Hot on the heels of the delivery of the third Quantum Class ship, the 168,666gt Ovation of the Seas, the Oasis III, named Harmony of the Seas, was delivered on 12th May 2016.

The Oasis and Quantum Classes have increased at very differing paces. The first Oasis Class ship, the ground breaking 225,282gt Oasis of the Seas, was delivered in October 2009 with her sister, Allure of the Seas, following in 2010. Both were built at the Perno Shipyard, Turku, Finland.

The first two Quantum Class ships were ordered in 2011 and delivered in October 2014 (Quantum of the Seas) and April 2015 (Anthem of the Seas) from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The third class member was ordered in 2013 and delivered in April 2016 as the Ovation of the Seas. A fourth Quantum Class was ordered in May 2015 (delivery 2019) and a fifth was signed and sealed on 3rd November 2015.

The Oasis of the Seas was a giant leap forward in cruise ship design and construction. Her maximum passenger capacity of 6,296 (5,400 double occupancy) outstripped the 4,370 passenger capacity (double occupancy) of the 154,407gt/2008 built Independence of the Seas, the third member of the Freedom Class that had previously held the title of world’s largest cruise ship. The world of passenger shipping had never before seen a ship on the scale of the Oasis – the “impossible” had been achieved by Richard D. Fain (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.), Harri Kulovaara (Executive Vice President, Maritime, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.) and the design team.

If the measurements were correct, the Allure of the Seas surpassed her 361.60m long older sister by measuring 40mm longer at 362m. The Oasis III was designed to be both longer and broader. The overall length of the Harmony is 362.12m and the extreme breadth is 66m compared to the 362m length and 60.50m beam of the Allure of the Seas. The Harmony of the Seas is 50m longer than the Eiffel Tower is high.

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has been at the forefront of the progression of cruising and first achieved the title of the world’s largest cruise ship in 1987 when the 73,529gt Sovereign of the Seas (Sovereign Class) was launched. The 137,276gt Voyager of the Seas (Voyager Class) took that title in 1999 with the “largest” of this quintet of ships, the Explorer of the Seas, offering a gross tonnage of 138,194gt due to differing facilities on board. The trio of Freedom Class ships claimed the title when the 154,407gt Freedom of the Seas was delivered in 2006 with the boundaries being pushed considerably further by the Oasis Class.

RCI was founded in 1968 as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line by Norwegian shipping operators Anders Wilhelmsen & Company, I.M. Skaugen & Company and Gotaas Larsen. The new cruise line unveiled its first ship, the Song of Norway, two years later. The Nordic Prince joined the fleet in 1971 followed by the Sun Viking in 1972. Four years later passenger growth demanded more capacity so the Song of Norway became their first passenger ship to be lengthened. RCI has also placed itself at the cutting edge of cruise ship technology with new innovations to attract a new generation of cruisers. The wow factor is a top priority, so much so that WOW has become one of the company’s trademarks.

A Behemoth is Born

On 27th December 2012 RCI placed a $1.35 billion order with STX France in St. Nazaire for Oasis III to be delivered in 2016. The contract was signed after the agreement with the Government of Finland for building the ship at STX Finland shipyard failed. Steel cutting began on 23rd September 2013.

The keel laying ceremony for Yard No. A34, the largest ship to be built, and the largest ship to be built in France, took place on 9th May 2014, during which a 1,000 tonne block measuring 10m x 47m was lifted by crane into the building dock, marking the beginning of the physical construction of this ocean going giant. The event also saw the order for Oasis IV confirmed, with delivery expected in 2018. In February 2015 came the announcement that the newbuild would be named Harmony of the Seas.

The ship quickly took shape and RCI’s new colossus of the seas was floated out of her building dock on 19th June 2015 and positioned at the fitting out quay. The Harmony of the Seas departed from St. Nazaire on three days of sea trials on 10th March 2016 with around 500 crew, engineers, suppliers and Royal Caribbean International staff aboard. Further trials took place in late April 2016 and the all-important delivery ceremony got underway at STX France on 12th May 2016 after a build time of 32 months.

