Splendour’s drydock in pictures

The $50 million operation to bring 15-year-old cruise ship Splendour of the Seas up to date is a triumph of organisation and logistics. Co-ordinating the efforts of about 1,200 workmen and contractors during the 32-day drydock would be a big enough headache on its own, but think of the planning and ordering and delivery of parts, equipment and furnishings that had to be completed first.
Plans are already well under way for the next stage of the $300 million “Royal Advantage” programme which will see sister ship Rhapsody of the Seas enter drydock in Singapore early next year.
Most of the ship still looks like a building site, but this collection of pictures, taken on board Splendour in Cadiz this week, should give some impression of the scale of the operation.
Sitting firmly on hundreds of concrete blocks on the floor of the Navantia drydock, with work on re-painting the hull almost complete and with workmen painting its anchor chains, the 69,000-ton Splendour looks even more impressive (top picture).

In the Solarium, one of the classical statues (left) keeps an eye on work which includes the installation of a Park Cafe, providing the same casual food as those in Central Park on Oasis and Allure of the Seas. Out on the Pool Deck, workers complete refurbishment which includes the laying of a replacement floor in plastic “New Teak.” (above).

The 124 balconies added to the Deck 6 cabins jut out from the side of the ship above the lifeboat deck opening. They are roofed so that occupants are protected from the gaze of passengers on Decks 7 and 8. Although visitors were allowed inside the cabins this week, the balconies themselves were off-limits (left).

Splendour’s shopping area has been completely refurbished, though this collection of hard hats will not be on display when the shops open for business again next week. And I have a feeling the $10 bargain rail won’t be seen again for a while. As well as improvements to the passenger areas, new navigational equipment is being installed on the bridge (below).

Everything, it seems, is running smoothly and to plan. There’s just one problem – the yard doesn’t have hard hats big enough for some of the visitors.