Hi Everyone,
I received this press release from Royal Caribbean and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.
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Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
Royal Caribbean International Takes Delivery of Much Anticipated
Freedom of the Seas
World's Largest Ship Is Modern Marvel and Gives Guests Freedom to Do
More
MIAMI, April 25
The world's largest and most innovative cruise ship, Royal Caribbean
International's famed Freedom of the Seas, was delivered yesterday at
a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, kicking off the 15-day countdown until
her U.S. debut in New York on May 10. The cruise line that
revolutionized the industry with rock-climbing walls, ice-skating
rinks and the Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard is poised to
unveil a range of new industry-first attractions. The first in the
Freedom-class of ships, Freedom of the Seas debuts engineering marvels
such as a shipboard surf park and cantilevered whirlpools suspended
112 feet above the ocean, in addition to unexpected amenities like a
full-size boxing ring and a 14-person family suite.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060425/FLTU024 )
Putting Freedom in Perspective
One of the world's recent modern marvels, the 160,000 GRT Freedom of
the Seas weighs more than 80,000 cars or 32,000 adult elephants and
would trump New York's famed Chrysler building (1,046 feet) and Paris'
Eiffel Tower (986 feet) if it stood upright on its bow. Boasting a
width of 185 feet, the ship is actually wider than the White House is
long (168 feet), and when measured from the waterline to the top of
the funnel, Freedom of the Seas towers 208 feet tall, approximately
the same height as two of the Statue of Liberty, placed head to toe.
More Freedom Features Revealed
Located at the heart of the ship, the Royal Promenade is a
445-foot-long shopping, dining and entertainment boulevard that spans
the length of an entire football field. The Promenade also hosts
nightly street parades, put on by select staff, commencing from a
revolutionary new descending bridge amidst a fanfare of music, lasers
and lights. Guests can begin their culture quest at one of the varied
and diverse experiences found in the Royal Promenade, including a new
3,600-volume Book Nook for relaxed reading and an Italian- style
pizzeria, Sorrento's, for an afternoon with a group of friends. At
Freedom-first A Clean Shave, male guests can rekindle the nostalgia of
their favorite neighborhood barbershop, indulging in traditional
shaving, scalp and shoulder massages, haircut and shoe-shining
services.
Outside the Royal Promenade, courageous crooners, theater buffs and
gutsy gamblers will delight in Freedom's engaging entertainment
offerings, from Broadway and ice-skating shows to blackjack and
karaoke. Guests can find their 15 seconds of fame at the On Air Club,
Freedom's karaoke venue, equipped with state-of-the-art theatrical
lighting, video cameras, flat screen TVs and even a "green screen" for
aspiring music stars to record their own music video. For professional
entertainment, the Art Deco-style Arcadia Theatre (1,350 guests)
features three shows: Marquee, a medley of performances, the musical
Now You See It! magic show, and Once Upon a Time, a narrative piece
combining the Brothers Grimm's fairytales.
Finally, Freedom of the Seas introduces two new sipping spots on the
high seas, including Squeeze, a refreshing juice bar near the H2O Zone
for health- conscious cruisers, and the Wipe Out! bar, a free-standing
shack near the FlowRider(R) surf park which offers draft beer, wine
and icy fruit drinks in a casual and fun environment.
At 160,000 GRT and holding 3,634 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.
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