Radiance-class cruise ship
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Meyer Werft |
| Operators | Royal Caribbean International |
| Preceded by | Voyager class |
| Succeeded by | Freedom class |
| Built | 2001-2004 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Active | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 90,090 GT |
| Length | 962 ft (293 m) |
| Beam | 105.6 ft (32.2 m) |
| Draft | 26.7 ft (8.1 m) |
| Decks | 12 |
| Installed power | Gas turbines |
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Capacity | 2,501 Passengers |
| Crew | 859 |
The Radiance class is a class of four cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean built between 2001 and 2004 at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The class was preceded by the Voyager class and succeeded by the Freedom class.
Radiance-class ships have a gross tonnage of 90,090, being smaller than the preceding Voyager class. Built for cruising in cooler climates, this class differs in design from the Voyager and Freedom classes, and some aspects influenced the Quantum-class.[1] The Radiance-class is built to Panamax form factor, allowing them to pass through the Panama Canal. The power plant on all ships consists of environmentally friendlier but less fuel efficient gas turbines.
The Radiance-class ships have over 3 acres (12,000 m2) of glass, glass exterior viewing elevators, over 700 balcony staterooms, two-level glass windowed dining rooms, alternative restaurants, a retractable glass roof over a pool, an outdoor pool, as well as the first self-leveling billiard tables at sea. During their refurbishment, the ships of this class have been refitted to incorporate the "Centrum Wow" events, which transformed the multi-level atrium into vertical theater for aerialists (aerial gymnasts).[2]
Ships
| Ship | Year | Entered service with Royal Caribbean |
Home port(s) (as of February 2013[update]) | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiance of the Seas | 2001 | March 10, 2001 | Sydney, Australia (Southern Hemisphere Summer) Vancouver, British Columbia and Anchorage, Alaska (Northern Hemisphere Summer) |
First cruise ship to feature pool tables that are stabilized by a computer-controlled gyroscope. Currently sailing from Sydney, Australia as of January 2016. Will sail from Anchorage, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia in the summer of 2016. | .JPG) |
| Brilliance of the Seas | 2002 | July 19, 2002 | Tampa, Florida (Winter) Barcelona, Spain (Summer) |
Went into drydock April 23, 2013. Currently sailing out of Tampa, Florida as of January 2016. Will sail out of Barcelona, Spain in the summer season of 2016. | .JPG) |
| Serenade of the Seas | 2003 | August 1, 2003 | Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark (Summer) Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Winter) Boston, Massachusetts (Fall) |
Currently sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida as of January 2016. Will sail out of Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark in the summer of 2016. |  |
| Jewel of the Seas | 2004 | May 8, 2004 | San Juan, Puerto Rico (Winter) Rome, Italy (Summer) |
Currently sailing out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Will sail out of Rome, Italy in the 2016 summer season after going to drydock in April 2016. | .jpg) |
Similar ships
- Spirit class - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Cruises.
- MV Arcadia - a similar Panamax ship operated by P&O Cruises.
- MS Queen Victoria - a similar Panamax sized ship operated by Cunard Line.
- Vista class - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Holland America Line
- Signature class cruise ship - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Holland America Line
- Coral Princess and Island Princess - A similar set of Panamax ships operated by Princess Cruises
- Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa - A set of Panamax ships operated by Costa Cruises derived from the Spirit Class and Vista Class designs.