Thread: Vision OTS moving to Europe and other ship movements

When cruising the Mexican Riviera on the Vision October 2006, our waiter had mentioned a rumor that Royal Caribbean was planning on moving the Vision over to Europe soon. When I asked my TA about this, she confirmed that Royal Caribbean is planning on moving some of their ships, and one of those hopeful plans is to move the Vision and then move one of their larger fleets over to the Pacific to do the Mexico/Alaska route. I asked her if they would be moving a Voyager family ship and she said that it would probably be one of the Radiance ships.
Why not a Voyager class ship? Apparently, if there were to be a problem with the ship that required repairs, the only port large enough to dry dock a Voyager Class ship would be all the way over in Hawaii. Too far. My TA said that Royal is working on resolving this matter, however that may be. They would like to have a Voyager ship in the Mexico/Alaska route, as it would make them the largest ship doing those itineraries.

All of this rearranging of course is due to the new Freedom & Liberty sailing the Caribbean, which means rerouting some of the Voyager ships to other itineraries (possibly Europe) and then moving other ship(s) over to the new Asia itineraries.

The only other information that I have heard is that the Mariner should be continuing it's eastern/western Caribbean itinerary. I only know this because we are planning a cruise on the Mariner August 2008.

Has anyone heard anything else about which ships might be moving where? I understand that the fall 2008 itineraries are to be released this April, and those will have a lot of the movements included.

I would LOVE to see a Radiance Class ship in LA. It is my dream. I suspect that it we be a Voyage Class that ends up there. If that is the case, it would have to sail out of Seattle for Alaska. They can not fit under the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver.

We should get the info on the moves in about 2-3 weeks.

I know that Voyager OTS will be moving to Galveston, now that Rhapsody will be going to Asia, and Splendour will winter (for us) in South America.

The plans to move Navigator to the west coast have been in gear for over 2 years. In addition to the dry dock issue - which is a big one! - there is also the question of getting a Voyager ship all the way around South America: which ports can handle a ship that size, getting food and services to those ports, etc. I expect that some of those issues will go away once the infrastructure is set up to support Splendour OTS and once the QMII goes to several of those ports.

Would someone have to build a huge dry dock for these things to happen? That can't be easy or cheap to do. I wonder where it would go?

Originally Posted by MCcruiser

I know that Voyager OTS will be moving to Galveston, now that Rhapsody will be going to Asia, and Splendour will winter (for us) in South America.

The plans to move Navigator to the west coast have been in gear for over 2 years. In addition to the dry dock issue - which is a big one! - there is also the question of getting a Voyager ship all the way around South America: which ports can handle a ship that size, getting food and services to those ports, etc. I expect that some of those issues will go away once the infrastructure is set up to support Splendour OTS and once the QMII goes to several of those ports.

As I noted on the Europe bookings thread, it looks like Voyager OTS is going back to Europe, at least until November 2008. Splendour OTS is also booked for Europe during the fall of 2008. Since we were planning on taking the next cruise in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I have to wonder - what are they putting in Galveston?

I think the only cruiseline that has announced their stateside itineraries out that far is Carnival. Based on previous years, I think we will find out what's in store for May '08 through April '09 either in April or May.

(sigh)
It seems like an awfully large number of ships are going to Europe (and one to Asia).
Does make one wonder what will be left where over in our necdk o the woods.

Originally Posted by canarymoon

(sigh)
It seems like an awfully large number of ships are going to Europe (and one to Asia).
Does make one wonder what will be left where over in our necdk o the woods.

You will have the Freedom and Independance for sure.
In 2009 you will probably get the new Genisis Class ship.

Originally Posted by Blizzard

You will have the Freedom and Independance for sure.
In 2009 you will probably get the new Genisis Class ship.

Genisis Class??? Tell me more!!

Originally Posted by Blizzard

You will have the Freedom and Independance for sure.
In 2009 you will probably get the new Genisis Class ship.

Hot dog.
Sure hope those aren't the only choices we're left with . . .

That said, I will probaly be putting a hold on a cabin on the Voyager OTS for March of '08 - but ONLY because it calls at Roatan.
Otherwise, I'd probably be looking for something not quite so big.