Engineering the Experience - How Does a Cruise Ship Float?

Have you ever wondered how a cruise ship floats? In this episode of Engineering the Experience, Royal Caribbean explores the principles and innovations that keep these engineering marvels sailing smoothly. From the principles of buoyancy and balance to the cutting-edge design and technology behind their stability, learn how these revolutionary ships float while delivering unforgettable vacations.

 

Have you ever wondered how a cruise ship comes to life? In the first episode of Engineering the Experience, Royal Caribbean dives into one of the most-asked questions to showcase the engineering and innovation that go into building revolutionary ships designed to deliver unforgettable vacations. From the initial ideation and design to months of construction at the shipyard, the vacation brand's naval experts, architects and more go behind the scenes on how it all unfolds.

Have you ever wondered how a cruise ship comes to life? In the first episode of Engineering the Experience, Royal Caribbean dives into one of the most-asked questions to showcase the engineering and innovation that go into building revolutionary ships designed to deliver unforgettable vacations. From the initial ideation and design to months of construction at the shipyard, the vacation brand's naval experts, architects and more go behind the scenes on how it all unfolds.

September 2025 – The family vacation of a lifetime floated one step closer toward its highly anticipated debut in July 2026. In a process that spanned more than 20 hours, millions of gallons of water, and a celebratory ceremony, Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas took to the water for the first time to accomplish a major milestone in the ship’s construction. Watch how it all unfolded as the new vacation continues to take shape at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

July 2025 – Star of the Seas has officially joined the Royal Caribbean family as the next iconic vacation and marked the completion of nearly two years of construction. From the first cut of steel in February 2023 and the installation of the signature AquaDome in September 2024 to the moment the keys were officially handed over in July 2025, watch as the ultimate family vacation takes shape to welcome vacationers of all ages in August from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.

Aspectos Destacados de la Construcción de Star of the Seas
Julio de 2025 – Star of the Seas se ha unido oficialmente a la familia de Royal Caribbean como el próximo icono de vacaciones y marcó la finalización de casi dos años de construcción. Desde el primer corte de acero en febrero de 2023 y la instalación del icónico AquaDome en septiembre de 2024, hasta el momento en que las llaves fueron entregadas oficialmente en julio de 2025, observa cómo se transforma la vacación familiar definitiva para dar la bienvenida a vacacionistas de todas las edades en agosto desde Puerto Cañaveral (Orlando), Florida.

May 2025 – Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated Star of the Seas is sailing one step closer to the finish line. Over 11 days, the next combination of the best of every vacation is being put to the test during the ship’s sea trials in Turku, Finland. More than 2,000 experts are testing everything from how the ship moves through the open water to engine performance and more, the key construction milestone comes just ahead of the new Icon Class vacation’s debut in August 2025 in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.

April 2025 - A newly amplified Allure of the Seas is coming to the Mediterranean in April 2025. The gamechanger is undergoing a more than $100 million transformation that will combine bold experiences like The Pesky Parrot tiki bar, resort-style pools, the 10-story dry slide - The Ultimate Abyss - and more with must-see destinations to create Europe’s vacation of the summer. Thousands involved have helped bring the reimagined Allure to life as part of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified program, first introduced in 2018.

En Royal Caribbean Group, nuestro compromiso con la sostenibilidad nos impulsa a reducir, reutilizar y reciclar el 90% de los residuos generados a bordo. Desde 1992, con nuestro programa "Save the Waves", trabajamos para ser libres de residuos al vertedero, innovando con tecnología avanzada y colaborando con proveedores para minimizar el desperdicio. Descubre cómo a través de "SEA the Future", seguimos liderando el camino hacia una industria de cruceros más sostenible.

El agua es esencial en un crucero, y en Royal Caribbean Group generamos, conservamos y tratamos cada gota de forma responsable. Más del 90% del agua utilizada a bordo se produce mediante ósmosis inversa o evaporación, asegurando un suministro sostenible sin afectar a los recursos naturales. Además, reutilizamos el agua condensada y optimizamos su uso con sistemas de eficiencia avanzada. Descubre cómo nuestra innovación en gestión hídrica forma parte de nuestro compromiso por un futuro más sostenible.

 

En Royal Caribbean Group, nuestra iniciativa "SEA the Future" nos impulsa a conservar el planeta, apoyar a las comunidades y acelerar la innovación en sostenibilidad. Desde la gestión del agua hasta la eficiencia energética y la conversión de residuos en energía, trabajamos para reducir nuestro impacto ambiental y operar con cero emisiones netas. Descubre cómo nos estamos transformando para ofrecer las mejores experiencias de vacaciones de un modo responsable.

Royal Caribbean Group está innovando para alcanzar cero emisiones netas para el 2050. Desde burbujas microscópicas que reducen la fricción hasta IA para optimizar sus itinerarios, descubre cómo estamos transformando nuestros cruceros con energía alternativa, sistemas de purificación avanzados y diseños de vanguardia para proteger el planeta.

January 2025 – The first of the Royal Beach Club Collection is taking shape, and at the heart of the experience will be the Bahamian culture, people and Royal Caribbean’s commitment to responsibly build and run the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. Hear from Philip Simon, President, Royal Caribbean Group Bahamas; Ronald Forbes, Manager, Project and Product Development, Royal Caribbean Group; Janeen Bullard, Principal & Lead Environmental Consultant, JSS Consulting; and Kristoff Francois, Plant Ecologist, JSS Consulting as they share what Royal Caribbean is doing to protect the island’s natural beauty by adding native plants and vegetation and removing invasive, non-native species of plants.

September 2024 – Going behind the scenes of Royal Caribbean’s construction of the highly anticipated Star of the Seas, the installation of the AquaDome’s 367-ton (332 tonnes) dome is a sight – and feat – of iconic proportions. At the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the largest glass and steel structure to ever be lifted onto a cruise ship is a days-long process that takes months of planning. The installation also marks the next phase of work, when it all starts to come to life with the buildout of the neighborhood’s restaurants, bars and the deck-defying entertainment venue, the signature AquaTheater. In August 2025, Star debuts as the next combination of every vacation in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.