Royal spends a $300 million fortune to give its cruise ships added Allure

Somewhere in Britain, a fabulously lucky punter is clutching a Euromillions lottery ticket worth £161 million. They have won enough money to make them the 418th richest person in the country, almost as wealthy as David AND Victoria Beckham.
With their winnings, they could buy Cristiano Ronaldo. Twice. Or a whole archipelago of holiday islands in the Bahamas and two Boeing 767 jets to fly there. With a fortune earning £10 a minute in interest, they could afford 80 Bugatti Veyron supercars, and the petrol to fuel them.
But their new-found riches are not enough to match the amount of money cruise line Royal Caribbean is planning to spend over the next three years bringing some of their older ships up to the standard of newest vessel, Allure of the Seas.
Some $300 million, or £186 million, will be invested in the upgrades to ships in the Radiance, Voyager and Vision class, providing wi-fi throughout, fitting flat-screen TVs in the cabins, and giant screens outside on the pool decks.
The touch-screen technology which has been such a success in helping passengers finding their way around Oasis, and telling them which restaurants are fullest, will be installed together with electronic mustering systems to replace roll-calls at emergency drill.
There will be new restaurant options such as the Boardwalk Dog House and the casual Park Cafe; Rita’s Cantina, and Chops Grille steakhouse. Cabin upgrades will provide extra facilities for families, and the ships will each get a nursery for children up to three years old.
“The Royal Advantage revitalisations takes many of the best features that we have created in recent years and introduces them across our fleet, offering our guests enhanced vacation choices around the world,” said Royal Caribbean president Adam Goldstein.
The programme follows the work recently completed on Radiance of the Seas in May and to be completed on Splendour of the Seas in November.
The new phase will begin next year with Rhapsody of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas going into dry dock in May, followed by Serenade of the Seas in November 2012.
Legend of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Vision of the Seas, and four Voyager-class ships will all get the treatment in 2013 and 2014.
Royal Caribbean has also commissioned two brand new 4,100-passenger ships, code-named Project Sunshine, scheduled to come into service in 2014 and 2015.
Our Euromillions winner could take a cruise on each of the ships as they come out of dry dock and have enough small change left over to book the best suites on the new vessels for their maiden voyages.