Ovation of The Seas to conquer Alaska

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of The Seas is set to sail to Alaska from next year.Royal Caribbean confirmed last year it would send its first Quantum-class ship, the 4,905 passenger Ovation of the Seas, to Alaska.At 168,666 tons, one-year-old Ovation is tied with two sisters as the world’s fifth largest cruise vessel. It can hold nearly 5,000 passengers.

While mega-size cruise ships as big as 226,963 tons have appeared in the Caribbean and Europe in recent years, nearly all of the cruise vessels spending summers in Alaska still measure under 100,000 tons. This year’s size leaders in the state were Royal Caribbean’s 138,194-ton Explorer of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ 121,878-ton Celebrity Solstice. The largest ships Alaska cruise giant Princess had in Alaska this year — Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess — are 113,561 tons.

Ovation will take the place of Explorer in Alaska. A second, smaller Royal Caribbean vessel that spends summers in the state, the 90,090-ton Radiance of the Seas, will remain in the market. This will be a huge vessel entering Alaska and may open the flood gates to more as the Norwegian Bliss is due to sail there later this year as well.”Only on Ovation will guests glimpse the Northern Lights and other Alaskan wonders from the North Star, the ship’s signature glass observation capsule with panoramic views from 300 feet above sea level – the best views possible without taking flight. Ovation guests also will have the chance to skydive, surf and swim alongside glaciers from the comfort of the ship’s thrilling indoor SeaPlex sports complex, Solarium and indoor or outdoor pools,” said Royal Caribbean, in a statement. Firstly I am not sure how they got permission to sail there but it may be environmental issue I don’t know as I am not an expert but surely it’s going to affect the area. Personally I do like big ships but in Alaska I think that it’s better to sail on a medium size one as always been the case. I wouldn’t like to get out to a small village there with thousands of tourists flocking every corner of the place, I don’t know, what do you think?