It’s hard not to think about what the pandemic did to the cruise line industry. You have heard the stories of cruise ships being stuck in the sea since there was a coronavirus outbreak. For many, it took weeks before a country opened its doors for them. The level of risk associated with an outbreak on board is comparable to an outbreak in a hospital setting. Since most of these people stay on the ship for weeks, it’s almost impossible to quarantine one person who tested positive for the virus.
As the cruise industry plans to bounce back in 2022, it’s time to take a look at the biggest ships in the industry’s repertoire entering the new year. While there was a lot of delay in the cruise industry, people couldn’t wait for the ships to open their doors once more and welcome them to one of man’s greatest engineering achievements.
You can imagine how hard it was to maintain these ships while they were parked and immovable during the last 18 months. The maintenance work for cruise ships that cannot sail might be more complicated than if they just went on their journeys.
The most important part of the maintenance work is having a guide to how marine bilge pumps work for ships. These pumps remove water that collects in the bilge wells. While there are many types of pumps in something as large as these cruise ships, the bilge pump is the most critical since water that collects in the wells can flood the vessel or, worse, sink it altogether.
The Symphony of the Seas
The Symphony of the Seas is the 25th ship in the Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Currently, it is the largest cruise ship in the world. It measures 362.1 meters long with a beam of 47.4 meters. It weighs 227,625 tons and can accommodate 5,400 passengers. The vessel is the best one for family vacations because of the myriad of kid-friendly activities you can find aboard.
As the largest ship in the world, it offers laser tags, pools, gigantic slides, and surf simulators. It is home to the Ultimate Abyss, a ten-story high slide. Families will never want for anything more when they get onboard the Symphony of the Seas. In 2021, it sailed across the Caribbean.
The Harmony of the Seas
Royal Caribbean has several Oasis-Class vessels. One of these is the Harmony of the Seas, which happens to be the second-biggest cruise ship in the world. Yes, two spots in the list belong to the same company, so that tells you how heavily invested Royal Caribbean is in becoming the de facto best cruise company in the world. Harmony of the Seas was the third vessel in the Oasis-class series when it was first delivered in May 2016 from the shipyard at Saint-Nazaire.
Similar to the Symphony of the Seas, it can carry 5,400 passengers. It is 362.1 meters long and has a beam of 47.4 meters. It mostly sails along the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, so those who want to visit places around these areas should go ahead and book a sail.
Aboard this ship, you will forget the world outside. It has spas, fitness centers, parks, a boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, and various entertainment options. It offers a seven-day cruise from Barcelona to Civitavecchia, so that’s something to consider.
The Allure of the Seas
The third ship on this list still belongs to the same company. It is part of the Oasis-Class vessels, and before the arrival of Harmony, it was the largest passenger ship in service. The Allure of the Seas stands at 362 meters with a beam of 47 meters. With a weight of 220,000 tons, it can carry 5,400 passengers.
Similar to its two other sister ships, the Allure has tons of entertainment options for passengers. It mostly caters to tourists who want to travel around the Caribbean, though there seems to be no reason for passengers to get off the ship. It has the first Starbucks coffee shop at sea. The Allure also has a two-deck dance hall, a movie theater, an ice skating rink, fitness facilities, a spa, 25 dining options, and whirlpools that overlook the sea.
If you’re thinking about where to go after the pandemic, a cruise tour seems to be the best idea. For one, you’ll be in a bubble with the other passengers who are either vaccinated or tested negative for the coronavirus. Second, you also get to access many amenities and features you wouldn’t find in any one place. And lastly, the open sea is a welcome respite to 18 months of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.
