New Build or Renovation.... what should the cruise lines do

There has been a lot of talk over the last week about P&O's announcement of the launch of a new ship way off in 2015.

 

But if you look at the various lists that you can find on the webc the pace of new orders has fallen, so what are the cruise lines going to do?
So is now the time of the refurbishment/refit to keep the old ships looking new, without investing the hundreds of millions of dollars needed for a new-build.

All ships head into dry-dock every few years for the "routine scrape of the barnacles" (minor cosmetic and engineering updates). But it is the more major overhauls that can give a ship which is tiring a new look or feel and keep passengers sailing.

I have covered the work that Celebrity have done or are douing the the 'Solsticise' the Millenium class ships in a previous blog, follow the link.  But what else has or will happen over the next few months?

Royal Caribbean has recently had both Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas refurbished in the Bahamas, both  gained Oasis-class features, including 3D movie capabilities, an outdoor cinema, a cupcake shop, the DreamWorks experience and new kids' facilities.

In addition Royal Caribbean will be refurbishing Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas later this year and they will get several new eateries, including Allure imports Samba Grill (Brazilian steakhouse), Izumi (Japanese), Rita's Cantina (Mexican) and the Boardwalk Dog House. Other upgrades include the addition of a Royal Babies and Tots Nursery and interactive flat-screen TV's in all cabins.

The Grand Princess had a major refit in APril and early may and is now cruising from Southampton, the iconic, top-ship Skywalkers Nightclub, which gave Grand Princess its signature profile (and its "shopping cart" nickname), was removed. A club, One5, added. Princess' now-standard Piazza replacing the atrium together with a new pizzeria and the Crown Grill, the line's steak and chops eatery. 

P&O are also having a major refit on Oriana later this year, and in addition to adding some new cabins the ship will become Adult only when finished.

It's always nice to have the smell of fresh paint, be it a new car, a decorated room at home or a new ship. So a great refurbishment refreshes the ship and gives it the air of something new, so come on cruise lines lets have more.