The Wonder of the Seas – the world’s biggest cruise ship – has officially joined Royal Caribbean’s fleet. And a mesmerising video shows the behemoth’s journey to completion, from steel-cutting to delivery.
She was built in Saint-Nazaire, France, and it took three years for the 1,188ft- (362m) long vessel to be made ready for passengers. Marking the completion of construction, a traditional flag-changing ceremony took place in Marseille with Royal Caribbean’s shipyard partner, Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Video: See the Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas come to life
Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said: ‘Wonder of the Seas will energise cruising in a bolder and bigger way. Adding this ship to our already best-in-class fleet elevates the company in continuing to lead the industry with new features and innovation.
‘This is one more way that we’re delivering world-class and memorable vacations, responsibly, to guests around the world.’
Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, said: ‘Taking delivery of Wonder of the Seas is the culmination of 30 months of ingenuity and partnership across more than 2,000 committed crew members and workers who are among the best at what they do.
‘Along with taking the revolutionary Oasis Class ships to a new level of wonder, innovation and adventure, Wonder sets the stage for the spring and summer vacations families and all travellers alike are looking forward to in the new year.’
Wonder will make her official debut in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 4, to begin sailing seven-night cruises to the Caribbean before heading to Barcelona, Spain, and Rome to offer summer adventures in the Mediterranean. Guests will board what is essentially a small city at sea.
Wonder weighs 236,857 tonnes, has 18 decks, 24 guest elevators, 2,867 staterooms and can accommodate up to 6,988 guests, looked after by 2,300 international crew.
The features and amenities are dazzling. She boasts an 82ft- (25m) long, 10-deck-high zip line as well as Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at sea at 10 storeys high. She has a Central Park area that features ‘the first living park at sea, home to more than 20,000 plants’ and multiple ‘neighborhoods’.
One is the ‘Suite Neighborhood’, offering guests an ‘elevated Suite Sun Deck complete with a plunge pool, bar and loungers’. There’s also a cantilevered pool bar named The Vue, and Wonder Playscape – an interactive, open-air kids’ play area with ‘awe-inspiring views’.
Other amenities include a card room, a jogging track, laser tag, mini-golf, an outdoor movie screen, rock-climbing walls, a solarium, karaoke and a ‘vitality spa’.
The world’s second-biggest cruise ship is Symphony of the Seas – another vessel in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. It too has 18 decks, is 1,118ft-long, 215.5ft wide, weighs 228,000 tonnes and can accommodate 6,680 guests.
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