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quote:World's biggest cruise liner launchedAugust 20, 2005A GIGANTIC cruise ship launched in Finland overnight has dethroned the Queen Mary Two as the largest liner afloat, its manufacturers said.Norwegian-based Aker Yards said the Freedom of the Seas, at 158,000 tonnes, was the world's biggest, outranking Cunard's 151,400-tonne Queen Mary Two.Both are longer than 41 London double decker buses parked end-to-end."The giant of the cruise market, Freedom of the Seas is like a seaborne urban community with its own energy and drinking water production as well as waste management," Aker Yards said in a statement.The ship will carry 5,740 passengers and crew.The Freedom of the Seas floated out of a shipyard run by Aker Yards in Finland and is part of a three-ship deal for Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world's second biggest cruise liner company.Carnival, owner of Cunard liners, is the world's largest cruise operator. News.com.au
A GIGANTIC cruise ship launched in Finland overnight has dethroned the Queen Mary Two as the largest liner afloat, its manufacturers said.Norwegian-based Aker Yards said the Freedom of the Seas, at 158,000 tonnes, was the world's biggest, outranking Cunard's 151,400-tonne Queen Mary Two.
Both are longer than 41 London double decker buses parked end-to-end.
"The giant of the cruise market, Freedom of the Seas is like a seaborne urban community with its own energy and drinking water production as well as waste management," Aker Yards said in a statement.
The ship will carry 5,740 passengers and crew.
The Freedom of the Seas floated out of a shipyard run by Aker Yards in Finland and is part of a three-ship deal for Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world's second biggest cruise liner company.
Carnival, owner of Cunard liners, is the world's largest cruise operator.
News.com.au
Larger Version
Here's a video from the construction, released by Aker
Press release from Aker:
quote:There are three ultra-sized cruise vessels for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in Aker Yards´ orderbook. The first of them, “Freedom of the Seas” was floated out today in Finland, wittnessed by representatives of the top management of RCCL. “Seeing a new ship floated out for the first time is a momentous occasion“, says CEO and Board Chairman of RCCL Richard D. Fain. “A tremendous amount of highly skilled work goes into constructing these ships and we are pleased to be working once again with Aker Finnyards to build what is sure to be the most innovative and exciting ship afloat.” ”Aker Yards´ challenge is to ensure innovative customer focus”, says Yrjö Julin, President of Aker Finnyards and responsible for Cruise & Ferries in Aker Yards. “We are proud to build this cruise ship with spectacular inventive features for RCCL”, he says. The giant of cruise market, “Freedom of the Seas” is like a seaborne urban community with own energy and drinking water production as well as waste management. There is 16.5 hectares of deck space for in all 5,740 passengers and members of the crew. The 158,000 GRT ship is 339 metres long and 38.6 metres wide. Ordered in September 2003, the newbuilding now floated out will be handed over to Royal Caribbean in April 2006. The second and third vessel in the series will be ready for delivery in spring 2007 and 2008 respectively.
”Aker Yards´ challenge is to ensure innovative customer focus”, says Yrjö Julin, President of Aker Finnyards and responsible for Cruise & Ferries in Aker Yards. “We are proud to build this cruise ship with spectacular inventive features for RCCL”, he says.
The giant of cruise market, “Freedom of the Seas” is like a seaborne urban community with own energy and drinking water production as well as waste management. There is 16.5 hectares of deck space for in all 5,740 passengers and members of the crew. The 158,000 GRT ship is 339 metres long and 38.6 metres wide.
Ordered in September 2003, the newbuilding now floated out will be handed over to Royal Caribbean in April 2006. The second and third vessel in the series will be ready for delivery in spring 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Here is a picture of her, floated out.
[ 08-20-2005: Message edited by: captainnorway ]
[ 08-20-2005: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]
quote:Originally posted by Frosty 4:Seems like we are paying more and getting less on most cruises with a lot of little perks gone. These monsters cost mega $$$ and at some point of saturation will be reached. Lines are long at buffets -seating a problem and indeed deck chairs are not easy to find especially on days at sea. With 3000+ passengers getting on and off is a problem. Can you imagine tendering on these ships that are too big to dock at some ports!! Bigger is NOT better. IMHOF4
W/every berth filled, she will hold close to 4700 passengers verses 2600 for the similar size QM2.
quote:Originally posted by LeBarryboat:Cunard could do what they did with the Queen Mary 1936, the Queen Elizabeth and the QE2 and add a deck house to the superstructure...making her sleightly larger in tonnage. Because the tonnage is calculated on interior volume...I don't see why they wouldn't be able to add on to increase her interior volume.
