Behind the Crown & Anchor – Evolution of Central Park

[00:00:03][music] >> Central Park was intended [music] to change how people thought about cruising. This is really the epitome [music] of a park experience on the water in a way that we could have never imagined when we [music] first started Central Park on the Oasis class ships.

[00:00:30]>> [music] >> It's a more sophisticated experience.

[00:00:33]It's a beautiful setting and it is designed to be something like a Central Park in New York City.

[00:00:41]It [music] is lush. It is the place to go. It brings energy, but it also brings a sense of calm. Central Park is really an oasis in the middle of the ocean.

[00:00:54]>> [music] >> Cruise ships have lower ceiling heights.

[00:01:00]They have a long and narrow footprint.

[00:01:02][music] It's very difficult to navigate in that environment [music] on board a ship.

[00:01:10]We came to the conclusion that an atrium is a solution where you can have a space, [music] you can have connectivity, you can get your elevators organized in that and you get the an overall architecture.

[00:01:23]We were [music] not only opening up the middle of the ship, widening that area and creating this atrium, but we were also breaking [music] through the steel down into the Royal Promenade. So, structurally, the spine [music] and the backbone that is normally there in the center, that had to be rethought in a very [music] novel way. And then we started to think about what are we putting in that. So, we had a very clear understanding that should [music] be some dining and stores and shops and some recreational area in the center.

[00:01:50]In the earliest days of [music] Oasis class, we came up with a concept about doing an outdoor green space. And through doing an architectural analysis, we had realized that Central Park in Manhattan was proportionate to the atrium that we had on Oasis class to the size of the ship. So, the scale was comparable between the two >> [music] >> on a ratio level.

[00:02:17]>> [music] >> Central Park started out differently than the way it ended up at the end of the day.

[00:02:25]So, the original concepts looked quite different. In the beginning, it was grass [music] and rolling hills and then we realized that maybe we can do a little bit [music] better.

[00:02:39]And we started [music] to think, could we really have a park with natural trees and plants? And [music] there was huge amount of challenges to really get the trees which [music] will grow there, being able to handle the climate. You have a sudden wind conditions and you have sudden [music] light conditions. If the ship is moving from one climate to another one, you need to understand really well the plants you are putting there.

[00:03:07]And of course, we had to deal with the whole notion of having a totally different level of drainage to supply water and what that meant [music] as we brought the Central Park into other ports of call where there was all types of agricultural [music] restrictions.

[00:03:21]So, we have to work with every country that the ship is going to be visiting.

[00:03:25]So, it was quite a complex [music] project. We have learned then from ship to ship and over the years, so we have been able to come with solutions that [music] are longer lasting and easier to handle. But, it has been worth it. It connects natural elements to you on a structure built of steel. We are very very [music] proud of that.

[00:03:53]For Icon class, [music] we maintained the best characteristics of the Central Park on the Oasis class ships, but the real big changes are structural integration of Central Park and also the flow to the decks below.

[00:04:11]The Pearl [music] is one of those magical parts of Central Park that is very new to this [music] experience compared to the Oasis class. We have a very direct connection from Central Park going through the Pearl Cafe and the Pearl into the Royal Promenade. We have more trees. We have double the amount of living walls and we also [music] increased the amount of planting that we have in Central Park.

[00:04:36]That takes a immense amount of sub-structure to hold all of these tree roots. So, underneath Central Park is almost a full deck of just infrastructure to hold this up. It is really [music] a global effort. We have found trees all over the world. They are unique throughout. This truly [music] feels like a diverse park.

[00:04:58]We really wanted to make sure that we brought back what our guests love, but brought it back in a way that brings some new favorites, some new life, some new energy.

[00:05:10]There's more entertainment that's coming to the space. It's got energy.

[00:05:15]It's the evolution of something truly iconic and excellent. Because of the experiences, it will feel brand new. The sound, [music] the music, the smells, the restaurants, the bars, the lounges, it will all bring the park [music] a new sense of life, no matter what time of day.

[00:05:38]>> [music] >> Innovation is always at the heart of everything that we do. The atrium and the Central Park are exceptionally unique things which have made Royal Caribbean ships very very special.

[00:05:51]>> [music] >> We appreciate that our guests have many choices for vacation experiences. So, we really want to always keep [music] ourselves at the top of the list of what they would dream their next vacation to be. This idea of respecting tradition, evolving experiences that people really enjoy, [music] and then new, innovative, revolutionary ideas that really create a brand new space.

[00:06:17]Central Park fits very nicely into [music] what is now almost tradition, but certainly is evolution.

[00:06:27]>> [music]