Royal Caribbean Seeks Guest Ideas for Discovery Class
Executives used the President’s Cruise to hear imaginative passenger concepts as work advances on the line’s next ship class.
Royal Caribbean executives held a brainstorming session aboard the President’s Cruise to gather passenger ideas while the company develops its Discovery Class ships. President and CEO Michael Bayley and product development chief Jay Schneider led the event alongside other company leaders and design personnel.
The session was intended to generate concepts rather than announce planned ship features. Among the suggestions was a lazy river extending around the ship, allowing guests to take in ocean views while floating. Another passenger proposed a catamaran-style vessel formed from two ships. Bayley estimated that such a design could reach approximately 600,000 gross tons and carry about 17,000 passengers and 7,000 crew members.
Schneider said Royal Caribbean is well into the Discovery Class design process. He also said guests had recently taken part in confidential testing related to the design.
During the discussion, executives shared an anecdote about an earlier concept considered for the original Oasis of the Seas. According to their account, a tethered blimp broke loose during sea trials and was ultimately recovered in Sweden.
