Serenade of the Seas in Helsinki, 29 June 2015

Serenade of the Seas

IMO 9228344
Built 2003, Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany
Tonnage 90 090 GT
Length 293,20 m
Width 32,40 m
Draugth 8,50 m
2 110 passengers (double occupancy), 2 500 passengers (maximum)
2 GE/Fincantieri gas turbines, combined 39 000 kW
2 azipods
3 bow thrusters
Speed 25 knots

The Serenade of the Seas is pretty much a perfect example of anonymous Royal Caribbean ships. The ship has a generic name and a genric (though admittedly attractive) exterior design. There is nothing that sets her apart from her fleetmates, all traces of individual identity have been swept away and she's just another Royal Caribbean ship. She was built in 2003 as the third of the four gas turbine powered cruise ships built at Meyer Werft for Royal Caribbean.

The photographs below show the Serenade of the Seas departing Helsinki Länsisatama on the afternoon of 29 June 2015. Photographed from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

I realised afterwards that I've taken a very similar picture of the sister ship Jewel of the Seas back in 2011.

It's the return of The Photogenic Tree.

Granite...

...and roses.

And a bit more granite, while we're at it.

Next time: Costa Luminosa

Adventure of the Seas in Helsinki, 2 July 2014

Adventure of the Seas

IMO 9167227
Built 2001, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku, Finland
Tonnage 137 276 GT
Length 311,12 m
Width 38,60 m
Draught 8,60 m
3 114 passengers (lower berths)
3 838 passengers (all berths)
6 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 42 000 kW
3 azipods
4 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots

In an unusual turn of events, the weather in Helsinki was passable today and present in the harbour was a ship I had not photographed before, namely Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas.

Not much really to say about the ship itself. She was built in 2001 at Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku yeard as the third unit in the Voyager-class - at that time the largest passenger-carrying ships in the world. Today, of course, the Voyager-class has been surpassed in size several times over. The Adventure of the Seas seems to have enjoyed a rather uneventful career in service - thus far, at least.

The photographs below show the Adventure of the Seas departing from Helsinki West Harbour on the afternoon of 2. July 2014. Photographed from Vattuniemi. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

While I like the overall shape of the exterior, I'm really not sure about the livery. There are three different shades of blue present on the superstructure. Surely a more coordinated appearance would have been possible?

Two biggies: the Adventure of the Seas departs while the Silja Europa - the largest ferry on the Northern Baltic - arrives.

The shitloads of rain we've gotten recently did result in nicely photogenic puddles.

I'm really diggning the pine tree here...

...so much so that I decided to try a different view with it.

Vision of the Seas in Helsinki, 28 June 2012

Vision of the Seas

IMO 9116876
Built 1998, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 78 491 GT
Length 278,94 m
Width 32,20 m
Draugth 7,80 m
2 435 passengers
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 50 400 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 22 knots

Often promised but rarely seen, here are the photos of the Vision of the Seas from last summer. Which are pretty perfect for today, as the Finnish winter in showing it's worst side again, with gloomy overcast skies and rain. Not snow, rain.

So yes, the photographs below show the Vision of the Seas departing Helsinki West Harbour in the afternoon of 28 June 2013. Photographed from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Photogenic summer reeds in the foreground.

Photoenic summer reeds, part 2.

Now with a cameo appearance by The Photogenic Tree.

Not sure about the funnel placement in this class of ships, to be honest. It would probably look better if the funnel was more centrally located, near the Sky Viking lounge.

Finnish granite in the foreground.

Next time: If we continue chronologically, the Celebrity Eclipse.

Brilliance of the Seas in Helsinki, 20 May 2013

Brilliance of the Seas

IMO 9195200
Built 2002, Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany
Tonnage 90 090 GT
Length 293,20 m
Width 32,40 m
Draugth 8,50 m
2 112 passengers (double occupancy), 2 500 passengers (maximum)
2 GE/Fincantieri gas turbines, combined 39 000 kW
2 azipods
3 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 25 knots

The Brilliance of the Seas was the second ship in Royal Caribbean's Radiance-class. There's nothing much else to say. She's just another standard mega cruise ship - while I have nothing against sailing on these, photographing them does get superbly boring in the long run. Anyways, the photographs below show the Brilliance of the Seas departing from Helsinki West Harbour on the afternoon of 20 May 2013, photographed from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

The water levels were unusually low on this day, which allowed - in addition to walking to Sisä-Hattu with dry feet - intersting photos showing the foreground rocks.

I think I've taken this photo before. But it's a good-looking one never the less.

Lovely rocks.

More lovely rocks. And the algae gives it a nice added touch.

Next time: Silja Europa

Jewel of the Seas, 3 August 2011

First off, I would like to apologise for the slow pace of updates recently. Initially I was busy with my studies, but the more recent break in updates was caused by the screen controller of my primary computer breaking down - the lack of a good computer can obviously slow down one's pace of working. The images here have been treated using my new secondary computer using a different set of programmes and if there are any problems or notable differences in quality compared to previous entries, I would very much appriciate you letting me know.

Now onwards to the point.

Jewel of the Seas

IMO 9228356
Built 2004, Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany
Tonnage 90 090 GT
Length 293,20 m
Width 32,40 m
Draugth 8,50 m
2 110 passengers (double occupancy), 2 500 passengers (maximum)
2 GE/Fincantieri gas turbines, combined 39 000 kW
2 azipods
3 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 25 knots

Jewel of the Seas was the fourth and last ship in Royal Caribbean's swish-looking gas turbine -powered Radiance-class. She entered service in April 2004 and I really have nothing else to say about her. She's been sailing with RCI ever since and seems to have enjoyed a fairly uneventful career.

The photographs below show the Jewel of the Seas departing from Helsinki west harbour on the evening of 3 August 2011, photographed from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the individual images to see them in larger size.

Pulling away from the cruise quay at Hernesaari. For whatever reasons there were a number of kayakers out on that day - these three had a the debious honour of being featured in my photo.

Yeah, it's a bit of a boring photo. But it's a very good-looking ship.

Dynamic Jewel and Finnish granite, part 1.

The elements were really conspiring to give me a good shot here. That said, it's surprisingly difficult to take a good image when you're laying on your back on rocks.

The island, surprisingly enough, also has plants growing on it.

Vision of the Seas, 12 May 2011

Vision of the Seas

IMO 9116876
Built 1998, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 78 491 GT
Length 278,94 m
Width 32,20 m
Draugth 7,80 m
2 435 passengers
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 50 400 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 22 knots

During the summers of 2010 and 2011 Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas has been sailing on one-week cruises on the Baltic with Stockholm as the port of departure. It's in fact also possible to start the cruise from Helsinki, but in these cases the cruise still ends in Stockholm, making it only a six-night cruise which reportedly even costs more than the full seven-night Stockholm to Stockholm cruise (I admit I haven't actually checked it out myself).

The photograhps below show the Vision of the Seas departing from Helsinki's Länsisatama on 12 May 2011. Photographed from Lauttasaari. Click on the individual images to view larger size.

I continue to think the funnel is placed too far aft on this ship. It would (probably) look much better if it were actually attached to the observation lounge like on earlier RCI ships.

This was actually a slightly misty day, but fortunately the wonders of treating pictures on your computer always bring out the best in any photo.

Pihlajasaari, as always, in the background as the ship is slipping out to the open seas.

And the mandatory panoramic photo.

Vision of the Seas, 2009-2010

Vision of the Seas

IMO 9116876
Built 1998, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 78 491 GT
Length 278,94 m
Width 32,20 m
Draft 7,80 m
2 435 passengers
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 50 400 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 22 knots

Vision of the Seas is a member of Royal Caribbean International's so-called Vision class. In actual fact the "class" is not a class at all, but three pairs of sister ships with roughly similar dimensions that have been grouped together by Royal Caribbean for marketing purposes. I don't really have much else to say about this ship. Not one of my favourites in terms of exterior design. She's sleek, at least for a contemporary ship, but the funnel is placed too far aft to look balanced, and the overall design lacks any elements that would make the ship individual or interesting-looking (apart from the too-far-aft funnel that is).

Photographs below are of the Vision of the Seas from Tallinn on 15 July 2009 and Helsinki on 6 July 2010. Click on the image(s) to view full size.

Pulling away from the cruise quay in Tallinn Reisisadam, 15 July 2009.

...and turning around before heading out. 15 July 2009.

Departing rainy Helsinki with Pihlajasaari in background. 6 July 2010. This picture had to be heavily treated to get anything resembling a presentable photo out of it.