Royal Caribbean International’s
stunning new Radiance of the Seas embarked on her maiden Panama
Canal cruise out of Miami to the West Coast in April after a
royal christening. The first of the new Radiance class of ships
(there will be a total of four) and the 15th vessel for Royal
Caribbean International, the 90,090-ton, ship comes with advanced
pro-environmental technology and an innovative structure that
is a modern medley of glass, steel and wood.
Built at the Meyer-Werft Shipyards in Papenburg, Germany, the
Radiance is RCI’s first cruise liner to be powered by two gas
turbine engines and a steam turbine. The Caleed LM 2500+ gas
engines manufactured by General Electric can produce 5 megawatts
each and the waste heat from each gas turbine is directed through
a heat-recovery steam generator that in turn produces steam
to generate the steam turbine. The electricity, generated by
the turbines producing 77,000 horsepower, powers the revolutionary
ABB Azipods, the external propulsion pods that have replaced
the traditional propeller shafts used on other RCI ships, thus
eliminating the need for rudders and stern thrusters. And for
passengers, the new technology translates into less vibration
and noise, even at her top cruising speed of 24 knots.
The rotating propulsion pods
mounted under the hull of this ship enable the Radiance and
her future sister ships to transit the Panama Canal as well
as offer unusual itineraries in Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii.
“This ship was built to travel the world,’’ said Richard Fain,
CEO of Royal Caribbean. But at the moment, Fain added, there
are no plans to send her or her sister ships to other exotic
locales around the world.”
What really stands out for this RCI vessel is the introduction
of environmentally correct technology. The innovative, smokeless
gas turbines burn clean distillate fuel, which means there is
up to 98 percent less exhaust omissions than that of diesel-powered
vessels. The Radiance-class ships also are introducing new waste-management
systems: On the Radiance, incinerators have emission controls;
there is increased storage capacity for recyclable products;
and the increased use of shore-side waste-treatment facilities
contribute to environmental safeguards.
As for passenger comfort,
there is less vibration and noise. By utilizing this new technology,
more space could be allocated to the vessel’s public areas.
In fact, there is more public space on this ship than on other
vessels of similar size. This class of ship represents an evolution
in design and creativity, which has been always a hallmark of
our brand,’’ commented Jack Williams, president of RCI.
In its endeavor to continually improve passenger satisfaction,
RCI has created a new onboard General Manager who will be responsible
for all non-marine operations such as guest activities, hotel
and food operations, and general maintenance cleaning. Formerly
these duties were the responsibility of the Chief Engineer whose
job will now be entirely concentrated on the marine operations
of the ship.” “Our motto is taken after the oath of Hippocrates,
in our dedication to excellence,’’ says Richard Fain. “In other
words ‘Don’t screw it up’ to put it in more modern terms.’’
As a result of more emphasis on passenger comfort, Fain believes
the Radiance will have a higher guest satisfaction than on other
ships
The Radiance retains some
of the features of the larger Voyager-class ships, but there
is more glass on this vessel. In fact, half of the ship’s exterior
is glass reinforced to withstand outside pressure. “There is
110,000 square feet of glass used in this open design that brings
in light and a feeling of being united with the outdoors, which
is phenomenal,” Fain pointed out. “And this will be especially
useful in Alaska where being able to view from many ship areas
the great mountainscapes makes one feel at one with nature.”
One wonders how the ship would
withstand rough weather but the Ship’s Master Captain Kent Ringborn
reassured me that the windows are up to it. “The reinforced
exterior glass has been allowed some flexibility against outside
pressure. In fact, there was already a test when the ship enroute
from Europe to Florida for the start of her inaugural cruise,
withstood some rough weather.
(See Interview.)
Nine architectural-design firms worked on the exterior and interior
décor of the ship and their collaborative efforts are striking.
