Aker Yards to Lengthen RCL’s Enchantment of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International Ltd. and Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc. have agreed on a revitalization project, including a midbody lengthening, for the luxury cruise ship M/S Enchantment of the Seas. The project has been developed by Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc.'s Customer Service Division. The midbody will be built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Turku and the lengthening will take place between mid-May and early July 2005 while the cruise ship is being drydocked at the Keppel Verolme Shipyard in Rotterdam. The contract value for Kvaerner Masa-Yards is some €40-45 million.

"The refurbishment of Enchantment makes tremendous sense from both an economic and a strategic standpoint. We add substantial revenue without adding commensurate costs, while significantly improving the overall guest experience," says Chairman and CEO for Royal Caribbean International, Richard D. Fain. "This revitalisation and lengthening project is strategically important for Kvaerner Masa-Yards in the growing market of cruise ship conversions. Through services of our new Customer Service Division, we want to support the cruise operators to ensure that year after year cruise customers receive the state of the art experience onboard that they are used to. To the passengers our input can be seen as excellence in comfort; cruise itineraries are met without technical problems, and cabin and public spaces are pleasant and of newest design matching the image of the cruise liner," says Yrjö Julin, President and CEO, Kvaerner Masa-Yards. The project includes an extensive public area revitalisation program, as well as a lengthening of the ship by building a 22,2 meter midbody, cutting, inserting and joining of the midbody, as well as final outfitting, powering up and recomissioning of the ship. After the lengthening, the ship will be 301,8 meter overall, and will include an additional 151 passanger cabins. Kvaerner Masa-Yards Customer Service Division has specialised in comprehensive conversion projects of cruise ships. M/S Enchantement was built for Royal Caribbean International in 1997 by Kvaerner Masa-Yards. The ship is presently doing 4-5 day cruises in the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale.