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Harmony of the Seas

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Harmony of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas in Labadee, Haiti
History
Bahamas
NameHarmony of the Seas
OwnerRoyal Caribbean Group
Operator Royal Caribbean International
Port of registryNassau,  Bahamas
RouteCaribbean
Ordered27 December 2012[1][2]
BuilderChantiers de l'Atlantique[1]
CostUS$1.35 billion (2015)[3]
Yard numberA34[2]
Laid down9 May 2014[2]
Launched19 June 2015 (float-out)[2][4]
Completed13 May 2016[2]
Acquired12 May 2016[5]
Maiden voyage29 May 2016[6]
In service2016–present[7]
HomeportGalveston, Texas[8]
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeOasis-class cruise ship
Tonnage
DisplacementApproximately 120,000 t (132,000 short tons)[9]
Length362.12 m (1,188.1 ft)[2]
Beam
  • 47.42 m (155.6 ft) waterline[2]
  • 66 m (217 ft) max beam[10]
Draught9.322 m (30.6 ft)[2]
Depth22.6 m (74 ft)[11]
Decks18; 16 passenger decks[12]
Installed power
  • 4 × 14,400 kW (19,300 hp) Wärtsilä 12V46F[2]
  • 2 × 19,200 kW (25,700 hp) Wärtsilä 16V46F[2]
Propulsion
  • 3 × 20 MW (27,000 hp) ABB Azipod,
  •       all azimuthing[2]
  • 4 × 5.5 MW (7,400 hp) Wärtsilä CT3500
  •       bow thrusters[2]
Speed
  • >25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) maximum[13]
  • 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) cruising[12]
Capacity
  • 5,479 passengers at double occupancy[14]
  • 6,780 maximum[14]
Crew2,300[12]

Harmony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship built by STX France at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France,[15] for Royal Caribbean International. With a gross tonnage of 226,963 GT,[2] she is the fifth largest passenger ship in the world, surpassed by her newer sisters Icon of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.

History

[edit]
Harmony of the Seas under construction at STX yards in France

The success of the first two Oasis-class ships led Royal Caribbean Cruises to order a third ship of the type in December 2012.[1] The contract with STX France includes an option to build a second vessel.[16] Harmony of the Seas is named after the Harmony module on the International Space Station [citation needed].

Launch

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The vessel was floated out on 19 June 2015, began her first sea trials on 10 March 2016,[17] and was delivered to Royal Caribbean on 12 May 2016.[5]

After a construction time of 32 months, the ship first set sail on 15 May 2016 from the STX France docks in Saint-Nazaire, viewed by some 70,000 people.[18] Her first destination was Southampton, England, although her home port was Barcelona until 23 October 2016 when she crossed the Atlantic.[19]

Harmony of the Seas took two short "preview cruises", three nights to Cherbourg and four nights to Rotterdam, after reaching port in Southampton on 17 May.[20] During these voyages, passengers complained of ongoing construction, a lack of hot water, unopened attractions, excessive waits at restaurants, and other issues.[21]

Maiden voyage

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The ship's maiden voyage departed from Southampton on 29 May and arrived at its summer home port of Barcelona on 5 June. According to passengers on this cruise, construction had finished and the ship was ready to sail.[22] For the inaugural season, Harmony of the Seas offered seven-night western Mediterranean cruises originating from Barcelona and Civitavecchia.[23]

On 10 November 2016, the vessel was officially christened by her godmother, Miami-Dade County teacher Brittany Affolter.[24]

Design

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Facilities

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Harmony of the Seas has 2,747 staterooms, of various sizes, to accommodate (at double occupancy) 5,479 guests.[25] The ship is divided into seven neighborhoods, including Central Park and Boardwalk, like her Oasis-class sisters.[26] Harmony of the Seas has a number of water-based attractions including a large dry slide complex, known as The Ultimate Abyss, two surf simulators, three water slides, and 3 swimming pools.[5][27][28] It also has the first water slides on a Royal Caribbean ship.[29] She also has 20 dining venues,[30] a 1,400-seat theatre[31] and 11,252 works of art.[28]

