Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship
will give “of the seas” new meaning when it makes its debut
in May 2006. Currently under construction at Aker Finnyards
in Turku, Finland, Freedom of the Seas will offer guests
a top-deck aqua environment unparalleled in the industry, featuring
three massive pool areas. Each area will introduce innovative
new concepts, including an interactive water park, the most
dramatic whirlpools afloat and a dedicated sports pool. A model
of the pool areas was recently unveiled by Royal Caribbean in
New York.
The new ship’s combined pool area will be
43 percent larger than on RCCL’s Voyager-class ships. “It will
give us the ability to create three distinctive spaces to appeal
to our varied audiences,” said Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean
Chairman and CEO. “Guests will have the freedom to splash in
the family pool area, relax in the adults-only Solarium or soak
in the sun at the main pool area.”
One of the most spectacular spaces on Freedom
of the Seas will be H2O Zone, the farthest aft of the three
areas. H2O Zone will be a colorful wonderland of large, brightly
hued sculptures doubling as interactive fountains that spray,
sprinkle and spurt water in every direction. The oversized sculptures
will depict family members of all shapes and sizes, including
the family dog, and will give guests numerous ways to get soaked
– and soak each other – by turning wheels, setting off sensors
and dodging dumping buckets. The sculptures will be spread throughout
a large, central wading area that also will include a number
of spray cannons, water jets and ground gushers.
In one corner of the water playground, a
circular pool will shoot a current of water in a river around
a central island. Guests can float with the flow as they are
misted by one of the fountain sculptures. Next to the circular
pool, a shallow pool, fed by a flamingo-shaped fountain, will
create a secluded space for the ship’s youngest cruisers. At
the back of the park, a rectangular swimming pool will be flanked
by wading areas and fed by a waterfall cascading from an overhanging
bridge. At night, the water park will turn into a dramatically
lit sculpture garden.
Toward the front of the ship, guests can
relax in the jungle-themed Solarium. This adults-only oasis
will feature two large hot tubs cantilevered out 12 feet from
the sides of the ship. Suspended 112 feet above the ocean, the
hot tubs will offer breathtaking, panoramic views
Another first for Royal Caribbean is will
be a sports pool where guests can indulge in a variety of water
sports located n the main pool area. At night, the main pool
area will transform into an open-air nightclub, with a large
dance floor situated between the two pools. Guests will be able
to enjoy live music, themed parties and a top-class club DJ.
At 158,000 GRT and holding 3,600 guests double-occupancy,
Freedom of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world
when she debuts in May 2006 and the first in Royal Caribbean’s
new Freedom class.
Royal Caribbean International is giving families
more opportunities to play together and stay together while
cruising the Caribbean. The line's newest ship will offer six
different family-focused stateroom categories specially designed
to accommodate larger families and groups of friends. "The
new stateroom categories on Freedom of the Seas give guests
the ability to spend downtime together comfortably between onboard
activities and shoreside adventures," said Richard D. Fain,
Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO. "We're introducing several
new configurations, giving guests the freedom to choose from
different stateroom sizes and price ranges."
The biggest addition will be the 14-person
Presidential Suite, the largest stateroom the line has offered
to date, with 1,215 square feet of interior space and an 810-square-foot
outdoor living area. The oversized suite will have dual entryways
as well as two master bedrooms, sleeping two people each, with
30-inch, flat-panel televisions and en suite bathrooms with
bathtubs. Two additional bedrooms will accommodate four people
each, with convertible twin/queen beds and two Pullmans. Both
of these rooms will feature a 23-inch, flat-panel television,
which also will be found in all staterooms shipwide.
The common area will include two additional
bathrooms with showers, a spacious living room with a sectional
sofa that sleeps two, a card/dining table and an extensive entertainment
center, including a 42-inch, plasma TV. Suite guests will be
tempted to spend all their time outdoors on the spacious balcony
equipped with a whirlpool, wet bar, eight lounge chairs and
a 14- person table for dining al fresco.
Freedom of the Seas will offer five additional
types of extended family accommodations over and above the standard
triples and quads. Each category includes twin beds, convertible
to a queen bed, as well as additional bunks to accommodate the
whole family. Guests can choose from:
* Four eight-person Royal Family Suites,
each with two bedrooms, including a master bedroom with an en
suite bathroom with bathtub, a second bathroom with shower,
and a living area with a sectional sofa and an entertainment
center with a 30-inch, flat-panel TV. Royal Family Suite balconies
include four lounge chairs and an al fresco dining table for
eight. Each of the four suites can be expanded to accommodate
10 people via a connecting door to a neighboring stateroom.
(600 sq. ft. with a 270 sq. ft. balcony)
* One six-person Accessible Family Stateroom
with balcony, featuring a curtained-off sleeping alcove with
bunk beds, sleeper sofa, an accessible bathroom and shower,
and accessible closets. (400 sq. ft. with a 120 sq. ft. balcony)
* Eight six-person Family Oceanview Staterooms,
each with a curtained-off sleeping alcove with bunk beds, sleeper
sofa and two or more windows. (Up to 495 square feet)
* Four six-person Promenade Family Staterooms,
each with a curtained-off sleeping alcove with bunk beds, sleeper
sofa, walk-in closet and bathtub. These suites also have two
windows, each with a window seat, overlooking the Royal Promenade.
