Friday, March 11, 2016

World's Largest Cruise Ship -Harmony of Sea

World's largest cruise ship which is a third longer than the Titanic leaves port for the first time as it sets sail from France with no passengers (but still needs 500 crew) 

  • By Matt Hunter For Mailonline, www.dailymail.co.uk
  • March 10th, 2016
The world's largest cruise ship, which is almost 165 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower, has set off on its first sea trial from France. 
Harmony of the Seas, which cost almost £800million to build and weighs 227,000 tonnes, was helped from Saint-Nazaire port by six tug boats this afternoon.
Although there's no passengers on the ship yet, which is nearly 330 foot longer than the Titanic, there are still around 500 crew aboard as its continues its sea trial until Sunday.
Harmony of the Seas, which cost almost £0.8billion to build and weighs 227,000 tonnes, was helped from Saint-Nazaire port by six tug boats this afternoon
Although there's no passengers on board yet the ship, which is nearly 330 foot longer than Titanic, has around 500 crew as its continues its sea trial until Sunday
The ship was helped out of the port by several tugs which had to turn the huge vessel and guide it out to the open sea
Three pilots who have trained on a simulator in nearby Nantes for the past year, helped the captain in the tricky manoeuvres needed to guide the hulking ship out of the Saint-Nazaire estuary
Harmony Of The Seas is the biggest ever cruise ship with capacity for 6,000 passengers
Due to the ship's sheer size it could still be seen miles away from the shoreline after the leaving the port in western France 

Even when it was miles away from western France the 210 feet tall ship, with capacity for 6,000 passengers, could still be seen from the shore line as thousands of people gathered to see it on the water for the first time.
For months, tourists have been allowed aboard to wonder at the luxury interiors of the ship that has 18 decks and stretches to 1,187 feet.
Three pilots who have trained on a simulator in nearby Nantes for the past year, helped the captain in the tricky manoeuvres needed to guide the hulking ship out of the Saint-Nazaire estuary.
For months, tourists have been allowed aboard to wonder at the luxury interiors of the ship that has 18 decks and stretches to 1,187 feet
Guests can expect to be entertained in luxury rooms and suites across all 18 decks of the enormous cruise ship 
There are several breathtaking promenades on the boat which allow passengers to further explore parts of the ship 
The ship features a state-of-the-art theatre with an award-winning Broadway-style productions and aerial acts
Guests can obtain membership which gives concierge access, complimentary continental breakfast, and evening drinks
 The ship features The Ultimate Abyss which flings thrill-seekers down 10 decks, at more than 150 feet above the waves, in one of a pair of tunnel slides which include scary noises and glimpses of the synchronised swimming and acrobatic diving in the AquaTheater
The ship features a sports court, suites, a youth zone, pool and waterpark as well as a gym and spa
This diagram of the ship gives an idea of its size and the number of areas onboard which passengers can visit and explore

THE SHIP'S FACTS AND FIGURES

Ship's height: 210 feet
Length: 1,187 feet 
Width: 216 feet  
Weight: 227,000 tonnes
Number of decks: 18 
Crew size: 2,000
Passenger capacity: 6,000   
Cost to build: £0.8billion 
The tugs first helped the ship back out of its berth before turning it around and then guiding it out to the open sea. 
The pilots will leave the vessel once it is 12 miles out at sea.
When it is fully operational with passengers it will have 2,000 crew. It is more than three feet wider than the previous two largest ships in the world, Allure of the Seas and the Oasis of the Seas.
Those ships are also owned by Royal Caribbean International which started work on Harmony in September 2013.
The next trial of Harmony will take place before the end of April, with delivery set for May 12. The purpose of trial this weekend is to test the ship's engine and how well it manoeuvres. 
If the trials are a success it will head to the port of Southampton in May before it sets sail for Barcelona for its first cruise around the Mediterranean. 
Construction work still underway in February as it was prepared for its two trial runs and first commercial voyage in May
With a capacity of 6,000 passengers and 2,000 crew members, the Harmony of the Seas, built by STX France for the Royal Caribbean International, will be the world's largest ship cruise

HARMONY OF THE SEAS' FEATURES - FROM THE TALLEST HELTER-SKELTER AT SEA TO ITS OWN ICE-SKATING RINK

The ship features The Ultimate Abyss which flings thrill-seekers down 10 decks, at more than 150 feet above the waves, in one of a pair of tunnel slides which include scary noises and glimpses of the synchronised swimming and acrobatic diving in the AquaTheater.
More fun can be had flying through the air on a zip wire for a seagull's eye view of the ship's merry-go-round, deck games, hot dog stand, Johnny Rockets Fifties-style diner and new Sabor Mexican restaurant on the Boardwalk nine decks below.
The Boardwalk is also overlooked by the floor-to-ceiling windows of three-deck-high Dazzles dance lounge.
Head to deck 18 to race down the Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, snaking down above the 40 tall trees and 12,000 other plants of Central Park. One of the slides will swirl you around in a giant bowl before flushing you out.
There are also two FlowRiders with simulated waves for surfing and two rock-climbing walls. There is ice-skating in the indoor rink, where you can hurtle round or cut a figure of eight.
There are 18 decks inside the 227,000 tonne vessel with room for theatres, water parks and fitness facilities
And if you feel like a ten-mile run, just do 25 circuits of the track on deck five, waving to the yoga and spinning classes in the new studios bolted on to the side of the ship.
While the child-free can retreat to the four whirlpools suspended over the ocean in the adults-only, three-deck-high Solarium, small children can play in Splashaway Bay, a big water park with little slides.
The Royal Theatre, which seats 1,380, is the place to see a production of Grease and Royal Caribbean’s original show Columbus, The Musical! 
The next trial of Harmony will take place before the end of April, with delivery set for May 12. The purpose of trial this weekend is to test the ship's engine and how well it manoeuvres 
When it is fully operational with passengers it will have 2,000 crew. It is more than three feet wider than the previous two largest cruise ships in the world, Allure of the Seas and the Oasis of the Seas 
If the trials are a success the ship will head to the port of Southampton in May before it sets sail for Barcelona for its first cruise around the Mediterranean 
A worker cleans a ceiling inside the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship when it was under construction at the STX shipyard of Saint-Nazaire

There are 18 decks inside the 227,000 tonne vessel with room for theatres, water parks and fitness facilities

No comments:

Post a Comment