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99-451: Based in Miami, Florida , it is the largest cruise line by revenue and second largest by passengers counts . In 2018, Royal Caribbean International controlled 19.2% of the worldwide cruise market by passengers and 14.0% by revenue. As of August 2024, the line operates 28 ships; four additional ships are on order and two ships are planned but do not have a launch date. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

198-516: A basketball court , at least three pools, a mini-golf course, a rock wall, an ice skating rink and, originally, an inline skating track. Navigator of the Seas replaced the inline skating track with a Flowrider surf simulator in 2014, and similar changes are planned for Voyager and Explorer . Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas are second-generation Voyager -class vessels, and feature glass stateroom balconies that extend out from

297-560: A gross tonnage of approximately 70,000. Grandeur and Enchantment were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards , Helsinki , Finland and had an original tonnage of approximately 73,000  GT . The final pair, Rhapsody and Vision were also built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and have a tonnage of 78,000  GT . In 2005, a 74-foot (23 m) midsection was added to Enchantment of the Seas , bringing its tonnage to over 80,000  GT . All ships of this class feature over 2 acres (8,100 m) of glass. Royal Caribbean sold both Splendour of

396-480: A gross tonnage of at least 225,282 tons, and cost the line around US$ 1.4 billion each. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas , were delivered in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard , Finland. The third and fourth ships in the class, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas were built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire , France . They were

495-425: A trapeze school . The Quantum class was the first class designed specifically for Dynamic Dining, and feature several separate complementary dining facilities instead of a single main dining room. Each venue will maintain the same menu and staff throughout the cruise. Unlike the earlier Voyager , Freedom , and Oasis class, Quantum -class ships do not feature a Viking Crown Lounge or ice skating rink, and

594-570: A 400-foot (120 m) Royal Promenade mall running much of the length of the ship, an ice skating rink, basketball court, several pools, a mini-golf course, and a rock wall. New features on the Freedom class include the FlowRider surfing simulator , the H2O Zone kids water play area, a boxing ring , and hot tubs cantilevered over the side of the ship. At 154,407 gross tons, the Freedom -class ships were

693-547: A base for U.S. defense against German submarines due to its prime location on the southern coast of Florida. This brought an increase in Miami's population; 172,172 people lived in the city by 1940. The city's nickname, The Magic City , came from its rapid growth, which was noticed by winter visitors who remarked that the city grew so much from one year to the next that it was like magic. After Fidel Castro rose to power in Cuba following

792-538: A cruise ship in two decades, barely exceeding a 2006 outbreak aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines ' Carnival Liberty that sickened 679 of 3,970 passengers and crew (17.1%). Royal Caribbean offered all passengers aboard that cruise a 50% refund of their cruise fare, an additional 50% (plus 10% for each day sick passengers were quarantined) of their cruise fare as a credit towards another cruise, and reimbursed extra travel expenses for guests returning home early. In

891-494: A fourth Oasis-Class ship from STX France . In February 2013, Royal Caribbean announced the first two ships of their newest Quantum class , Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas , which were being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard. In May of that year, Royal Caribbean announced that they had signed a contract for a third Quantum -class ship for delivery in mid-2016. In September 2014, Royal Caribbean announced that

990-441: A gang of white men with torches marched through the neighborhood and warned the residents to move or be bombed. Miami prospered during the 1920s with an increase in population and development in infrastructure as northerners moved to the city. The legacy of Jim Crow was embedded in these developments. Miami's chief of police at the time, H. Leslie Quigg , did not hide the fact that he, like many other white Miami police officers,

1089-607: A large residential population. Brickell Avenue has the largest concentration of international banks in the United States. Just northwest of Downtown is the Health District , which is Miami's center for hospitals, research institutes and biotechnology , with hospitals such as Jackson Memorial Hospital , Bascom Palmer Eye Institute , and the University of Miami 's Miller School of Medicine . The southern side of Miami includes

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1188-529: A plea deal with authorities. However, the civil lawsuit was still approved by a judge. During the COVID-19 pandemic , the Miami Herald reported that, after cruises were cancelled worldwide and they had disembarked all passengers, Royal Caribbean Cruises had refused to repatriate many of their crew members due to the associated costs, with many crew members turning to desperate measures, such as hunger strikes , as

