The first four ships in the series, Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas have been delivered annually since autumn 1999, one ship per year. The ships have proven very successful in operation, for which reason Royal Caribbean, in September 2003, placed an order for an even larger cruise ship, the Ultra Voyager.
In connection with the delivery, Mr. Jorma Eloranta, President and CEO of Kvaerner Masa-Yards said: "We are proud to have built yet another great cruise ship for Royal Caribbean, to specification, on time and to budget. I want to thank everyone who has participated in this demanding newbuilding project. We are proud to have been part of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's success for so many years, and happy that this newbuilding cooperation continues."
With a gross tonnage of approx. 140,000, a passenger capacity of 3,800 passengers and a crew capacity of 1,200 persons, totalling some 5,000 people onboard, the Voyager-class cruise ships are today the biggest cruise ships sailing. The total length of Mariner of the Seas is 311.1 metres (1020 ft), the breadth is 38.6 meters (126 ft) at waterline level (49.1 metres / 161 ft breadth at the bridge wings) and the height from the keel to the top of the funnel is 72.3 metres (237 ft).
This Post-Panamax size has allowed for unique design features and interior solutions. The cruise ship features a four deck high horizontal promenade, the Royal Promenade, a design featured for the first time on this Voyager-class cruise ship series. The length of the promenade is some 120 metres, and it has in each end an 11 deck high atrium, the Centrums. The Royal Promenade also features inside staterooms with a view. Almost 10 percent of Mariner's staterooms have bay windows overlooking the Royal Promenade. The big Savoy theatre seats 1,320 guests. There are numerous restaurants onboard. The main restaurant is three decks high, and seats a total of 1,900 in five distinct areas. In addition, there is an ice skating rink onboard, Studio B, seating 900 passengers, a rock climbing wall and a wedding chapel highest up.
Mariner of the Seas has been built in a very short time for this size of a cruise vessel. Production of Mariner of the Seas started in summer 2001 and she was docked out in February 2003. The successful sea trials took place in the first week of September this year.
Kvaerner Masa-Yards Technology made the concept design of the Voyager-class cruise ships in close co-operation with Royal Caribbean. The ship has been built by the yard together with a large number of turnkey and other suppliers. The classification society is Det Norske Veritas. The layout of the ship areas has been designed by the yard and the owner together with several highly reputed architects from USA, Norway, Sweden and the UK.
Mariner of the Seas will begin her regularly scheduled, year-round itineraries on November 16, sailing alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida.
For further information, please contact:
Henrik Segercrantz, Corporate Communication Manager
Tel. +358 9 194 2409
Fax +358 9 650 051
E-mail: marketing-sales@masa-yards.fi
Web: www.masa-yards.fi (Photos of the ship are found under "news" "photographs")