By Phil Reimer, for Postmedia News
My first impression after boarding Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas in Victoria was that the ship was being decommissioned.
While the outside of the ship had not changed, at that point, the inside public areas were virtually gutted.
It turned out that Radiance, the oldest in of the Radiance Class ships, was being remodelled -refurbishing is a word that does not do it justice.
Built in 2001, the 2,500-passenger ship was taking on many of the successful features you will find on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, the two biggest cruise ships in the world.
It can take months to remodel a home. However, when you have $30 million to spend and 1,000 workers at your service, you would be amazed at what can be accomplished in 21 days. When you add up the projects, there were 1,000, some lasting a few days, others lasting a few hours. With military precision, the Victoria Shipyard made it on time for the remodelled ship's first cruise to Alaska on June 10. This was also a chance for the yard to show off to the federal government, in hopes of getting a piece of the $35 billion earmarked for new and remodelled ships for the navy, and beyond, over the next few decades.
Radiance of the Seas was also being remodelled to save money. With a new special paint on the bottom of its hull and a few changes to the propulsion system, it will save 5,500 gallons of fuel a week.
This makeover is all part of the "Royal Advantage" program, which is being undertaken for older members of Royal Caribbean's fleet. Splendor of the Seas is next.
Radiance added seven new restaurants during its stay in dry dock and, yes, some have a price attached. Samba's, a Brazilian Churrasco-style restaurant -think meat -is $25 for dinner only. Giovanni's Table, for Italian dining, is $15 for lunch and $20 for dinner. Izumi, fashionably Asian Fusion, has à la carte pricing. The Park Cafe deli, the "Dog House" for those who love hotdogs, the Quill and Compass Pub, and Rita's Cantina's, a Mexican restaurant, are all part of your cruise price. Also opening will be the Chef's Table, at $95, one of the most expensive restaurants at sea and with room for only 16 guests each night. For your money, you get five courses and complimentary wine.
There's more. All staterooms will be refurbished with new flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi in the cabins and all public areas. The public areas are getting miles and miles of new carpet. The pool was in the process of getting a new deck and the movie screen was bigger: 15 feet by 30 feet. It will be used for movies at night, specials and major sports events.
When it heads south for the winter, Radiance of the Seas will have a series of itineraries that include 12-night trips from Sydney to the South Pacific, including Nouméa, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, as well as the traditional 14-night cruises to New Zealand.
Thumping Canada's chest here, all the senior managers on this project were lavish in their praise of the Canadian workers. The captain, Claus Andersen, raved especially about the quality of the work being performed. That's high praise from a crew that works with shipyards around the world.
As for what it costs to cruise on this remodelled Radiance, here's one example: Vancouver to Seward (Anchorage), seven days, Sept. 2, $739.
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Phil can be contacted directly at portsandbows@gmail.com.
~ Sounds wonderful............!
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