This is CruiseMapper's article dedicated to Royal-Caribbean International (RCI) ships' refurbishments. Here you will find drydocks schedule for the entire RCI fleet, with vessel refits dates, details on all upgrades and renovations, deckplan changes on the refurbished ships, dry-docks cost. This is a jump link to the drydock dates and refurb details - if you wanna skip the "Royal Amplified" program details.
RCI's "Royal Advantage" renovation program (2011-2016) was budgeted USD 300 million. The company's 6-ship refurbishment project "innovation renovations" was implemented in 2016, when the liners Adventure, Jewel, Liberty, Majesty, and Radiance received some of the fleet's most popular onboard features.
"Royal Amplified" fleetwide renovation program
In mid-March 2018, Royal Caribbean announced a USD 900 million fleetwide ship refurbishment project ("Royal Amplified", 2018-2022) covering 10 liners in 3 classes (Oasis, Freedom, Voyager). By the "AMPED" program were introduced new and innovative features, new experiences and amenities, redesigned pool decks and venues, new dining options, new nightlife concepts, new onboard attractions.
"Royal Amplified" was budgeted around USD 1 billion.
Royal Amplified ships
Royal Amplified (AMPED) project covers a total of 10 vessels over 4 years. Further details on Oasis-class ship upgrades are still forthcoming.
- In 2018 were "AMPED" the ships Mariner and Independence.
- In 2019 were "AMPED" the ships Oasis, Voyager.
- In 2020 were "AMPED" the ships Allure, Freedom, Explorer, Navigator.
- For "AMPED" drydocks in 2021 are scheduled the ships Adventure, Liberty.
Royal Amplified (new) shipboard facilities and venues
Among the new "Royal Amplified" venues are:
- HOOKED SEAFOOD is a casual, surcharge restaurant for classic, freshest New England seafood favorites. including lobster, crab claws, oysters (at a raw bar).
- PLAYMAKERS BAR and ARCADE is an adults-only sports bar with a la carte priced fast-food options - like chicken wings, popcorn shrimp, sliders, RCI's new signature Playmaker Burger, ice-cold beers. Age restrictions are 18+ yo (on itineraries in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia New Zealand) and 21+ yo (North America departures).
- EL LOCO FRESH is a complimentary Mexican Cafe restaurant open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. The traditional Mexican food (including beef burritos, fish tacos, carnitas) is served with mole sauce and salsa verde.
- FISH and SHIPS is a la carte priced, a poolside fast-food bar serving American fare for Lunch and Dinner. The seafood menu features fresh-battered cod, lobster rolls, calamari, draft beers, hand-cut fries.
- JAMIE'S ITALIAN (menu link) is a casual, surcharge restaurant serving Italian fare for Lunch and Dinner. The venue is via a partnership with the British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. The menu offers handmade dishes from authentic recipes and prepared with seasonal (locally sourced) ingredients. Menu's signature item is "Jamie's Italian Famous Plank " (cured meats, pickles, cheeses). Other specialties are in-house made pasta, pumpkin panzerotti, zingy prawn linguine, a variety of entrees, small plates, grills, desserts.
- THE BAMBOO ROOM is an adults-only, Polynesia-themed bar lounge serving handcrafted cocktails prepared with exotic fruits and spices, as well as sharable bites at the bar. Age restrictions are 18+ yo (on itineraries in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia New Zealand) and 21+ yo ((North America departures).
- LASER TAG course (BATTLE FOR PLANET Z) is a complimentary, glow-in-the-dark gaming experience offered at Studio B. Laser tag battles require a minimum of 40 players, with age restriction 5 yo.
- THE PERFECT STORM is a waterslide complex (complimentary) that includes "Tidal Wave" (aka Boomerango) plus 2 racer slides ("Cyclone" and "Typhoon"). Both spiraling slides are positioned portside and go around the Flowrider. At "Tidal Wave" passengers ride in rafts plummeting down a very steep drop. Then the rafts shot up a nearly vertical wall into the air for experiencing the sensation of weightlessness and free fall. Then follows a swift return below. Slides builder is WhiteWater - a company specializing in designing and manufacturing of water park products and family-fun attractions. WhiteWater also owns the FlowRider patent. There are no age restrictions, but there are passenger height and weight requirements - min 48 inches (122 cm) and max 300 lbs (136 kg).
- SKY PAD is a bungee trampoline with an optional virtual reality gaming headset. Age restrictions are 5 yo (jumping) and 7 yo (jumping with virtual reality headset). Passenger weight requirements are min 20 lbs (9 kg) and max 240 lbs (109 kg).
RCI ship refurbishments schedule
Royal Caribbean vessels are usually drydocked in Freeport Bahamas (Grand Bahama Shipyard), Singapore (Sembawang Shipyard) and Cadiz Spain (Navantia Shipyard). The ships usually enter drydocks in up to 5-year periods.
| Ship Name | Drydock Dates / Shipyard | Refurbishment Review / Deckplan Changes |
|---|---|---|
2021 April | drydock 2021 (technical, classification inspection) | |
2021 May | drydock 2021 (technical, classification inspection) | |
2016-2018 (Freeport) 2021 (Royal Amplified) |
| |
2020 (March 13 - May 9) Royal Amplified | 2020 drydock (USD 165 million)
2015 drydock (May 1-19, Cadiz)
| |
2018 (April 21-30) Hamburg Germany |
| |
2021 Sept (Cadiz) 2017 (Bahamas) | (2021) routine maintenance (2017) Oasis-class upgrades (new specialty restaurants, expanded complimentary dining, fresh bar and lounge concepts, nursery, renovated staterooms and bathrooms, new shopping and entertainment options) | |
2023 (January 29 - March 12) Cadiz 2020 (March 17 - May 6) Cadiz | 2023 (routine maintenance), Perfect Storm (outdoor complex with 2 waterslides - Cyclone” and “Typhoon”) plus the raft slide “Tidal Wave” Royal Amplified/2020 drydock (USD 110 million)
2015 drydock
| |
2015 2020 (Royal Amplified) January 12 - March 7 | 2015 drydock
2020 drydock ($116 million)
| |
2024 (April) | (2024) general maintenance, new carpeting and upholstery (all public areas) (2017)
| |
2023 (Jan 6 - Feb 16) 2018 (April 4 - May 4 / Royal Amplified) Freeport | drydock 2023 - regular drydock 2018
| |
2019 April | The liner underwent general renovation works after its Asian/Chinese deployment. On Lido Deck (deck 14), Kung Fu Panda Noodle Shop was replaced with "Fish and Ships" (poolside a-la-carte seafood and beverages bar) | |
2024 April-May 2021 May 2016 (March 21 - April 6) Cadiz | drydock 2024 (technical overhaul, hotel upkeep, hull and superstructure cleaning/repainting), all exterior windows replaced drydock 2021 (technical, classification inspection) drydock 2016
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2021 July 2016 (January 10 - February 6) Freeport 2021 (Royal Amplified) | drydock 2021 (technical, classification inspection) drydock 2016
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2023 (February 28 - March 25) Cadiz 2018 (May 8 - June 24 / Royal Amplified) Singapore | (drydock 2023) routine maintenance and classification works, general hotel upkeep, minor steel works (hull repairs, cleaning, painting), propulsion system overhaul (drydock 2018, project cost USD 100 million)
| |
2016 May (Freeport) |
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2024 (Sep 29-Oct 24) Navantia Cadiz 2019 (Sept 22 - Nov 23) Royal Amplified | (2024) routing drydocking, renovations of passenger facilities (2019 drydock/USD 165 million)
(2014 drydock/Sept-October, Rotterdam) routine maintenance, new staterooms, Boardwalk Dog House (fast-food bar) added (Deck 6), Viking Crown Lounge and Bar transformed into "Suite Lounge" and the restaurant "Coastal Kitchen" (Deck 17) | |
2019 Oct 19 - Nov 16 (Singapore) | (USD 65 million)
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2024 (Mar) Singapore 2019 Jan 3 - Feb 23 (Royal Amplified) | (drydock 2024) routine technical maintenance, general hotel upkeep (updates to some public areas and passenger staterooms/carpeting, new upholstery, walling) (drydock 2019)
| |
2019 (Oct 19 - Nov 16) Singapore | regular maintenance works, added two new team gaming experiences (Laser Tag, Escape Room) | |
2024 March (Freeport) 2021 September (Cadiz) 2016 May (Singapore) | (2024) general maintenance, new carpeting and upholstery (all public areas) (2021) regular maintenance works (drydock 2016)
| |
2022 April-May (at Damen Brest/France) | routine maintenance works included hull cleaning and painting, mechanical/machinery inspections and upgrades (incl propulsion system and engines), open-deck spaces renovations (sundeck, swimming pools), recarpeting of all indoor public areas (hallways, bars, lounges). | |
2017 |
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2024 (April 20-May 24) Freeport Bahamas | routine maintenance and classification/safety inspections, technical overhaul, hotel upkeep, some upgrades to public areas | |
2014 April-October (Rotterdam Holland) 2019 (September 10 – October 14) Royal Amplified | drydock 2019 (USD 97 million)
drydock 2014
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At the following tag link can be found listed all CruiseMapper's news related to drydock refurbishments. This page is also integrated with our hub for cruise ship refurbishments where are listed all other cruise companies fleets with deckplan links to each vessel.
