Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
The old saying is one of the great traditions of a wedding ceremony. It is not a maritime tradition, but seafarers have always thrived on tradition even if it’s not theirs. In the case of Oasis, we have just decided upon a piece of history and tradition that I find fun and exciting.
First some background. In the structure holding the diving platform for the AquaTheater, above the ten meter board, we have planned a large Crown & Anchor logo. Everyone at Royal Caribbean loves our logo; it is beautiful and it has an interesting and unique history. And it just seems to fit perfectly in the space visually enclosing the back of the AquaTheatre “stage” without blocking the beautiful view astern.
But when we went to the yard and saw the actual piece in place, we were horrified. Instead of following our design properly, someone took shortcuts. Sacrilege! The space between the Crown and the Anchor was excessive; the flukes were squared off; and the central curves of our logo were bastardized. It was still clearly intended to be our logo, but it wasn’t right. And, at Royal Caribbean YOU DON’T MESS WITH OUR LOGO.
And then Kelly Gonzalez had an inspiration. Kelly heads our internal design team and oversees the architects, the designers, the decorators, etc. as we build these wonderful ships. Kelly is a rock and almost anything visible on the ship is her responsibility.
Fortunately, as we were discussing the problem, Kelly remembered something we had all forgotten.
A few months ago, we transferred the Sovereign of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International to our Spanish subsidiary Pullmantur Cruises. Obviously, the ship was completed redecorated and the Royal Caribbean logo was replaced throughout with Pullmantur’s. And the biggest logo of all was the logo gracing the funnel of the Sovereign of the Seas.
I remember well, designing that logo in 1986. The Sovereign of the Seas at the time was the largest cruise ship ever built. It was also one of the most beautiful and we wanted everyone to know whose ship she was. We therefore designed the largest and most spectacular logo ever built. It is 20 feet 6 inches tall and 17 feet wide and weighs approximately 1,200 lbs.
Kelly remembered that we had been searching for ideas of what to do with these two logos which are languishing in a warehouse. And she remembered that each were roughly the size of the logo we had independently designed to grace the AquaTheater onboard Oasis.
Of course, once she pointed it out, the serendipity was obvious (I often think that genius is the ability to see obvious things that no one else sees).
So Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will each have one of these magnificent art pieces and we all couldn’t be more thrilled.
Filed under: Chairman
I hope the screw up on the logo didn’t cost RCI anything. It’s great that the company was able to reuse the old logo off of Sovereign.
Are there any other areas of the ship that have historically significant artifacts as part of the design? I always thought that these type of touches added a unique personality to any ship they are on. For example I always remember to tell customers and friends about the Olympic dining room on Millennium.
Another great opportunity to personalize Oasis would be the carouseI. Is RCI having the carousel built new or are you rescuing it from an old amusement park?
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What a magnificent idea! A piece of Sovereign lives on.
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Richard, BRAVO!!–this is like a romantic legend that will always be attached to the \Genesis\ of the development of Oasis & Allure. This was meant to be.
I will gently continue to lobby you for coverage of the sea trials of Oasis & Allure. I am convinced that it will be years before any cruise line can even begin to compare with RCL.
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Kudos to Kelly Gonzalez for an inventive solution! Having had the opportunity to sail on Sovereign of the Seas, I like the idea that I’ve already touched and have a tactile connection to what will become an integral part of Oasis and Allure. I also love the fact that the idea makes Sovereign’s past relevant to RCL’s future vessels. It builds on RCL’s storied past and pays homage to some very beloved vessels.
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Hooray for Sovereign! Long live the Queen! But just to point out, you already messed with your logo….you added a banner announcing the “Nation of Why Not” around the crown and anchor. Now that was sacriledge!
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I love that the idea of reusing a piece of history like that. I think it is just wonderful. I hope RCCL will contuine to bring the old into the new with each of their new builds.
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The Sovereign was my very first RCI ship, and remains one of my favorites. I think this is a great idea! A piece of the Sovereign stays in the fleet! Anyone know if Sovereign’s big glass clock stayed on when she was transferred out?
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What a fantastic idea. I cruised on the Sovereign many years ago and she was a beautiful ship.
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I took my first cruise on Sovereign, going so far as to create a webpage about the trip, nearly a year before I went in 1999. Sovereign is a true history making ship, and it makes me happy to know a little bit of it will continue to sale on another chapter in Royal Caribbean’s history!
