As part of Royal Caribbean's Revitalization program to upgrade all of its cruise ships to include amenities first introduced on the Oasis of the Seas, Independence o the Seas has recently been scheduled to have its upgrade take place in April 2013.

Independence of the Seas will receive

• Outdoor movie screen
• Cupcake Cupboard
• Digital Signage
• Pervasive Wi-Fi
• Nursery 
• Giovanni’s Table specialty restaurant

The $7 million refurbishment will take two weeks, at which point Royal Caribbean will deploy Independence of the Seas to Southampton, England where on May 2, 2013 she will begin her summer season.  Some of the itineraries offered include some new shorter sailings such as a two-night cruise to Le Havre for Paris and three-night cruises to Le Havre for Paris and Zeebrugge for Bruges. 

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas has completed its three week $29 million overhaul.  As part of Royal Caribbean's revitalization program, the cruise ship was serviced at the Navantia Ship yard in Cadiz Spain where Serenade received new new dining concepts, entertainment options and technology advancements.

Serenade of the Seas has almost doubled the amount of dining options onboard including

• Giovanni’s Table: An Italian trattoria featuring Italian classics served family-style (open for lunch, $15, and dinner, $20)
• Izumi Asian Cuisine: A pan-Asian restaurant with an authentic dining experience featuring mouthwatering flavors and a sushi bar with hot-rock cooking (open for lunch and dinner, $3.00 cover charge for lunch and $5.00 for dinner, plus a la carte menu pricing)
• Park Café: An indoor/outdoor gourmet market featuring made-to-order salads, sandwiches including the signature Kummelveck beef sandwich, soups and pastries (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, complimentary)
• Rita’s Cantina: A casual yet vibrant restaurant, catering to families by day, and adults by night; offering Mexican appetizers and a comprehensive selection of margaritas (open for lunch and dinner, a la carte menu pricing)
• Chef’s Table: An exclusive and private experience co-hosted by the executive Chef and Sommelier for a wine pairing dinner of five courses (open for dinner, $95 per person) 

In addition, Serenade saw its Centrum reimagined into a new public space that features the new Centrum experience, such as the 60's-inspired R Bar and new entertainment.  Acts such as daytime activities, dazzling nighttime entertainment and a new high-flying entertainment experience where aerialists glide through the atrium will occupy the Centrum throughout the day.

Royal Caribbean has also added a new Concierge Club for suite guests, a Diamond Club for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program members, the Crown and Castle Pub and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery.  Wi-Fi has also been rolled out to the entire ship along with flat-panel televisions in all staterooms, an outdoor LED movie screen on the pool deck and a digital way-finding system.

Many of the changes to Serenade of the Seas are ideas that were originally introduced on Oasis of the Seas.  Serenade is just one of many ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet that has or will receive an upgrade since 2011.

Royal Caribbean has awarded Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore a Favored Customer Contract (FCC) to provide ship repair, revitalisation, upgrading and related marine services.

The contract allows for repairs, revitalization and upgrades to Royal Caribbean's fleet of ships that cruise in the Singapore region.  The contract also commits to joint planning, information and experience sharing, thus leveraging complementary resources to achieve sustainable targets in the areas of HSE (Health, Safety and Environment), logistics management, quality, cost-efficiency and onschedule deliveries, which are key performance indicators for high quality cruise vessels maintenance.

Sembawang was selected in part because of its work in the past with Royal Caribbean, such as the successful revitalization of Rhapsody of the Seas.

The contract was signed at Royal Caribbean's headquarters in Miami, Florida by Royal Caribbean Vice President of Technical Projects and Newbuildings Kevin Douglas, Vice President of Marine Operations Svein Taklo and the Executive Director of Sembawang Shipyard Wong Lee-Lin.

During Royal Caribbean's third quarter financial results conference call, Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein gave shareholders and analysts an update on the status of their fleet wide revitalization program.

Royal Caribbean is in the midst of upgrading its entire fleet with new onboard amenities, stateroom upgrades and restaurants.  Enchantment of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas are the next group of cruise ships scheduled to receive these upgrades over the next few months.

Goldstein added that by fall 2013 (roughly a year from now), all but one of Royal Caribbean's Vision and Radiance class ships will have undergone revitalization—that’s 30% of Royal Caribbean brand’s capacity, Goldstein said.

Serenade of the Seas will receive her upgrades in November 2012, Enchantment of the Seas will be next in December 2013 and Legend and Brilliance of the Seas will follow in early 2013.

