Liberty of the Seas docked in Southampton on April 22, 2007. |
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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Liberty of the Seas |
| Owner: | Royal Caribbean International |
| Operator: | Royal Caribbean International |
| Port of registry: | Bahamas |
| Builder: | Aker Yards of Turku, Finland |
| Cost: | US $~800,000,000 (~550m Euro or GB£500m) |
| Christened: | May 18, 2007 by Donnalea Madeley[1] |
| Maiden voyage: | May 19, 2007[1] |
| In service: | May 18, 2007 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9330032 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Freedom-class, cruise ship |
| Tonnage: | gross tonnage (GT) of 154,407 tons[2] |
| Length: | 1,111.9 ft (338.91 m) |
| Beam: | 126.64 ft (38.60 m) waterline 184 ft (56.08 m) extreme (bridge wings) |
| Draught: | 28 ft (8.53 m) |
| Decks: | 18 total decks, 15 passenger decks |
| Speed: | 21.6-knot (40 km/h; 25 mph) |
| Capacity: | 3,634 passengers (double occupancy)[1] |
| Crew: | 1,300 crew (average) |
MS Liberty of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean International Freedom class cruise ship which entered regular service in May 2007. It was initially announced that she would be called Endeavour of the Seas, however this name was later changed.[3] The 15-deck ship accommodates 3,634 passengers served by 1,360 crew. She was built in 18 months at the Aker Finnyards drydock in Turku, Finland, where her sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, was also built. At gross tonnage (GT) of 154,407 tons, she joined her sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, as the largest cruise ships and passenger vessels then ever built. She is 1,111.9 ft (338.91 m) long, 184 ft (56.08 m) wide, and cruises at 21.6-knot (40 km/h; 25 mph).
On April 19, 2007, she was delivered to parent company Royal Caribbean.[4] On April 22, 2007 she made her first port of call Southampton, on a promotional visit.[5] She arrived at Cape Liberty Cruise Port on May 3, 2007.
Liberty of the Seas is the second of the Freedom class vessels. A third ship, Independence of the Seas, was delivered in April 2008. In 2009, the first in a new Oasis Class of ships measuring 220,000 gross tons displaced the Freedom class as the world's largest passenger ships.
In 2011, Liberty of the Seas underwent renovations in drydock the week of January 23, 2011 to include features introduced on Oasis class ships that have proven to be popular. One of the many features included in this renovation was the inclusion of the DreamWorks Experience.[6]
In 2011 Liberty of the seas will make her maiden Europe season from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca.
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Liberty of the Seas features extensive sports facilities including the FlowRider onboard wave generator for surfing, an interactive "H20 Zone" water play area for children, a full-sized volleyball / basketball court, an ice skating rink, a boxing ring, and a large fitness center.
Other amenities include two whirlpools that are cantilevered and project out from the sides of the ship to provide unimpeded views of the sea below, Wi-Fi and cell phone connectivity throughout most of the ship, a modular conference center for business meetings, and flat screen televisions in only some of the rooms. Restaurants include a three level formal dining room, Jade Cafe Asian themed casual dining, Windjammer Cafe traditional casual dining, Sorrento's Pizzeria, Promenade Cafe, Ben & Jerry's Ice cream shop, Johnny Rockets diner, Chops Steakhouse, and Portofino Italian restaurant.[7]
Following a week-long drydock in Freeport, Bahamas during the week of January 23, 2011, new additions were made that are modeled after popular features on the Oasis class ships. Features include 3D Movies, Passenger service kiosks, DreamWorks experience, Cupcake Cupboard, Royal Babies, Tot's Nursery, An over-sized outdoor video screen in the main pool area, and the addition of Broadway show "Saturday Night Fever: The Musical", Royal Babies and Tot's Nursery are part of a program by Royal Caribbean to improve service to guests traveling with small children, an area in which they are admittedly lacking. The Cupcake Cupboard is taking the place of the barber shop on the Royal Promenade, relocating the barber shop to the Vitality Spa.[8]
The DreamWorks Experience began on Liberty of the Seas January 30, 2011. The DreamWorks Experience includes many DreamWorks characters and stories into the cruise experience. Such features of the DreamWorks Experience include character meet and greets, character parades, table-side visits from characters during meals, DreamWorks movies on stateroom televisions, and 3D DreamWorks movies onboard.[9]
Features of the DreamWorks Experience specific to Liberty of the Seas are character meals, DreamWorks characters parade, photo opportunities with the characters, 3D movie theater, first-run DreamWorks films onboard, special DreamWorks programming available on stateroom televisions, Adventure Ocean activities with characters.[6]
The DreamWorks Experience was first introduced on the Oasis class ship, Allure of the Seas,[8] on December 12, 2010, and will be on the Oasis class ship, Oasis of the Seas February 26, 2011, and Freedom of the Seas March 27, 2011.[6]
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