Don't give Cunard/Carnival any ideas. Any additional deckhouse/enlargement could ruin her profile as the addition to Normandie did in the 1930s. QM2 is still longer and nearly the same tonnage. 6000-7000 ton difference is approx. the additional tonnage added to QE2 w/the penthouse suites were added in the 1970s and 80s.
quote:Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:Don't give Cunard/Carnival any ideas. [...]
Don't give Cunard/Carnival any ideas. [...]
Hey, some other people already complained about that. Maybe this is the opportunity to proof the influence on Cunard.
quote:Originally posted by sslewis:I dread Carnival might stretch QM2 in her rather lenthy drydock in November!Any one knows if it is only about cosmetics?
13 days is not a lengthy refit. In any case, if there were plans to stretch her we'd have heard about them by now. November 7 is only 79 days from now.
Brian
I feel QM2 will be more "famous" regardless of size simply because she is QM2.
QE2's deckhouse was added to boost her accommodations in the rapidly changing cruise market. There is no need for that with QM2. I don't think they will do anything rash just to retain the "largest tonnage" title.
[ 08-21-2005: Message edited by: Chris ]
Whereas the Freedom of the Seas is only slightly larger there will be much larger ships soon, making efforts to keep QM2 the largest ship afloat sensless.
quote:Originally posted by sslewis:Of course, QM2 can have more tonnage just by building more suites at the rear and create a nice private deck as in ssFrance patio!
Yes, but just to keep the title biggest ship? It would not take very long until even larger ships arrive.
Of course QM2 could have been larger had she been built up end to end (and side to side) like Freedom. Had her cabins on decks 9-12 been built out to the ship's side and the stern and forcastle filled in w/cabins and public rooms she would have been much larger but a what cost? She would have ended up being just another boxy cruise ship. Many more average people will know about the famous liner QM2 and never even know that Freedom of the Seas exists.
RCL had the Voyager Class Ships long before QM2 was built, but the Voyager Ships wasn't nearly as popular as QM2 is now. The QM2 is unique, and she also will be unique when FOTS departs for her maiden Voyage. Size isn't all.
quote:Originally posted by marco g:I also think so, QM2 is so popular because she is a Liner, she is graceful, she is a "British Ship" and she is not such a "sailing apartment block" like FOTS and Co.RCL had the Voyager Class Ships long before QM2 was built, but the Voyager Ships wasn't nearly as popular as QM2 is now. The QM2 is unique, and she also will be unique when FOTS departs for her maiden Voyage. Size isn't all.
She is "only" hiding better being an appartment block. There are "details" distiguishing her from other ships, and such details can make a difference - but she is not as far away form a conventional cruise ship as Cunard markets her. (I am not saying that she is not different in some aspects, and of course this is a good strategy to fill her with passengers)
FotS @ ShipSpotting.com*pictures 53-56 are of the FREEDOM.
quote:Originally posted by Ernst:She is "only" hiding better being an appartment block. There are "details" distiguishing her from other ships, and such details can make a difference - but she is not as far away form a conventional cruise ship as Cunard markets her. (I am not saying that she is not different in some aspects, and of course this is a good strategy to fill her with passengers)
Same was said about QE2 in 1968. She has curves only at the stern and forward. She was possibly the 1st large passenger ship w/minimal sheer (which is forward of the superstructure). There was no traditional tumblehome as on the previous Queens-she is slab sided. Amidships she is indeed a box, but a box that was very well concealed through good design. As for Freedom, she will have more expensive curves than most newbuilds and will be an attractive addition to RCI's fleet.
QM 2 is impressing and built for atlantic service, but the RCCL ships looks more attractive i think.
[ 08-22-2005: Message edited by: AleksNorway ]
[ 08-22-2005: Message edited by: cruceromania ]
I love how RCCL finds little niche's and are daring to go for them. They're kinda like the Richard Branson of cruise lines.
And just look at how many of those circular things at the forward of the ship below the waterline (i think to help turn the ship?).
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