Technology

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Harmony of the Seas is 20 percent more energy efficient than her sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.[citation needed] Small air bubbles from the keel reduce drag and thus fuel consumption by 7 to 8 percent, and a smooth hull surface further reduces resistance. The bubble system also reduces propeller noise, and is used on Celebrity Reflection and Quantum of the Seas. LED and fluorescent lamps replace incandescent light bulbs, reducing power consumption and the need for air conditioning. The engine system uses a waste heat recovery system, and drives three Azipod propellers.[32][33][34]

Incidents

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  • On 13 September 2016, one employee was killed and four were injured when a lifeboat broke loose and dropped from the fifth deck during a security drill.[35][36]
  • On 25 December 2018, British crew member Arron Hough was reported missing by other crew members after failing to report to work. The United States Coast Guard suspended the search for the on-board entertainer on 27 December 2018, after stating that the ship had reported that a crew member had gone overboard.[37][38][39]
  • On 11 January 2019, a 16-year-old was trying to enter his eighth-deck cabin through a nearby balcony when he slipped and fell to his death. The accident happened while the ship was docked in Labadee, a leased peninsula in Haiti. The ship's medical team performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the boy had sustained major head trauma and died of his injuries.[40]
  • On 30 January 2022, Harmony of the Seas entered a temporary exclusion zone around Cape Canaveral, which caused the postponement of a planned launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.[41] The rocket was able to successfully launch the following evening.[42] A Coast Guard investigation found Royal Caribbean responsible for the incident, but also led to reforms in how the Coast Guard determines exclusion zones and disseminates that information to ships.[43]
  • On 26 May 2022, the vessel collided with a jetty in Falmouth, Jamaica. The vessel suffered minimal damage, and was safely docked shortly afterwards. No injuries were reported.[44]
  • On 7 September 2024, a guest died onboard the ship while out at sea.[45] The 12-year old child died when falling from a balcony, in an incident reminiscent of a 2019 incident where a 16-year-old was fatally injured when falling from a balcony.[46]
  • In October of 2024, the ship sailed dangerously close to Hurricane Milton which resulted in the ship encountering large waves and extreme rocking aboard the ship.[47]
[edit]
  • Central Park
    Central Park
  • The Solarium
    The Solarium
  • Hot tub
    Hot tub
  • Mini golf
    Mini golf
  • Waterslides
    Waterslides
  • Pool zone
    Pool zone
  • The aft of Harmony of the Seas, with the Aqua Theater and "Ultimate Abyss" slides visible
    The aft of Harmony of the Seas, with the Aqua Theater and "Ultimate Abyss" slides visible