You can view a full schedule of when each ship will receive an upgrade on our schedule page.

As part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage program, Serenade of the Seas is the next ship in the fleet scheduled to receive $300 million in enhancements to improve facilities and the guest experience aboard the ship.

The refurbishment, which will take place in November, will include more specialty restaurants, new bars, a new baby and toddler nursery, flat-screen TVs in every room, plus a giant outdoor cinema screen and more.  

Serenade of the Seas will enter dry dock in Cadiz, Spain in November 2012 and will then sail from Barcelona, Spain on an 11-night Western Mediterranean cruise departing on December 3, 2012. The ship will remain sailing from Barcelona throughout December, with a number of itineraries including a Christmas and New Year cruise departing Barcelona on Christmas Eve.

Highlights available on board Serenade of the Seas following its revitalization will include:

• An outdoor movie screen
• The new R Bar – an overhaul of the existing Champagne Bar featuring a retro 1960s vibe, complete with signature cocktails and trained mixologists
• Chef’s Table dining option - an exclusive and private experience co-hosted by the executive Chef and Sommelier for a wine pairing dinner of five courses
• Giovanni’s Table speciality Italian restaurant
• Izumi speciality sushi restaurant
• Rita’s Cantina specialty Mexican restaurant
• New Vintages wine bar
• Flat screen interactive TVs in all stateroom accommodation
• Wifi throughout the ship
• A Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program members
• Various enhancements to the pool deck

In addition to the increased dining experiences on offer, Serenade of the Seas will debut a series of Specialty Dining Packages. Guests will have the option of choosing the Royal Choice Dining Package, which includes dinner at Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table and Izumi for $55 per guest, or the Chef’s Table Dining Package for $130 per guest, which includes all of the specialty restaurants as well as the Chef’s Table.

Serenade of the Seas will also offer additional dining deals at Giovanni’s Table. Groups of four or more can take advantage of the Celebration Dining Deal, which is valid for the first two nights of each sailing and allows groups of four or more to enjoy a delicious meal plus a $30 beverage credit at a cost of $20 per person. Groups of eight or more can opt for the Set Sail Dining Deal which includes dinner on the first night of their cruise for $14 per guest.
 

 Further enhancing its onboard culinary offerings Royal Caribbean International is expanding its partnership with renowned wine producer Domaines Barons de Rothschild by offering the exclusive Lafite Wine Tasting Experience onboard. Available for $23 to $25 per person, depending upon ship and itinerary, the experience, which was first introduced onboard Allure of the Seas, offers guests a unique tasting showcasing the renowned vintages from France’s Bordeaux region.

Developed in conjunction with Château Lafite Rothschild, the premier estate under the Rothschild name, and Master Sommelier John Blazon, the Lafite Wine Experience aims to expand guests’ understanding of growing regions within Bordeaux. A Royal Caribbean International cellar master leads the tasting, sharing details about the wines and the winemakers and the history and suggestions for food pairings. A souvenir packet allows guests to take a piece of the experience home with winemakers’ notes, recipes and more.

The Lafite Wine Tasting Experience is now available for pre-booking on select ships, including Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas.
 

Travel agents are saying that the newly refurbished Rhapsody of the Seas will make the ship easier to sell, thanks in part to the ship's new amenities.

The upgrades that Rhapsody of the Seas received is part of Royal Caribbean's $300 million Royal Advantage program, where the line is looking to upgrade features and services on its older ships to bring them in line with the newer vessels, such as Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

Yuki Battan, owner of a travel agency in Seattle,thinks seeing the upgrades in person will make a difference with clients, "t’s different seeing it and feeling it than just seeing little pictures,” she said. “I can tell clients I got to taste the food and it was great, or the service was excellent.”

Rhapsody of the Seas has several new dining options, including Royal Caribbean's signature steakhouse, Chops Grill, and two restaurants that debuted on the Oasis: Italian restaurant Giovanni’s Table and Asian eatery Izumi.

The ship also has a Park Cafe, the salad and sandwich shop that was born in the Oasis’ Central Park neighborhood. On the Rhapsody, the Park Cafe is on the pool deck.

The ship's five-story Centrum was reinvented and given technology to allow for acrobatics shows done from two chandeliers.

Other new features are a giant screen on the pool deck, a concierge lounge and remodeled bathrooms in all cabins. The Rhapsody also now has the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery for passengers under age 3.  

