Why are Royal Caribbean ships so big?

As Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain told us, the enormity of a vessel like Symphony of the Seas is a side effect of the growing desire to give passengers more to do, to enjoy. “What people are looking for today, whether millennials or any others, are experiences,” he said.



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Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, world's largest cruise ship, makes maiden voyage.

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Both companies are market leaders in terms of fleet sizes. That said, Royal Caribbean has more ships and they're often larger, which means additional dining, activities and lodging options for passengers.

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Food and drink Yes, the food options differ between Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. Both cruise lines offer a wide selection of dining options. While Royal Caribbean is known for its upscale feel and gourmet cuisine, Carnival Cruise Line offers a more casual dining experience.

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Thankfully, very few cruise ships have actually sunk in modern history. Even so, the Titanic's sinking impacted maritime law so much that there are more than enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew onboard any given sailing. Within the last 111 years, over 20 cruise ships and ocean liners have sunk.

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As of January 2022, the largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, has a gross tonnage of 236,857, is 362 metres (1,188 ft) long, 64 metres (210 ft) wide, and holds up to 6,988 passengers.

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The largest cruise ship currently in service is Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis-class vessel operated by Royal Caribbean. The ship is similar in design to her sister ships but adds some additional features and evolves the class.

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When it comes to balance, cruise ships contain ballast tanks. They have water that can be pumped to either side of the ship. In emergencies, they help keep ships balanced, reduce rocking effects, and counter large waves. Larger vessels will contain several ballast tanks.

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For passengers looking to enjoy views, especially the scenery in the wake of a ship, we recommend higher decks and the back of the vessel. The higher you pick, the farther you'll see. If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end.

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Around 10% of a cruise ship is below the water. Some of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships, have a height above the waterline of around 72 metres (236ft 11in), and a draft below the water of around 9.3 meters (30ft 6in).

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Modern cruise ships are, on average, 20% longer than the Titanic and twice as high. The average Royal Caribbean cruise ship is 325 meters long, 14 decks high and has a gross tonnage of 133,000. In comparison, the Titanic was only 269 meters long, 9 decks high, and had a gross tonnage of 46,000.

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Only six of the 230 recorded attacks were against cruise ships. None have resulted in capture. A well-known incident occurred in 2005 when the Seabourn Spirit was fired at in a hijack attempt. The attempt was unsuccessful but is famous largely because of the footage of the event.

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Suicide and murder (29%) and falls overboard or from height (24%) were the primary cause of crew member deaths. The most passenger deaths occurred on Carnival Cruise Lines (29%), Royal Caribbean Cruises (12%), and Norwegian Cruise Line (10%).

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ZipRecruiter reports that the annual pay for 2022 for cruise ship captains is $54,229 per year. It also reports that annual salaries can be as high as $100,000 to as low as $17,500. Such a great fluctuation in salary is reflective of the skill level, years of experience, location, and cruise line.

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Modern cruise ships are, on average, 20% longer than the Titanic and twice as high. The average Royal Caribbean cruise ship is 325 meters long, 14 decks high and has a gross tonnage of 133,000. In comparison, the Titanic was only 269 meters long, 9 decks high, and had a gross tonnage of 46,000.

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It may have cost around $1.4 billion to built, but the Global Dream II is destined to be trash. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The ship that would have become the world's largest cruise liner has been scrapped before it ever had the chance to take its maiden voyage.

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On many cruise ships the crew totals over 1,000 people and there are generally three or even four passengers to every crew member. It's a lot of bodies – from many different backgrounds – in a relatively small space.

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