March 25, 2024
Modern-day cruise ships are a feat of modern engineering and design. These impressive structures weigh anywhere between 20,000 to 60,000 tons while carrying thousands of passengers and containing a host of attractions like pools, slides, surf simulators, and even roller coasters. It’s clear that the cruising world has always had a larger-than-life personality. But there were a few times when this epicness was taken to a whole other level. Let’s take a look at 6 of the craziest cruising world records.
The world’s largest cruise ship.
In 2018, Royal Caribbean unveiled the largest cruise ship in the world. Weighing in at a whopping 228,081 tons, the Symphony of the Seas blows standard cruise liners out of the water. Michael Bayley, the company’s CEO, admitted that the world record wasn’t a goal, but rather a result of trying to pack as much accommodation and dining into one ship. The 1,188-foot long and 215-foot wide liner features a nine-story zipline, rock climbing walls, and a 92-foot tall waterslide.
The largest vow renewal ceremony.
Cruise ships are perfect for relaxing by the pool, enjoying some drinks, trying new foods, and…renewing your vows? Well, at least it was for 1,443 couples who decided to tie the knot once again in the world’s largest vow renewal ceremony. Princess Cruises achieved this goal by having mass vow renewal events on three of their ships simultaneously.
The biggest LEGO cruise ship.
In 2017, Dream Cruises in Hong Kong built the world’s largest cruise ship – out of LEGOS! One look at this amazing feat is enough to bring out your inner-child. The impressive model measures over 27 feet in length, 4 feet in width, and 5 feet in height. And the answer to the question we’re all wondering – it took exactly 2,518,266 individual LEGO pieces to build. Are normal cruise ships even made with that many parts?
The largest cruise ship to pull a waterskier.
Waterskiing is one of the few activities that the average person can’t do on a cruise ship. But that didn’t stop one brave soul from setting a world record with the help of AIDA Cruises. Jan Schwiderek, a German TV presenter, waterskied behind the 69,203-ton AIDAbella for a total of 6 minutes and 25 seconds. The colossal ship has a passenger capacity of over 2,000 and measures over 826 feet in length. AIDAbella got up to 14 knots – or 16 mph – while pulling the daredevil. Needless to say, this isn’t an ongoing attraction for the cruise provider.
The longest live TV documentary.
134 hours, 42 minutes, and 45 seconds – that’s how long the MS Nordnorge broadcasted an uninterrupted view of Norway’s coastline. For more than 5 days straight, a total of 11 cameras captured a non-stop documentary aboard The Norwegian Coastal Express that runs from the southwestern portion of the country’s coastline to the northern point near the Russian border. Although it didn’t win any Oscar nominations, the resulting film did land the record for the longest live TV documentary.
The most ship inaugurations in 1 day.
Ship inaugurations have been a maritime tradition for centuries, and the cruising world is no different. All cruise lines have their own rituals for releasing a new ship into the open ocean. Viking River Cruises seems to set a new world record every time they inaugurate new ships. In March of 2018, the cruise provider christened 7 ships in Amsterdam, 3 in France, and 4 in Germany for a grand total of 14. That’s a lot of champagne!
If you’re ready to plan a cruise that’s unforgettable, visit CI Azumano Travel for access to industry-leading information and travel tips. The Cl Azumano Travel team is comprised of cruise-planning experts who know how to customize the perfect travel experience to meet your needs. For the moments you want, you should only work with the experts that know – that’s us!