View source for Freedom-class cruise ship

{{Short description|Group of Royal Caribbean cruise ships}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = 
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = File:Freedom of the Seas (ship, 2006) Docked in Grand Cayman - April 24, 2025.cropped.jpg
| Ship caption = ''Freedom of the Seas'', the lead vessel, docked at [[George Town, Grand Cayman|George Town]], [[Grand Cayman]] on 24 April 2025
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Builders = [[Aker Finnyards]] [[Perno shipyard|Turku Shipyard]], [[Finland]]
| Operators = [[Royal Caribbean International]]
| Class before = {{sclass|Radiance|cruise ship|4}}
| Class after = {{sclass|Oasis|cruise ship|4}}
| Subclasses = 
| Built range = 2004–2008
| In service range = 2006–present
| Total ships building = 
| Total ships planned = 4
| Total ships completed = 3
| Total ships cancelled = 1{{Citation needed|date=June 2012}}
| Total ships active = 3  <!--Independence of the Seas in dry dock from 20 April 2013 to 2 May 2013 -->
| Total ships laid up = <!--Independence of the Seas in dry dock from 20 April 2013 to 2 May 2013 -->
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = [[Cruise ship]]
| Ship tonnage = {{GT|154,407}}
| Ship displacement = 
| Ship length = {{convert|1111|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
| Ship beam = *{{convert|126|ft|8|in|m|1|abbr=on||disp=flip}} at waterline
*{{convert|183|ft|8|in|m|1|abbr=on||disp=flip}} bridge wings
| Ship height = {{convert|209|ft|m|1|abbr=on|disp=flip}} above water line
| Ship draught = 
| Ship draft = {{convert|28|ft|m|1|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship decks = 18 total, 15 passenger
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship sail plan = 
| Ship power = 6 × [[Wärtsilä]] 12V46 diesels each rated at {{convert|12.6|MW|hp|abbr=on}} driving electric generators at 514 rpm
| Ship propulsion = 3 × [[Asea Brown Boveri|ABB]] [[Azipod]] podded [[diesel-electric|electric propulsion units]], two of them [[Azimuth thruster|azimuthing]], one fixed. 4 additional bow thrusters.
| Ship speed = {{convert|21.6|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship capacity = 4,370 passengers (double occupancy)
| Ship crew = 1,300 (average)
| Ship notes = Extended version of second generation ''Voyager'' class
}}
|}

The '''''Freedom'' class''' is a group of three [[cruise ships]] for [[Royal Caribbean International]]. The first ship of the class, {{MS|Freedom of the Seas||2}}, was the largest passenger ship in the world, and the largest ever built in terms of passenger capacity and gross tonnage, when it was built in 2006. These two records were then shared by all three ships until the construction of {{ship||Oasis of the Seas}} was completed in November 2009.

''Freedom of the Seas'' left [[Aker Finnyards]] [[Perno shipyard|Turku Shipyard]], [[Finland]] on 24 April 2006 and started regular sailings  out of Miami the next month. The second ship of the class, {{ship||Liberty of the Seas}}, sailed on its maiden voyage on 19 May 2007. The third ship of the class, {{ship||Independence of the Seas}}, was delivered and started work out of Southampton in April 2008.

== Design ==
[[File:Freedom-Class Comparison.jpg|thumb|A ''Freedom''-class ship compared with other large structures]]

The ''Freedom''-class ships are similar in design and layout to the earlier second-generation {{sclass|Voyager|cruise ship|4}}, including an ice skating rink and a {{convert|136|m|ft|abbr=on|adj=}} central atrium<ref name="Freedom of the Seas - Cruise Ship">{{Cite web |title=Freedom of the Seas - Cruise Ship |url=https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/freedomofthesea/ |access-date=11 September 2022 |website=Ship Technology |language=en-US}}</ref> named the Royal Promenade, featuring a pub, shops, arcades, bars, and a 24-hour Cafe Promenade. New features added to the ''Freedom'' class include the [[FlowRider]] surf park, cantilevered whirlpools, and the H2O Zone waterpark.

The first ship, ''Freedom of the Seas'', is estimated to have cost US$800 million.<ref name="Freedom of the Seas - Cruise Ship"/>

== Future ==
In March 2008, Aker Yards and Royal Caribbean announced a [[memorandum of agreement]] for a fourth ship in the class, subject to board approval and finalization of terms and conditions, but no actual order for the ship was ever announced.<ref name="4th">{{cite web |url=http://www.akeryards.fi/?page=580&xml=A/134984/PR/200803/1197215 |title=Possible Fourth Freedom Vessel To Be Built By Aker Yards |accessdate=3 March 2008 |date=3 March 2008 |format= |publisher=Aker Yards press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417010148/http://www.akeryards.fi/?page=580&xml=A%2F134984%2FPR%2F200803%2F1197215 |archive-date=17 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2011, Royal Caribbean announced that it had ordered two ships from the similarly sized {{sclass|Quantum|cruise ship|4}}, making an order for a fourth ''Freedom''-class ship unlikely.<ref name="letterofintent">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsarticle&id=1528198 |title=Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. : Investor Relations : Press Releases |access-date=10 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413014621/http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsarticle&id=1528198 |archive-date=13 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Ships==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Ship || Year built || Entered service<br />with Royal Caribbean || [[Gross tonnage]] || Notes || Image
|-
| {{MS|Freedom of the Seas||2}} || style="text-align:Center;"|2006 || style="text-align:Center;"| 4 June 2006 || style="text-align:center;"|156,271<ref name=fleetguidePDF>{{cite web |title=2016-2017 Royal Caribbean Fleet Guide |url=http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2016_2017/15042953_Fleet_Deployment_Guide.pdf |publisher=Royal Caribbean International |accessdate=4 March 2016 |date=26 February 2016 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307150313/http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2016_2017/15042953_Fleet_Deployment_Guide.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>  || Largest cruise ship in the world, 2006–2009. Refurbished January 2015. Underwent amplification in early 2020. ||[[File:Freedom of the Seas (ship, 2006) Docked in Grand Cayman - April 24, 2025 (2).cropped.jpg|alt=|center|200x200px]]
|-
| {{ship||Liberty of the Seas}} || style="text-align:Center;"|2007 || style="text-align:Center;"| 19 May 2007 || style="text-align:center;"| 155,889<ref>{{DNV|id=26180|shipname=Liberty of the Seas|access-date=13 May 2007}}</ref> || Originally named ''Endeavor of the Seas'' before construction started.<ref>{{cite web|title=Endeavor of the Seas Trademark Information|url=https://www.trademarkia.com/endeavor-of-the-seas-78485437.html|website=Trademarkia|accessdate=22 April 2018}}</ref>||[[File:Liberty_Of_The_Seas_GC_12-22-16.jpg|center|200px]]
|-
| {{ship||Independence of the Seas}} || style="text-align:Center;"|2008 || style="text-align:Center;"| 2 May 2008 || style="text-align:center;"|155,889<ref name=fleetguidePDF /> || Refurbished April 2013 and April 2018. ||[[File:Independence of the Seas at Port Miami (March 15, 2024).jpg|alt=|center|200x200px]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/home.do?shipClassCode=FR&br=R Royal Caribbean webpage for the ''Freedom'' class]

{{Royal Caribbean Cruise International Ships}}

[[Category:Cruise ship classes]]
[[Category:Royal Caribbean International]]