RCCL’s signature glass-domed Centrum located midship rises ten
decks and is graced by a waterfall arranged around the central
openings of the main stair tower. The first-of-a-kind cylindrical
glass elevators on the starboard side of the ship, accessed
from the Centrum, face the sea. Floor-to-ceiling windows and
high ceilings in the public lounges and dining rooms bring in
more light and openness then is usually found on ships.
The striking $6 million art
and sculpture gracing the public rooms and stairways, represent
the work of 100 artists from around the world. London Contemporary
Art (LCA), responsible for the art acquisitions, works with
the individual interior architects for the ship by supplying
the proper artworks to complement each designer’s vision. “Our
goal,” says a spokesperson for LCA, “is at all times to create
a cruise vacation environment that is interesting, appealing
and attractive to the passengers. And it is used to enhance
the design standards on board RCI ships.” On the Radiance, the
artworks reflect the design classics of the industrial and postindustrial
world, concentrating on the 20th Century, which, LCA says, “is
the century of mass communication, mass consumption, mass production-and
mass design.’’ This theme gives an overall concept to the ship
as the subject is universal, visually stimulating and can be
seen to embody the excellence of the design standards found
onboard RCI ships. And to mark the Millennium LCA took a retrospective
look at the most influential design movements of the era. Art
found on board the Radiance ranges from Art Nouveau and Art
Deco to design of the Post World War II period to the Pop Aesthetic
and Contemporary Design.
Ten lounges and bar areas are sprinkled throughout the public
decks. There is a Champagne Bar for that devoted to that bubbly
drink; or the baseball-oriented Scoreboard Bar or the glass
Sky Bar perched on Deck12. But the richly appointed wood-paneled
Colony Club in aft just past the Portofino Restaurant on Deck
6 was my favorite. Stepping into the club area is like taking
a step back in time as the club replicates the old British clubs
of London or India. The Club actually consists of four smaller
clubs: As you enter into the Colony Club, on your left is the
coffered ceiling Bombay Billiard Club that reflects an old British
billiard room. It contains two self-levitating pool tables-another
first for the cruise industry-along with period furniture. On
your right is the Calcutta Card Club furnished with 11 card
tables for bridge and poker and a wonderful old antique sideboard
housing a variety of board games. Adjacent to the Billiard Club
are the Jakarta Lounge and Singapore Sling’s bar. The former
has a more intimate bar on the starboard side and features gaming
tables. Singapore Sling’s occupies a larger area along the entire
glass wall that brings in light and views. Here, a cozy lounge
area allows a quiet time during the day or the place to hear
some good jazz or lilting piano music at night.
There are several choices for dining on board the Radiance:
RCI has added a second reservation-only restaurant: the Chops
Grille, which offers steaks, chops and other grilled entrees
in a modern steakhouse setting with mahogany leather booths
that are set off by the open stainless-steel kitchen where diners
can watch the chefs prepare the food. Along with the Chops Grille
is the Tuscany-inspired Portofino offering sophisticated Euro-Italian
cuisine. Besides these two restaurants, there is informal dining
at the Windjammer Café on Deck 11 with floor-to-ceiling glass
windows providing sweeping views of the ocean, a sail-like tent
roof, and a yacht theme with beautiful scale models of the racing
yachts "Sayonara" and "Kialoa" by artist,
David Fawcett. Nine freestanding food stations and two outdoor
ones facilitate a smooth flow of guests. There is also the Sea
View Café up one deck and next to the Adventure Ocean that serves
comfort food such as hamburgers, pizza and or at night, a buffet.
While there is a $20-per-person charge for dining in both the
Portofino and the Chops Grille, there is no fee for the informal
cafes. A fifth dining choice is the 24-hour room service for
passengers wishing to dine in the privacy of their staterooms.
The two-level Cascades dining room offers two seatings for dinner.
