** A $1 million "experiment, the blimp was filled with helium and for a charge, passengers could be lifted up in the air and view the scenery for miles around. During sea trials, Richard Fain, the Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean, was lifted up in the aerostat to try it out, and seemed to like it very much. Later on that day, the aerostat was sent up again for further trials, with nobody in it. Something went wrong and at first they were just unable to bring the aerostat back to the ship - but then something went seriously wrong and the aerostat broke free and drifted away across the open skies. The Finnish coastguard had to get involved, and followed the aerostat which finally sank downwards (running out of helium I suppose?). Nobody was hurt, but the aerostat experiment was cancelled.)
The charming Schooner bar - very classy.
Dining room - complete with magnificent oversized chandeliers and artworks.
A new addition - one of my favorites! These are installed everywhere on the ship.
One of the amazing pieces of art, at the entrance to the casino.
Wonderful skylights everywhere.
A view down from the pool deck to "Central Park", one of the seven "neighbourhoods" on the ship.
Sun deck area
There is $33 MILLION worth of artwork on the ship. Some pieces are small and subtle, some are huge and overwhelming and literally breathtaking.
One of the things that most impressed us on the ship were these - "Way Finders" - located all over the ship - touch screens similar to the "iPhone" or "Hero" phone - incredibly simple and logical to use - showed you what's going on on the ship at any time, all the venues, shops, activities, locations, and directions, not to mention showing you all the restaurants and their occupancies - so you could decide whether or not it was worth going somewhere. Kind of disappointing to trudge all the way to one end of the ship to a restaurant only to find out it's full - so this is a real GENIUS move!
In the interior of the ship, instead of just having retail space, the cruise ship has opened it up, lined it with cabins with balconies, and created Central Park - open air, with trees, shrubs, flowers, the sounds of birds - it is just wonderful.
Southeast 17th Street bridge.
The zipliner!!!!! You can "fly" across the top of the ship!
A view down to the Aqua Theater with their HUGE screens, the pool (their shows are similar to Cirque du Soleil's "O" which is water based and involves swimming, diving and underwater choreography). Cabins (staterooms) with balconies provide occupants with some great views.
A view down to Central Park.
