Supplement to Travel Trade
December 2004

Splendour of the Seas

Lives Up to Her Name

For the first time in its 27-year history, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has introduced a new vessel with a European inaugural. Not any ordinary ship was selected for preview by about 24,000 European agents and media representatives. She's the Splendour of the Seas and she played to rave reviews.

RCCL spokesperson Jim Lida said the ship "stunned the European press and media accustomed to seeing older vessels and who rarely get to see a new vessel of this size and magnitude."

He predicts RCCL's aggressive move "clearly will change the dynamics of the European cruise market."

Small wonder! European travelers on this, a full-revenue, second 3-night pre-inaugural, were overwhelmed by the grandeur and facilities.

Like her sister ship, Legend of the Seas, Splendour is a ship of glass. And like her sister, she's a ship for all seasons, a ship for all passengers.

Lighter in colors and atmosphere, and more spectacular in interior design and decor, Splendour is indeed splendid. From her magnificent Grand Atrium through her resplendent super suites, the 69,130-ton vessel offers something for everyone, and a lot more than cruise passengers have come to expect.

Second in Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Vision series of six newbuilds, which will cost an estimated $1.75 billion, the Splendour of the Seas merges many of the familiar features of Sovereign-class vessels with all of the newest innovations introduced last year on the Legend of the Seas, plus a few new touches.

Designers have integrated glass and mirrors, woods and brass, lights and foliage, textures and artwork to create a vibrant, yet somewhat understated environment for both North American and European cruisers.

Additionally, what puts the Splendour and Legend into their own class is the extensive use of glass in two-deck windows and throughout the vessel. It adds light to interiors and brings passengers into constant touch with the sea.

As big as she is, Splendour never allows passengers to forget they are at sea on a ship. While resort facilities abound, the romance of cruising is not lost in the variety and maze of activities.

To say she's a beautiful ship is an understatement, for all new ships are beautiful; albeit, each in a different way. It's her unusual features that set Splendour of the Seas apart.

Veteran Oslo ship designer Per Hoydahl said he followed his traditional philosophy of letting a ship's lines establish themselves "much as a sculptor allows a piece of clay to become pottery."

He added half curves here, sloping steel there, and worked to stretch the ship's lines so the vessel appears as sleek as possible. On both the Legend and Splendour, this entailed lengthening the ships by a few feet to give the sharply raked bow and the soft, streamlined superstructure a better balance.

On the inside, corners are rounded and sculpted without sharp edges. Nothing is abrupt as one public room flows into another.

One piece of art integrates into the environment. One section of carpeting blends into the marble and brass, glass and granite.

Take the Solarium, for example. It's a pool, spa and entertainment complex high in the ship with glass walls on either side and topped by a retractable 4,500-square foot glass roof called the Crystal Canopy.

Unlike glass roofs over similar spaces on other cruise ships, the Canopy moves as an entire entity over the Solarium and does not fold back and stack upon itself. It can be raised 10 feet above the deck and slid over "Splendour of the Greens," a miniature 18-hole golf course that sits on the opposite side of the spa.

The Solarium has a stone floor, green plants, rows of columns, Greek-Roman style statues and artwork, a raised floor with a Greek-style pool and whirlpools.

The pool, with its Italian-styled mosaics, has several fountains and jetstreams and whirlpools are elevated with travertinstone and surrounded by fountains and plants.

A bandstand platform creates a dramatic effect at night. During the day, the Solarium is a relaxing bathing area, with or without the roof, and food and drinks are offered by the pool or under shaded areas. At night, the Solarium becomes a dancing and entertainment area with special lighting effects.

Or take the Centrum, the ship's seven-deck-high atrium. It features window walls that run its entire height, capped by a curving, sloped two-deck-high glass skylight. The Centrum is truly the "center of the city."

Passengers on most voyages embark directly into this awesome area dominated by the most impressive sculpture at sea. It's a suspended golden disc representing the sun.

The 18-foot gilded aluminum disc hangs on a diagonal through the center of the Centrum, silhouetted by light coming through the Centrum's skylight. Hundreds of stainless steel cords attached to the upper, outer rim of the disc gather at the top of the Centrum.