1287-523: A pool, an outdoor pool, as well as the first self-leveling billiard tables at sea. The Radiance class ships were constructed at Meyer Werft , Papenburg , Germany . Unlike the preceding Voyager class, these ships are built to the Panamax form factor, allowing them to pass through the Panama Canal . The Freedom -class ships are lengthened versions of the second-generation Voyager -class ship, and contain

1386-441: A private destination for its guests, renamed as Labadee . After a corporate restructuring in 1988, the line launched Sovereign of the Seas , the largest passenger vessel afloat at the time. That same year, Royal Caribbean also merged with Admiral Cruises . Two years later in 1990, Nordic Empress and Viking Serenade entered service and Royal Caribbean purchased a second private destination, Little Stirrup Cay , an island in

1485-796: A resort on the northern coast of Haiti, and CocoCay , a private island in the Berry Islands region of the Bahamas. Each resort features canopies for eating, lounge chairs, palm trees, white sand beaches, and a number of activities. The company is planning to open additional private resorts in Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and on Lelpea Island, Vanuatu in the South Pacific . Royal Caribbean operates internationally and has many ports of call . Travel awards include As of 2008, Royal Caribbean had 22% of

1584-523: A result. As part of the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), Royal Caribbean paused its global sailing operations through 30 April 2021. On 16 June 2021, Royal Caribbean International announced that it was delaying the inaugural sailing of their newest cruise liner, Odyssey of the Seas after eight crew members tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 – COVID-19 . Six of the crew members were without showing signs of symptoms while

1683-417: A third ship in the "Icon" class. Icon class ships are the largest cruise ships ever constructed. The ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) , with a gross tonnage of about 250,800 GT. Ships will contain other alternative energy features, like the use of fuel cells to produce electricity and fresh water. Icon of the Seas was delivered on 27 November 2023, and the second ship, Star of

1782-497: A variety of other religions have smaller followings; atheism or no self-identifying organized religious affiliation was practiced by 21%. There has been a Norwegian Seamen's church in Miami since the early 1980s. In November 2011, Crown Princess of Norway Mette-Marit opened a new building for the church. The church was built as a center for the 10,000 Scandinavians that live in Florida. Around 4,000 of them are Norwegian . The church

1881-485: A warm ocean current , runs northward just 15 miles (24 km) off the coast, allowing Miami's climate to stay warm and mild all year. The surface bedrock under the Miami area is called Miami oolite or Miami limestone. This bedrock is covered by a thin layer of soil, and is no more than 50 feet (15 m) thick. Miami limestone formed as the result of the drastic changes in sea level associated with recent glacial periods , or ice ages . Beginning some 130,000 years ago,

1980-506: A wealthy Cleveland native, was the original owner of the land upon which Miami was built. In the late 19th century, the area was known as "Biscayne Bay Country", and reports described it as a promising wilderness and "one of the finest building sites in Florida". The Great Freeze of 1894–1895 hastened Miami's growth, as the crops there were the only ones in Florida that survived. Julia Tuttle subsequently convinced railroad tycoon Henry Flagler to extend his Florida East Coast Railway to

2079-656: Is 45 °F (7 °C) in December 1989 during the December 1989 United States cold wave . The coldest maximum temperature average between 1991 and 2020 stood at 59 °F (15 °C). The warmest overnight low measured is 84 °F (29 °C) on several occasions. The stability of summer overnight lows is underlined by the mean maximum annual overnight low of just one degree lower. Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, although hurricanes can develop beyond those dates. The most likely time for Miami to be hit

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2178-835: Is also an important place for the 150 Norwegians that work at Walt Disney World in Central Florida. In a 2022 Point-In-Time Homeless Count, there were 3,440 homeless people in Miami-Dade County, 970 of which were on the streets. In the city limits of Miami, there were 591 unsheltered homeless people on the streets, up from 555 in 2021. According to National Immigration Forum , the top countries of origin for Miami's immigrants are Latin America (86%): Cuba (741,666), Haiti (213,000), Colombia (166,338), Jamaica (144,445); Europe (6.1%): United Kingdom (23,334), Germany (15,611), Italy (14,240) and Asia (5.2%): India (23,602), China (21,580) and

