Cruise-Australia.net
Discover Cruising at its Best!
With Reuben Goossens
Cruise’n’Travel Journalist & Maritime
Historian
Freedom
of the Seas
At 160,000-tons these are currently
the largest cruise ships afloat
MV Freedom of the Seas
The 160,000
View a YouTube video
of Freedom of the Seas visit to
The “Genesis Project.”
Royal Caribbean International have ordered two new 220,000-ton ships that will have a maximum (using all berths) passenger capacity of 6,400 passengers, or 5,400 (based on twin bedded configuration). These ships will be the largest passenger ships to be built in history. Measurments are as follows: Length: 1,180ft (360m). Width: 154ft (47m). Height: 240ft (65m). Draft of 30ft (9+m). And the question begs, will Carnival try to beat it in due course?
The building contract, which is said to be worth around ($1.24bn) was awarded in February 2007 to the Norwegian shipbuilder Aker Yards.
The expected to cost is said to be around
US$1.4 Billion each. Although known as the “Genesis Project” it is
expected the first ship will be name Genesis of the Seas and is to be
introduced in 2009, with the second is due in 2010. Obviously, Royal Caribbean
International is setting a new level in cruising, a standard that other cruise
companies will find hard to follow.
We are told
that the Genesis Class ship will include a myriad of new features and bring
together all the best innovations and facilities from all of the other Royal
Caribbean vessels. The ship is projected to have new features such as a bowling
alley complex, a billiards lounge (with innovative self-levelling tables) similar to those found of the
Radiance Class Ships, a series of larger dining rooms, and an extended Royal
Promenade shopping and recreation area featuring pubs, shops, arcades and bars.
There will
be much larger state rooms and balcony areas on the ship as well as a larger
variety of dining, bar, lounge and entertainment options. There will be an
interactive water park and sun deck (H2O ZONE), a dedicated adult pool and the main pool
and also two whirlpools in a similar fashion to the Freedom vessels. There will also be a sports area with a rock climbing wall, the FlowRider surf park (an onboard wave generator
for surfing), a miniature golf course and a full-size
basketball court. Other sporting and health facilities will include an ice
skating rink, a full-size boxing ring, a fully equipped Nautilus gym and a
state-of-the-art spa offering a full range of the latest treatments. The ship
will have a larger casino, Wi-Fi access across the ship, flat panel LCD
televisions in all staterooms and seamless mobile phone connectivity.
Royal Caribbean
International (
Freedom /
In the meantime, the magnificent Freedom and
the Liberty of the Seas is here to provide the cruise experience of a lifetime
and lets focus on these fine ships now! We commence with a photo gallery
combined with a few comments.
A massive sight indeed
as we see her head on!
The Grand Galleria
The Café & Pizzaria
The Baber Shop on the
Gallery
The Grand multi level
Dinning Room
The combined pool area is 43 percent larger
than those on
H2O Zone – the pool that has everything for
the kids!
One of the most spectacular spaces on on these massive ships will be H2O Zone, the farthest aft of
the three areas. H2O Zone is a colourful wonderland of large, brightly hued
sculptures doubling as interactive fountains that spray, sprinkle and spurt
water in every direction. The oversized sculptures depict family members of all
shapes and sizes, including the family dog, and give guests numerous ways to
get soaked – and soak each other, by turning wheels, setting off sensors
and dodging dumping buckets. The sculptures will be spread throughout a large,
central wading area that also will include a number of spray cannons, water
jets and ground gushers.
In one corner of the water playground, a
circular pool will shoot a current of water in a river around a central island.
Guests can float with the flow as they are misted by one of the fountain
sculptures. Next to the circular pool, a shallow pool, fed by a flamingo-shaped
fountain, will create a secluded space for the ship’s youngest cruisers.
At the back of the park, a rectangular swimming pool will be flanked by wading
areas and fed by a waterfall cascading from an overhanging bridge. At night,
the water park will turn into a dramatically lit sculpture garden.
Above & below: The
Solarium and Hot Tubs
Two Hot Tubs hang 12ft
over each side of the ship
One of the three pools will be in the
adults-only solarium forward of the ship. This pool will feature underwater
music and has a window looking down into the forward atrium.
The hanging Hot Tubs
Another first for Royal Caribbean is will be a
sports pool where guests can indulge in a variety of water sports located n the
main pool area. At night, the main pool area will transform into an open-air
nightclub, with a large dance floor situated between the two pools. Guests will
be able to enjoy live music, themed parties and a top-class club DJ.
Main Pool & Night
time entertainment centre
Rock climbing wall aft
of the funnel
Surfing on the - FlowRider
The name Freedom and Liberty of the Seas was chosen deliberately to
convey the enormity of features and amenities offered on these extraordinary
ships, as they are really about freedom of choice, and the liberty to explore,
a freedom to relax, having a liberty to make one's own vacation plans
reflective of one's own tastes and interests.
These are grand style
ships indeed and
On Board Features
|
FlowRider® |
|
H2O Zone |
|
Cantilevered whirlpools |
|
Rock-climbing wall |
|
Ice-skating rink |
|
Royal Promenade |
|
Extensive WiFi
capabilities and connectivity for cell phones |
|
Full-size, flat-screen TVs in
every stateroom |
|
Themed bars and lounges |
|
Adventure Ocean® youth
facilities |
|
ShipShape® |
|
Full-size Everlast
boxing ring |
|
Casino RoyaleSM |
|
Presidential Family Suite |
|
Sports Pool |
|
Full-size sports court |
|
9-hole miniature golf course |
|
Johnny Rockets® '50s-style
restaurant |
|
Portofino Italian Restaurant |
|
Chops Grille |
|
Ben & Jerry's® ice cream |
|
Vintages wine bar |
|
Boleros Latin-themed lounge |
|
|
Watch three
videos of the Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas
is based in
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Photographs
on Cruise-Australia and ssMaritime are: 1. By the author. 2. From the
author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping
Companies and private photographers. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding
the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be
so kind and make themselves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know
what it is like, I have seem a multitude of my own photo’s on other
sites, yet some even refuse to give credit, knowing full well that there is no
legal comeback when it comes to the net. Let us do the right thing and show the
charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit
is due!
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