Talking with Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Chairman Richard Fain

Richard Fain has certainly made this an exciting time in the cruise industry. As chairman and CEO of the world’s largest cruise company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., he could have grown the company gradually and in small increments. Instead, its Royal Caribbean International brand recently introduced the largest cruise ship ever built, Oasis of the Seas, and is building a second one just as large. Meanwhile, he has propelled Celebrity Cruises to the front ranks of the premium cruise line brands by building five new ships (collectively referred to as the “Solstice class”) that not only are larger than any cruise ship serving the premium cruise market but which are full of innovative new features. These ships are setting set new standards and thus are placing competitive pressure on all cruise providers to enhance their guests’ cruise experience.


What makes Fain’s actions dramatic is that there was no guarantee that these multi-billion dollar investments would succeed. As Fain has admitted it was a gamble and one what went against the common wisdom of the industry.

On the occasion of the naming of Celebrity Cruises latest Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Eclipse, I had a chance to talk with Mr. Fain about the Celebrity part of this gamble. We also discussed the reasons for stationing Eclipse in England and dedicating her to the British/Irish market. My interview with Mr. Fain appears at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-art-Fain.html

Speaking of the Royal Caribbean family, I have also posted a new photo essay on Freedom of the Seas in St. Thomas. Freedom is a large cruise ship - - indeed, until Oasis of the Seas came along, Freedom was the world’s largest cruise ship. However, she does not look cumbersome or ungainly. In fact her nicely curved bow, the long lines of her superstructure and her curved sloping stern make her rather photogenic. The nice thing about St. Thomas is that there are a number of good places to take photos of the ships. Also, the light changes over the course of the day, which adds variety to the photos. My photo essay on Freedom is at: http://www.beyondships.com/FOS-Photos-1.html

Photo Tour of Saga Pearl II and Photos of Saga Ruby

In order to survive in today’s cruise market, small ships have to specialize. Because of their size, they do not have all of the features and options available on the large ships and so they have to focus their efforts in order to attract customers. Some are ultra-luxury, some go to exotic locations that the big ships do not, while others offer longer voyages.

Saga Pearl II specializes in holidays (vacations) for the over 50 set. Not only is there a formal age requirement but the entire concept reflects thinking about what more mature travelers want and need when traveling. This extends from sending a chauffeured car to collect guests and their baggage and bring them to the ship if they live within a certain distance of the embarkation port to having a high percentage of single cabins for guests who may no longer have a partner. The small size of the ship also gives rise to a more intimate atmosphere which facilitates the guests getting to know one another.

Since the ship focuses on seniors, it does not need children’s facilities, rock climbing walls or giant water slides. Consequently, there is more space for facilities like an extensive library.

Saga Pearl II is the latest addition to the Saga Cruises’ fleet. Built in 1981, the ship was completely renovated following its acquisition by Saga. The result is fresh looking interior done in a contemporary understated style.

Beyondships’ profile of Saga Pearl II is at http://www.beyondships.com/Saga-SagaPearl-Profile.html and the multii-page photo tour begins at

In addition, the master of Saga Pearl II, Captain David Warden-Owen, talks about his ship at http://www.beyondships.com/Saga-SagaPearl-Captain.html I first met Captain Warden-Owen when he was Staff Captain on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2. He went over to Saga after that line acquired the Sagafjord from Cunard, which Saga re-named the Saga Rose. Cunard was sorry to lose him as he was a very accomplished officer. His popularity and successful command of Saga Rose for some 12 years until the ship was retired last year underscore his ability.

While we are on the topic of Saga, I have put together a photo essay on Saga’s other ship, the Saga Ruby. Originally, the Vistafjord and later the Coronia for Cunard, this ship was the last classic ocean liner built in Britain. She has pleasing lines and is a pleasure to photograph. This essay shows her in New York and in Newport, Rhode Island last year. It can be found at http://www.beyondships.com/Saga-SagaRuby-Photos.html

Inside Celebrity Eclipse - - talking with the Captain, Hotel Director and Jacques Van Staden

This week we take an inside look at Celebrity Eclipse. Eclipse is Celebrity Cruises latest ship, entering service late last April. She is the third os Celebrity’s critically acclaimed Solstice class ships. These are large ships (122,000 gross tons) but carry only 2,800 passengers. (A mass market ship of the same size would probably carry a thousand more guests). This means that there is more room per passenger and more room for luxurious features and detailing.