2277-423: Is by far the largest urban economy in Florida, with a 2017 gross domestic product of $ 344.9 billion. In a 2018 UBS study of 77 world cities, Miami was the third-richest city in the U.S. and the third-richest globally in purchasing power . Miami is a majority-minority city with a Hispanic and Latino population of 310,472, or 70.2 percent of the city's population, as of 2020. Downtown Miami has among

2376-537: Is during the peak of the Cape Verde season, which is mid-August to the end of September. Although tornadoes are uncommon in the area, one struck in 1925 and another in 1997 . Around 40% of homes in Miami are built upon floodplains and are considered as flood-risk zones. Miami falls within the Department of Agriculture's 10b/11a plant hardiness zone . Miami is one of the major coastal cities and major cities in

2475-642: Is mostly composed of high-rise residential towers and is home to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts . Wynwood is an art district with ten galleries in former warehouses, as well as a large outdoor mural project. The wealthier residents of Miami usually live in the Design District and the Upper Eastside , which has many 1920s homes as well as examples of Miami Modern architecture in

2574-467: The Oasis class , featuring Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas , was launched in 2009 and 2010, guaranteeing Royal Caribbean the ship size lead for years to come. In December 2012, Royal Caribbean announced that they had ordered a third Oasis -class cruise ship from STX France , which would be larger than the previous ships in the class. In March 2014, Royal Caribbean announced that they had ordered

2673-505: The 1950 census . This made it Florida's largest city, a title it retained until the Jacksonville Consolidation , when the city of Jacksonville absorbed most of Duval County , nearly tripling its population. Since then, Miami has retained its spot as Florida's second-largest city. Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, Miami experienced a certain amount of stagnation in its population, with expansion slowing during

2772-601: The Revolution in 1959, many wealthy Cubans sought refuge in Miami, further increasing the city's population. Miami's national profile expanded dramatically in the 1970s, particularly in 1972. The region hosted both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in the 1972 Presidential election . The Miami Dolphins also made history with their undefeated "perfect" season . The area's educational and cultural institutions also developed significantly in this period, positioning

2871-521: The Sangamonian Stage raised sea levels to approximately 25 feet (8 m) above the current level. All of southern Florida was covered by a shallow sea. Several parallel lines of reef formed along the edge of the submerged Florida plateau , stretching from the present Miami area to what is now the Dry Tortugas . The area behind this reef line was a large lagoon. Miami limestone formed throughout

2970-511: The Southeast after Atlanta , and the ninth-largest in the United States. With a population of 442,241 as of the 2020 census , Miami is the second-most populous city in Florida after Jacksonville . Miami has the third-largest skyline in the U.S. with over 300 high-rises , 61 of which exceed 491 ft (150 m). Miami is a major center and leader in finance, commerce, culture, arts, and international trade. Miami's metropolitan area

3069-563: The Tropic of Cancer , and proximity to the Gulf Stream shape its climate. Average winter high temperatures, from December to March, range from 76.4–80.3 °F (24.7–26.8 °C). January is the coolest month with an average daily temperature of 68.2 °F (20.1 °C). Low temperatures fall below 50 °F (10 °C) about 3 to 4 nights during the winter season, after the passage of cold fronts that produce what little rainfall that falls in

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3168-523: The mainland of South Florida just above sea level . Beneath the plain lies the Biscayne Aquifer , a natural underground source of fresh water that extends from southern Palm Beach County to Florida Bay . It comes closest to the surface around the cities of Miami Springs and Hialeah . Most of the Miami metropolitan area obtains its drinking water from the Biscayne Aquifer. As a result of

3267-406: The "North Star" observation capsule mounted on the end of a 41-meter-long (135 ft) crane arm, "RipCord by iFLY" a skydiving simulator , the three-deck-high Two70° lounge and performance venue at the aft of the ship featuring panoramic windows that convert into projection screens, and the multi-purpose SeaPlex facility which hosts activities such as basketball, roller skating , bumper cars , and

3366-541: The 1950s and 1960s before nearly halting in the next three decades as suburbanization occurred. Miami grew by 34.3% in the 1950s and 1960s as its population reached 334,859 at the 1970 census . In the next three decades, it only grew 8.2%. By the time of the 2000 census , Miami's population stood at 362,470. In the 2000s and 2010s, spurred by high-rise construction in Downtown Miami, Edgewater, and Brickell, Miami's population began to grow quickly once more. An estimate by