The Harmony said farewell to St. Nazaire on 15th May with Swedish Captain Gus Andersson at the helm and sailed out of the Loire River Estuary bound for Southampton. She was accompanied by a flotilla of small craft and watched by around 70,000 people. The ship arrived off the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight on 16th May and made her debut at Southampton at around 0600 the following morning, escorted by local tug Svitzer Alma. The ship berthed starboard side to at the City Cruise Terminal, meaning that the thousands of spectators who came to see the ship over her time based at Southampton only ever saw the stern view.

Due to the overhang of her lifeboats/tenders beyond the hull profile, the state-of-the-art passenger gangways could not be used and were both positioned to one side at the terminal meaning that the ship was further along the quay from Mayflower Park than usual. Temporary covered access to the vessel was installed from the terminal building with guests and visitors boarding via large traditional gangways.

Metropolis at Sea

The Traditionalists dismiss the modern day cruise ship as a “floating block of flats” and, to many such people, the Harmony of the Seas is just that. However, times move on and many of the ships of today offer a far different product to the traditional cruise. It is all about “derrières on seats” and what new innovations can be installed to tempt cruisers new and existing. The sheer size of any member of the Oasis Class cannot fail to impress, quite a feat of engineering. The desire to place a holiday resort at sea has produced many a new cruise ship including the Freedom Class examples & and Norwegian Epic.

The Oasis variants go one better and are practically a small city at sea. The footprint of the Harmony of the Seas is not just due to how many passengers she carries but what is installed to entertain those passengers. Each class of ship is designed to be better, not just larger. The reaction of some spectators upon seeing the ship is “who wants to sail on something so large” and yet the first ships of 14,000gt through to 72,000gt (Sovereign of the Seas) generated such a reaction. Now-adays a ship of 72,000gt is described as “midsized.”

The facilities aboard RCI’s 25th ship offer something for everyone. Upon boarding the ship on Deck 2 in Southampton ahead of the first passenger carrying voyage (dubbed the “pre-inaugural”) there was an escalator offering passengers easier movement to Deck 3. Of the ship’s 18 decks, 16 of them include passenger areas and accommodation. There are 2,747 staterooms located on Decks 3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14, 17 and 18. As with all RCI ships, there is no Deck 13. The various grades of accommodation include Ocean View, Studio Ocean View (for single travellers), Superior Ocean View, Grand Suite with Balcony, Royal Family Suite with Balcony, Owner’s Suite and Interior Stateroom with Virtual Balcony (video wall where the window would be, with live images streamed to it thus giving the impression of a window/ balcony. The scenes are recorded by cameras mounted along each side of the ship with minimal time delay). The virtual balconies were first rolled out in the Quantum Class ships but have also since been retrofitted on other ships.

On Decks 17/18 beneath the funnel are the sumptuous Royal/Sky and Crown Loft Suites with balconies. These are two-deckshigh with panoramic views. A master bedroom with Royal King size bed and bath are located on the second level, with a bath with shower on the main level. The private balcony includes chairs, dining area with dry bar, table and desk. Suite guests also have a host of new areas for their exclusive use, from a suite lounge to a private-suites-only restaurant, the Coastal Kitchen, both on Deck 17. This delightful eatery offers an amazing menu that fuses Mediterranean influences with the riches of California’s farmlands. The new Royal Suite Class redefines luxury at sea with exceptional experiences that discerning travellers will appreciate.

Along with deluxe accommodation, Royal Suite Class offers guests a range of exclusive amenities based on three tiered service levels. Premium features include A Royal Genie, certified by the British Butler Institute to meet guests’ every need, free VOOM, the fastest internet at sea, Complimentary specialty dining, An ultimate beverage package, Inclusive gratuities, preferred seating at select onboard venues and upgraded room amenities The Royal Suite Class also comprises three service levels based on suite category: Star Class, Sky Class and Sea Class. Suite guests on Decks 17/18 can also enjoy a private Suite Sun Deck located forward on Deck 17.

There are also inward facing window/balcony staterooms on the Oasis Class of ship. Deck 7 has Promenade View staterooms that overlook the Royal Promenade (as with the Freedom Class ships etc) whilst the Boardwalk and Central Park areas on Decks 6 and 8 have inside cabins overlooking these areas with windows or balconies. The increase in the ship’s beam over her two sisters allowed for extra weight up higher through the ship, including tweaked balcony and cabin dimensions, a larger Windjammer Restaurant etc. Layout-wise the Oasis Class ships broadly follow that of the Freedom Class, with a combination of elements of efficiency and success from other ships & classes in the fleet thrown in. This is a continual process as the fleet develops.

The Harmony of the Seas has so much to offer, more than can be described in detail here, however highlights include the seven Neighbourhoods (or Neighborhoods as they’re known on the ship due to RCI being an American based operation). These are as follows:

Central Park (above): This outdoors park at sea is located in the forward section of the ship on Deck 8 and is the length of a football pitch. Surrounding and overlooking the park are 8 decks, 5 of which have balcony staterooms on either side.

The Central Park neighbourhood has 82 metric tonnes of soil with 12,175 plants, 62 vine plants and 56 trees and certainly lives up to its name with serene and flowing pathways and outdoor seating. This exquisite public gathering place features seasonal flower gardens and canopy trees. A glass leaf-like skylight is one of the features, which draws natural light into the Royal Promenade below.

A glass structure (above) in the park, also with an attractive leaf form when viewed from above, encases the top level of the innovative Rising Tide Bar. This hydraulically operated platform is a first to the Oasis Class, a moving bar at sea, with a fully functioning bar that travels 3 decks between the Royal Promenade (Deck 5) and Central Park. This is great fun with one “return trip” taking around 15 minutes.

Flanking the piazza are some of the ship’s most popular speciality dining restaurants, 150 Central Park, Chops Grille and Vintages, as well as Jamie’s Italian, from world-renowned chef Jamie Oliver plus luxury goods outlets and the Park Cafe.

At the aft end of the park can be found Dazzles, a dance lounge spanning two decks and boasting an expansive floor-to-ceiling window offering views of the Boardwalk below.

Royal Promenade (above): Located on Deck 5, this trademark RCI feature based on a real street layout offers an allweather venue to meet, greet, eat, drink and party. It is lined with retail outlets such as Kate Spade plus bars and cafes, namely Bolero’s, Sorrento’s Pizzaria, Café Promenade, the Boot & Bonnet Pub, and Rising Tide Bar.

It also features the Makr Shakr powered Bionic Bar (above), a technology-forward venue complete with two robotic bartenders that mix a wide variety of drinks, made to order. The On-Air Club (karaoke bar) can also be found on the promenade plus the Guest Services and Shore Excursions desks.

Located towards the aft of the Royal Promenade, a mezzanine level allows for sweeping views of the Promenade and features the cruise line’s signature Schooner Bar. Live music also plays here not to mention the dance parties and parades.

At the forward end of the promenade is a moving head sculpture fabricated in stainless steel that weighs around 5 tonnes. Produced by Czech designer David Cerny, “Head” consists of multiple plates that rotate intermittently to create a 3D human head. The overall sculpture moves continuously using computer controlled motors embedded within.

At the opposite end of the promenade by the Rising Tide Bar is the trademark sports car as found aboard the Voyager, Freedom and Oasis Classes. The reason for a car featuring dates back to 1997, when Royal Caribbean was building Voyager of the Seas. The lead architect for the Royal Promenade, Njal Eide, had built a model of the area that featured a model of a Morgan Sportster. Richard Fain is a fan of these cars and donated his own Morgan car that he had received for his 40th birthday some years previously. From that point on, a vintage car has taken pride of place in the promenades of the trio of ship classes.

Boardwalk (above): Situated on Deck 6 aft, this is the second outdoor neighbourhood on the ship. Upon walking outside, guests are greeted by a fully functioning and hand crafted fairground Carousel. To the left of this along the deck is the Boardwalk (Hot) Dog House, Arcade and another RCI favourite, Johnny Rockets 50’s diner.

On the opposite side is a Starbucks outlet plus the Mexican themed Sabor Taquería and Tequila Bar. Rising above the Boardwalk are 7 decks of staterooms, with windows or balconies overlooking the facilities. This part of the ship is a remarkable outdoor venue with a backdrop of the ocean and, at the stern, is the AquaTheatre an amphitheatrestyle entertainment space with a full spectrum of activities including water and light shows professional aquatic acrobatics and synchronized swimming performances.

One of the most technologically advanced areas of the ship, the AquaTheatre is a complete sensory experience that plays on the element of surprise, as the latest technology and design features amaze the audience. This large open area can be seen when looking at the stern of the ship. Two of RCI’s signature rock-climbing walls flank the aft end of The Boardwalk, providing a more unique experience with multiple climbing routes. Each rock wall measures 13.1m in height.

Pool & Sports Zone: Decks 14, 15, 16 and 18 feature sections of the Playground Neighbourhood for guests young and old. The adults-only Solarium overlooks the bow and features a three-deck high (Decks 14-16), glass-panelled sanctuary designed with seating on various “islands” surrounded by water, providing guests with the sensation of floating on air. The open-air Solarium offers a tranquil swimming pool, two whirlpools, and four cantilevered whirlpools suspended 41.5m above the ocean (a novelty first installed on the Freedom Class).

Facilities stretch the length of Deck 15 and include the Perfect Storm trio of multistorey water slides (Typhoon, Cyclone and Super-cell, all accessed from Deck 18 and exited on Deck 15) that twist and turn over Central Park, 10 decks below, with one slide featuring a ‘champagne bowl’ that swirls guests around as they make their approach to the end of the ride. There are also the Main, Beach and Sports Pools, the vibrant Splashaway Bay with sea creature water cannons, slides, a gigantic drench bucket and a multi-platform jungle-gym plus the Harmony Dunes nine-hole miniature golf course and Sports Court (both located aft).

One level up on the stern is a pair FlowRider surf simulators, one each side, plus the Wipeout Bar and an exhilarating zip line that runs across the open-air Boardwalk atrium, nine decks above the Boardwalk, a distance of more than 25 metres. Perhaps the most anticipated and discussed feature aboard the Harmony of the Seas is the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide on the high seas, which will test the courage of the bravest of guests. Towering more than 45 metres above sea level, overlooking the AquaTheatre at the aft of the ship, the pair of sideby- side slides release adrenaline-seeking travellers from a see-through perspex platform into a 30m drop that twists and turns in a serpentine- like movement from the Pool and Sports Zone on Deck 16 to the Boardwalk on Deck 6 below.

The Ultimate Abyss (above) was manufactured by Wiegand Maelzer in Germany and the entrance on Deck 16 is in the form of the open mouth of about the ugliest fish ever to populate the oceans, the Angler fish. These creatures live in what is easily Earth’s most inhospitable habitat, the lonely, lightless bottom of the sea known as the abyss. There are more than 200 species of anglerfish, most of which live in the murky depths of the Atlantic and Antarctic oceans, up to a mile below the surface, although some live in shallow, tropical environments. Generally dark grey to dark brown in colour, they have huge heads and enormous crescent-shaped mouths filled with sharp, translucent teeth. Their most distinctive feature, worn only by females (and the Ultimate Abyss entrance example), is a piece of dorsal spine that protrudes above their mouths like a fishing pole, hence their name. Tipped with a lure of luminous flesh this built-in rod baits prey close enough to be snatched. Their mouths are so big and their bodies so pliable, they can actually swallow prey up to twice their own size.

Vitality Spa & Fitness: This facility is located overlooking the bow on Decks 5 & 6 and encompasses various amenities that support healthy lifestyles and cater to complete body wellness. Guests can soothe mind, body and soul through advanced spa and anti-aging therapies, try the latest fitness equipment and indulge in healthy dining options at the Spa’s own Vitality Cafe. Other offerings include the Thermal Suite, 29 treatment rooms including three couples massage suites and seven individual treatment rooms, the largest collection at sea. Kids and teens also have a dedicated spa of their own.

Entertainment Place: This contemporary nightclub district on Deck 4 is the life of the ship after dark and delivers a variety of entertainment. Located in the bow of the ship is the two tier 1,380 seat Royal Theatre (Decks 3 & 4), home to two headline shows and more. Midships is Studio B, the ice rink where ice skating extravaganzas such as 1887, an original Royal Caribbean ice skating production, are shown. Also in this area is the Jazz Bar, Comedy Live, The Attic bar/nightclub and Casino Royale.

Youth Zone: Teens, kids and babies, too, have their own neighbourhood which is grouped by age and supervised by trained and certified staff. Situated forward on Deck 14, a haven for children and teens can be found at Adventure Ocean, divided into Babies and Tots, ages six months to two years; Aquanauts, ages 3 to 5, Explorers, ages 6 to 8, and Voyagers, ages 9 to 11. Common play areas are also provided, namely Imagination Studio, Adventure Science Lab, Play and Adventure Ocean Theatre (the first-ever children’s theatre at sea). The long-time favourite Royal Caribbean teen-only spaces, Fuel Disco and The Living Room, also feature aboard the Harmony of the Seas, aft on Deck 15 along with a spacious outdoor deck.

Unlike the Quantum Class, where main dining rooms are replaced by four individual ones as well as the speciality venues, the dining facilities aboard also largely mirror the Freedom Class. RCI now offers Dynamic Dining, allowing guests to experience vast and varied dining that can match even the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, providing everyone with more choice and flexibility than ever before.

Those preferring a more traditional cruise dining style can select the “Classic” option, which offers two set dinner seating times, with their dining group and waiter every evening. Towards the stern on Decks 3-5 (above) is the three grand central atrium. The restaurants here are The Grande, American Icon Grill and Silk. On Deck 4 is also the Izumi Hibachi & Sushi restaurant. Other dining venues not already mentioned include Wonderland on Deck 12, the first two tier restaurant for this brand, a world of imagination and culinary excitement, which overlooks the Boardwalk.

The collection of artwork aboard the ship is as impressive as always and further underlines the international collaboration involving thousands of people around the globe working together to produce such a ship. The Harmony also offers VOOM, the fastest internet at sea. A Satellite beam follows the ship across the globe to provide this service.

Greyhound of the Seas

The Harmony of the Seas is not only the largest ship in the RCI fleet but also the fastest as she achieved a sea trials speed of just over 25 knots. Diesel-electric propulsion pushes the ship through the water with three ABB Azipod XO 10,000kW thrusters with a power output of 20.5 MW each being powered by the main engines consisting of three 12V46F Wartsila diesels with a power output of 13860 kW each and three 16V46F Wartsila diesels each with an output of 18480 kW. At a speed of 24.5 knots the revolutions per minute of the Azipods is 131. Some specification lists also detail two MTU 16V4000 diesel engines being installed but, as many technical facts are not disclosed by the operator, their precise purpose is not clear so no assumptions will be made here.

The turning rate of the Azipods is 2.5 degrees per second in standard mode or 5 degrees per second in fast mode. The minimum speed for steerage is 5 knots. The Harmony of the Seas is included in a service agreement between Wartsila and Royal Caribbean covering technical management and monitoring under Wartsila Genius services. So, she utilises two Wartsila hybrid scrubber systems, the Wartsila NACOS Platinum navigation and dynamic positioning systems plus other electrical systems by Wartsila Funa.

The Harmony of the Seas is 20% more efficient than her Oasis Class sisters and the hull form was also refined to enhance proficiency. The innovative Air Lubrication System (ALS) in the ship’s hull, as first utilised on Quantum class, is the greatest contributor to efficiency. Prior to the Quantum Class debut, the hydrodynamic benefit provided by an underhull air bubbling system was tried and tested over a period of three years by Royal Caribbean in co-operation with Meyer Werft and Finlandbased companies Foreship and Process Flow Solution. Its first full-scale application was on the Quantum of The Seas. ALS generates a stream of micro-bubbles under the hull, reducing friction to the extent that a net reduction of some 4- 9% is anticipated in fuel consumption at speed.

The air layer also dampens excitation from the propellers, cutting noise and vibration levels in the ship’s aft section. Compressed air is forced out of vents in the hull to produce the desired effect. A special silicon based hull paint called Intersleek is also applied, again first used on the Quantum Class. The use of energy efficient lightbulbs, efficient air conditioning, self-dimming corridor lighting, motion sensor lighting in storerooms etc. also contribute to the savings. The two outer Azipods rotate to provide multidirectional propulsion and to aid manoeuvrability in port the ship is equipped with four Wartsila CT3500 transverse tunnel bow thrusters, each with a power output of 5.5 MW. The turning rate for the ship with all four thrusters in use and zero forward momentum is 35 degrees per minute. Using the thrusters and Azipods results in a turning rate of 72 degrees per minute. When travelling at a speed of 23 knots the ship will take 1809m and 6 minutes to stop using astern propulsion on two of the three Azipods. The ship’s turning circle is her own length, 362.12 metres.

Besides the main funnel exhausts, the ship also sports an uptake aft plus two exhaust ports mounted in the stern beneath the Aquatheatre area. The latter are presumably for auxiliary engines with one noted as being fired up whilst in port. The ship has a 9.30m draught, displacement of 94,991t and a height above the waterline of 72 metres. The “windage” for a ship of these proportions is 16,200sqm. A floating city does of course generate a lot of waste. The recycling centre below decks is comparable in size to the Quantum Class.

After just one night with passengers aboard there were three 1 tonne bags of crushed glass produced. The recycling room also includes machinery to crush cans, pierce aerosol cans etc whilst food waste is incinerated and discharged when the ship is 12 nautical miles offshore, along with waste water. The on board plant generally recycles 100% of waste. An aerobic system breaks down human waste into CO2 and clear water and it passes through 100 micron filters and ultra violet light prior to being discharged 12nm out to sea. Zero waste is generated by the on board photo services nowadays as only what is purchased is printed. A steam turbine generator is also installed that runs off waste heat generated from the diesel engine exhaust system and provides 1kw of power.

Not so Harmonious Debut

The three ex-UK sailings of the Harmony of the Seas were virtually sold out and a new RCI ship is promised for Southampton in the coming years. However, the Oasis Class members are intended for the U.S east coast in the short/mid-term. Two four night inaugural cruises departed Southampton on 22nd and 26th May to Rotterdam and Cherbourg but both received bad press as areas of the ship were still being completed and glitches were being rectified.

This is not uncommon on a newbuild, or even a ship fresh out of an extensive refit. Yes, passengers expect perfection when they embark, but alas this is not always the case. Royal Caribbean did however acknowledge that the number of projects being completed during the initial voyages was too high. The ship set off on her maiden voyage from South-ampton, to re-position to Barcelona for the summer season, on 29th May where she operates itineraries until 23rd October when she heads across the Atlantic and to Caribbean cruising. The Oasis Class is a stunning piece of design and engineering but is all too easily dismissed by those only seeing the ship from the outside. However, one’s perception of a ship can dissipate once what she has to offer guests is discovered.

A cruising version of that popular anecdote never judge a book by its cover and certainly food for thought.

• Special thanks must go to the Media Teams at RCI, Good Relations PR and RED Consultancy for all the assistance both during the pre-inaugural events and with material/images.

Technical Specifications