Royal Caribbean to alter new dining format

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Royal Caribbean International will make its first major change to the Dynamic Dining concept introduced on Quantum of the Seas.

When Quantum’s sister ship, Anthem of the Seas, debuts in April, guests will have the option of choosing Dynamic Dining Classic, which will have many of the attributes of eating in the main dining room on other Royal Caribbean ships.

 Royals new dining option video

The classic option allows diners to choose an early seating and sit at the same table every night. Guests will also be served by the same waiter and assistant waiter throughout the cruise. They will rotate through the four complimentary restaurants on Anthem and will find their table in the same location in each restaurant nightly, said Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley.

Bayley disclosed the new wrinkle in Dynamic Dining at a travel agent event aboard Freedom of the Seas on Saturday.

He said Royal Caribbean has had “some struggles” implementing Dynamic Dining since it debuted on Quantum in November. Older guests in particular have not taken to the new format, he said.

Dynamic Dining scraps the large main dining room, and traditional early and late seatings, for smaller 430-seat restaurants with different themes and cuisines.

Guest ratings have slowly improved for Dynamic Dining to the point where they are equal to or better than the fleet average, Bayley said.

“We really want to make this concept work,” Bayley told the agents, “and we’re very close to making it successful.”

Longtime executives promoted to lead Celebrity, Royal Caribbean

By Jerry Limone
Michael BayleyRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) has named Michael Bayley president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, transferring to the company’s largest brand from the helm of Celebrity Cruises.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo replaces Bayley as Celebrity’s president and CEO, promoted from her position as Royal Caribbean’s executive vice president of operations.

Each executive has 30 years of experience in the industry.

Bayley had Lisa Lutoff-Perlobeen Celebrity’s president and CEO since July 2012. At that time, Bayley had been promoted from his position as Royal Caribbean’s executive vice president of operations, and Lutoff-Perlo was promoted to replace Bayley.

The top spot at Royal Caribbean International had been vacant since April, when Adam Goldstein was promoted to president and COO of the parent company.

In a statement, RCCL said Bayley “delivered strong results” at Celebrity “while building the company’s ‘modern luxury’ positioning, which resonated successfully with Celebrity’s sophisticated customer base.”

RCCL said Lutoff-Perlo “played a critical role in the recent successful launch of Quantum of the Seas.”

Celebrity Cruises orders pair of 2,900-passenger ships

By Tom Stieghorst

Celebrity Cruises said it has ordered two 2,900-passenger ships from the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire.

The ships are scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2018 and early 2020.

Celebrity’s most recent ship, the 3,046-passenger Celebrity Reflection, was delivered in the fall of 2012.The line recently agreed to send its oldest ship, Celebrity Century, to a new joint venture in China.

Celebrity’s parent, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said the ships are being built under the Project Edge name. RCCL said they will deliver small-ship itineraries with large-ship amenities.

“STX France designs and builds some of the most innovative and stylish cruise ships in the world, and Project Edge offers them the opportunity to again set a new standard for modern iconic architecture,” said Michael Bayley, presdient and CEO of Celebrity.

Contract costs for the ship were not disclosed. With the addition of the two new orders, RCCL said company-wide capacity is scheduled to increase by 2.4% this year, 5.5% next year, 6.7% in 2016, 3.8% in 2017 and 4.3% in 2018.

The 117,000-gross-ton ships will be part of a new class of vessels for Celebrity. the line currently operates five Solstice-class vessels, including Celebrity Reflection, and four Millennium-class vessels.

Celebrity competes in the premium segment with Holland America Line, which has a 2,650-passenger ship called Koningsdam under construction for delivery in February 2016.