Somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands, the cruise ship called Rhapsody of the Seas is getting ready to introduce the Oasis-Allure look to cruisers on the West Coast of North America.
Since their arrivals from their European birthplaces in 2009 and 2010, respectively, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have been confined to quarters…or confined to the waters of the Caribbean. The furthest west either of them has been is Cozumel.
Now, along comes Rhapsody.
The 15-year-old Vision Class ship is fresh from refurbishing. It's all part of Royal Caribbean's $300 million plan to make its ships more like the big (6,000-passenger) sisters of the fleet, and Rhapsody just emerged from its facelift, which was completed in Singapore. It headed east to Hawaii — everyone wants to go to Hawaii after a facelift — to sail around the islands for a few days, and next week it's heading for Vancouver.
After it arrives on May 10, Rhapsody will spent the summer showing off in Alaska, with Seattle as its home port, before returning to Hawaii (tough life) and eventually to Australia next winter.
What's the Oasis-Allure look?
In the case of Rhapsody, it includes:
• Dining options that reflect the success of the big ships: Giovanni's table, Izumi (Asian), Chef's Table, Chops Grille and Park Cafe, the casual bistro that's part of Central Park, but without the park
• Flat-screen TVs in every stateroom, along with iPads to access schedules, make restaurant reservations and check accounts
• An atrium where cirque-style acrobats will entertain up to 1,400 guests at a time
• Wayfinder signage to help you find your way on the ship (may not be as necessary as it is on the Oasis and Allure) and a giant screen by the main pool
There's one thing about the big sisters, however, that the Rhapsody can't emulate.
Their size.
Holland America Veendam
7 nights
June 3, 2012
New York (return): Bermuda
Oceanview: $699
Cost per day: $100
www.hollandamerica.com