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We took our first cruise on the Sovereign when it was
the largest ship several years ago. What a beautiful
ship. Also makes me a litte sad to know she’ll be gone.
We will be taking the 4-24-10 Oasis of the Seas cruise. Can’t wait. I check the site out all the time.
Keep the info flowing.
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Great news for all of us who first started cruising with RCCL on the Sovereign. When we cruise on the Oasis in March we will look out over the aqua park with fond memories
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What a great idea and how green of you, to recycle something and use it again instead of throwing it out. Great job!!!!
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i really love RCI i have been on a crusie with them i was on the Liberty of the Seas. and im going again this year. and next year im sailing on Oasis of the Seas. YAY!!!
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Hi all,
Just wondering, with the ship being all outside and my worry lies in central park. With a lot of follage and a lot of outdoor restaurants how will RCI keep birds away from more or less living on the ship and causing havoc?
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I think that was a great idea. I was wondering if you could answer a question i have. I will be on the innaugrial sailing December 5, 2009 out of Fort Lauderdale, FL and on other RCI ships there is a tour of the ship early the morning of depature. Is that option going to be available as for Oasis of the Sea?
If not to the general public, then may the option be available to Crown & Anchor Members at a certain level or any Crown & Anchor Members.
I still need to book my airfare and if the tour is possible in the morning of departure, I want to make sure that I arrive Friday, December 4, 2009, if the tour is possible.
Thanks,
Scott Keene
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HI MR. FAIN – ITS HOLLY! WHAT A WONDERFUL THING A PIECE OF MY SOVEREIGN – YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE RCCL AND THE MANY MEMORIES I HAVE MADE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS – HOPEFULLY WITH MORE TO COME!! THANKS FOR BEING SUCH A SPECIAL PART OF OUR LIVES FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS!
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Darn it. I thought by the title that you were letting us know the color of the hull for Oasis. Please Mr. Fain, what is the color going to be?
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Sovereign was my first RCCL cruise and we really love the ship and the cruise lines. We then booked Majesty of the Seas. I’m happy to see that you took something of Sovereign to the RCCL fleet. I will be sailing Oasis in 12/09 and I’m thrilled abouth it.
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Ok you have me hooked – I’m currently booked and paid for on Carnival Dream for April, 2010 but I’m changing to the Oasis. I think my grandson is going to enjoy the Oasis far better. When I take my granddaughter in 2012 – she will be on the Allure.
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My first cruise was on the Sovereign, and its true it was the must beautiful ship ever, and the bigest also… Then i whent to the Voyager and I was crasy, now it comes the Freedom and next year hope the Oasis… Is increible how things change in life… Whats next Mr. Fain…? All you guys make, is great but I cany imagine whats going to be next… Im a ship lover and my hobbie is to build cruise ships on wood, hope one day you cans see one of my pieces…. Also Im from Cancun in Mexico and I hope you can start to come again to Cozumel… We realy miss you…
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I visited aboard Sovereign of the Seas at the shipyard in St. Nazaire, and then sailed on the second voyage (the one that DIDN’T get stranded in San Juan!)… she was SUCH a beautiful ship, inside and out… and very exciting, as the largest passenger ship to be built in more than 50 years! It’s sad that she’s no longer in your fleet, but I too am thrilled that you’ve managed to find a place onboard Oasis and Allure for a very special piece of Sovereign of the Seas!!! I wish there were more respect for traditions and memorabilia among the cruise lines of today.
I also wonder what happened to that beautiful glass sand clock!
We will be sailing on Dec 1st and Dec 5th for the first two Oasis maiden voyages, and are really looking forward to what will be our second and third Royal Caribbean sailings!
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Ahhh nostagia…gotta love it! Awesome story!
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hey this is a very interesting article!
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My first RCCL cruise was also with Soverign. But the first thing I thougt about, was that this is enviremental thinking at its best. Why waste it and build new ones, when you can use the old ones. This is great.
BTW. I checkes out Song og Norway at wikipedia about a year ago, and could see that the ship has a very intersting history. When times get better, it would be great if RCCL bought this ship back, refurbished and gave the old grandmother of RCCL some respect. It would be a great tribute for the company’s history. As a shareholder, I would gladly do this investment !
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