World's Largest Ship Is Modern Marvel and Gives Guests Freedom to Do More

MIAMI, April 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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.

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.

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.