3465-492: The 2020 census, it was 52,447, only 11.7% of the population. Reasons for this include high costs in areas such as Liberty City and Little Haiti , compounded with gentrification . The non-Hispanic White population began to rebound in the twenty-first century, as the monolithically Hispanic areas in the Western and Central parts of Miami experienced population stagnation. This caused them to begin to be outweighed by migration into

3564-467: The American Community Survey found that the downtown population, from Brickell north to Midtown Miami, grew nearly 40% between 2010 and 2018. From 2000 to 2010, Miami's population grew by 10.2% and reached 399,457 in 2010. In the early 2010s, Miami's population crossed a milestone of 400,000 people. In the 2020 census , it had grown by a further 10.7%, up to a population of 442,241. In 1970,

3663-545: The Bahamas, which they branded as CocoCay . The second and third Sovereign -class cruise ships Monarch of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas were delivered in 1991 and 1992 respectively. Royal Caribbean went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1993. In 1997, it merged with the Greek cruise line Celebrity Cruises and changed its name from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to Royal Caribbean International. At

3762-466: The Census Bureau reported Miami's population as 45.3% Hispanic, 32.9% non-Hispanic White, and 22.7% Black. Miami's explosive population growth has been driven by internal migration from other parts of the country, up until the 1960s. From 1970 to 2000, population growth in Miami was stagnant, as non-Hispanic White Miamians left and significant immigration from Latin America, particularly Cuba , made up

3861-494: The Downtown region, from Latin America and the rest of the United States. This caused the non-Hispanic White population to rise from a nadir of 11.8% at the time of the 2000 census to 11.9% at the time of the 2010 census . After this, the non-Hispanic White population grew significantly faster than Miami as a whole did during the 2010s. In the 2020 census , non-Hispanic Whites were 14.0% of the population of Miami and numbered 61,829,

3960-539: The MiMo Historic District. The northern side of Miami also has notable African-American and Caribbean immigrant communities, including Little Haiti , Overtown (home of the Lyric Theater ), and Liberty City . Miami has a tropical monsoon climate ( Köppen climate classification Am ) with hot and wet summers and warm and dry winters. Miami's sea-level elevation, coastal location, position just above

4059-519: The Miami area for around 2,000 years before contact with Europeans. A village of hundreds of people, dating to 500–600 BCE, was located at the mouth of the Miami River . It is believed that the entire tribe migrated to Cuba by the mid-1700s. In 1566, admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés , Florida's first governor, claimed the area for Spain . A Spanish mission was constructed one year later. Spain, and briefly Britain , ruled Florida until it ceded it to

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4158-556: The Philippines (15,078). Ovation of the Seas Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum -class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the third ship of her class. The Quantum class is the fourth largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises 's Meraviglia class, Royal Caribbean International 's Oasis class , and Royal Caribbean International 's Icon Class by gross tonnage. Ovation of

4257-504: The Royal Esplanade mall down the center of the ship is not featured in the traditional form of Royal Promenades. Five ships, Quantum of the Seas , Anthem of the Seas , Ovation of the Seas , Spectrum of the Seas , and Odyssey of the Seas were built as of 2021. On 10 October 2016, Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku announced an order to build two ships under the project name "Icon". On 2 July 2019, Royal Caribbean announced an order for

4356-524: The Seas to TUI Cruises in the second quarter of 2017. The company lobbies in various jurisdictions in which it operates. In the United States of America, lobbying expenditure records are held by the Senate Office of Public Records. In South Australia, the company is represented by lobbying company Richardson Coutts Pty Ltd. In 2017, Royal Caribbean agreed to use Port Everglades as a preferred berth for its Oasis class ships. The new agreement extended

4455-522: The Seas , is expected to be delivered in 2025. The third ship, still unnamed, is planned to be delivered in 2026, one year after Star of the Seas . In August 2024 an order for a fourth ship to be delivered in 2027 was announced and planned two additional ships. A new class of smaller ships, to be named Discovery class, is planned, but not ordered yet. 2016–2020 Royal Caribbean operates two privately owned resorts that are used as stops on some Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. They are Labadee ,

