May 18, 2007 12:00 pm US/Eastern
Benefit Cruise Sets Sail On World's Largest Ship
Liberty Of The Seas Carries 3,634 Guests
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MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Royal Caribbean International's newest ship, "Liberty of the Seas", hosts the ninth annual United Way Mayor's Ball this weekend.
The ship's official naming ceremony will also take place aboard the benefit cruise.
Sharing the title of world's largest cruise ship with sister ship, "Freedom of the Seas", Liberty is Royal Caribbean's 21st ship.
Liberty's official naming ceremony, which includes the rich maritime tradition of breaking a bottle of champagne against the bow, will take place Friday at 4:00 p.m. while the ship is docked at the Port of Miami. Liberty will then set sail at approximately 6:00 p.m.
There will be more than 2 thousand guests on board the benefit cruise who will take part in a variety of special events including a VIP reception hosted by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. and the annual Mayor's Ball.
"We're extremely proud to host the United Way Major's Ball aboard our new magnificent ship," said Richard Fain. "Royal Caribbean is committed to giving back to this community and we are honored to work with the Honorable Mayor and the United Way to help people live better and more fulfilling lives."
In addition, guests on the one-night benefit cruise will enjoy a silent auction, world class dining, Broadway-style entertainment, live music and dancing in more than 15 lounges and the casino will be open too.
Guests return to port at 8:00 a.m. Saturday.
The ship carries 3,634 guests and measures taller than the Empire State Building. The ship offers the most innovative onboard features of any ship at sea including the FlowRider surf park simulator, cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, ice-skating rink, full sized boxing rink, H20 Zone water park, the 445-foot long Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard and even a 14-person Presidential Family Suite.
"Liberty" is also the first Royal Caribbean ship to roll out enhanced onboard programming such as the Vitality wellness program, Explorer Weddings, Crown & Anchor Society Youth rewards, and enhanced family and teen activities.
Immediately following the United Way Major's Ball, "Liberty" will embark on her maiden voyage on May 19, 2007.
Liberty will alternate between seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
Liberty's Western Caribbean itinerary will call at Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private destination in Haiti.
The Eastern Caribbean itinerary will call at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Labadee, with a third day at sea.
The two Freedom-class ships will be joined by a third, Independence of the Seas, when she debuts in Europe in May 2008. Sailing from the United Kingdom, she will be the largest ship to be home-ported in Europe.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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