Has Your Favourite Royal Caribbean Ship Been Amplified? Check the Full List!

Royal Caribbean’s fleet is getting a makeover. The cruise line’s Amplification programme aims to spruce up older ships with exciting new features and upgrades.

It’s all about making sure every passenger has a top-notch holiday at sea, no matter which ship they sail on.

The programme hit a snag when COVID-19 put the world on pause. But now, cruise fans are keen to know if Royal Caribbean will pick up where they left off.

Which ships are next in line for a facelift? There’s a lot to look forward to as the cruise industry gets back on its feet.

Six Royal Caribbean Ships Received Major Upgrades

Royal Caribbean’s Amplification programme aimed to modernise and enhance several of its older ships. The initiative focused on upgrading six ships across different classes, each receiving unique improvements tailored to their specific needs.

The lucky ships that underwent this transformation were:

1. Independence of the Seas
2. Mariner of the Seas
3. Navigator of the Seas
4. Voyager of the Seas
5. Oasis of the Seas
6. Freedom of the Seas

These upgrades weren’t one-size-fits-all. Each ship got its own special treatment, though there were some common elements within the same class.

Let’s take a look at when these ships were amplified:

Ship Name	Class	Year Amplified
Independence of the Seas	Freedom Class	2018
Mariner of the Seas	Voyager Class	2018
Navigator of the Seas	Voyager Class	2019
Voyager of the Seas	Voyager Class	2019
Oasis of the Seas	Oasis Class	2019
Freedom of the Seas	Freedom Class	2020

It’s worth noting that the Amplification programme didn’t extend to all of Royal Caribbean’s ships. In fact, many ships in the fleet haven’t received these extensive upgrades.

The programme has been put on hold since 2020. Royal Caribbean hasn’t given any firm dates for when or if it might resume. This leaves some uncertainty about the future of upgrades for other ships in the fleet.

Some ships that were originally slated for amplification have had their upgrades postponed. These include:

• Explorer of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas

While there’s talk of Allure of the Seas going into dry dock in early 2025, it’s not clear if she’ll get all the originally planned upgrades.

The pause in the Amplification programme has led to questions about Royal Caribbean’s future plans. Will they resume these upgrades, or will they shift focus to newer ships? The company is always working on new ships, including Star of the Seas.

Four ships were slated for upgrades before plans changed

Royal Caribbean had big plans for four of its ships before everything came to a halt. The Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas were all set to receive major upgrades. These improvements would have brought new and exciting features to these older ships.

The Explorer of the Seas was in line for some fantastic additions. Guests would have enjoyed thrilling waterslides and a fresh take on the pool area. New dining spots were on the menu, too, including an Italian kitchen and an American steakhouse. For those fancying a drink, new bars were planned, such as the tropical-themed Lime & Coconut.

The Allure of the Seas was set for an even bigger makeover. Adrenaline junkies would have loved the Ultimate Abyss dry slides and The Perfect Storm waterslides. Fun new activities like laser tag and an escape room were also on the cards. Food lovers weren’t forgotten either, with plans for new eateries serving Italian, BBQ, and Mexican fare.

While we don’t know all the details for the Liberty of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas, it’s clear these ships were in for some exciting changes too.

Sadly, these plans had to be put on hold. The global situation made it impossible for workers to get on board and carry out the renovations. Even though cruises are sailing again, Royal Caribbean hasn’t said when or if these upgrades will happen.

There could be many reasons for this. The company might be thinking about different ways to improve its older ships, or it might be focusing its money on building brand-new ships instead.

No plans to upgrade older ships

Royal Caribbean has not announced any intentions to modernise its Radiance and Vision class ships. Due to space limitations, adding new features may be challenging on these smaller ships, which are also among the oldest in the fleet.

Cruise companies sometimes sell or retire ageing ships. The lack of upgrade plans for these older ships could hint at their eventual departure from the fleet.

However, some Radiance-class ships did receive basic renovations in 2024, suggesting they still have some years of service ahead.

The focus of Royal Caribbean’s upgrades has been on:

• Voyager class
• Freedom class
• Older Oasis class ships

These larger ships offer more space for adding new amenities and attractions. By concentrating on newer, bigger ships, Royal Caribbean aims to keep its most popular ships competitive with rival cruise lines.

No need to spruce up the latest ships

Royal Caribbean’s newest ships are already packed with exciting features. The Oasis-class, Quantum-class, and Quantum Ultra-class ships are so modern that they don’t need major updates. These ships already have the cool stuff that Royal Caribbean is adding to older ships.

Will these ships ever get a makeover? Maybe someday, but for now, they’re just fine as they are. They might get some basic upkeep when they go into dry dock, but that’s about it.

Royal Caribbean might come up with new ideas for future ships. If they do, they might decide to add those things to the current fleet. But for now, the newest ships are staying as they are.

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