This was published 2 years ago
World's biggest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, sets sail on inaugural cruise
By Katherine Scott
Take a look at the world's largest cruise ship in the photo gallery above.
The world's biggest cruise ship has finally started sailing, setting off on its maiden voyage on Friday.
Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas will operate seven-night cruises around the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, through to April, before embarking on sailings to Spain and Italy for summer in the Mediterranean.
The 236,857 gross tonnes mega-liner, which accommodates up to 6988 guests and 2300 crew members, measures 362 metres long and 64 metres wide, and features everything from an ice skating rink to a network of 19 swimming pools.
Wonder of the Seas is the fifth and latest ship in Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class fleet, considered the world's largest passenger ships, and it joins fellow floating giants Harmony, Allure, Symphony, and Oasis of the Seas.
The vessel took three years to build, and was originally slated for a 2021 launch, but faced construction delays due to COVID-19.
The cruise line also abandoned early plans to launch its newest vessel from China, switching its home base to Florida to focus on US and European markets.
Wonder of the Seas features eight themed "neighbourhoods", in a first for the cruise line.
Among the different zones guests can explore is an exclusive Suite Neighbourhood and a Central Park Neighbourhood featuring 20,000 real plants.
The Suite Neighbourhood is only available to Royal Suite Class guests, and includes a private sun deck, plunge pool, bar, lounge and restaurant.
The ship also features 20 restaurants, bars and lounges, the tallest slide at sea, rock-climbing facilities, a surf simulator and a 10-storey-high zip line.
Wonder of the Seas' entertainment line-up utilises multiple "stages", from an ice rink to an aqua theatre showcasing high-diving feats and aerial acrobatics.
Wonder of the Seas officially snatches the "world's biggest" title away from its sister ship, Symphony of the Seas, who held the record for four years.
Royal Caribbean has incrementally increased the size or gross tonnage of its Oasis-class ships with each new launch, in order to maintain its grip on the world's biggest cruise ship title.
Wonder of the Seas will only have until 2024 to flaunt its world's biggest moniker, with construction on a new Oasis-class ship underway.
It's not the only ship vying to be the biggest, with Genting Hong Kong's unfinished mega-liner Global Dream also poised to pinch the record title from Wonder of the Seas.
A series of setbacks have plagued the ship since the pandemic began; it currently sits unfinished in a German shipyard following parent company Genting HK filing for bankruptcy on January 19.
Potential buyers are currently lining up to purchase the liner, according to the insolvency administrator, with the ship reportedly costing $US1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) to build.
See also: Forms, tests and vaccinations: Is cruising still fun?
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