Posted on 03/31/2026 1:58:47 PM PDT by Libloather
Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship is the world’s largest.
The Hero of the Seas, set to launch late next summer, includes a record-breaking water park, the most pools at sea, 28 dining options, a multi-level family treehouse, and a kinetic sculpture, just for kicks.
Billed by Royal Caribbean as “the most unstoppable, incredible, revolutionary family vacation ever,” the high-stimulation vessel, which appears to have been designed by an eleven-year-old child high on cocaine, will officially open for bookings on Thursday, April 2.
The Hero of the Seas belongs to Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, the cruise line’s newest generation of ships, which also includes Icon, Legend, and Star of the Seas.
These mega-ships combine resort-style amenities and family-focused neighborhoods.
“Icon Class truly set a new standard for family vacations, and Hero of the Seas takes that vision even further,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean, in a press release.
“With more water, more thrills and more choices for all ages, we’re continuing to build on what our guests love about Royal Caribbean and delivering the experiences families are looking for when vacationing together,” he continued.
While aboard Hero of the Seas, guests can swim at nine distinct pools, including family-friendly spaces, adult-only options, and, because maximalism and max escapism during an economic downturn are the vibe of this here vessel, the world’s largest onboard swim-up bar.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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All “modern” cruise ships are severely top-heavy because passengers pay more for a cabin above the waterline. The only thing that keeps the shiny side up is the maneuvering or azipod thrusters. They ‘blow’ sideways to keep the boat from capsizing.
Just last year, the 6,700 passenger cruise ship MSC World Europa lost all her engines at once. It’s a 223-foot tall ship with gross tonnage of 153,000 and a 30-foot draft. A calm sea saved was all that saves their bacon for the 19 hours it took to get part of the engines restarted.
Children a on a cruise ship. I’ll pass.
Per AI:
Carnival Cruise Line consistently leads in reported crime statistics, including sexual assaults, rapes, and physical assaults with serious injury, holding the top spot for industry-wide crime incidents in Q3 2025 and accounting for 59% of reported physical assaults since 2022. Royal Caribbean also ranks highly in raw crime numbers, leading in Q4 2025 and Q2 2025 for sexual crimes, though per capita rates vary significantly due to its larger passenger volume.
Regarding illness and sanitation, Norwegian Cruise Line ships like the Breakaway and MSC Cruises vessels have frequently appeared on the CDC’s list of the dirtiest ships with scores below 86, facing issues like food infestation, unsafe temperatures, and crew members working while sick. Specific incidents include the Costa Concordia disaster and multiple norovirus outbreaks affecting Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, which have also struggled with inadequate medical facilities and improper body storage.
Maintenance and mechanical failures are frequently cited for NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line), which has reported propulsion issues and unsafe conditions leading to lawsuits, and MSC, which faced a 2019 dock collision in Venice and a failed inspection scoring as low as 67 points in 2024. Holland America and Celebrity have also been noted for outdated safety equipment, inconsistent emergency procedures, and poor outbreak management, with the Zaandam incident in 2020 leaving stranded passengers without proper medical care.
I’m no expert. But there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of lifeboats in that picture. And I’m guessing the rule has to be enough lifeboat space for everyone on board.
That’s where the Titanic went wrong.
Enochlophobia (Crowds): Specifically refers to the fear of crowds. When crowded areas are the trigger, it often manifests as feeling restricted by the presence of people, rather than the walls themselves.
I'm a pilot. I don't do cruise ships. A waste of time and resources IMHO. I do have a Sea Plane Rating though.
I'll take that.
Instead of Karl Marxist term “capitalism, use Adam Smith’s term, “Free Market Economy”.
A lot more to be said about the free market.
“I don’t do cruise ships. A waste of time and resources IMHO.”
Our daughter and SIL invited us to go with them on a cruise from Seattle to Alaska. That’s been at the very bottom of my bucket list, but we said “yes.” Once was enough. I just do not enjoy “manufactured fun” things like cruise ships or Disneyland.
Now being a seaplane pilot? That sounds like a lot of fun. I’ve taken two seaplane rides in my life, one up Lake Chelan and one from Como, Italy to Bellagio. Both were outstanding.
Nothing Can Go Wrong
What’s the best cruise line?
Meh, to each his or her own — but since I dropped a different comment on cruises a bit ago, allow me to extend and expand my remarks.
First, I love being out on the water. I’m not rich enough - nor do I have the free-time - to own a proper ocean goer. I *used to* have a fairly low end boat kept in a slip on Lake Michigan, but that was an absolute money hole. Nowadays, just a little fishing boat with an outboard and a trailer... but ocean > (big/great) lake > river/pond/small lake. I’ve accepted - for now :-) - even the bottom end is simply the most cost-effective, since I lack the budget room to waste money on higher ranks. Though, I *do* enjoy teasing my kids — “Go ahead, tick me off... your inheritance will cover a nice cabin cruiser!”
Second, though — and I’ll thank my wife for this - I do enjoy taking cruises. A boat like this? Skeptical. I also hate the silly “onboard activities” and generally - though exceptions always exist - not a bit fan of “port call excursions”. A few are great, most are bad, a few are complete grifts. The missus and I have reached a happy medium where we usually pick a few we can agree on.
Third/ultimately? It’s the rare trip where I don’t even bother bringing my laptop. A true chance to completely unplug and ignore the world. Most cruise ships? The on-board restaurants are actually quite good. And if I decide to grab a bloody mary for brunch? I can do that, too. Love my grandkids - but when we do big family cruises? They go off to their entertainment parks; I get to read a book by a pool sipping on a gimlet.
Don’t get me wrong - if I’m doing a vacation to visit a place? A cruise is NOT the way to do it. But if it’s the annual vacation without a destination in particular?
I completely understand why many people hate it... but for me? Here’s my money. Now leave me alone. I’ll sip boat drinks, lounge about, enjoy just sitting on a balcony with a book, and the only thing I have to *plan* is maybe dinner. Maybe I’ll throw some cards at a casino. Maybe I’ll saunter to a bar to watch a game.
Let me repeat - all the things people hate about cruises/cruise ships? They’re not wrong. Lord knows Jimmy Buffett wouldn’t approve, but it’s the closest my life and responsibility’s allow me to that escapism fantasy.
Will it have laundry fire problems?
I love the ignorant cruise ship comments from people that have never set foot on one.
It’s one of the most entertaining subjects on FR.
One of my favorites is “they’re all petri dishes!”
Hilarious. 😂
“Some of the biggest ones have about 10,000 people onboard”
10,000 other people on a ship is not my idea of a vacation.
Different strokes for different folks.
Well thank God Jimmy Buffett doesn’t decide what I do...
“Lost my grandmother on the Yarmouth Castle Cruise ship. On ship fire.”
Gordon Lightfoot wrote a song about that.
Don’t know. But Viking, Crystal, Oceania, P&O and Japan Grace are all currently highly rated for maintenance and sanitation.
“What’s the best cruise line?”
That’s a subjective question and depends on what you’re looking for.....so deciding on what type of experience you want should dictate what cruise line and even what ship you end up choosing.
Cruise ships = jail with a chance of drowning
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