It carries more an ambiance of the 1930s with a grand staircase
leading into the dining room’s lower level graced with palm
trees, a cascading waterfall, and etched glass murals showing
the ocean at sunset. Two small dining areas adjoin the Cascades
for private group events. Besides the eclectic fare offered
in Cascades’ menus, there are the low-fat ShipShape Selections
and Vegetarian Menus by Director of Culinary Operations Rudi
Sodamin who designed a variety of food offerings to appeal to
a variety of tastes. (Recipes taken from the different culinary
dishes will be found in Sodamin’s new cookbook out this summer.)
As for those in-between times, there is the
Books Books & Coffee bookshop-cum-coffee cafe, done up in
bright-red velvet furniture, which offers a choice of pastries
to accompany your cappuccino or espresso, or freshly baked pizza
to munch as you work one of several computers installed there.
The child-centered Adventure Ocean Club offers programs for
different age groups. Under the supervision of a trained youth
staff, painting, arts and crafts, and dramatics are offered.
There are computers sized for little people, lots of building
blocks, and out on deck a pool with a snaking water slide certain
to keep the youngsters happy. There is also Adventure Science,
which teaches science by a blend of hands-on experiments and
wacky entertainment such as the Ooze Cruise Laboratory, Alien
Encounter Laboratory and Forensic Fun Laboratory and Space Mud.
The youth space on Deck 12 is twice as big from that on the
other RCI vessels and its décor is youth-oriented. Teens have
the Optix Club and a video arcade for day activities, and a
disco by night. A Kids Galley Menu listing child favorites with
zany names such as King Triton’s Treasure (chicken pasta salad)
or Pie in the Sky (pizza) is also available.
For agile adults who want to play out on deck, there is the
200-foot-high Rock Climbing Wall, a nine-hole miniature golf
park done up in a French Baroque garden theme, a basketball
court, an inline skating court, and a jogging track.
The Radiance has the nicest
fitness gym I have seen on any new ship. With glass walls looking
out to sea in forward, state-of-art equipment-18 treadmills,
10 Reebok Recumbent Cycles, eight Reebok Body Peaks (elliptical
steppers), four Reebok Ridge Rocker Cycles, 4 Reebok Body Treks,
and an extensive free-weights area with benches, ab crunchers-ensure
a good workout to work off the calories. Aerobic classes to
suit all types are also held and large-screen video workouts
are also available when classes are not in session.
In the Spa, the massage rooms offering a
variety of treatments are done up in
zipped canvas and linen net drapes, tribal display shields
and Zulu-style vanity units to affect an African ambiance. After
a soothing massage, one can walk into the relaxing Solarium,
another favorite place of mine. Here, a large saltwater pool
beneath a retractable glass roof takes center stage. Around
the pool where one can laze on comfortable chaises, an abundance
of tropical vegetation accompanied with “bird and frog” chirps
and a collage of rhinos, cheetahs, gorillas and eagles sculptures
complete the African-themed landscape. A bronze sculpture of
a lion cub languishes by the pool. Even the ceramic floor tiles
and cushions on the chaise lounges carry on the African theme
with their tribal patterns.
After-Dinner Fun: For entertainment, the
three-level Aurora Theatre on Deck 5 forward features Las Vegas-style
revues. The theater’s décor, inspired by the aurora borealis
phenomenon, has sculptured balconies and parterre divisions
that recall the rough glacial landscapes of the North Pole while
the stage curtain duplicates a northern twilight sky. The theater
can seat 900 people, with an accessible area for 24 wheel chairs.
Films are shown in the small
40-seat cinema equipped with the latest projection devices on
Deck 6. The cinema also doubles for lectures or demonstrations,
and has two wheelchair-accessible seating areas.
In the Art Nouveau Casino
Royale, stain-glass panels, bronze panels and mosaic floors
designed with stones, metals and colored mirrors host gaming
tables and 211 slot machines. A faux alabaster and bronze canopy
reminiscent of the Paris Metro entrances decorates the lower
level gaming area.