It is a firmly held belief of Beyondships that regardless of the physical beauty of a ship and regardless of its features, the quality of a cruise experience depends to a great extent on the people who actually operate the vessel. Accordingly, the site presents interviews with ship’s officers, management and cruise line executives so that you can read what these people have to say about what they are doing with their ships.

To that end, this week the site features three new interviews with key players on Celebrity Eclipse.

First, there is a conversation with the master of Celebrity Eclipse Captain Panagiotis Skylogiannis. Captain Skylogiannis was responsible for bringing not only Eclipse into service but also the first ship in the class Celebrity Solstice into service. He takes great pride in both ships but Eclipse is his personal favorite. My conversation with him is at: http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Eclipse-art-captain.html

Second, Hotel Director Simon Weir is in charge of practically all of the services that touch but the guests’ cruise experience from the accommodations to the entertainment to the dining. He has brought out all three of the Solstice class ships and is able to discuss how the product has evolved. In his view, Eclipse does not really compete with other cruise ships but is comparable to luxury hotels on shore and he seeks to ensure that Eclipse does not come out second best. My conversation with Mr. Weir is at: http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Eclipse-art-HD.html

Third, Jacques Van Staden is the celebrity chef who in 2007 left that world in order to become Vice President of Food and Beverage Operations for Celebrity Cruises. In that position he not only oversees the restaurants on the existing Celebrity ships but develops new ideas for dining venues. Celebrity Eclipse debuted the latest of his ideas, a revolutionary restaurant called Qsine. This dining venue differs from all other cruise ship specialty restaurants in its menu, presentation and décor, combining the familiar with the unexpected. Chef Van Staden talks about Qsine at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Eclipse-art-VanStaden.html

Oriana Profile and Photo Tour and Norwegian Epic in New York

Oriana is a ship that I have been hoping to take a look at for quite some time. Her entry into service in 1995 was recognized as such a significant event that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II agreed to name the ship. After all, this was the largest passenger ship that had been built for the British market since Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2. Furthermore, she was nearly as large as QE2 and was full of all sorts of new luxury innovations. Over the years, Oriana has retained an aura about her and most Brits will know precisely what you mean when you say her name.

Although built in Germany, Oriana is thoroughly British. Her interiors are contemporary but done in restrained good taste. There is no glitz or attempts to invoke awe. Rather, there is the understatement of conservative British style.

Oriana’s British-ness also appears in the food served onboard, the activities and the entertainment. She seeks to make the people she was designed to serve feel comfortable on their holidays.

The vast majority of passengers on Oriana are British. However, P&O Cruises, her owner, also welcomes international guests who are interested in a truly British experience.

In many ways, this is a classic cruise experience as in the days before Las Vegas went to sea. At the same time, she has a celebrity chef specialty restaurant, a West End style theater, a large cinema, a spa, three pools, five whirlpools, 11 bars and even a pizzeria.

Beyondship’s profile of Oriana is at http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Oriana-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Oriana-Tour-1.html

A much different cruise experience came to New York this last week in the form of Norwegian Epic. This is Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest ship and at 153,000 gross tons the fifth largest cruise ship now in service.

As NCL proudly has proclaimed, its “Freestyle Cruising” was designed to break the traditional mold. On Epic, innovation is a watchword, combing entertainment and dining venues, curving interior walls and cabin configurations unlike any other cruise ship.

I was able to photograph Epic as she came up the Hudson River and docked on the West Side of Manhattan. My photo essay of this event is at: http://www.beyondships.com/NCLEpic-photoessay.html