Radiance of the Seas


GTS Radiance of the Seas is a cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. She is the lead ship of the Radiance class, which includes Jewel of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas. All of the Radiance-class ships have a gas turbine powertrain, which produces higher efficient speeds than other cruise ships, and emissions to the air are much lower than cruise ships powered by diesel engines.

Construction and career

Built in 1998, the ship cost Royal Caribbean International about 338 million dollars to build. The ship is considered to be one of the more environmentally-friendly but less fuel-efficient. As one of the Radiance Class ships it contained more glass than any other Royal Caribbean ship when it was launched. It has over 700 balcony staterooms, a two level main dining room and a retractable glass roof over the solarium pool.
Radiance of the Seas was designed in Germany by Meyer Werft to cruise varied climates. The ship is faster than most cruise ships and has the ability to maneuver with the combination of the Azipod propulsion system, the powerful bow thrusters, and the dynamic positioning system. The ship is economically efficient through the design of the power plant consisting of two gas turbines and one steam turbine. The waste heat from each gas turbine is fed through a heat recovery steam generator, thus using the steam to power the steam turbine. Once electricity is generated from this power plant it then powers the external propulsion pods and thrusters.
The ship has many unique features, including a $6 million art collection and gyroscopically-stabilized pool tables. Royal Caribbean ships all include art in passenger areas; Radiance of the Seas has displayed art from over 100 artists around the world.
Radiance of the Seas is the first cruise ship to feature pool tables that are stabilized by a computer-controlled gyroscope. They adjust with the motion of the ship to keep the table-top level with the horizon. The vessel has the most glass of any Royal Caribbean ship. She has 10 dining choices, a rock-climbing wall, a mini-golf course, pools, and a water slide.

Itinerary

During the northern summer season, Radiance of the Seas operates in Alaska. When the ship is cruising in Alaska guests are able to stand on the helipad to enjoy picturesque views of the glaciers passing by the ship as they cruise along. In spring and fall, she visits the Hawaiian Islands, and in the winter season, the southern summer, she visits Australia and New Zealand. The inaugural Australian cruise of the performing arts on the Radiance of the Seas in November 2014 included, among others, Cheryl Barker, David Hobson, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Simon Tedeschi, Elaine Paige, Marina Prior, and John Waters.

COVID-19 pandemic

The ship was ordered to leave Sydney by the New South Wales police under "Operation Nemesis" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was provisioned in Sydney on 3 April and left port without passengers on 4 April towards Singapore.