The next cruise ship for Royal Caribbean International

Papenburg, 08.03.2001 - The first of 65 blocks of the new cruise vessel Brilliance of the Seas for Royal Caribbean International was lifted into position in the covered building dock of the MEYER WERFT Shipyard in Papenburg/Germany. In the presence of the yard´s board members Bernard Meyer, Peter Motikat and project manager Jarmo Laakso Royal Caribbean chairman Richard Fain laid the "lucky penny" before the first block of the new ship was lowered down onto the keel blocks by the yard´s 600-ton crane. The block had a weight of almost 450 tons, a length of 20 metres, a breadth of 30 metres and an height of 8,5 metres. ´The Brilliance of the Seas is the second of four luxury cruise ships to be built for Royal Caribbean International. The vessel will have a length overall of 293 metres, develop a speed of more than 24 knots and will be capable of carrying max. 2500 passengers in 1050 cabins. Like her sister vessel Radiance of the Seas the new ship will be fitted with two podded drives of 360 degree efficiency. The propellers will be directly driven by electric motors installed in a pod under the ship´s hull. Two environmentally friendly and smokeless gas turbines and one steam turbine will supply the vessel with energy for the propulsion and hotel operation. Due to the special combustion process the nitrogen oxide content of the exhaust gases from the gas-oil operated turbines is very low. Furthermore the exhaust gases from the gas turbines generate steam in the exhaust gas boilers which is then transformed into energy by the steam turbine. Delivery of the new passenger cruise vessel is scheduled to take place in summer 2002.

Second Part of the river passage starts

Papenburg, 25.01.2001 - The second part of the Ems passage starts on Thursday, 25th of January at about 12.00 h. If the weather and tidal conditions will be good the new luxury cruise liner Radiance of the Seas will reach the dutch harbour Eemshaven today at 17.15 h. The final docking of the vessel at Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg is scheduled for Sunday, 28 January.

Papenburg, January 2001 - The Ems passage of the new cruise liner Radiance of the Seas from Papenburg will take place on Wednesday, 24 Januar. This next attempt to transfer the ship down the river Ems to Eemshaven (the Netherlands) will be made Wednesday night. The time schedule of the Ems passage is as follows - subject to alteration due to weather and tidal conditions: Wednesday, 24 January 2001 approx. 23.00 h Passage dock gate in Papenburg Thursday, 25 January 2001 approx. 01.00 h Passage Bridge "Friesenbrücke" at Weener approx. 03.30 h Arrival at Leerort approx. 11.30 h Departure Leerort approx. 17.00 h Arrival at Eemshaven (NL)

Papenburg, 21 January 2001 - The Ems passage of the new cruise liner Radiance of the Seas was scheduled to take place on Monday, 22 January, unfortunately has to be postponed again. According to the latest predictions the river Ems water levels are not high enough. The next attempt to transfer the Radiance of the Seas down the river Ems to Eemshaven (the Netherlands) will be made on late Tuesday, 22 January. The time schedule for the next attempt of the Ems passage is as follows - subject to alteration due to weather and tidal conditions: Tuesday, 23 January 2001: approx. 22.45 h Dock gate in Papenburg Wednesday, 24 January 2001: approx. 00.45 h - "Friesenbrücke" at Weener approx. 02.15 h - Arrival at Leerort approx. 10.55 h - Departure - Leerort approx. 11.25 h - "Jann-Berghaus-Brücke" at Leer approx. 16.00 h - Arrival at Eemshaven (NL)

Radiance of the Seas to Leave Covered Building Dock

Papenburg, 11.10.2000 - Papenburg, in October 2000 - On 14th October 2000, following extensive dock trials, the 88,000 GT cruise vessel Radiance of the Seas for the U.S. based shipping company Royal Caribbean International will leave the covered building dock of the MEYER WERFT Shipyard in Papenburg/Germany and will be towed out to the fitting-out quay for further completion of the interior. Early in January 2001 the ship is scheduled to leave for Eemshaven/The Netherlands to undergo sea trials. Radiance of the Seas is the first of four vessels built by MEYER WERFT for Royal Caribbean. With a length overall of 293.2 metres and a breadth of 32.2 metres the vessel will have a service speed of more than 24 knots. The ship has a capacity for up to 2,500 passengers in 1,050 cabins. 858 crew members will be onboard. For the first time such a vessel is powered by gas and steam turbines. The ship is propelled via two 20 MW azipods. Radiance of the Seas is furnished with a variety of exclusive features. The highlights include the spacious atrium which extends over nine decks and provides excellent sea views from the glass-walled lifts. The theatre which extends over three deck levels and has two balconies one above the other provides seating for approximately 1,000 guests and is fitted with state-of-the-art digital audio, video and stage equipment. The large sports area includes a 9-hole golf course on sun deck 13 and a climbing wall at the back of the ship´s funnel. Following the Ems passage and subsequent sea trials Radiance of the Seas will be delivered in the spring of 2001.