Royal
Caribbean Cruise Ltd. has a new cruise ship: the M/S Voyager
of the Seas. The 142,000 ton vessel, the size of a 17-car freight
train, recently made its debut in Miami. The ship’s godmother,
Olympic gold medalist Katarina Witt christened the ship on Nov.
18 at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s spanking new blue and gold
terminal at the Port of Miami. "Our godmother represents
the quest for perfection in figure-skating, just as Voyager
of the Seas represents our own quest for perfection in ship-building
in the 21st Century," said Richard Fain, RCCL chairman
and CEO, at the ship’s christening.
The megavessel with the capacity to carry 3,114 cabin (maximum
3,838) passengers is the largest cruise ship afloat. Powered
by six generators that can produce 116,000 horsepower, the ship
boasts many firsts for RCCL: from the latest navigational equipment
incorporating Azipods, which give the ship greater maneuverability,
to other firsts such as a 40-by-60 foot ice rink, a 40-foot
rock-climbing wall, a basketball court, and an inline
skating track. Fire safety on board
is doubly assured with the installation of fire-proof materials
and the introduction of the High Fog System. The system, I was
told by Mr. Fain, ejects a mist which basically smothers the
fire and puts it out a lot faster than the conventional method
of just pouring water on the blaze.
Another first
for the cruise industry is the introduction of a promenade—the
Royal Promenade—that was designed to connect all the disparate
areas of the giant ship into a focal point; and the placement
of interior cabins with window views overlooking the four-deck-high
promenade.
Ten years from
the draft board to finalization of the ship’s architectural
plans at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Turku, Finland, Voyager
began its life as the first of a new series of vessels called
the Eagle Class (now newly renamed the "Voyager Class").
The idea for building a mammoth ship came after RCCL had completed
its evolutionary Vision class series of ships—Legend, Splendour,
Vision, Grandeur, Rhapsody, and Enchantment —so called because
of their emphasis on air, space and light. (Each ship has suspended
glass walls, glass canopies, skylights and glass windbreaks
that open onto sea vistas as well as seven story glass Centrums
with decks of window wall.)
Richard Fain
wanted to do something revolutionary and came up with the idea
of building a very large ship but with a basic rethinking of
space. The new ship would be the first of the new Eagle class.
" I wanted to redraw everything, to take advantage of every
idea,’’ said Mr. Fain. "I wanted this to be a spectacular,
big ship….fundamentally different. And there was always this
one challenge: to have it look and feel like a ship.’’ RCCL’s
veteran architect Njil Eide, a Swede, whose modernist ideas
of ship design and the use of space can be seen in the Vision-class
ships, was again called upon. The architect was struck by the
amount of space available on the proposed ship and felt there
should be a central area where passengers would naturally gravitate
The Royal Promenade was the end result for it would function
as a village gathering point with a long interior space over
which interior staterooms would overlook it and glass Centrums
would be positioned at either end to give it a more open look.
In another innovative move, Eide also conceived the idea for
Studio B—a theater in the round which doubles as an ice skating
rink and an entertainment center—as a natural extension of the
promenade area for it gave people a place to go for entertainment.
Building the
vessel took a crew of 10,000 skilled workers 21 million hours
of precise technical work to assemble 300,000 pieces of steel
into the vessel’s hull. Inside the hull, shipyard workers installed
more than 87 miles of pipes of and 1,864 miles of electrical
cable connected at nearly 61,000 different points throughout
Voyager’s 17 decks. Mammoth engines were put into place to generate
75,600 kilowatts of power for the electric-propulsion Azipod
motors under the hull. The Azipods (developed by ABB Marine)
offer enhanced maneuverability and hydrodynamics, resulting
in shorter harbor times, safer operation in harsh weather and
restricted harbor passages and reduced fuel consumption. The
pods eliminate the need for long shaftlines, rudders and stern
thrusters which in turn reduces space and weight . As a a result
there is less noise and vibration on board, and, in fact, this
is the first ship to be classified "comfort class.’’ Another
inovation is the ability of this ship to move sideways from
the dock and to "turn on a dime’’ in narrow passages, thus
eliminating the use of tugboat support.
Construction
of the Voyager preceded smoothly until last February (1999)
when a welder’s spark set off a fire that severely damaged the
work that had been done, pretty much destroying all the staterooms
in one section of the ship. The setback nearly destroyed RCCL’s
schedule for the ship’s completion but with excessive overtime
and Finnish shipyard workers’s determination, the work was completed
on time. Unfortunately, the planned inaugural festivities in
New York had to be cancelled.
So how does
it feel to travel on this behemoth that is a fifth of a mile
long? Well, the ship is surprisingly sleek. The public areas
are nicely designed and graced with $12 million of original
art. Despite its ability to hold a maximum capacity of 3,838
passengers and a crew of 1184, one does not feel the crush of
humanity since many of the public areas are surrounded by glass
walls and windows, thus giving passengers the feel of space
as they look to the sea.
