Harmony of the Seas Christened
Royal Caribbean International has celebrated the homecoming of Harmony of the Seas with a spectacular naming ceremony.
Joining sister-ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas on the east coast of Florida – which are homeported in Port Canaveral and Port Everglades respectively – Harmony of the Seas offers seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
Brittany Affolter from Teach For America Miami-Dade, who was selected as Godmother of Harmony of the Seas for her work in inspiring South Florida’s next generation to dream big, think differently and challenge the status quo, hosted the ceremony.
Captain Gus Andersson, Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International and Brittany Affolter after the naming ceremony on Royal Caribbean's newest ship Harmony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean Cruises chairman and CEO Richard Fain said Affolter is someone who “pours her all into transforming the lives of children.”
To further welcome the ship to her new homeport in South Florida, singer-songwriter and Miami native Jon Secada, took center stage, performing some of his greatest hits.
The 226,963 gross registered ton Harmony of the Seas has 16 guest decks, carries 5,497 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,747 staterooms.
The newest and youngest of the three ships, Harmony of the Seas, officially claimed the title of world’s largest cruise ship, beating her sisters by a foot in length and nearly 1,700 gross registered tons.
Fain said the company has improved the Harmony of the Seas as the third in the line of Oasis class ships. It is the most energy-efficient ship in the company’s fleet and is 20 percent more efficient than Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. In addition, like 16 other ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, there is zero waste going to landfill, rubbish is either reused, recycled or incinerated.
A fourth, as-yet unnamed, Oasis-class ship is currently under construction at STX Saint-Nazaire. It is due to sail in 2018.
