Making its official debut in the United States Royal Caribbean’s latest and highly anticipated cruise ship Wonder of the Seas set sail on March 4 for the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The statistics of the record-breaking ship are staggering. Wonder of the Seas is 362 meters long, with a capacity of 6,988 passengers along with 2,300 crew. The colossal ship has 18 decks, weighs 236,857 tons, it features 19 swimming pools, 20 restaurants, 11 bars, an ice rink, a casino and its own Central Park. The worlds largest cruise ship has a top speed of 22 knots thanks to three 20,000-kilowatt diesel-electric thrusters under the stern and four bow thrusters, each generating 7,500 horsepower.

"With half of our fleet sailing again, we are encouraged by the results we are achieving. The US and Europe are ready to welcome a brand new and futuristic ship like Wonder of the Seas - commented Michael Bayley , president and CEO of Royal. Caribbean International - Wonder will shine in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean with all its wonder and what it will reserve for travelers is a truly unprecedented vacation experience that highlights the best of Royal Caribbean, reimagines the classics of all time and brings new on board. adventures that every guest, regardless of age, can enjoy."

Wonder of the Seas took three years to build in Saint-Nazaire, France, at a cost of more than a billion dollars. It was originally scheduled to be released in China last year, but those plans were canceled due to the Covid pandemic.