HISTORY

Freedom of the Seas is the first of three cruise ships in this class to enter service for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Liberty of the Seas will enter service in 2007 and a yet to be named third ship will follow in 2008. This class of cruise ship is really a stretched version of the five 142,000 Voyager of the Seas class that entered service between 1999 and 2003.

Freedom of the Seas is the first passenger ship to exceed the size of the previous largest passenger ship, Queen Mary 11. Cunards Queen Mary 11 is 150,000 tons, 1,131 feet long and 131 feet wide.

Although the largest passenger ship in the world, Freedom of the Seas is still cosiderably smaller than the largest ship in the world, the 260,851 gross registered ton, 1,504 feet long, 226 feet wide, Ultra Large Crude Carrier Knock Nevis, formerly Jahre Viking and Seawise Giant that entered service in 1981. There were only about ten Ultra Large Crude Carriers similar to Knock Nevis to enter service that were over 500,000 Dead Weight Tons (fully loaded).

Freedom of the Seas has 15 passenger decks, ice rink, surfing pool, various other pools, 1,350 seat theatre, showroom, 12 bars, casino, fitness center, 1,800 staterooms, 733 inside and 1,067 outside with 844 having verandas. These ships can carry 3,600 passengers based on double occupancy or 4,370 passengers maximum as some rooms can accommodate families of up to eight. There is a crew of around 1,360.