There are also hundreds of cords attached to the bottom of the disc which gather at the floor of the Centrum in a 54-inch metal globe.

That's the physical description. My interpretation of artist Larry Kirkland's work is that of the sun beaming streams of light to the world below.

Viewed from every level of the atrium, the sculpture takes on a different concept and stimulates the imagination.

Once the ship sails, the entire lower level of the Centrum serves as an elegant Champagne Terrace adjacent to the Champagne Bar, located just forward. It's a popular area for more sophisticated passengers to sip before or after dinner or just as an observation point of activities on the many levels.

The Champagne Terrace is sculpted around a raised marble platform and sweeping staircase which flows from the open area between two glass elevators. Second and third levels of the Centrum are connected by a staircase which seemingly is suspended in mid-air.

Between them are rippling Japanese-style subtle waterfalls connected by an Oriental-like bridge setting a serene and quiet mood. Each level has seating area alcoves or small public rooms embracing the arms of the atrium and faced again with huge walls of glass.

The last two levels are glass transparent walls which extend to the base of the overhanging Viking Crown Lounge. On both ships, the trademark Viking Crown Lounge has been moved from its traditional perch on the stack to the top of the Centrum, making it more accessible and easier to find.

Divided into three seating areas, the room becomes extremely flexible. A second piano bar, a venue for private parties, and is after sundown, an active disco.

It's interesting to note that although the view of the ocean is unobstructed, the Viking Crown Lounge is built directly above the Solarium so that the immediate view is of the roof of the Solarium when it is closed.

Or, take a look at the Splendour of the Greens, or better still play a round on the world's second floating 18-hole miniature golf course. (The first was on the Legend of the Seas.) The 6,000-square-foot course was designed to be as challenging as some of the great courses.

Reservations for tee times are required and there is a nominal charge of $5 per passenger for an 18-hole round. The best buy is the $15 charge for unlimited use of the course during a one week cruise ($25 for longer voyages), depending on tee time availability.

The Windjammer Café is Splendour's casual indoor/outdoor 546-seat self-service area. Located forward over the bridge, the unusual design incorporates a semi-circular wall with seating arranged in a series of tiered levels rising upward to a centrally located platform.

The center of the room rises two decks with sloping glass skylights creating a dramatic backdrop. Outdoor portion aft is linked to the indoor area by glass doors and is integrated with the outdoor pool and sunbathing areas. Decorative planters screen the café from the swimming pool.

Since its creation on Sovereign-class ships, the Schooner Bar has become another trademark, or a must-have, on RCCL ships. It's a maritime-themed bar you can't avoid walking from bow to stern, or in reverse, and an area passengers do not want to bypass.

The informal pub features a piano on a raised platform, sculptured and authentic sail elements and riggings, ship models on decorative bases and integrated seating.

For a truly unusual showroom, enjoy a performance in the 42nd Street Theater. Located far forward, the 802-seat theater spans two decks, but unlike other show lounges on RCCL ships, it is designed like an amphitheater with an orchestra pit which can be raised and lowered as needed. From the entrance on Deck 4, the room slopes down to the stage and is designed without balconies or structural support columns. This allows for excellent sightlines from all seats.

Seating in this sparkling beige, gold and deep sapphire-colored room is theater style with arm rests between seats and drink holders. Wider aisles allow for the least disruption by late-arriving passengers and one row of seats can be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Building on the concept of the screen video walls first introduced on Monarch of the Seas in 1991, Splendour of the Seas has a video screen projection system which allows scenes to be projected onto a shark-tooth screen. This allows live performers to interact with the projected screen and to be visible at all times even if they are behind the screen itself.

The more intimate secondary lounge, Top Hat, seats 550. Its aft location allows it to span the ship's full width. One deck in height, the room is tiered to ensure good sightlines. Each entry is accented with glass tile etched with dancing images in black tie welcoming passengers.

A cocktail area surrounds an impressive glass-topped bar. My favorite art piece is a glass harp sculpture with a figure in top hat and cane bearing an uncanny resemblance to Ted Lewis, a popular '40s entertainer.

The room is not without glitz. Floating discs of crystal are suspended from the ceiling on brass rods and overlook an elegant marble dance floor. The stage beyond is framed by two alabaster urns, enormously scaled and setting the mood for the room. It's definitely a 1930s ballroom.

