"Symphony of the Seas" - the largest cruise ship in the world

Symphony of the seas is the largest multi-deck offshore cruise ship in the world in terms of displacement. "Symphony of the Seas" was built in 2018 in France (Saint-Nazaire). The ship is the fourth in a series of Royal Caribbean Oasis. The new liner has surpassed its predecessor "Harmony of the Seas" in dimensions. The ship is owned by Royal Caribbean International from the United States, and mainly cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas. In fact, the ship is a full-fledged resort with the functions of an entertainment center where you can relax at the highest level.

general description

The liner is designed for 6680 passengers with a crew of 2384 people. The vessel has a length of 362,15 m, which is commensurate with the famous skyscraper Empire State Building with a height of 381 m (without antenna). The width of the ship is 66 m, with a draft of 9 m (according to the RSSL register, this is the 25th place). The displacement is a record - 228 thousand tons, the maximum developed speed is 23 knots. Here are other, no less impressive figures, indicating the scope of the "territory" of the vessel:

• ✅ number of decks - 16 (of which 2 are for staff)
  
• ✅ number of cabins - 2275
  
• ✅ surf simulators - 2
  
• ✅ climbing walls - 2
  
• ✅ zipline track - 24 m
  
• ✅ pools - 11 "reservoirs"
  
• ✅ water slides - 3
  
• ✅ restaurants - 23 (300 menus for every taste)
  
• ✅ number of plants on board - 30 thousand
  
• ✅ one tropical park with frogs, crickets and birds singing through speakers
  

And this is not counting the numerous gyms, SPA-complexes, casinos, shops and boutiques, basketball and tennis courts, laser tags, water parks, theater.



And for lovers of winter entertainment, an ice arena with a 10 cm thick coating is provided. You can move between these "institutions" using 6 high-speed elevators, working even in pitching. But for lovers of special sensations, a special means of transportation between decks is provided. This is an elevator bar where you can leisurely drink beer or good wine at a table or near the counter.



There are more than 1000 people among the attendants of the kitchen workers alone who provide food for tourists and the team. Hundreds of employees work in laundries (there is a specially designed washing machine), there are gardeners and people on the ship who are more likely to meet on land rather than at sea.

About products

This is a separate issue, because food is directly related to the safety of passengers and crew members. A huge cruise ship is a closed space and if an epidemic breaks out, it will not seem small.



Therefore, the highest quality products are delivered on board. There is a computer program specially developed for such a case, which calculates the required amount of food and its types.



What requires a low temperature is stored in huge refrigerators, among which there is a separate one - for 5 thousand bottles of collection wine. Cleanliness and environmental safety are taken very seriously here - even the smoke from the chimneys is not black, but white. To put it bluntly, it is “washed” with steam.

Technical features

The liner is a high-tech vehicle, consisting, like a designer, of many sections and systems. They are controlled from a control room equipped with 51 monitors.

Powertrains

The vessel is driven by six V-shaped diesel units, each of which weighs around 200 tons. The most important trio of engines has 16 cylinders each (Wärtsilä 16V46D), the rest of the Wärtsilä 12V46D units have 12 each (the volume of one is 6,5 liters). The total power reaches 100 thousand horsepower.



The mass of the crankshaft is 25 tons; a solid piece of metal was used for its manufacture, which was machined for several weeks. The price of the part is over $2 million. Before use, all fuel is thoroughly cleaned in special separators. At the same time, its consumption has decreased compared to previous models of the Oasis series. This is due to:

• ✅ the use of a system for the formation of air bubbles under the body of the liner, allowing it to glide smoothly through the water
  
• ✅ using a special paint that reduces friction during movement
  

Interestingly, the motors do not work "directly". They just spin the generators, the energy of which goes to electric motors (3 pieces with a capacity of 20 thousand kilowatts and 4 additional bows of 2,2 kW each), and they turn the screws and move the whole colossus.

Electrical network

Despite the largest dimensions in its class, the Symphony of the Seas requires less energy - "only" 85 MW, instead of 100, as is the case on Oasis-class ships.



Savings achieved through the use of LED and fluorescent lamps. The ship uses not only electricity, but also steam (for example, for heating). It is "extracted" only from distillate to prevent the formation of deposits in pipe lines.

How the liner is controlled

The head of the ship, as it should be, is the captain. They have a couple of assistants, more like office workers, not "sea wolves". In the captain's chair there are only a couple of joysticks that control the colossus.



For laying the course, a specially installed separate computer is used. He "knows" where the shoals, reefs, rocks are and, taking them into account, "draws" the route, determines the speed. To create it, it is enough to enter the location of the final destination and the required time of arrival into the program. Of course - the ship is always under the "supervision" of satellites. With their help, mooring is also carried out. This is all that remains of traditional shipping.

About security

Symphony of the seas is almost impossible to lead to a catastrophe, even if you really want to. However, the same thing was once said about the Titanic. Therefore, the vessel is provided with 18 large motor lifeboats of a closed type, each of which is designed for 370 people. Plus, boats and rafts.



Rescue vehicles carry food, water, flares, etc. Every month, the ship's crew conducts exercises to organize an urgent evacuation of passengers.

Travel cost

The cruise ship has an extensive number ("residential") stock, located on 11 decks. The most expensive premises are located on the upper "floors". Passengers are offered cabins with a capacity of 2 to 8 people. For the most “modest” per day, you will have to pay $10,5 thousand (per tourist). This room on the 4th deck has an area of ​​9 sq. m., called the Studio Ocean View Stateroom. In contrast, the duplex Royal Loft Suite has a couple of bedrooms, showers, a balcony, a jacuzzi, a living room and a dining room with a bar. Total area - 142 sq. m. The cost of "accommodation" - $ 187,5 thousand.





Today, the liner sails in the Caribbean Sea. Departure and arrival - the port of Miami. Packages are available for 7 or 8 nights. Stops - in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Virgin Islands.