Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas to Undergo $100 Million Upgrade

Posted on 8 August, 2024 by Spacejunkie2

The Allure of the Seas is set for a $100 million upgrade in April 2025, Royal Caribbean International announced in a press release.

The refurbishment, which is part of the company’s Royal Amplified refit program, will see the creation of new venues and features onboard.

For a complete picture of the drydock market, see the 2024 Drydock and Refurb Report by Cruise Industry News.

According to Royal Caribbean, after the update, the Allure of the Seas will offer more than 35 ways to dine and drink, as well as new bars, a new water park and upgraded pool decks.

The 2010-built vessel will also see the creation of new suites, as well as Royal Caribbean’s signature Ultimate Abyss slide.

The refurbishment will be completed ahead of the ship’s summer program in the Western Mediterranean, the company added.

Between April and October 2025, the newly amplified ship is scheduled to offer seven-night cruises to Spain, Italy and France.

“From the new Icon and Utopia of the Seas to now the more than $100 million transformation of Allure of the Seas, we’ve upped the ante threefold on the different ways vacationers can get away and make memories with Royal Caribbean,” said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean International.

“Allure will be reimagined with the best of Royal Caribbean and what travellers love. Between new favourites, like the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, and experiences that unlock core memories time and time again, from an incredible pool deck to an unmatched combination of thrills and ways to chill, Allure will have even more of everything that makes it standout favourite,” he added.

First introduced in 2018, the Royal Amplified program included significant refurbishments onboard Voyager-, Freedom- and Oasis-class ships.

Allure’s sister ship, the Oasis of the Seas, was one of the vessels that underwent an “amplification” in 2019.

After debuting its new features in Europe, the Allure of the Seas is set to return to the United States in November 2025 for a series of six- to eight-night cruises to the Caribbean departing from Fort Lauderdale.

Alma Cruceros Reveals First Details of its New Cruise Line

Posted on 15 July, 2024 by Spacejunkie2

Alma Cruceros has revealed the first details of its new cruise operation.

The startup brand is set to operate SunStone’s Ocean Victory during summer seasons starting in 2025.

According to its website, Alma is based in Málaga and plans to become the first luxury cruise line based in Spain.

The company is led by Elisardo Sánchez Burgos, who also serves as Executive President of the Premium Hotels Group.

“An idea that was conceived in May 2018 soon became a dream and is now becoming reality thanks to the enthusiastic and persevering efforts of a wonderfully talented team,” he said in a social media update.

Alma Cruceros is set to embark on its maiden season in April 2025. The maiden voyage sails from Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands, to Málaga, in the Western Mediterranean.

According to Burgos, the ship will operate primarily from Málaga, offering itineraries to ports in the region of Andalucía, as well as Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish ports on the North African coast.

“Our project is very important to support the growth and consolidation of the cruise industry in these ports. In some of them, we will be the first shipping company in terms of number of calls,” he said in a LinkedIn post.

Bookings for the maiden season opened in June, with 16 cruises currently on sale for departures between April and October 2025.

In addition to Málaga, the Ocean Victory is also set to offer cruises departing from Barcelona and Tarragona for itineraries to different regions of Spain, including Costa Brava, Costa Azul and the Balearic Islands.

The 186-guest vessel will also sail to international destinations, with planned visits to ports in Corsica, France, and Sardinia, Italy. According to the company’s website, prices for a seven-night cruise start at 3,570 euros per person.

With an all-inclusive product, Alma Cruceros plans to offer an “oasis of sustainability and luxury experiences,” according to its website.

Originally designed for upscale cruises in remote parts of the globe, the Ocean Victory represents the “perfect fusion of modern luxury and eco-responsibility, offering an unparalleled onboard experience,” the company added.

Alma also said that its product will focus on the Spanish identity, with a celebration of the local culture that will resonate with Spanish-speaking guests.

Different aspects of the onboard experience, from gastronomy to entertainment, were tailored to reflect the Spanish heritage.

Part of SunStone’s Infinity Class, the Ocean Victory will operate for Alma Cruceros as part of a charter agreement announced back in April.

The 2021-built vessel also offers winter seasons in Antarctica for Albatros Expeditions as part of a different charter deal.

Oceania Cruises Floats Out New Ship Allura In Italy

Posted on 3 July, 2024 by Spacejunkie2

Oceania Cruises celebrated the float out of its new ship, the Allura, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy.

The 1,200-guest ship was floated from the drydock and moved to the fitting-out berth to begin outfitting interiors, the company announced.

The Allura was blessed by the shipyard’s chaplain, Father Stefano and christened by Caterina Romeo, a designer in Fincantieri’s technical department.

“Our hearts and minds are with the entire team at Fincantieri as they mourn the passing of General Graziano,” stated Frank A. Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises.

“The float out is an important moment for all at Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri, as we progress closer to Allura joining our family. Now that we have completed her shell, we are excited to get started on her interior. We have lots of exciting enhancements on Allura, our eighth vessel, further elevating our offerings and firmly cementing Oceania Cruises as the only ultra-premium cruise brand.”

The Allura will enter service from Trieste, Italy, on July 18, 2025, sailing to Athens, Greece, and visiting Rijeka, Croatia; Ravenna, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Kotor, Montenegro. After her summer season in the Mediterranean, the Allura will sail to Canada and New England for a series of voyages in North America before her inaugural winter season in the Caribbean, homeporting in Miami.