indefinite postponement of the amplification program comes amid a severe financial crunch for Royal Caribbean and the entire cruise industry amid the suspension of sailing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this week Royal Caribbean raised a further $2 billion in debt less than a month after raising $3 billion in secured notes.
Royal Caribbean’s Senior Vice President Vicki Freed told travel advisers that the company still planned to go ahead with the upgrade in the future.
“I want to make sure to reiterate that they are simply being placed on a temporary hold. And we look forward to amplifying these great ships sometime in the near future,” she said.
Allure of the Seas was to have been the seventh Royal Caribbean cruise ship to undergo upgrades and enhancements as part of the Royal Amplified program, which aims to provide guests with a “wow” experience.
Among the planned features of the upgrade were the 10-story Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; the Perfect Storm trio of water slides; a huge new pool deck with a bar over two locations; and adults-only Solarium; and a new music hall for live performances and shows.
Meanwhile plans for the Allure of the Seas make Galveston its home port has also been put on ice due after the company postponed construction of a new cruise terminal at the port until 2022.
Royal Caribbean To Announce New ‘Unparalleled’ Health Protocols
Sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale instead
The Oasis Class ship which at 362 meters long and 47 meters wide is one of the largest cruise liners in the world, will now sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale instead.
Explorer of the Seas had also been due for a $110 million enhancement later this year, while.
Liberty of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas were to have undergone enhancements in 2021 to complete the Royal Amplified fleet upgrade program.
