Cruise ships are often compared to enormous floating hotels, packed full of exciting features and innovative amenities to keep everyone on-board occupied and entertained whilst at sea. The average hotel, however, would be dwarfed by some of the world’s biggest cruise ships – carrying thousands of passengers and weighing hundreds of thousands of tons, these giant vessels are as impressive as they come. This Cruise Week blog will take a look inside some of the largest cruise ships on Earth, offering you an insight into what you can expect to find on-board.
Allure of the Seas – Royal Caribbean
Allure of the Seas, alongside her sister ship Oasis of the Seas, is officially the world’s biggest cruise ship. Weighing in at over 200,000 tons with a guest capacity of 5,400, these giants of the sea are truly spectacular to behold. The ships are so big, in fact, that you will find seven unique neighbourhoods on-board, each one with its own distinctive theme, including Central Park, the Royal Promenade and the Boardwalk which is brimming with excellent shops and cafes.
With so much room to fill, Royal Caribbean has not skimped when it comes to Allure of the Seas’ on-board features. Not only does this massive vessel have four swimming pools, 10 whirlpools and a serene solarium, she also boasts two Flowrider surf simulators, two rock climbing walls, an exhilarating zip line and plenty of sports facilities. You’re probably starting to get an idea of the scale of the Oasis Class ships, and that’s without even mentioning the 1,380-seat theatre, casino and indoor skating rink alongside a host of shops and dining venues found on-board.
Norwegian Epic – Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Epic is the largest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, carrying 4,100 passengers and weighing over 150,000 tons. Currently cruising the Caribbean, Norwegian Epic will be based permanently in Europe after the 2014/2015 season, operating voyages across the sun-soaked Mediterranean. Norwegian Cruise Line is well-known for its freestyle cruising policy, offering guests the flexibility to do as much or as little as they like whilst on-board.
This huge vessel has a total of seven complimentary dining venues with freestyle dining, a cutting-edge fitness centre, fun-filled sports courts, a climbing and rappelling wall and a number of swimming pools and hot tubs. She even features an incredible Aqua Park with thrilling waterslides. The vessel’s theatre, bars and lounges also boast an array of show-stopping entertainment, from live comedy to performances from the world-famous Blue Man Group and much more.
Queen Mary 2 – Cunard Cruises
Cunard Cruises flagship Queen Mary 2 is an impressive and refined vessel, offering classic transatlantic voyages from Europe to the Americas, as well as shorter sailings around northern Europe and the occasional epic world cruise. She has a superb range of innovative on-board facilities alongside classic features such as the indulgent Canyon Ranch SpaClub, where you can receive a wealth of reinvigorating treatments, and a selection of wonderful gourmet dining venues.
Queen Mary 2 is also the only cruise ship in the world to boast an on-board planetarium, at which guests can embark on a virtual tour of deep space to see distant stars or learn more about interstellar navigation. Alternatively, the ship’s amazing 3D Cinema and elegant Royal Court Theatre offer a wealth of marvellous entertainment for guests to enjoy as they cruise from port to port, especially on long transatlantic voyages which offer plenty of time on-board.
Royal Princess – Princess Cruises
Launched in 2012 and christened by The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton in June 2013, the Royal Princess is the flagship of the Princess Cruises fleet. With a passenger capacity of 3,560 and a gross tonnage of 142,714, she is slightly larger than her sister ship Regal Princess, which made her maiden voyage earlier this year.
One of Royal Princess’ most breathtaking features is her expanded atrium which spans several decks and contains a plethora of bars and dining venues including an authentic Italian gelateria named Gelato, the chic Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar and Crooner’s bar featuring live music. The ship also contains something for all ages to enjoy, from adults-only Sanctuary to a range of age-appropriate kids’ and teens’ clubs. On top of this, just some of Royal Princess’ many other notable features include theatres, a Movies Under the Stars outdoor cinema, a laser shooting range and golf driving range.
MSC Divina – MSC Cruises
As the largest ship in the MSC Cruises fleet – alongside her sister ship MSC Preziosa – MSC Divina weighs in at 139,400 tons and accommodates a total of 3,959 guests within 1,637 suites and staterooms, as well as 1,325 crew members. She currently cruises year-round to the blissful islands of the Caribbean, taking guests to some of the tropical archipelago’s most sought-after and spectacular destinations.
Divina holds a wide range of both classic and contemporary cruise ship features, from West End-style theatres, adults-only sanctuaries, the renowned Aurea Spa and a plethora of excellent bars and restaurants, to modern features such as an amazing 4D Cinema, a Formula 1 simulator, a bowling alley and a fabulous Aqua Park with 150 fountains. There’s so much to see and do aboard this splendid vessel, you’ll be spoiled for choice once you step aboard.
If you would like to embark on a voyage aboard any of these enormous and feature-packed cruise ships and experience them for yourself, call our Cruise Concierge team free on 0808 1234 118. They will guide you through all of the available itineraries and deals to help you find your perfect cruise.
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