When it comes to building ships, we humans like to challenge ourselves. From returning to sailing ships in the 21st century to building freighters capable of transporting more than 20,000 containers in a single trip. Cruises are also of interest to us, and we are making them bigger and more luxurious every time.
The Wonder of the Seas is the world’s largest new cruise ship. A huge vessel of 1,200 million euros and 236,857 tons stands out for its 362 meters in length, 64 meters of the beam, and wide hull specially designed to keep it afloat with great stability with only 9.15 meters of draft.
A colossal feat of engineering
Since the cruise industry has been growing strongly in recent decades, companies that offer this type of tourist experience do not hesitate to invest significant amounts of money to stand out from the competition. Royal Caribbean is committed to having the largest cruise ships in the world.
About this strategy, the company based in Florida, United States, owns a class of cruise ships called Oasis, which seeks to improve in each generation and which came to replace the Freedom class, which in its time was also the largest passenger ship in the world.
The latest engineering masterpiece is the Wonder of the Seas, a cruise ship that was commissioned in 2006 from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, located in Saint-Nazaire, France. Construction of this steel beast began in 2019, with an initial delivery date scheduled for 2021, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was pushed back several months to 2022.
According to Royal Caribbean, on its maiden voyage in March of this year, the cruise ship sailed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the Caribbean and then continued to Europe, where it docked at the ports of Rome and Barcelona. Fully operational, Wonder of the Seas has a capacity for 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew members spread across its 18 decks, 2,867 cabins, and eight neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods, precisely, are the axis of the attractions, services, and amenities that passengers can access. The cruise is so big that it even has its own Central Park. A meeting and relaxation place with real plants and trees. The Boardwalk is a space with game rooms and a sports-themed bar, and The Royal Promenade is the central thoroughfare of the cruise.
Youth Zone is an area for children. Vitality Spa & Fitness has a spa center with various treatments and a gym open to all passengers. Pool & Sports There are swimming pools, jacuzzis and a field for sports activities. And in Entertainment Place there is an ice skating rink, casinos, and theaters with Air, Ice, Water, and Classic stages.
The AquaTheater, one of the most sophisticated and amazing attractions on the cruise, features 30-foot jumping platforms, a grand backdrop, ocean views, and 518 cubic meters of water. This is the stage where more than a hundred artists and technicians bring high-level productions to life.
And, we must not forget the Neighborhood, the eighth and most exclusive neighborhood. It is completely exclusive because no other company cruise has anything like it. We are talking about a private place for exclusive stays with restaurants, a private outdoor terrace, swimming pools, a slide, a cinema, karaoke, and more.
The Perfect Storm is a trio of twisting slides and the Ultimate Abyss promises to be the world’s tallest oversea slide. In addition, gastronomy is one of the strong points of this proposal. Between bars, restaurants, and lounges there are more than 40 places to enjoy culinary innovations or cocktails.
If you wonder where all the energy needed for this giant comes from, the answer is thanks to six diesel generator sets. According to the Register of Ships, these are three Wärtsilä 16V46D 16-cylinder engines producing 18,480 kilowatts each and three Wärtsilä 12V46D 12-cylinder engines producing 13,860 kilowatts each.
The sets power the entire ship, from the elevators and galleys to a water desalination plant and the propulsion system. The latter is made up of three 20,000 kilowatts (26,800 hp) Azipods that are located below the stern and each drives propellers about twenty feet wide. In addition, four additional bow thrusters are used for berthing.
Sharlene Meriel is an avid gamer with a knack for technology. He has been writing about the latest technologies for the past 5 years. His contribution in technology journalism has been noteworthy. He is also a day trader with interest in the Forex market.