In keeping with RCCL's tradition of naming dining rooms for popular Broadway shows, on Splendour it's "The King & I" Dining Room. Passengers are welcomed at both entrances by giant jeweled Foo dogs and the room is dominated by a huge tapestry aft depicting a scene from the famous Broadway/movie musical.

Airy and elegant, the 1,050-seat restaurant spans two decks amidships. The 20-foot window walls on the port and starboard sides are not load-bearing sections of the ship's hull and can, therefore, be virtually all glass. Views are unobstructed and the window walls feature lighting and decor that can create dramatic effects in the room, including wave motion, color and mood changes.

Levels are connected by a double staircase with balconies extended out like theater loges, bringing the room together into a single entity.

Fore and aft sections on upper level are separated from the sides, leaving an open space soaring two decks high along each wall. The dining room balcony has scalloped edges projecting over the main level, creating table groups in which dining tables seem to float in midair.

Other public rooms worthy of note include the Conference Center which can accommodate up to 230 people in a flexible set-up which converts easily from a single room to break-outs of as many as six individual rooms; the autumnal-color schemed card room with huge window walls and an elegant decor that blends with commissioned artworks; the well stocked 26-seat Library which is hued in the same tones and enhanced with modern sculptures and carefully-chosen carpets and plants; and the super-glitzy casino with all the bells and whistles, and blinking neon one would expect in a downtown Las Vegas gambling house.

With the expanding family cruise market, RCCL is devoting more space and facilities to under-age cruisers. Both Splendour and Legend have children's rooms, video arcades, a teen disco and four family suites with separate bathrooms and bedrooms for children.

In addition, a year-round supervised youth program is in place. Located above the Windjammer Café is Club Ocean, a whimsical space for 40 kids. The room features sand castle wall surfaces surrounding an open play area carpeted with patterned scatterings of multi-colored sunglasses. Daylight floods the interior and a boardwalk leads to a pool of multi-colored bubble balls.

The Optix Teen Center, near the video arcade, is the day and night hangout for teens.

The atmosphere is suggestive of an MTV set with a large undulating wall, punctuated with several television monitors which provide a backdrop to the lounge area which is comfortably furnished with contemporary, boldly-colored sofas and chairs. There's a DJ booth and a non-alcohol bar.

From a standard inside stateroom measuring 138-square feet to the grand Royal Suite at almost 1,150-square feet, accommodations on the Splendour (and Legend) are about 17% larger than on the line's Sovereign-class vessels.

Both the Splendour and Legend have more staterooms with private verandahs than most ships in its market segment. Nearly one-fourth have private verandahs, or a total of 229 of the 573 outside accommodations.

Most of the 229 verandah cabins are on Decks 7 and 8, but staterooms overlooking the stern on Deck 6 also have balconies. Of the 900 staterooms, 388 can hold either a third and/or fourth passenger, boosting total ship capacity to 2,077.

All staterooms have a sofa/sitting area, color television, three-channel radio, private facilities, telephone and twin beds that convert to queen size.

Furnishings are bright and expressive, and pick up contemporary design trends. Standard outside cabins are just 153-square feet, although considerably larger than the 124-square feet on RCCL's Sovereign-class vessels.

Splendour of the Seas has four family suites designed for the needs of adults traveling with younger passengers. Each has two bedrooms with twin beds that convert to a queen-size, two bathrooms, a living area with sofa bed and Pullman upper bunk and a private verandah. Each family suite can accommodate as many as seven persons.

Production shows include "By George - It's Gershwin," "It's a Wonderful World" and "Rag to Rock." These, in addition to "name" performers, including the likes of the Smothers Brothers, Neil Sedaka and Ben Vereen.

As for food, I can only base this report on past performances by the company, although I was introduced to new menus which included low calorie and vegetarian selections. Overall, what I experienced showed promise of fine cuisine and excellent service, all within the RCCL quality expectations.

Splendour of the Seas will be introduced to the North American travel agency community in Miami in November, when the vessel completes her current European cruise schedule and is en route to San Juan to begin one-week Saturday sailings to the Caribbean.

Splendour's European itineraries include the Mediterranean in the fall and Northern Europe through July.