A ROYAL TREAT
The world has a new largest cruise ship: Royal Caribbean’s “new wonder of the world”, as they call it, has started its first season, sailing around the Caribbean. Having taken three years to build at a shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, the vessel was delivered to its owners in
January and began its maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, US, on March 4.
At 362m long and 64m wide and with a gross tonnage of 236,857, the 18-decker replaces another of Royal Caribbean’s vessels, Symphony of the Seas, as the world’s largest cruise ship. It has capacity for 6,988 guests and 2,300 crew members.
This ship is the fifth and newest of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class vessels, which rank as the world’s largest passenger ships.
The ship is divided into eight unique neighbourhoods, a Royal Caribbean first. The Central Park neighbourhood features more than 20,000 real plants, and the exclusive suite neighbourhood includes a private sundeck with a plunge pool and bar, as well as the largest private family suite yet, with space for up to 10 people.
An underwater-themed play area for children features slides, climbing walls, games, interactive activities, imaginative puzzles and light shows.
Thrill-seekers can chase the waves on the FlowRider surf simulator; race down what Royal Caribbean calls the tallest slide at sea; brave the 10-storey zipline; or scale twin rock-climbing walls.
There are also more than 20 restaurants, bars and lounges across the ship, plus several shows, including the first all-female cast performing high-rise feats in a one-ofa-kind amphitheatre, the AquaTheatre.
The ship will be sailing on seven-night itineraries in the Caribbean with stops at Royal Caribbean’s private-island destinations in The Bahamas and Labadee, Haiti, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico. In May, it will head to Barcelona, Spain, for a summer season in the Mediterranean, offering seven-night itineraries with destinations including Naples and Florence in Italy, Palma de Mallorca in Spain, and Provence in France.
The cruise line has itineraries to 240 destinations in 61 countries on six continents.
You can see more images of the ship in our story online at sundaytimes.co.za. For more details, see Royal Caribbean’s website royalcaribbean.com
To stand a chance of winning R500, tell us the name of the new, world’s largest cruise ship. E-mail your answer to travelquiz@sundaytimes.co.za before noon on Tuesday, March 22. Last week’s winner is Esme Jacobson. The correct answer was the Grand Prismatic Spring.