The latest addition to Royal Caribbean’s fleet of cruise ships has set sail for its first cruise. At 362 metres and with a GT of 230,000, the Wonder of the Seas now counts as the world’s largest cruise ship.
The Wonder of the Seas is one of three cruise ships of the Harmony class built for Royal Caribbean by Chantiers de L’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire. The other two are the Harmony of the Seas delivered in 2016 and the Symphony of the Seas delivered in 2018.
The Wonder of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean on 27 January and arrived in the US on 20 February. The vessel departed for its first cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a seven-night Caribbean cruise on March 4. The vessel will continue these cruises through April before heading to Barcelona, Spain, and Rome for a summer in the Mediterranean.
New world record
The vessels have sixteen decks, a length overall of 362 metres, a breadth of 66 metres and a draught of 9.1 metres. However, whereas the Harmony of the Seas has a gross tonnage (GT) of 227,000 and can accommodate 6780 passengers and 2100 crew, the Wonder of the Seas sets a new record with a GT of 230,000 and accommodation for 6988 passengers and 2300 crew.
The Harmony class features a split superstructure and the cruise line’s neighborhood concept of seven districts themed areas. In addition, the vessels house a surf simulator, the tallest slide at sea, a 10-storey-high zip-line, climbing walls, an ice skating ring and 12,000 live trees and plants.