Aker Finnyards delivers Freedom of the Seas

[HumanCookie]

Let the fun begins. :D

 

Aker Finnyards delivered Freedom of the Seas to Royal Caribbean International this morning in Hamburg. The new world’s largest cruise ship has been in Germany to undergo final drydock work at Blohm+Voss.

Everything went smoothly, a Royal Caribbean spokesman told Seatrade Insider.

The 158,000gt ship returned from final operating trials in the North Sea on Sunday and was met by a crowd of thousands in the harbor.

 

[FitzLA]

Let the fun begins. :D

 

I wonder why they are quoting it at 158,000 grt when it is actually 160,000 grt. Typo?

[WhiteSoxFan]

I think that RCI rounded it up or changed something somewhere. The ship builders specs show 158,000 GRT and RCI's initital press release showed 158,000 GRT. What's an extra 200,000 cubic feet amongst friends?

[negc]

I don't think that it is unusual for the GRT to change when the ship is actually built and the space measured. I also think it may be a matter of rounding up. Radiance class ships are variously described as 91,000 GRT and 90,990 - a smaller round up to be sure, but not untypical. Whatever, until the Genesis project is completed it is the biggest cruise ship any of us is likely to sail on.

[kenandlaura06]

Excellent! That means everything should be right on schedule!

[FullMoon]

I found this on the cruiseinfo web site. She will leave to Olso on 4/25 and then continue to Southhampton:

 

nach Hamburg:

Oslo

Southhampton

4.–10. Mai 2006

Southampton, GB – sechsnächtige Atlantiküberquerung nach Cape Liberty, NJ

10. Mai 2006

Ankunft des Schiffes in Cape Liberty, NJ

Inspektionen der Küstenwache an Bord der Freedom of the Seas

11./12. Mai 2006

Cape Liberty, NJ – einnächtige Fahrt und Vorschau zur Taufzeremonie

12. Mai 2006

Cape Liberty, NJ – Taufzeremonie und Brunch

13.–15. Mai 2006

Cape Liberty, NJ – 2-Night Preview & Mother’s Day Family Event

15./16. Mai 2006

Cape Liberty, NJ – einnächtige Vorschau

16.–18. Mai 2006

Cape Liberty, NJ – zweinächtige Vorschau

19.–21. Mai 2006

Boston, MA – zweinächtige Vorschau

21./22. Mai 2006

Boston, MA – einnächtige Vorschau

22.–25. Mai 2006

Boston, MA – dreinächtige Verkaufstagung während der Fahrt nach Miami, FL

25./26. Mai 2006

Miami, FL – einnächtige Virtuoso-Vorschau (Verkauf)

26.–29. Mai 2006

Miami, FL – dreinächtige Vorschau: “Royal Celebrities”-Familienveranstaltung

31. Mai – 2. Juni 2006

Miami, FL – zweinächtige Vorschau

2. Juni 2006

Miami, FL – Dockarbeiterrabatt

3./4. Juni 2006

Miami, FL – einnächtige Wohltätigkeitsveranstaltung

4. Juni 2006

Miami, FL – erste kommerzielle Kreuzfahrt

Juli 2006

Die Sendung “Making of Freedom” wird auf dem Discovery Channel ausgestrahlt

[Schplinky]

I'm glad to see there will be a Making of Freedom Video.

[wrp96]

Be watching here: http://www.gl-group.com/webcam/webcamsued.html. She'll apparently come into view from the left side of the screen.

 

For a close up view of her now: http://www.unikai.de/DB/cam_3.html and http://www.unikai.de/DB/cam_4.html.

[wrp96]

According to Weather.com, the temp is around 50 degrees and supposed to warm up into the high 60s and if you look at those cams it is beautifully sunny. Should be a beautiful day for sailing out of Hamburg.:D

[caribbean dreams]

I just watched it on the news, they showed the inside, the suites are gorgous, as a matter of fact, the whole ship is stunning.

[wrp96]

She sure is beautiful. I know there are several CCers on her now waiting for her to sail off from Hamburg to Oslo. I can't wait until they get back and post their pictures.

[wrp96]

For those of you that are interested, we have somebody posting current webshots if the Freedom occasionally on this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=211885. You'll have to go to the end of the thread by clicking to view the last post to see them as the thread is quite long.

[wrp96]

The Hamburg webcam has just updated and the Freedom has sailed!

[Merion_Mom]

It was on our news tonight! That is ONE BIG HONKIN' SHIP!

[Schplinky]

I wonder why they are quoting it at 158,000 grt when it is actually 160,000 grt. Typo?

 

They haven't loaded the buffet yet. :)