CocoCay Island refurbishments and expansion 2018-2019
Since 2015, RCCL invests huge money in the corporation's private Bahamian island CocoCay. In March 2018, Royal Caribbean announced a USD 200 million project (named "Perfect Day Island Collection") for developing private land destinations in the regions of the Caribbean, Asia, and Australia. As part of this project, CocoCay received unique water attractions.
- Thrill Waterpark attraction to be constructed, with 2 water towers (Daredevil's Tower, Family Tower) with a total of 13 slides. The Daredevil's Tower complex consists of North America's tallest waterslide (named Daredevil's Peak, height 135 ft / 41 m), Dueling Demons (2 drop slides), Manta Raycers (2 high-speed slides), Screeching Serpent (fully vertical slide), Green Mamba (coiling slide), as well as Caribbean's largest wave pool (Adventure Pool ) with obstacle course (lily pads), rock-climbing wall, . The Family Tower complex consists of all 6 waterslides, including 1 tubed (The Twister, capacity 2 persons sharing 1 raft), 1 zero-gravity (The Slingshot, capacity 4 persons) and 1 racing (Splash Speedway, with 4 lanes).
- Caribbean's biggest freshwater swimming pool (named Oasis Lagoon) has a swim-up bar and water loungers.
- Caribbean's only Zip-line with water landing has length 1600 ft (488 m) and crisscrosses the island at heights up to 50 ft (15 m).
- The Bahamas' highest vantage point (an attraction named "Up, Up and Away") is a helium balloon flying up to 450 ft (137 m) above ground.
- Three new beaches - Chill Island (with private cabanas and daybeds), South Beach (specifically designed for beachside activities - volleyball, basketball, soccer, paddleboards, glass-bottom sea kayaks, zorbs (inflatable bumper bubble balls) and Coco Beach Club (exclusive beach providing premium island vacation experiences with overwater cabanas). Coco Beach Club cabana rentals are inclusive of 1 hammock, 1 waterslide and dedicated service by a cabana attendant. The complex also includes a freshwater infinity pool, its own full bar and an exclusive restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine specialties.
- Shipwreck Galleon (kids park) has 30 water cannons. The Sprayaway Geyser sprays water up to 82 ft (25 m) in the air. Both are part of Splashaway Bay. This is the enlarged version of the Royal Caribbean ships upgraded onboard aqua parks for kids, fitted with fountains, splash pools, sprinklers, geysers, cannons, whirlpools, slides, 2 drench buckets.
- Captain Jack's is a new bar and dining venue - designed as a rowboat, with waterfront views, serving beverages and fast-food items (including chicken wings and steak fries).
- Skipper's Grill serves lunch fast-food (including sandwiches, burgers, tacos, salads).
- The beachside restaurant Chill Grill is CocoCay's largest. Also new is the food bar, Snack Shack.
- Newly added amenities include wave runner and boat tours, snorkeling, private cabanas and daybeds for rental, several beach bars with upgraded menus.
In 2017-2018 was constructed a new pier (able to handle RCI's largest / Oasis-class liners), as well as basketball court, bocce ball court, bowling court, volleyball nets, large-size pool table.
In 2016 the private island was upgraded with a new swim-up bar at Barefoot Beach, new cabanas, new island dock (for tenders), 35 beach bungalows (capacity 6 persons each) at Barefoot Beach.
In 2015, the island was upgraded with new trams (quieter and taller) and was added a new / shorter tram route and a new freshwater shower (at Barefoot Beach).
At the following tag link can be found listed all CruiseMapper news related to drydock refurbishments. This page is also integrated with our hub for cruise ship refurbishments where are listed all other cruise line companies with deckplan links to each vessel. And at the following link, you can compare how Carnival spends its fleet drydock budget.