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Key Takeaways
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Three Royal Caribbean ships are currently in dry docking: Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas
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Removing ships from service allows cruise lines to service them and make upgrades including new cabins, restaurants, and entertainment spaces
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The ships will return to service between April and May
Three Royal Caribbean ships are currently intentionally out of service.
Ovation of the Seas, the sixth-largest cruise chip in the world, has been dry docked in Singapore since March 16, according to CruiseFever. Harmony of the Seas followed, arriving in Barcelona for a 7-week dry dock on April 1. And Liberty of the Seas was dry docked just three days later on April 4.
But what exactly does it mean for a ship to be “dry docked” and why does it happen?
The Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas in 2022.
Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty
Dry docking is when a ship is taken out of service temporarily. In the case of major cruise ships, they usually undergo maintenance and upgrades during this period. Dry dock season for cruise ships is typically from January to May and September to December.
All three of Royal Caribbean’s dry-docked ships will receive upgrades and the the introduction of new amenities, as well as old amenities being done away with.
Ovation of the Seas will get 40 new cabins, a revamped pool deck with a new whirlpool and private casitas, a new dance/music venue, a tiki-themed bar, and its very own Starbucks. Leaving the ship will be The Bionic Bar, which featured robot bartenders. Ovation will return to service on April 17.
Harmony of the Seas will get 91 new state rooms, an expanded casino, and a new Caribbean-inspired restaurant. Out on the ship is Wonderland, the Alice and Wonderland themed restaurant. The ship will return to service on May 21.
Once the largest cruise ship in the world, Liberty of the Seas will return to service on May 29. The upgraded ship will introduce the “The Royal Escape Room” a brand-new high-tech escape room, which will replace the ship’s cigar lounge.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
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Along with upgrades to existing ships, Royal Caribbean is also unveiling one of its most luxurious ships yet. Its new Hero of the Seas, will debut in Miami in August 2027 as part of the Icon class made up of the world’s largest cruise ships. Bookings for the ship opened April 1.
Read the original article on People
