Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Brochure cutaway drawing of Navigator of the Seas (2002)
Built in Finland and entering service for Royal Caribbean in May 2002, Navigator of the Seas was the first of the second generation of "Voyager-class" cruise ships
introduced in 1999, the first three of which were Voyager of the Seas (1999), Explorer of the Seas (2000) and Adventure of the Seas (2001).
However, at 139,570grt, Navigator of the Seas was slightly larger than her sister ships and was from 2002 to 2004 the world's largest cruise ship (until the arrival of Queen Mary 2).
At 1,021ft long (311.1m), the Voyager-class was the first to incorporate a rock-climbing wall behind the funnel and an ice-skating rink, as well as a vast central space
running 350ft (110m) 4 decks high through the centre of the ship. The "Royal Promenade" featured shops, bars and food outlets overlooked by a number of inward-facing cabins,
thereby giving otherwise interior cabins "a view".
Navigator of the Seas is 139,570grt and carries 3,276 passengers. At 1,021ft long (311.1m) she is about 91ft (27.85m) shorter than the later Freedom-class, introduced
in 2006. Independence of the Seas was the 3rd in that class and we made an Atlantic crossing on her in 2014. see Independence of the Seas Gallery >>
Following her 2014 refit however, Navigator of the Seas now offers most, if not all the principle features of the larger Freedom-class.
Sunshine in the Canaries 27th October - 6th November 2017
