Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas completed a multiweek dry dock earlier this month, however what precisely has modified?
Every 5 years or so, cruise ships are quickly taken out of service in order that they will go in for upkeep work.
Unlike a Royal Amplification, Royal Caribbean would not focus on the main points of a dry dock, which leaves many cruisers questioning what’s new or completely different in regards to the ship as soon as it returns to service.
I boarded Mariner of the Seas at this time and walked across the ship to see what noticeable adjustments are current for anybody else crusing on her.
Dry dock vs Amplification
Depending on the cruise line’s plan, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship may get quite a few enhancements and adjustments. Or, it may merely go in for upkeep with out actual adjustments the typical visitor would discover.
There are two phrases for these sort of companies: refurbishment and amplification.
A refurbishment is when a ship is taken to dry dock for a shorter time frame to do primarily beauty adjustments and upkeep work.
During an amplification, the identical beauty and upkeep work is completed, however there are additionally enhancements made to the ship, reminiscent of including new eating places, actions, bars and extra.
When Mariner of the Seas went in for dry dock in 2018, she had a $120 million Amplification, however this time round in 2023, it was a dry dock.
Mariner of the Seas updates and adjustments
I walked round Mariner of the Seas to see what’s new, completely different, or typically noticeable.
First and foremost, the skin of the ship has a brand new paint job.
During a dry dock, the ship is taken out of the water in order that not solely can its engines, propellors, and different techniques be attended to, however the hull may be repainted. All that sea water and humid air from the ocean takes a toll on the aesthetics of the ship.
Speaking of the hull, Royal Caribbean additionally took the chance to repair a gap within the aft of the ship that occurred when a cargo vessel drifted into Mariner whereas in Freeport, Bahamas.
In April 2022, a cargo vessel made contact with the ship whereas Mariner of the Seas was docked in Freeport.
A small, superficial gash was left close to the jogging monitor on the again of the ship and it was quickly coated up with some metal.
During the dry dock, that is now utterly fastened.
Another change Royal Caribbean made to Mariner of the Seas (and each different ship that has a SkyPad) was to take away the trampolines and supporting gear for the SkyPad.
Last month, Royal Caribbean introduced it was eliminating the SkyPad on all of its ships.
The SkyPad construction remains to be there, however the space is now getting used for numerous complimentary actions reminiscent of bean bag toss and dance courses.
The SkyPad was additionally re-painted.
Both pool decks on 11 and 12 have been re-surfaced.
Not instantly associated to the refurbishment, however the pool chairs have indicators on them about not reserving all of them day.
We’ve seen this on different cruise ships within the fleet as an try to forestall the chair hog drawback, which has been a difficulty for a few years.
The door on deck 13 to the sports activities deck was changed. It was once a heavy door with a deal with and is now a sliding computerized door.
The water slides have been re-painted.
The ending space the place you splash in when the trip can be transformed.
Speaking of aquatic enjoyable, the FlowRider obtained a brand new pump.
Underneath the ship is the place many of the upkeep occurred, with the ship’s azipods, engines and different essential techniques serviced.
One extremely small change was the aft stairwell had their wallpaper changed.
There have been no adjustments to the cabins, and in addition no carpeting was changed on the ship.
Since dry dock, Mariner of the Seas has been experimenting with a complimentary lunch open to all visitors in the primary eating room on deck 3.
The aim is to alleviate stress on the Windjammer buffet, however from what I’ve heard from crew members, it is nonetheless a check and never a fleetwide coverage.