STX France

Oct 24, 2018

Royal Caribbean is turning 50 years old — here's how the Miami cruise line plans to celebrate Royal Caribbean / TNS Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas became the world's largest cruise ship when it was officially delivered to the cruise line after its construction was completed by STX France. Royal Caribbean will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a cruise on the ship leaving Miami. Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas became the world's largest cruise ship when it was officially delivered to the cruise line after its construction was completed by STX France. Royal Caribbean will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a cruise on the ship leaving Miami. (Royal Caribbean / TNS) Royal Caribbean turns the big 50 next year. To celebrate, the cruise ship company based in Miami is throwing a “50 Years Bold Birthday Cruise” which will be aboard its new Symphony of the Seas — the largest cruise ship in the world — on Nov. 2. 2019. The seven-night Caribbean cruise, which will depart from PortMiami, will include special events and surprise performers that haven’t been announced yet. The cruise will also visit the cruise line’s private island called “Perfect Day at CocoCay,” according to a spokeswoman. Here is a by-the-numbers look back at the history of Royal Caribbean based on news archives and the cruise line’s website: 1969 This was the year the company was launched by three Norwegian shipping companies. Arne Wilhelmsen and Edwin Stephan launched the company with the idea to offer affluent men and women who lived in Florida cruises to the Caribbean, according to USA Today. The sleek, blue-hued Norway. Carnival's early fleet of ships: the Mardi Gras, Festivale and Carnivale. The SeaEscape. Royal Caribbean's Sun Viking and Sovereign of the Seas. With  newer and bigger mega ships embarking each year from PortMiami and Port Everglades, we look back on some of the classic cruise ships that once departed from South Florida ports. Check out these vintage ships of yesteryear. You'd be surprised by how much smaller and simpler they look compared today's behemoths. (Johnny Diaz) 1970 The company’s first ship was the Song of Norway, built in 1970. The ship had a capacity of 700 passengers and weighed 18 tons, according to USA Today. The ship serviced Royal Caribbean until 1996 when the company retired it and sold it to Airtours, according to Maritmatters.com. The ship eventually ended up in a scrap yard. 6 Number of brands under the Royal Caribbean name. The company includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea, TUI Cruises, Pullmantur Cruceros and Azamara Club Cruises. The company announced that it’s ending its joint venture with SkySea Cruise Line this year. 25 Royal Caribbean International / TNS Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship is based in Miami. Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship is based in Miami. (Royal Caribbean International / TNS) Royal Caribbean has 25 ships classified in size and amenities by class from Quantum to Empress class. The largest is the Symphony of the Seas which measures 1,188-feet long and 215.5 feet wide. Built in the TX France shipyard in St. Nazaire, France , the ship can carry 6,680 passengers. The company has five more ships on order. 77,000 1 The Harmony of the Seas ship was the backdrop for The Hallmark Channel’s “Love at Sea,” a romantic movie that aired last summer. The Hallmark Channel / Courtesy Real life couple Carlos PenaVega.and Alexa PenaVega starred in the The Hallmark Channel movie "Love At Sea'' which was filmed aboard Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas. Real life couple Carlos PenaVega.and Alexa PenaVega starred in the The Hallmark Channel movie "Love At Sea'' which was filmed aboard Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas. (The Hallmark Channel / Courtesy) The film followed a rookie cruise director and an event planner on the ship as it sailed through through the Caribbean, from the Bahamas to St. Kitts. It was the first Hallmark movie to be filmed aboard a cruise ship.