4554-679: The Seas and Legend of the Seas to Marella Cruises . Splendour of the Seas last sailed for Royal Caribbean on 4 April 2016, and the final Legend of the Seas sailing for Royal Caribbean left port on 13 March 2017. In October 2019, Royal Caribbean announced a plan to transfer Grandeur of the Seas to Pullmantur Cruises after its last scheduled sailing on 21 March 2021. However, following Pullmantur's filing for bankruptcy, Royal Caribbean later announced in August 2020 that Grandeur would remain in Royal Caribbean's fleet. The Voyager -class ships were

4653-670: The Seas arrived from Hamburg to the Port of Southampton , UK on 10 April 2016, to begin a series of inaugural events, including press previews and a limited number of "Shake-down" and mini-cruises for VIPs, specially invited guests and members of the public. The ship berths at the City Cruise Terminal in the Western Docks, where its fleetmates also dock when visiting the city. The ship was based in Hong Kong . The ship's christening ceremony

4752-467: The Seas mainly sails from Seattle during the northern summer season and re-positions to Sydney during the southern summer season. On 11 February 2011 RCI announced that it had ordered a new class of ships from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the first of which was scheduled to be delivered by autumn of 2014. At the time, the project was code-named "Project Sunshine". On 29 February 2012,

4851-585: The U.S. in business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement. Miami was named after the Miami River , derived from Mayaimi , the historic name of Lake Okeechobee and the Native Americans who lived around it. Miami is sometimes colloquially referred to as The 305 , Magic City , Gateway to the Americas , Gateway to Latin America , Capital of Latin America , and Vice City . The Tequesta tribe occupied

4950-644: The United States in 1821. In 1836, the U.S. built Fort Dallas on the banks of the Miami River as part of their development of the Florida Territory and their attempt to suppress and remove the Seminoles . As a result, the Miami area became a site of fighting in the Second Seminole War . Miami is noted as the only major city in the United States founded by a woman. Julia Tuttle , a local citrus grower and

5049-933: The United States that will be most affected by climate change . Globally, it is one of the most at-risk cities, according to a 2020 report by Resources for the Future . Global sea level rise , which in Miami is projected to be 21 inches (53 cm) to 40 inches (100 cm) by 2070, will lead to an increase in storm damage, more intense flooding, and will threaten Miami's water supply. Other potential impacts of climate change include higher hurricane wind speeds and severe thunderstorms, which can bring about hail or tornadoes. Some protective efforts are in place, including nourishing beaches and adding protective barriers, raising buildings and roads that are vulnerable, and restoring natural habitats such as wetlands . Miami Beach has invested $ 500 million to protect roads, buildings, and water systems. Real estate prices in Miami already reflect

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5148-479: The aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake , Royal Caribbean continued docking cruise ships at the Labadee resort, located approximately 60 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake, during the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Royal Caribbean vice president John Weis defended the decision, citing relief supplies delivered through the ships and proceeds from the call going towards relief efforts. The decision to continue docking

5247-457: The aquifer, it is not possible to dig more than 15 to 20 ft (5 to 6 m) beneath the city without hitting water, which impedes underground construction, though some underground parking garages exist. For this reason, the mass transit systems in and around Miami are elevated or at-grade . Most of the western fringes of Miami border the Everglades , a tropical marshland covering most of

5346-499: The area averages at around 6 ft (1.8 m) above sea level in most neighborhoods, especially near the coast. The highest points are found along the Miami Rock Ridge , which lies under most of the eastern Miami metro. The main portion of Miami is on the shores of Biscayne Bay, which contains several hundred natural and artificial barrier islands , the largest of which contains Miami Beach and South Beach . The Gulf Stream ,

5445-453: The area from the deposition of oolites and the shells of bryozoans . Starting about 100,000 years ago, the Wisconsin glaciation began lowering sea levels, exposing the floor of the lagoon. By 15,000 years ago, the sea level had dropped 300 to 350 feet (90 to 110 m) below the current level. The sea level rose quickly after that, stabilizing at the current level about 4,000 years ago, leaving

5544-402: The balance. Miami's Hispanic majority solidified itself in this period of time, and in 1985, Miami elected its first Cuban-born mayor, Xavier Suarez . The non-Hispanic Black population of the city of Miami peaked in 1990 at almost 90,000, making up nearly a quarter of the population of Miami. Since then, Miami's non-Hispanic Black population has experienced a precipitous and steady decline. In

