| The world's largest and most innovative cruise ship, | | | | of 7-night Western Caribbean tour calling at Cozumel, |
| Freedom of the Seas, left Southampton on May 3, | | | | Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, |
| 2006 to make her transatlantic voyage to New York. | | | | Jamaica and Royal Caribbean's private destination, |
| At 160,000 tons and holding 3,634 guests | | | | Labadee, Hispaniola. Freedom of the Seas wrest the |
| double-occupancy, Freedom of the Seas will be the | | | | biggest-ship-ever title from Cunard's Queen Mary 2. |
| largest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in May | | | | The QM2 was the largest, longest, tallest, widest, |
| 2006, according to chairman and CEO Richard Fain. He | | | | and most expensive ocean vessel ever built until the |
| noted that in choosing the name "Freedom" for the | | | | Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas launches in |
| ship, the line was emphasizing how all-inclusive the | | | | June 2006. While QM2's passenger capacity is 2,620 |
| vessel will be. "Whatever you want to do, you have | | | | passengers, Freedom of the Seas can carry 6,000 |
| the freedom to choose" he said. In addition to the | | | | passengers. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. |
| Voyager-class signature features - such as an | | | | commissioned the world's largest cruise ship, agreeing |
| enhanced rock climbing wall, ice skating rink and Royal | | | | to pay Europe's biggest shipbuilder a record 900 |
| Promenade - the 3,600 passenger ship, will feature a | | | | million euros ($1.1 billion) for a vessel that will carry |
| number of innovations: oversized sculptures spraying | | | | 5,400 passengers. Oslo-based Aker Yards ASA will |
| water in all directions, a circular current pool and a | | | | deliver the Project Genesis ship in late 2009. At |
| swimming pool fed by a waterfall; a full-size boxing | | | | 222,000 gross register tons, the Royal Caribbean |
| ring and a 14-person family suite to an eager | | | | International vessel, codenamed Project Genesis, will |
| American audience. Freedom of the Seas' combined | | | | be nearly half as big again as the Queen Mary 2, and |
| pool area is 43% larger than on Voyager-class ships. | | | | 43 percent bigger than the largest cruise liner, |
| At night, the main pool area will be transformed into | | | | Freedom of the Seas. The world's two largest cruise |
| an open-air nightclub, with a large dance floor situated | | | | operators, Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises, |
| between the two pools. Passengers will have access | | | | are commissioning larger ships as increasing numbers |
| to a water park, a promenade and a casino. She will | | | | of customers buy on-board package vacations. The |
| generate 1,800,000 litres of fresh water and require | | | | number of people taking cruises surged 5.7 percent |
| 35 tonnes of ice cubes every day. Freedom of the | | | | to 8.35 million in the first nine months of 2005, |
| Seas will arrive at the Port of Miami on May 25, | | | | according to the New York-based Cruise Lines |
| where she will make a series of short sailings until | | | | International Association. |
| June 4, when she will begin her regular sailing schedule | | | | |