This whole project started just over five years ago. We were negotiating the contract for what would become Freedom of the Seas and we were apart on price. Harri Kulovaara, Adam Goldstein, and I met at the Heathrow Hilton hotel in London to consider our options. As a way of bridging the gap, we came [...]
Filed under: Chairman | 11 Comments »
An addendum about my trip to Turku.
The ship is 83% complete but still looks very much like a construction site. At this stage, all the basic structure is complete: the ship is floating, the inside partitions are clearly visible but not covered, and most of the electrical/plumbing/ventilation systems are in place. In effect, the bones [...]
Filed under: Chairman | 12 Comments »
I’ve returned to Turku for another review of construction progress and meetings with the shipyard. A lot of progress has been made since my last visit, but it all still very much looks like a construction site.
Filed under: Chairman | 14 Comments »
OK, OASIS is a wonderful ship but it costs $1.4 billion. How do we pay for it?
We’ve just publicly answered that question. With most ships, we borrow 80% of the contract price and we fund the remaining 20% plus the non contract expenses (architects, interest, owner supply, etc.) from our operating cash flow. Normally, we [...]
Filed under: Chairman | 13 Comments »
Part of the reason our ships come out so well the first time is that we cheat. The first ship isn’t really first. For key areas, we build mock-ups so we can see what the final product will be like. And we always find that we learn something in the process. [...]
Filed under: Chairman | 10 Comments »
First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their comments. When I started this blog I was given all kinds of warnings about the feedback I would receive. All the advice was drivel. I’ve received much more support and encouragement than I would have ever imagined. I’m actually enjoying the chance to share [...]
Filed under: Chairman | 11 Comments »
