Royal Caribbean considered ski slopes for ships

Royal Caribbean caused a stir this week with its plans to build a massive "Central Park" atop its next ship. And it isn’t the first time the line has turned heads with something new. Over the years, the company has made waves unveiling such gee-whiz amenities as miniature golf courses, ice skating rinks, climbing walls and, most recently, wave pools for surfing.

How does the line come up with the ideas? And what does it plan next? In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, the longtime head of the line’s ambitious building program, Royal Caribbean executive vice president Harri Kulovaara, offers a glimpse into a no-idea-is-too-crazy culture that has resulted in proposals for things as far-out as ski slopes for ships.

Q: First let’s talk about Central Park. How did it come about?

A: I don’t even remember how many years ago the idea came up. (I think) it was after we launched Voyager (in 1999). But as a naval architect, I have had this kind of concept in my head going back much further. This is the ultimate in (cruise ship) architecture, when you really get to the size where you can start opening up the vessel and have the volumes where you have a very different feel.

Q: It builds on Voyager’s interior promenade, which was a hit.

A: The Royal Promenade was very popular. It created an area where guests could gather, a central meeting point with a lot of volume and height and breath-taking space. It’s an evolution of a theme that has been working very well. In the late ’80s we added the first atrium on a ship (on the Sovereign of the Seas), which evolved into the promenade and now Central Park. Opening up the ships in the center is something that we have had on our mind for a long time.....

Visit website