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Passengers to experience park life on mega ship
A cruise ship with a park the length of a US football field is being developed by Royal Caribbean International.
The US line today unveiled Central Park as the first new feature on its 5,400-passenger Project Genesis ship due to enter service by the end of 2009.
With 16 decks, the ship will sail from its home port in Fort Lauderdale in Florida and be joined in 2010 by a sister vessel.
The new concept is the first of seven ‘neighbourhoods’ to be unveiled on the giant vessel.Â
The area will be lined with balcony cabins rising six decks high with views of the park below rather than having a sea view.
Two arched-glass domes called Crystal Canopies, one with a bar, will be a focal point and provide sunlight into the ship’s inner public spaces.
The Rising Tide bar is claimed to be the first moving bar at sea. Spanning three decks, it will allow passengers to ascend into Central Park and then descend back into the public spaces below.Â
Located on Deck 8 of the ship, Central Park will be 62 feet wide and 328 feet long and include 334 cabins, 254 with balconies.
The park will include a chess garden with large-scale pieces; a Pergola garden featuring vegetation from the Caribbean; and a sculpture garden.
An on-site horticulturist will provide educational classes for passengers seeking to learn more about flora.
A range of bars and places to eat will be part of the park including a café, Italian restaurant, steakhouse and formal dining.
A central piazza will allow for alfresco dining and entertainment in the evening, including concerts and street performances.Â
Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Adam Goldstein said: “Central Park is a true evolution of cruise ship design and allows us to provide our guests with not only a more varied selection of balcony accommodations, but also a stunning public venue that will be a central element of the ship, both during the day and at night.â€
Chairman Richard Fain said: “We are thrilled to debut Central Park, the first of many exciting neighbourhoods on the Project Genesis ship, and a thrilling expression of the innovation and imagination for which Royal Caribbean is known.
“This ship is a quantum leap in architecture and design and will deliver an unparalleled vacation experience to all who sail with us.â€
by Phil Davies        Â
Phil Davies
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