Voyager-class cruise ship

Adventure of the Seas docked at Saint Croix
Class overview
Builders: Kværner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Operators: Royal Caribbean International
Preceded by: Vision class
Succeeded by: Radiance class
Built: 1999-2003
Completed: 5 Ships
Active: 5 Ships
General characteristics
Type: Cruise ship
Tonnage: 138,000 GT
Displacement: 68,000 tons
Length: 1,021.40 ft (311.32 m)
Beam: 157.50 ft (48.01 m)
Draft: 29 ft (8.8 m)
Decks: 15
Speed: 22 kts
Capacity: 3,114 passengers,
Crew: 1,185

The Voyager class refers to a design of post-Panamax cruise ships owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International cruiselines. The Voyager class ships were built at Kværner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland. These ships include a 350-foot (110 m) indoor mall known as the Royal Promenade, featuring indoor pubs, shops, cafes, and bars. Activity options on all five ships board include a basketball court, at least 3 pools, a mini-golf course, a rock wall, an ice skating rink and, originally, an inline skating track.

In 2012, Mariner of the Seas received the "Royal Advantage" upgrades, including an outdoor movie screen, digital signage, ship-wide Wifi, new Concierge and Diamond lounges, and the changeover of the Portofino restaurant to the Giovanni's Table concept first introduced on the Oasis class cruise ships. These same upgrades were added to Adventure of the Seas in 2014. Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, and Explorer of the Seas replaced their inline skating tracks with Flowrider surf simulators in 2014 and 2015.[1]

Design

Voyager-class ships have a diesel-electric powertrain. They are powered by six Wärtsilä Vasa 46 diesel engines, giving a total output of 75,600 kW. The generated electric power drives three 14 MW ABB Azipod azimuth thrusters (two steerable and one fixed).

The Voyager class featured some world firsts for cruise ships when it debuted, including the first rock climbing wall (mounted on the funnel) and ice-skating rink at sea. Voyager-class ships also feature the Royal Promenade: a marble floored street stretching just over 3/4 the length of the ship featuring shops and light dining venues. The Royal Promenade extends through the upper decks of the ships, giving most upper level cabins a window, either to the port or starboard side or inwards to the promenade. This design was first used in the cruiseferry Silja Serenade in 1990 and its twin ship, Silja Symphony in 1991.

All cabins on Voyager-class ships feature an en-suite bathrooms and an innovative interactive television service, and most outward facing cabins on the upper decks feature balconies.

Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas make up the second generation of Voyager-class vessels. Major differences include a larger Windjammer buffet area, which extends out over the aft of the ship, and the addition of the "Jade" Asian fusion buffet. The second-generation ships also feature glass balconies that extend out from the side of the ship, while the first-generation ships had metal-walled balconies recessed into the superstructure. In addition, the saltwater aquarium in the first-generation Schooner Bar was replaced with a piano and additional seating. These design changes were carried over to the later Freedom class.

At 139,570 gross tons, Navigator of the Seas is the twelfth largest passenger ship at sea as of 2014.

Ships

Ship Year Built Entered service
with Royal Caribbean 		Gross tonnage Home Port (as of March 2016) Notes Image
Voyager of the Seas 1999 November 21, 1999 137,276 Sydney, Australia
Shanghai, China
Tianjin, China 		Voyager of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world when built, was the first ship to have an ice rink at sea, and was the first to have Royal Caribbean's now iconic Royal Promenade. Received "Royal Advantage" upgrades, "virtual balconies", a flowrider, and new staterooms during an April 2015 drydock refurbishment.[2]
Explorer of the Seas 2000 October 28, 2000 137,308 Seattle, WA
Sydney, Australia 		Has built-in atmospheric and oceanographic laboratory operated by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Received "Royal Advantage" upgrades, "virtual balconies", a flowrider, and 86 new staterooms during an April 2015 drydock refurbishment.[3]
Adventure of the Seas 2001 November 18, 2001 137,276 San Juan, Puerto Rico Received "Royal Advantage" upgrades in 2014
Navigator of the Seas 2002 December 14, 2002 139,570[4] Southampton, England
Port Everglades, Florida 		First of the second generation of Voyager-class vessels. Received "Royal Advantage" upgrades, "virtual balconies", a flowrider, and 81 new staterooms in January 2014 drydock refurbishment.[5] Moves to Miami, Florida in November 2016.[6]
Mariner of the Seas 2003 November 16, 2003 138,279 Shanghai, China
Singapore 		Received "Royal Advantage" upgrades April 2012.

References

  1. ↑ "VOYAGER CLASS FLOWRIDER REFURBISHMENT". Mobimar.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  2. ↑ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/holiday-ideas/sneak-peek-on-board-australias-newlook-cruise-ship-voyager-of-the-seas/story-fnjjv4qv-1227014401752
  3. ↑ http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6322
  4. ↑ "Navigator of the Seas (22759)". DNV Exchange. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  5. ↑ "ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S NEWLY REVITALIZED NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS TO WOW GALVESTON WITH YEAR-ROUND SAILINGS STARTING WINTER 2013". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "ROYAL CARIBBEAN ANNOUNCES 2015-16 DEPLOYMENT FOR NEW YORK AND GALVESTON". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

External links

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