This was published 2 years ago
Wonder of the Seas: World's biggest cruise ship arrives in Florida ahead of inaugural cruise
By Alan Granville
Photos: Take a look at Wonder of the Seas in the gallery above.
The new world's biggest cruise ship is a step closer to making its debut after arriving in the US.
Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas will make its maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 4 on a seven-night Caribbean cruise. It will stay in the region until the end of April before heading to Europe for sailings from Barcelona, Spain, and the Italian capital, Rome until October.
At 236,857 gross tonnes, the 18-deck ship is 362 metres long and 64 metres wide. It has a cruising speed of 22 knots and has four bow thrusters, each with 7500 horsepower.
The true scale of the ship is in the eye-watering numbers. It has a capacity for 6988 guests and 2300 crew members. At 236,857 gross tonnes, the 18-deck ship is 362 metres long and 64 metres wide. It has a cruising speed of 22 knots and has four bow thrusters, each with 7500 horsepower.
The current largest cruise ship is sister-ship Symphony of the Seas which comes in at 228,081 gross tonnes, is 1184 feet (361m) long but has a maximum capacity of 6680 guests with 2200 crew.
Work on Wonder of the Seas began three years at French shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, and it was originally due to launch last year, however construction was delayed due to Covid. The initial plan was to launch the ship out of China, but that was scrapped in favour of the US and European markets.
It is the fifth of Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships and entertainment is centred around eight "neighbourhoods", one more than is usually found on similar ships.
The new Suite Neighbourhood will only be available for those who have bought suites and will feature a sun deck, private pools, and exclusive restaurants.
Also on board are experiences like the tallest slide at sea; a surf simulator; rock-climbing walls; and the Central Park neighbourhood which is lined with more than 20,000 real plants.
More than 100 performers will also be on hand to entertain in four high-tech "stages", air, ice, stage and water. The new productions include "inTENse," which is performed by the first all-woman diving cast in the open-air AquaTheater; an ice skating show; a "high-tech battle" featuring superheroes, and a production featuring a "wondrous medley of music, singing and dancing".
The cruise industry is bouncing back from Covid-related woes. At the start of the pandemic, some cruises suffered some highly publicised outbreaks, including the Diamond Princess in Japan.
Since then cruise lines have been overhauling their health and safety protocols with a strong emphasis on vaccinations. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced a new voluntary programme for cruise lines which will allow mask requirements to be significantly relaxed for passengers.
Cruise lines can opt into the programme if 95 per cent of passengers and crew members are fully vaccinated or up to date with their shots. Royal Caribbean has joined other heavyweights in the industry, Carnival and Norwegian, in signing up to the programme.
Wonder of the Seas isn't the only new cruise ship making its debut this year. Disney's latest ship, the Disney Wish, recently got its first taste of water. It will soon undergo sea trials before debuting from Port Canaveral on July 14.
Also coming soon are the Discovery Princess, from Princess Cruises, and Silversea Cruises' new luxury cruise ship Silver Dawn.
Wonder of the Seas won't have long to bask as the world's biggest cruise ship, as a sixth yet-to-be-named Oasis-class ship comes online in 2024.
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