Renovation of Rhapsody of the Seas Begins

Royal Caribbean International's Rhapsody of the Seas entered drydock March 1 at the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore to begin a month-long, $54 million upgrade.

The 1,998-passenger Vision-class ship will receive new dining venues, including Chops Grille, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Chef's Table experience and Park Cafe.

Additional offerings include a Diamond Lounge for Crown and Anchor loyalty guests, a Concierge Lounge for suite guests and top-tier loyalty guests, an upgraded Viking Crown Lounge and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery.

Also, the Rhapsody will receive ship-wide Wi-Fi, a digital way-finding system, electronic mustering, an outdoor movie screen, as well as an iPad in every stateroom. The ship's Champagne Bar will re-emerge as the R Bar, featuring a 1960s vibe, said the line.

When the enhancements are completed on March 28, Rhapsody of the Seas will sail a 15-night voyage from Singapore to Sydney. From there, it will sail across the Pacific, offering a series of cruises from Australia and Hawaii, before repositioning to Alaska in May.

The ship will operate seven-night open-jawed itineraries from both Vancouver and Seattle. The line’s 2,112-passenger Radiance of the Seas also will operate in Alaska this summer.

The Rhapsody upgrade is part of Royal Caribbean’s $300 million Royal Advantage fleet revitalization, which will be completed in 2014.