Royal Caribbean to Feature “Central Park” on Genesis Ship
Published on Modern agent: April 17, 2008
Royal Caribbean International said its 220,000-ton Project Genesis ship, set to debut as the largest cruise ship in the world in late 2009, will feature a “Central Park” in the center of the ship that spans the length of a football field. The park will feature pathways, seasonal flower gardens and canopy trees and will be open to the sky five decks above. The vessel will have 16 decks, carry 5,400 guests, and feature 2,700 staterooms. It will be homeported in Fort Lauderdale and, in 2010, will be joined by a sister ship.
In addition to Central Park, there will be six other “neighborhoods” though Royal Caribbean executives declined to describe them. Central Park’s central piazza will be the ship’s “town square” which evolves from a tranquil atmosphere during the day to a gathering space for alfresco dining and concerts and street performances in the evenings. The neighborhood will be lined with balcony staterooms rising six decks high with views of the park below. Surrounding the park will be an array of restaurants. Guests will have the option of an elegant dinner at 150 Central Park or a picnic lunch from the more casual Central Park Café. Other dining choices will include Giovanni’s Table, an Italian restaurant; Vintages wine bar; and Royal Caribbean’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse. Several bars will be scattered throughout the Park, including the Canopy Bar, located in a glass-domed canopies, and the Rising Tide, billed as the first moving bar at sea. Rising Tide will span three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park and then descend back into the public spaces below. Central Park also will have boutique shops.
“Building such a large vessel allowed us to add even more of the choices and amenities that our guests value, and Central Park is a dramatic addition to our already extensive array of exciting features,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Our brand identity is founded in innovation and on delivering the best cruise vacation through ‘wow’ experiences,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “Central Park is a true evolution of cruise ship design and allows us to provide our guests with not only a more varied selection of balcony accommodations, but also a stunning public venue that will be a central element of the ship, both during the day and at night.”
Central Park, located on Deck 8 of the ship, will be 62 feet wide and 328 feet long. The neighborhood will include 334 staterooms overlooking the park, 254 of which will have balconies. Central Park will be landscaped with tropical foliage, including seasonal flowers, shrubs and trees, including calla lilies, giant elephant ears, red ginger, rabbit-foot ferns and zebra calathea. Trees, some eventually reaching more than two-and-a-half decks tall, will include black olive, Cuban laurel, cherry of the Rio Grande, and painted and golden bamboo.
Central Park also will include reading corners; a chess garden with large-scale pieces; the Pergola Garden, an interpretive garden featuring vegetation from a host of Caribbean locales; and a sculpture garden, highlighting work by international artists. Irrigation and drainage systems will be incorporated, along with micro-climate control techniques. An on-site horticulturist will provide educational classes. The Crystal Canopies, two arched-glass domes, one with a bar, will be a focal point of Central Park and provide sunlight into the ship’s inner public spaces.
To make your reservation onboard Genesis, contact Amy at A Room With A View - Cruise & Travel!
800-571-3159
