MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

QMary 2 dethroned by “The Freedom of the Seas”

A German shipyard delivered this week the world's largest passenger ship to its US owner, Florida-based cruise operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. at a ceremony in Hamburg that drew crowds of onlookers.

The 160,000-ton cruise liner "Freedom of the Seas" can carry some 4,000 passengers and offers several different pools, an ice ring and a climbing wall.

It supplants the rival cruise line Cunard's Queen Mary 2, which can carry about 3,000 vacationers, as the world's largest passenger ship.

After completing sea trials and receiving finishing touches at Hamburg's Blohm + Voss shipyard, the new ship left dry dock on Sunday and after calling in Oslo, Norway, is scheduled to arrive in Southampton on Saturday.

From England the liner is to sail to New York and begin operating mainly in the Caribbean from its home port in Miami.

"Freedom of the Seas" is more than 339 metres long and boasts an onboard surfing pool with its own wave machine, a huge rock climbing wall and skating rink.

Cruise vessel Queen Mary II is six metres longer but 15m narrower.

The flagship of Royal Caribbean International will begin sailing in the Caribbean with fares starting at 890 euros per person.