Royal Caribbean announced that the "Royal Advantage" program that is helping to refurbish the company's ships with ammenities seen first on Oasis class ships, will be coming to Independence of the Seas too. 

The work on Independence of the Seas will not be a revitalization like it has occurred on older ships, but rather will be "a less extensive upgrade".  The upgrade is currently slated to take place March 2013 (see below).

The Royal Advantage upgrades began in May 2011 with the revitalization of Radiance of the Seas with the goal of modernizing the fleet and bringing the closer in terms of amenities to the new Oasis class ships.

After the Radiance of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas followed in November 2011.  Royal Caribbean continued with their plan has this year with improvements to Rhapsody of the Seas in March, and the Grandeur of the Seas, whose revitalization process ended on June 1.  Work on Serenade of the Seas is scheduled for November and by 2013, the Vision Class ships will begin, starting with Legend of the Seas in January.  She will be followed by Vision of the Seas in March, Brilliance of the Seas in May, and Navigator of the Seas in November, in what will be the first Voyager-class ship to be upgraded.

By 2014 the remaining ships will be Voyager class, specifically the Adventure of the Seas, in January, the Voyager of the Seas in April, and the Explorer of the Seas in November.

Each ship is in dry dock for about a month and, on completion of the revitalization, becomes have new dining and entertainment, a specific area for babies and children from six to 36 months, new family cabins as well as increased coverage Wi-Fi and new technologies such as iPad in all staterooms and digital Wayfinders location.  

UPDATE: Our reader wdwgolfer called Royal Caribbean and heard that the Independence of the Seas refurbishment is scheduled for April 2013, after the 13 night transatlantic cruise that departs from Port Everglades on April 7. The dry dock is scheduled for 12 days.

Royal Caribbean has finished the $48 million refurbishment to Grandeur of the Seas at the Navantia ship yard in Cadiz, Spain.

The complete overhaul of Grandeur includes the addition of five new dining venues, technological upgrades, a pool side LED screen, a refresh of all furniture, carpet, upholstery and staterooms as well as new entertainment offering including a spectacular aerial displays in its six deck Centrum.

In addition, the ship received a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty guests, a Concierge Lounge for suite guests and top-tier loyalty guests, a Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, as well as a transformed Viking Crown Lounge.

Now that Grandeur has been returned to service, she will spend the summer offering cruises on the Mediterranean from Venice, Italy and Provence, France. 

Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas entered Singapore's Sembawang Shipyard today to begin a month-long refurbishment as part of the company's Royal Advantage program.

Rhapsody of the Seas is the third Royal Caribbean ship to receive these upgrades, that provides the older ships in the fleet upgrades and amenities found on the newer ships.  The end result is a revamped Royal Caribbean fleet that is better able to compete in the competitive cruise market.

Rhapsody of the Seas complete list of upgrades include

• Five new specialty dining venues
  • Chops Grille
  • Giovanni’s Table
  • Park Café
  • Izumi
  • Chef’s Table
• Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• Diamond Lounge for Crown and Anchor Society members
• Concierge lounge for suite guests
• New furniture
• New carpets
• New upholstery
• Renovated staterooms.

Royal Caribbean's Commercial Manager Adam Armstrong commented on the refurbishment, "“Rhapsody of the Seas has been a tremendous success in Australia and New Zealand where she has carried over 175,000 guests and developed a very loyal following. Now we’re adding a host of extra innovations and popular features to really raise the bar for local fans. Originally scheduled for only a two-week ‘drydock’ for regular maintenance, we have since extended the project to four weeks in order to allow more extensive enhancements across the entire ship, including dining, cabins, entertainment and technology.”

Following the upgrades, Rhapsody of the Seas will head to Australia to join Radiance of the Seas, which received her own revitalization in May 2011.

As part of its ongoing effort to revitalize its ships, Royal Caribbean has confirmed that Navantia at Cadiz, Spain will be the shipyard that will upgrade the facilities aboard Grandeur of the Seas.

This is the second Royal Caribbean ship to be upgraded at Navantia, following Splendour of the Seas which received similar upgrades.  All of these upgrades are part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage program.

The work will consist mainly of jet and paint, pipe, steel scaffolding, improvements in propulsion systems, rudders, bow thrusters, anchors and chains, plus many odd jobs in the engine room. The duration of the work will be about four weeks, during which some 350 people will work at Navantia and its subsidiary companies.