.One of the
highlights during the cruise was a visit to the Bridge central
to the smooth operation of the vessel.. I found the Bridge innovative
in design—the Bridge stretches across the width of the ship
(157.5 feet), and the Integrated Bridge System (IBS) was enclosed
within a horseshoe configuration from which the ship is controlled.
The heart of the IBS is a computerized Voyage Management System
which provides a clear picture of the ship’s exact position
and movement on a large color electronic nautical chart. Images
from the ship’s radars are also overlaid on the chart display
so the watch officers can easily detect and identify navigational
aids, such as lighthouses and buoys. The system supplied by
Litton Marine includes radars, fiberoptic gyrocompasses, depth
sounders, dual-axis doppler speed logs, GPC satellite navigation
receivers, weather sensors and steering controls. There is a
communications system that meets the stringent requirements
of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System for safety
and emergency communications with rescue authorities on land
With the passenger
activity focused on the Royal Promenade which RCCL says bears
a similarity to New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, I checked out the
‘’boulevard’’ with its string of shops and watering holes. The
promenade did achieve the aim of providing a centrally located
place to congregate but I got the feeling more of being in an
elegant mall on land, not of being a passenger aboard a seagoing
vessel. Still, there is plenty activity that would attract passengers:
clothing shops, a general store for various items, a pub with
specialty beers, a confectionary to satisfy sweet cravings,
several bars and a neon scoreboard flashing the latest sports
scores ashore.
The three-deck-high
dining room offers gracious dining amid wonderful sea vistas.
Each deck is named differently-Carmen, La Boheme and Mozart—and
all are connected by a grand staircase in the center of the
dining area. (Two smaller dining rooms, Seville and Granada
adjoin Carmen.) The food, so ably planned by the Rirector of
Food Operations for all RCCL ships, Master chef Rudi Sodamin,
is of outstanding quality for a vessel of this size—and sure
to add caloric grief for passengers. The highly honored chef’s
Austrian background was especially noticable in food presentation
and the selection of pastries offered .(Mr. Sodamin has also
devised special menus for diners preferrfing low-fat, low cholesterol
dishes and vegetarian selections.) A tour of the spanking clean
stainless steel kitchens showed me the efficient process of
feeding some 3000 passengers. I also noticed that the ingredients
used in the food preparation are for the most part quite fresh.
There are other
dining areas on board, however, for passengers wishing not to
dress up for dinner: Besides the option of dining in one’s cabin,
the Windjammer or the adjacent black-and-white wicker Island
Café offer buffet dishes as well as specials from the main diningroom.
The more intimate Portofino restaurant with its Italian/international
menu is another alternative: It seats only 40 to 60 persons
so reservations are called for. Then there is the very popular
Johnny Rockets, an around-the-clock diner, with authentic 1950’s
décor of chrome, naugahyde booths, formica counters and a jukebox.
It was so busy one evening—and that is after a four course dinner—more
than 1,300 hamburgers were served up between the hours of 6
pm and 3 am. I always capped my evenings with a detour to have
a delicious old-fashioned milk shake there and well worth it
The medical
department was another stop during my visit as I was curious
how the ship would handle health emergencies. I had a tour by
one of the attending physicians (on staff there are two Swedish
MDs and three nurses, all trained in emergency medicine). The
well-equipped facility has four patient rooms, one for cardiac
surveillance, plus a small lab for blood testing, Xray equipment,
ventillators, and even a defillibrator to deal with cardiac
arrest. Designed in consulation with the Jackson Memorial Hospital
in Miami, the medical facility is equipped with the latest lifesaving
equipment. But should the patient require surgery or other life-sustaining
treatment, the ship has a helicopter on board for transport
to a shore facility.
After visiting
the medical facility, being more health conscious I decided
to workout at the ShipShape fitness center up on Spa Deck. With
more than 15,000 square feet of workout, aerobics and spa facilities,
there is a lot to choose from.In the gym section, I had a choice
of 20 treadmills, 14 Reebok cycles and 8 Reebok cross trainers
among the equipment on hand. I chose one of the cross trainers
and then the treadmill—all face out to the sea—and concluded
my session with some weights in the spacious workout area. Outside
the Spa there is another 10,000 square-foot area where the Solarium
with a retractable glass roof, a pool, two whirlpools and a
bandstand area is located. All this space adds up to some 25,000
square feet, making the health and fitness complex the largest
afloat.
I concluded
the exercise with with three rounds of nine-hole miniature golf
park 200 feet above the sea. What views! Nearby climbing the
40 foot rock wall was a popular activity but I got cold feet
and didn’t try the sport.
What really
struck me about the ship was its emphasis on family travel.