(335 sq. ft.)
* Two six-person Inside Family Staterooms,
each with a curtained-off sleeping alcove, sleeper sofa and
walk-in closet. (330 sq. ft.)
At 158,000 GRT and holding 3,600 guests double-occupancy,
Freedom of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world
when she debuts in May 2006. The first in Royal Caribbean's
new Freedom class, she will be the most forward-looking and
innovative ship the company has built to date. Freedom of the
Seas will sail seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries from
Miami calling in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman;
Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Royal Caribbean's private destination,
Labadee, Hispaniola.
With the introduction of The Four Seasons,
the world’s first-ever fully private residential ship
heralds a new era of luxury living at sea. The ship is still
on the drafting tables but in two years, she is expected to
make her debut as the world’s first all-private residential
ship. Four Seasons Ocean Residences will be managed by five--star
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Led by Chairman and CEO Kristian
Stensby, the Four Seasons Ocean Residences are being developed
by an impressive team of passenger-ship industry veterans who
played instrumental roles in the development of several of cruise
lines, such as Royal Caribbean, NCL and Disney. Now, the team
plans to fulfill their goal of creating the world’s finest
residential ship.
The Four Seasons is a $337 million (€276 million) ultra-luxury
residential vessel that will offer sophisticated travelers a
unique opportunity to enjoy the world from the privacy of their
own home. Scheduled for delivery in late 2007, the spectacular
42,500 gross-ton ship will be built at the Aker Finnyards in
Helsinki. An international crew will staff the Bahamian-flagged
vessel. The 12-deck-high ship— eight decks will be strictly
residential—will offer 86 wholly owned private residences
ranging from 1,336 square feet (124.4 square meters) to 3,435
square feet (319.2square meters) as well as ten fractionally-owned
residences available in two-and three-bedroom configurations.
Each unit will contain a full kitchen, expansive closets, and
all bedrooms will offer ocean views. In addition, ten guest
suites will be available for the use of residents and their
guests. Spacious balconies in all residences will be directly
accessible from bedrooms and designed to accommodate a dining
area and full-sized lounge chairs. “The ship can accommodate
420 people at full capacity,” says Leif-Erik Hvide, a
spokesman for Four Seasons Ocean Residences. “But the
normal load is closer to 200 to 250 persons who expect the apartment
floor plans to reflect the high quality found in Four Seasons’
hotels.”
Prices per unit will range from approximately $4 million for
a two-bedroom, 2½- bath residence to $15 million for
full ownership of a four-bedroom penthouse. A 1/12th share of
a two-bedroom residence is approximately $400.000. “I
suspect that around $6 million will be the average cost of a
fully owned residence,” added Hvide.
The public rooms will feature a grand lobby in which a grand
piano and a dramatic waterfall provide the focal point. There
will be several restaurants of varying size and cuisine, and
a gourmet market where residents can purchase foods from around
the world. Although a small casino is planned, there will be
no large entertainment lounge for Broadway-ish revues. Instead,
a 70-seat theater will serve as the venue to attend films, concerts
and lectures as well as wine tastings and home-owners association
meetings.
Elsewhere on board, residents will have access to boutiques
selling designer merchandise, a meditation garden, a billiards
room, an interdenominational chapel, numerous observation lounges
and bars with panoramic ocean views, a library, an art gallery,
and a well-staffed business center with video conferencing.
For residents wishing to keep in physical shape, the 10,000
square foot Four Seasons Spa & Wellness Center will feature
a fitness and aerobics area and a full-service beauty salon.
Out on deck, there will be a walking/jogging track, golf putting
greens and driving range, and an immense outdoor pool area.
Medical services will be available in the ship’s fully
equipped and staffed medical/surgical center. For children,
a play room, a wading pool and a teen club are planned.
Itinerary wise, the ship will circumnavigate the globe at 18.5
knots cruising speed. On the worldwide itineraries being developed
by Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts, ship residents won’t
have to go ashore in lifeboats. Instead, two sleek Riva launches
will ferry residents to shoreside events while two Exploration
tenders will allow close-up explorations in areas too small
for large vessels. The ship will be built to sail the icy waters
of the Arctic and Antarctica.
The vessel’s construction at Aker Finnyards is expected
to commence later this year. Currently the group holds an option
for a second vessel, and a letter of intent for a third ship
with Aker Finnyards.
The Miami-based Ocean Development Group sales agency is now
taking reservations for residences from potential buyers around
the world. The reservations will be converted to purchase contracts
this summer. So far, there have been about a thousand inquiries
for purchasing units on The Four Seasons, with 20 individuals
having placed deposits. This comes as no surprise to Hvide.
“The buyers investing in the ship reflect a truly global
community, who want quality and to have interesting neighbors,”
Hvide said.
With the Four Seasons brand behind the ship, buyers are apt
to be enticed by the proven high quality and service of the
Four Seasons hotel group—and a wonderful way to tour the
world from the comfort of home.
More information can be found at the www.oceanresidences.com
website which will be fully operational by mid June, or email
info@oceandevelopment.net.
The telephone number in Miami is 1-305-438-7447
