Royal Caribbean III : Mega Cruise Ships

With the construction of the largest cruise ship in the world by the dormant Cunard, Royal Caribbean decided to return to the hegemony of the world cruise ships with the construction of the Freedom class. The Freedom of the Seas (154,407 GT) narrowly overtook the Queen Mary 2 six months after the latter's maiden voyage as the largest ship in the world. Actually the Freedom class is only surpassed by the Oasis and Allure of the Seas 225,282 GT and the Norwegian Epic.

FREEDOM CLASS: The Freedom class was the response from Royal Caribbean to Cunard's Queen Mary 2. Although the Freedom Class has beaten the record of tons of the Queen it is a little bit smaller in length. Aimed at two similar but different markets, the Queen Mary 2 was designed to sail the Atlantic waters at high speed to mantain the transatlantic service between Southampton and New York, while the life of the Freedom of the Seas was intended to be more peaceful navigating the warm Caribbean waters.

The improvements of the Freedom Class compared to the Voyager Class were few but significant:

• SUSPENDED WHIRLPOOLS on the sides of the ship that offers its occupants relax and superb views as the ship sails
• BOXING RING in his gym
• FLOWRIDER. A small surf simulator
• WATER PARK H20.

H2O

For long time the three ships of this Class, Freedom, Independence and Liberty cruised only in the Caribbean. The irruption of the Oasis and Allure of the Seas in the Caribbean allowed the Liberty to move to the Mediterranean in summer, leaving the Independence to the English market throughout the year

OASIS CLASS: Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are currently the largest ships in the world (225.282 GT). Built in Turku like its predecessors, the Oasis Class improvements were based on adapting the existing facilities of the Freedom Class to the number of passengers (includes two FlowRider) and other visual improvements:

• ROYAL PROMENADE. It is open lengthwise
• INTERIOR BALCONY CABINS. New balcony cabins with views to the promenade
• AQUA THEATRE. Theater with water shows
• LOFT SUITES. 
• CABINS NEAR THE VIKING CROWN LOUNGE. Located on the back of the Viking Crown Lounge on deck 17 and 18

• CENTRAL PARK
• FLOATING BAR. A bar that goes up and down on the Royal Promenade

OASIS OF THE SEAS PROMENADE

Because Central Park is open it is unlikely that we can enjoy the Oasis and Allure in Europe, so who wants to experience life in this mega cruise will have to go to Fort Lauderdale.

From the point of view of passengers, everyone that travels with Royal Caribbean repeats the experiece!