It is a great ship for families—from tots to teenagers. The
large space allowed for the young set is outstanding: a junior
rock climbing wall, a maze of tunnels to crawl in and out of,
an arts-and-crafts area and computers equipped with children’s
educational software. There is even area for for putting on
a play and out on deck is a lighthouse-shape waterslide pool.
tots. More importantly there are trained counselors who work
along with their child guests and baby sitting services are
also available.
Teens have a
variety of adult sports—a 40 foot rock climbing wall, miniature
golf, a basketball court, ice skating in Studio B, and an inline
blading track. And, of course, the ever popular video game room
though to my horror there were a couple of violent games that
should not have been there. I was told there was a well organized
baby sitting service for parents wanting a little time to themselves.
One night, after
dinner, I headed for the Broadway revue at the La Scala, the
theater that can hold 1,350 people. Namd after Milan’s famous
opera house, LaScala spans five decks and features a hydraulic
orchestra pit and stage areas, and above-stage fly space to
allow for elaborate shows. Another night it was a visit to Studio
B, the 900 seat entertainment center with telescopic seating,
and broadcasting and recording facilites. Studio B offers fast-paced
variety shows and rock concerts but the studio’s floor can be
rolled back to unveil a 40 by 60 foot real-ice rink for the
enjoyable "Ice Jammin’’ production that will be featured
on each cruise. Studio B is also open at designated times for
passengers to rent skates and take a spin around the rink.
Besides rolling
the dice at the card tables or playing your quarters at the
slot machines in the glitzy gaudy Casino Royale, one of the
largest casinos afloat, you can visit several night spots such
as The Vault disco which rises behind a glass bridge spanning
the Royal Promenade, or listen to jazz at the High Notes club
on the ship’s uppermost deck.
I stayed in
one of the interior-view double cabins that faced out onto the
Royal Promenade. RCCL is very enthusiastic about these promenade-view
cabins but I was not. I found that the noise level rising from
the promenade activities at times disquieting. Although these
cabins were small, they were adequately equipped with minibars,
electric hairdryers, and interactive TV. But when I had a peek
at one of the 939 more spaciousof ocean-view staterooms across
the way, I realized that I much preferred a view of the sea
than a view of the bustling throughfare below me. After all,
isn’t that the purpose of a cruise?
One of the most
popular sites on the ship was the Internet Café. Here one could
e-mail home or keep abreast of the latest news, or conduct business.
I certainly loved it. But it was much in demand, there was a
waiting line One deck above, is the Computer Center, which is
also adjacent to the ship’s 3000-plus books library with a ‘’jukebox’’
holding 200 selections of CD-ROMs. There is also a Conference
Center on board that can seat as many as 400 guests. Since the
Center is located next to Studio B, it can be expanded to accommodate
more than 1,300 guests and can hold trade-show events. The ship
provides a great venue to hold such events and it is well equipped
with video-teleconferencing and multiple laptop stations.
And yes, let
me not forget to tell you that there is a small Wedding Chapel.
Tucked away on the upper most deck aft, the non-religious chapel
has an opaque glass-etched window behind a smallish altar and
wood benches arranged in a half-circle. Weddings are encouraged
on board. Why not? One doesn’t have to travel to the reception
or the honeymoon.
Already in the
construction stage, Mr. Fain pointed out at a press conference,
are two more sister ships of similar tonnage: the Explorer of
the Seas is due Oct. 2000 while the Adventure of the Seas is
expected to debut in Spring of 2002.When asked whether these
ships will have anything new or innovative about them, Fain
replied that he was not sure if there would be any major differences
from the Voyager. "The art work will be different…and the
Explorer will feature an on-board Science Lab. Working in conjunction
the Rosentiel School for Marine & Atmospheric Sciences at
Miami University , the lab will do environmental testing of
ocean streams and collect data ‘’ as well as be a learning center
for passengers.’’
So what lies
head for RCCL now that it has built the world’s largest cruise
liner. Is there another even larger vessel in its future? "Not
necessarily so,’’ replied CEO Fain at a shipboard press conference.
"Bigger is not necessarily better.’’ One thing that has
to be considered is that these ships cannot traverse the Panama
Canal, he pointed out. Mr. Fain also announced that RCCL was
building a new series of ships called the Venture class. Six
of these 185,000 ton ships are on the planning boards although
two are optional. The Venture class vessels will have 80 percent
of its cabins with exterior views and there will be elevators
on the side of the ships. Two ships, the Radius is expected
to be completed in February 2001, and the Brilliance in February
2002.
The Voyager
is sailing out of Miami on weekly seven-day cruises to the Western
Caribbean. It will cruise to Labadee, a 260 acre wooded peninsula
at Pointe Ste. Honore near Cap Haitien on Hispaniola; then to
Ocho Rios and to Cozumel before returning to home port. A transit
center is available for those needing transportion to airports,
shopping areas or area attractions.
