Why Royal Caribbean Ships Got So Big [The Full Fleet Story]

How did Royal Caribbean go from classic, 1990s-era ships to the massive, record-breaking floating cities we see today? In this deep dive, we explore the 30-year evolution of the Royal Caribbean fleet, tracing the design revolutions of every ship class from the Vision class to the groundbreaking Icon class. I’m Chris Frame, the maritime historian, and today we’re uncovering the engineering marvels and design shifts that transformed the cruise industry forever. From the 2 acres (0.8 hectares) of glass on the Vision class to the fuel cell technology powering the Icon class, we look at what makes each of these ships a unique chapter in maritime history. In this video, we cover: - The Vision Class: The classic beauties that defined RCI's early identity. - The Voyager Revolution: How the Royal Promenade changed cruise ship design. - The Radiance Class: Why they were built for the Panama Canal. - The Freedom Class: Why Voyager was upscaled? - The Oasis Class: Scaling up to "neighborhoods" and floating cities. - The Quantum Class: How RCI got digital, and - The Icon Class: The future of sustainable cruise engineering. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgk7SzYDkiXWWBfMqXYH0cA/join -- 📚 Buy my books: https://www.frameandcross.com/books, 👕 Buy cruise merch: https://themaritimehistorian.teemill.com/ 🛳️ My Maritime History Substack: https://themaritimehistorian.substack.com/ — 🎥 OUR EQUIPMENT: Camera - DJI Mimo Pocket 2: https://amzn.to/3XjXwQn Vlogging Mic: DJI Mic: https://amzn.to/3D3idJP Lav Mic: DJI Lavalier Mic: https://amzn.to/4klRgBA Voice Over Mic: Audio Technica: https://amzn.to/4ij8myg These are affiliate links meaning we may receive a small commission from any sales. 🗺️ CUSTOM CRUISE MAP: Made using AIS (satellite ship-tracking) data, The Cruise Maps show the exact route. Select your cruise, give your map a title, and we'll do the rest. Use my code "ChrisFrameOfficial" for 10% off at: https://thecruisemaps.com/chrisframeofficial This is an affiliate link, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through it. — 🌍 THE CRUISE GLOBE: Map your own cruises at: https://www.thecruiseglobe.com/ — Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgk7SzYDkiXWWBfMqXYH0cA/join Thumbnail Images: Photo by Diego F. Parra: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cruise-ship-moored-in-harbor-15305866/ Photo by Arian Fernandez from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/luxurious-cruise-ships-docked-in-bahamas-33710233/ Tags: #Cruisenews #cruisetour #shiptour #royalcaribbean #oasisoftheseas #iconoftheseas #visionoftheseas #utopiaoftheseas #allureoftheseas #enchantmentoftheseas #quantumoftheseas #cruiseline #rci #LoyaltoRoyal #royalcaribbeaninternational #MaritimeHistory #IconOfTheSeas #CruiseShip #ShipEvolution #CruiseHistory #OasisClass #MarineEngineering #ChrisFrame #Cruising REFERENCES: Thanks to Royal Caribbean Media: https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com CC BY: Freedom of the Seas CC BY SA 4.0 Beyond My Ken: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MS_Freedom_of_the_Seas,_Port_Canaveral,_Florida.jpg Voyager of the Seas CC BY SA 4.0 Iancrwebb: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Voyager_of_the_seas_santorini.png PEXELS: Video by Glenn Langhorst: https://www.pexels.com/video/illuminated-cruise-ship-at-night-10508175/ Video by Glenn Langhorst: https://www.pexels.com/video/ferry-during-night-cruise-10910383/ Video by Jean Pablo Silva: https://www.pexels.com/video/crucero-15849645/ Video by Alexandre Henry Alves: https://www.pexels.com/video/cruise-ships-18910178/ Video by WeStarMoney Rec: https://www.pexels.com/video/a-cruise-ship-docked-at-a-dock-20253274/ Video by Jean Pablo Silva: https://www.pexels.com/video/drone-footage-of-a-cruise-ship-and-a-tugboat-near-the-coast-15260322/ Video by Pimon Kumsri: https://www.pexels.com/video/cruise-ship-and-people-riding-a-jet-ski-in-the-ocean-14177112/ Video by Fung xhiie: https://www.pexels.com/video/cruise-ship-at-grenada-18540322/ Video by Jabriel: https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-view-of-cruise-ships-at-new-orleans-port-30988870/ Video by Lost Souls NV: https://www.pexels.com/video/majestic-cruise-ship-sails-on-blue-ocean-day-29227342/ Video by Glenn Langhorst from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/video/cruis-ship-in-harbor-10452342/ MUSIC: Licensed via Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/ Music by: https://pixabay.com/users/penguinmusic-24940186/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=12636 Oleksandr Stepanov Pixabay Music By: https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-epic-emotinal-inspirational-207071/ FidelVeda Music By: https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-ambition-multiple-asian-music-instruments-166931/ Pixabay