For dancing or socializing
into the wee hours, it’s up to Deck 13 to dance at the futuristic
Starquest Disco with its revolving bar, or to hear some jazz
at the Hollywood Odyssey lounge, which was named after the ship’s
version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and filled with filmdom
memorabilia.
For the Internet craved, ports are available in the staterooms
for laptop plug-ins. There is also the 12-work-station Internet
Center on Deck 5 that offers 24-hour Internet service. (A few
workstations were placed in Books Books & Coffee as well.)
English and Spanish are the languages currently used on the
computers but future plans call for German, French, Italian
and Portuguese.
Onboard business seminars
or conferences are encouraged as the ship has a Conference Center
with classroom and boardroom-style functions and media rooms
that can accommodate 186 guests. Other business services include
the use of printing and copy machines, fax machines, and two
computer stations.
Half of the 1,050 ocean-view staterooms have sliding glass doors
opening on to balconies. There are also 237 interior cabins
that are somewhat commodious and nicely furnished. For family
groups, several family suites and the posh Royal Suite come
with two bedrooms and a sitting area. The deluxe minisuites
on Deck 10 have Concierge service and a private lounge for meeting
friends or having a quiet drink.
All staterooms have fully
equipped bathrooms although the cabins in categories A through
C feature tub showers. Televisions, minibars, and hair dryers
are also included. Sprinklers and smoke detectors have also
been installed in all the cabins.
Ocean-view staterooms and interior cabins designated for the
handicapped are located near elevators. There are flat floors
for bathroom access and wide doors for unrestricted movement,
handrails and lowered sinks. In the public areas, wide corridors
allow for easy wheelchair accessibility, functional lavatory
facilities, and special devices to aid the hearing and visually
impaired.
For a fee, there is a medical facility on Deck 1 staffed by
a physician and two nurses. The facility is equipped to handle
all medical emergencies. In the event the medical situation
requires more advance procedures, the patients are air lifted
to a credited medical institution. There is also available 24-hour
consultation links with shore-side emergency physicians through
RCI’s affiliation with University of Miami/Jackson Memorial
Hospital in Miami.
The Radiance is currently on a series of short cruises off the
West Coast before she begins her Alaska cruise series on May
26. In the fall, there is a voyage to Hawaii from Vancouver
before the ship repositions to the southern Caribbean via the
Panama Canal for the winter season. The Radiance also offers
a Golf Ahoy! Program that includes a golf simulator on board
and golf packages guests can enjoy wherever the ship sails.
Golf packages include transportation to and from the golf course,
greens fees and cart, at various destinations in Mexico, California,
Hawaii and the southern Caribbean.
My overall reaction was that
this indeed is a beautiful ship, smaller than the Voyager Class
ships, but offering the same amenities. The ship is efficiently
laid out: The passageways flow smoothly from forward to aft
without having to change decks to get to one’s destination,
as often is the case in older ships. By the elevators, glass
replicas of the Radiance show the area where one is. With the
abundance of glass, one never loses sight of the sea or the
sky. The facilities and activities for families, especially
the youngsters, are bound to keep everyone contented during
the seven-day or longer cruises.
The abundance of smoking in some of the bars and public areas
was disconcerting. The most critical factor for environmental
control of pollutants is the absence of smoking in the interior
of a passenger ship, and hopefully Royal Caribbean International
will address that problem very soon.
The second radiance class
ship, Brilliance of the Seas, is expected to be delivered in
July 2002, while the third and fourth Radiance-class ships,
yet unnamed, are scheduled for delivery in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
RCI also has options out on fifth and sixth Radiance class vessels
for 2005 and 2006.
For reservations, visit
www.rccl.com
Ship Stats: Registered in
Liberia, she can accommodate 2.100 passengers double capacity
(maximum 2,500). She has an international crew of 843 from 54
countries; officers are Norwegian and Canadian. Her length is
962 feet with a 28-foot draft, has three bow thrusters and a
top cruising speed of 24 knots, though normal speed is closer
to 18 knots.
