‘Wonder of the seas’, the largest cruise ship in the world, arrives in Barcelona with weekly routes


  • The spectacular Royal Caribbean ship, with a capacity of up to 7,000 passengers, will have a base port in the city, as the city council demands so that the activity generates a greater economic impact and fewer effects in the center

The 362 meters in length of the ‘Wonder of the Seas‘ moored this Wednesday at the Adossat wharf are the best reflection of the near normalization of activity of cruise ships in Barcelona and by extension in Europe after the long pandemic. the newest world’s largest cruise ship confirms with its presence that the Catalan port continues to be the main one on the continent, in terms of figures and innovation. the ship of Royal Caribbean It will not surprise fans of these holidays at sea from the outside, because it is the fifth in the Oasis series (although each one adds some length or beam to break their own records), but its interior does harbor surprises, both in competition by the spectacular as in a highly topical issue such as the need to sustainability in these floating cities.

The ‘Wonder’ has arrived from the United States after several previous stops to start its weekly routes in the Catalan capital throughout the high season. In total there will be 25 departures, every Sunday. This nuance is key at a time when the city council, little friend of this activity, defends encourage Barcelona to act as a base port and not as a mere stopover of a few hours. In this way, travelers (apart from the hundreds of Catalan users who will embark each week) they usually stay in hotels before starting the route to get to know the city. Not only do they multiply their spending in the metropolis, but they do tourism in a more regulated and diversified way. The opposite of the simultaneous landing on the Rambla for a quick visit.

The shipping company has always opted to establish route starts and ends in the city, as well as to bring its main novelties. As icing on the cake, last week it confirmed that it will have its own terminal at Adossat, whose project has already been presented to the Port of Barcelona. This week’s debut faces several days of presentation to the press from all over the continent before its first Mediterranean route, which will start with normal passage on Sunday. It can hold up to a maximum of 7,000 guests, plus 2,300 crew.

Ship with eight ‘barrios’

In the midst of a season with many premieres, the cruise ship stands out for its unique design established around ‘neighborhoods’ or ‘neighborhoods’, which on this occasion grow to eight by incorporating an area of ​​its own for super-suite users, with its private restaurant , slides, cinema, karaoke and all the desirable paraphernalia on board. It also gains gastronomic options, although it will take an appetite as XXL as the ship to delve into the 40 restaurants, bars and lounges of the ‘Wonder’.

Once again, the activities on board are displayed with more than a hundred artists and technicians to give life to the shows on stages, aquatic theater, ice rink and others, and there is no lack of a new underwater activity area with the smallest, climbing walls, wave simulators for surfing, a zip line 10 stories high, a carousel, family adventure zones, game rooms for children, teenagers or adults, a panoramic seafront promenade… Not forgetting the omnipresent Central Park that characterizes the series, to walk among 20,000 plants in a road that crosses part of the ship and full of restaurants and shops.

What is not visible to the naked eye are the technical innovations that gradually allow the new generations of cruise ships to become less polluting. In this case, by having hybrid power, the almost 237,000 tons It starts to connect to the electricity grid once docked, so as not to use fuel and minimize emissions. The shipping company’s next ships now under construction will already be powered by liquefied natural gas.

Desalinated water and eco systems

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But at sea six diesel engines provide enough power for her 2,867 cabins, powering 24 elevators and life on 18 decks. To reduce their impact, shipping company sources explain, they have two emission purification systems that eliminate 98% of sulfur emissions and reduce NOx or nitrogen oxides. Inside the giant there is also a desalination plant that allows treating more than two million liters of water a day to supply the cruise ship.

Precisely, the Port of Barcelona has highlighted that this year more than 50% of the 800 scales of this 2022 in the city they will be from ships less than 10 years old and incorporate this type of resources. The infrastructure itself is working on its electrification plan, which will be completed in 2030.


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