Radiance-class cruise ship

Class overview
Builders:	Meyer Werft
Operators:	Royal Caribbean International
Preceded by:	Voyager class
Succeeded by:	Freedom class
Built:	2001-2004
Completed:	4
Active:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Cruise ship
Tonnage:	90,090 GT
Length:	962 ft (293 m)
Beam:	105.6 ft (32.2 m)
Draft:	26.7 ft (8.1 m)
Decks:	12
Installed power:	Gas turbines
Speed:	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Capacity:	2,501 Passengers
Crew:	859

The Radiance class is a class of four cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean built between 2001 and 2004 at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The class was preceded by the Voyager class and succeeded by the Freedom class.

Radiance-class ships have a gross tonnage of 90,090, being smaller than the preceding Voyager class. Built for cruising in cooler climates, this class differs in design from the Voyager and Freedom classes, and some aspects later influenced the upcoming Quantum-class.^[1] The Radiance-class is built to Panamax form factor, allowing them to pass through the Panama Canal. The power plant on all ships consists of environmentally friendlier but less fuel efficient gas turbines.

The Radiance-class ships have over 3 acres (12,000 m²) of glass, glass exterior viewing elevators, over 700 balcony staterooms, two-level glass windowed dining rooms, alternative restaurants, a retractable glass roof over a pool, an outdoor pool, as well as the first self-leveling billiard tables at sea. During their refurbishment, the ships of this class have been refitted to incorporate the "Centrum Wow" events, which transformed the multi-level atrium into vertical theater for aerialists (aerial gymnasts).^[2]

Ships

Ship	Year	Entered service with Royal Caribbean	Home port(s) (as of February 2013)	Notes	Image
Radiance of the Seas	2001	March 10, 2001	Sydney, Australia (Southern Hemisphere Summer) Vancouver, British Columbia and Anchorage, Alaska (Northern Hemisphere Summer)	First cruise ship to feature pool tables that are stabilized by a computer-controlled gyroscope. Currently sailing from Sydney, Australia as of January 2016. Will sail from Anchorage, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia in the summer of 2016.
Brilliance of the Seas	2002	July 19, 2002	Tampa, Florida (Winter) Barcelona, Spain (Summer)	Went into drydock April 23, 2013. Currently sailing out of Tampa, Florida as of January 2016. Will sail out of Barcelona, Spain in the summer season of 2016.
Serenade of the Seas	2003	August 1, 2003	Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark (Summer) Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Winter) Boston, Massachusetts (Fall)	Currently sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida as of January 2016. Will sail out of Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark in the summer of 2016.
Jewel of the Seas	2004	May 8, 2004	San Juan, Puerto Rico (Winter) Rome, Italy (Summer)	Currently sailing out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Will sail out of Rome, Italy in the 2016 summer season after going to drydock in April 2016.

Similar ships

• Spirit class - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Cruises.
• MV Arcadia - a similar Panamax ship operated by P&O Cruises.
• MS Queen Victoria - a similar Panamax sized ship operated by Cunard Line.
• Vista class - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Holland America Line
• Signature class cruise ship - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Holland America Line
• Coral Princess and Island Princess - A similar set of Panamax ships operated by Princess Cruises
• Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa - A set of Panamax ships operated by Costa Cruises derived from the Spirit Class and Vista Class designs.

References