GTS Radiance of the Seas is a cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. She is the lead ship of the Radiance class, which includes Jewel of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas. All of the Radiance-class ships have a gas turbine powertrain, which produces higher efficient speeds than other cruise ships, and emissions to the air are much lower than cruise ships powered by diesel engines.
 Radiance of the Seas in Juneau, Alaska, 2011
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Bahamas | |
| Name | Radiance of the Seas |
| Owner | Royal Caribbean Group |
| Operator |  Royal Caribbean International |
| Port of registry | |
| Builder | Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany |
| Cost | 350 million |
| Yard number | 655 |
| Laid down | 24 June 1998[1] |
| Launched | 15 June 2000[1] |
| Christened | 6 April 2001 by Margot L. Pritzker |
| Completed | 9 March 2001[1] |
| Maiden voyage | 7 April 2001 |
| In service | 2001–present |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Radiance-class cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 90,090 GT |
| Length | 293.2 m (961 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Beam | 32.2 m (105 ft 8 in)[1] |
| Draft | 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Decks | 13 (12 guest accessible)[2] |
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Capacity | 2,501 passengers |
| Crew | 859 |
Construction and career
editBuilt in 2001, the ship cost Royal Caribbean International about 338 million dollars to build. The ship is considered to be one of the more environmentally-friendly but less fuel-efficient. As one of the Radiance-class ships it contained more glass than any other Royal Caribbean ship when it was launched. It has over 700 balcony staterooms, a two-level main dining room and a retractable glass roof over the solarium (adults-only) pool.
Radiance of the Seas was designed in Germany by Meyer Werft to cruise varied climates. The ship is faster than most cruise ships and has the ability to maneuver with the combination of the Azipod propulsion system, the bow thrusters, and the dynamic positioning system. The ship is economically efficient through the design of the power plant consisting of two gas turbines and one steam turbine. The waste heat from each gas turbine is fed through a heat recovery steam generator, thus using the steam to power the steam turbine. Once electricity is generated from this power plant it then powers the external propulsion pods and thrusters.
The ship departed from the shipyard in January 2001[3] After the ship was drydocked at Blohm+Voss, Hamburg,[4][5][6] the ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean on 9 March 2001. She was the biggest cruise ship built in Germany.[7]
The ship's features include a $6 million art collection and gyroscopically-stabilized pool tables. Royal Caribbean ships all include art in passenger areas; Radiance of the Seas has displayed art from over 100 artists around the world.[citation needed]
Radiance of the Seas is the first cruise ship to feature pool tables that are stabilized by a computer-controlled gyroscope. They adjust with the motion of the ship to keep the table-top level with the horizon. The vessel has the most glass of any Royal Caribbean ship. She has 10 dining choices, a rock-climbing wall, a mini-golf course, pools, and a water slide.[citation needed]
Itinerary
editDuring the northern summer season, Radiance of the Seas operates in Alaska. When the ship is cruising in Alaska, guests are able to stand on the helipad to view the glaciers passed by the ship. In spring and fall, she visits the Hawaiian Islands, and in the winter season, the southern summer, she visits Australia and New Zealand.[citation needed] The inaugural Australian cruise of the performing arts on the Radiance of the Seas in November 2014 included, among others, Cheryl Barker, David Hobson, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Simon Tedeschi, Elaine Paige, Marina Prior, and John Waters.[8]
COVID-19 pandemic
editThe ship was ordered to leave Sydney by the New South Wales police under "Operation Nemesis" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was provisioned in Sydney on 3 April and left port without passengers on 4 April towards Singapore.[9] She proceeded to Cyprus and was in hot lay-up in the Bay of Limassol from early 2020.
Accidents and incidents
editOn 1 September 2023, Radiance of the Seas experienced a propulsion problem in Seward, Alaska, resulting in the cancellation of two consecutive 7-day cruises.[10] It returned to service on 15 September 2023.
On 23 April 2024, Radiance of the Seas experienced a propulsion problem while cruising to Vancouver, British Columbia, resulting in the cancellation of multiple cruises, including one that occurred two days after boarding and not leaving port. Guests were compensated but left upset over the lack of communication about the cruise to nowhere.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Radiance of the Seas (21562)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "Radiance of the Seas Fact Sheet". Royal Caribbean Press Center.
- ^ Die Reise der Radiance geht weiter, 25 January 2001, retrieved 12 May 2024 (German)
- ^ "Radiance of the Seas verläßt Hamburg", 6 February 2001. Retrieved 12 May 2024 (in German)
- ^ "Radiance of the Seas in Hamburg", 26 January 2001. Retrieved 12 May 2024 (in German)
- ^ "Radiance of the Seas leaving Blohm+Voss shipyard (picture)". Retrieved 12 May 2024 (in in German)
- ^ "Das größte je in Deutschland gebaute Passagierschiff geht in Kürze auf Kreuzfahrt", 9 March 2001, retrieved 12 May 2024 (in German).
- ^ "Bravo! A Cruise of the Performing Arts", Stage Whispers
- ^ "'Operation Nemesis' to see five cruise ships restocked and moved out of Sydney Harbour". SBS World News. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "After 2 cancelled cruises, Royal Caribbean cruise ship will resume sailings". royalcaribbeanblog.com. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "A cruise to nowhere: Royal Caribbean sailing canceled after guests boarded". USA Today. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
External links
edit
Media related to IMO 9195195 at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
- Pictures of the Ship at the shipyard