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Royal Caribbean Orders Third Oasis-Class Ship from STX France". 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Harmony of the Seas (33249)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  3. ^ Smith, Oliver (26 February 2015). "New cruise ship will be world's largest". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Harmony of the Seas". RoyalCaribbean.com. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Vacations Reinvented as the World's Largest Cruise Ship Sails Into Southampton" (Press release). Royal Caribbean International. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  6. ^ "World's largest cruise ship, costing $1B, sets sail". CBS News. Associated Press. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  7. ^ Elder, Laura (30 October 2023). "Royal Caribbean adds Harmony of the Seas to Galveston fleet". The Daily News. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  8. ^ Bracken, Matt (24 May 2016). "Largest cruise ship ever sets sail for maiden voyage". The Baltimore Sun. The Dark Room. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Harmony of the Seas - Oasis 4". STX France. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Ship Detail, Harmony of the Seas". Sea-web.com. IHS Global. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Plush, Hazel (16 May 2016). "The world's largest cruise ship in numbers". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  12. ^ Sloan, Gene (21 May 2016). "Royal Caribbean's giant new ship also is its fastest". USA Today. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  13. ^ a b Saunders, Aaron (16 May 2016). "Five Reasons You Should Sail Aboard Harmony of the Seas". The Avid Cruiser. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Harmony Class Ships".
  15. ^ "Finland loses major ship deal to France". 28 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  16. ^ Sloan, Gene (11 March 2016). "World's largest cruise ship takes to sea for first time". USA Today. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  17. ^ "Biggest-Ever Cruise Ship Harmony Of The Seas Is Longer Than Eiffel Tower's Height". NDTV. Agence France-Presse. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  18. ^ "World's largest cruise ship sets sail from France". CTV News. Agence France-Presse. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016. The ship is headed for Southampton in southern England and is to embark on its official maiden voyage on May 22 to its new home port of Barcelona.
  19. ^ "Harmony of the Seas: World's largest cruise ship in Southampton". BBC News. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  20. ^ Finnigan, Lexi; Mendick, Robert (28 May 2016). "Harmony of the Seas maiden voyage to go ahead despite complaints over 'chaotic' test trip". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  21. ^ "Harmony of the Seas - Our Last Few Days". Cruise Muses. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  22. ^ Uria, Daniel (14 May 2016). "Royal Caribbean completes construction of world's largest cruise ship Harmony of the Seas". United Press International. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  23. ^ Herrera, Chabeli (26 October 2016). "The world's biggest cruise ship's new godmother is a 23-year-old Miami teacher". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  24. ^ Frisco, Eleena (15 May 2016). "World's biggest cruise ship sets sail from France". Tribu Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  25. ^ Smith, Oliver (11 March 2016). "The world's largest cruise ships sets sail on first sea trial". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  26. ^ "Plunging into Adventure on the Tallest Slide at Sea: Royal Caribbean Reveals 10 story Ultimate Abyss". Royal Caribbean International. 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  27. ^ a b "Royal Caribbean shows off Harmony of the Seas, world's largest cruise ship". Travelweek. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  28. ^ "Introducing Harmony of the Seas". Royal Caribbean. February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015.
  29. ^ Koumelis, Theodore (16 May 2016). "Royal Caribbean International conducts delivery ceremony and honors crew of Harmony Of The Seas". Travel Daily News. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  30. ^ "Inside the world's largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  31. ^ "Micro-bubble system helps Quantum to whopping 20% efficiency gain on Oasis". Seatrade Cruise News. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  32. ^ "Harmony of the Seas: World's Biggest Cruise Ship 20% More Fuel Efficient than Her Sister Ships". Ship & Bunker. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  33. ^ Oliver, Alexandra Jane (24 May 2016). "Harmony of the Seas joins DNV GL fleet". DNV GL. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  34. ^ Quioc, Marqaid (13 September 2016). "Cruise ship crewmember dies in lifeboat drill in France". Business Insider. Associated Press. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  35. ^ "Harmony of the Seas accident: One dead, four hurt in lifeboat crash". BBC News. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  36. ^ "Search for British cruise entertainer who fell overboard from Royal Caribbean ship on Christmas Day". The Telegraph. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  37. ^ Pidd, Helen (28 December 2018). "US coast guard suspends search for British cruise ship entertainer Arron Hough". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  38. ^ "British cruise worker missing overboard". BBC News. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  39. ^ Allen, Karma (16 January 2019). "16-year-old dies after falling from balcony of Royal Caribbean cruise ship". ABC News. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  40. ^ Kelly, Emre; Berman, Dave (31 January 2022). "Coast Guard starts investigation of Royal Caribbean ship that caused SpaceX scrub". Florida Today. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  41. ^ Kelly, Emre (31 January 2022). "SpaceX launches into stunning skies on fifth try, lands at Cape Canaveral". Florida Today. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  42. ^ Kelly, Emre. "Coast Guard fast-tracks changes after cruise ship scrubs SpaceX launch". Florida Today. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022.
  43. ^ Network, MI News (1 June 2022). "Watch: One Of World's Longest Cruise Ships Crashes Into Jamaican Pier". Marine Insight. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  44. ^ https://www.khou.com/video/news/local/royal-caribbean-confirms-guest-dies-onboard-ship/285-ea387b33-3948-4a03-bad3-7199578e747e
  45. ^ Bridges, C. A. "12-year-old boy dies in balcony fall on Royal Caribbean cruise ship. What we know". Florida Today. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  46. ^ https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/harmony-of-the-seas-hurricane-milton-watch/3442703/#:~:text=Hurricane%20Milton%20turned%20what%20was,Hurricane%20Milton%20charged%20towards%20Florida.
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