5643-484: The city to service a larger and increasingly international population. Miami developed new businesses and cultural amenities as part of the New South in the 1980s and 1990s. At the same time, South Florida weathered social problems related to drug wars , immigration from Haiti and Latin America, and the widespread destruction of Hurricane Andrew . Racial and cultural tensions sometimes sparked, but Miami developed in

5742-457: The city's seaport, is the busiest cruise port in the world in both passenger traffic and cruise lines. The Miami metropolitan area is the second-most visited city or metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. after New York City , with over four million visitors in 2022. Miami has sometimes been called the "Gateway to Latin America" because of the magnitude of its commercial and cultural ties to Latin America . In 2022, Miami ranked seventh in

5841-519: The city's total population, 1.7% were German, 1.6% Italian, 1.4% Irish, 1.0% English, 0.8% French, 0.6% Russian, and 0.5% were Polish. In 2010, those of Asian ancestry were 1.0% of Miami's population. Of the city's total population, 0.3% were Indian / Indo-Caribbean (1,206 people), 0.3% Chinese/ Chinese Caribbean (1,804 people), 0.2% Filipino (647 people), 0.1% were other Asian (433 people), 0.1% Japanese (245 people), 0.1% Korean (213 people), and 0.0% were Vietnamese (125 people). In 2010, 1.9% of

5940-468: The company announced that a second "Project Sunshine" ship had been ordered and would be delivered by Spring 2015. Just under a year later, on 31 January 2013, RCI announced that the official name of the new class of ships was the Quantum class. The first steel for the third vessel in the Quantum class was cut on 18 September 2014, the same day its name was announced to be Ovation of the Seas . The keel

6039-405: The company's investor relations website announced the settlement of the case, later revealed to be more than $ 1 million. In 1998 and 1999, the company was fined US$ 9 million because one of its ships, Sovereign of the Seas , had repeatedly dumped oily waste into the ocean and tried to hide this using false records, including fake piping diagrams given to the U.S. Coast Guard . Because the company

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6138-494: The date summer ended ranged from September 24 to November 1, with a median date of October 17. During summer, temperatures range from the mid-80s to low 90s °F (29–35 °C) and are accompanied by high humidity. The heat is often relieved in the afternoon by thunderstorms or a sea breeze that develops off the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the year's 61.9 inches (1,572 mm) of rainfall occurs during this period. Dew points in

6237-418: The first day that occurs, or within a few days later. Daily rainfall in Miami decreases sharply when the average daily dew point falls to 70 °F (21 °C) or below. In some years, a stalled front to the south of the Florida peninsula may cause rains to continue for a few more days. From 1956 to 1997, the date summer began ranged from April 16 to June 3, with a median date of May 21. In those same years,

6336-503: The first to come with the Ultimate Abyss dry slide. Royal Caribbean International, in conjunction with USA Today , sponsored a contest to name the first two vessels. In February 2019, Royal Caribbean announced the order of a 6th Oasis class vessel, later named Utopia of the Seas , from Chantiers de l'Atlantique for delivery in 2024 with a double occupancy of 5,714 and gross tonnage of 231,000. The Quantum -class of ships debuted as

6435-515: The former Coconut Grove Playhouse , CocoWalk , and the Coconut Grove Convention Center . It is home to many nightclubs , bars, restaurants, and bohemian shops, which makes it very popular with local college students . Coconut Grove is known for its many parks and gardens, such as Vizcaya Museum , The Kampong , The Barnacle Historic State Park , and numerous other historic homes and estates. The western side of Miami includes

6534-504: The heels of the Federal Communications Commission authorizing SpaceX to provide its services to boats, planes, and trucks. Since Sovereign of the Seas entered service in 1987, all subsequent Royal Caribbean ships have names ending with the phrase "of the Seas". The Vision class consists of three pairs of sister ships. Legend and Splendour , built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique , Saint-Nazaire , France have

6633-1049: The highest number since the 1980s. The non-Hispanic White population of Miami surpassed the non-Hispanic Black population of Miami in the 2010s. In 2010, 34.4% of city residents were of Cuban origin, 15.8% had a Central American background (7.2% Nicaraguan , 5.8% Honduran , 1.2% Salvadoran , and 1.0% Guatemalan ), 8.7% were of South American descent (3.2% Colombian, 1.4% Venezuelan , 1.2% Peruvian , 1.2% Argentine , 1.0% Chilean and 0.7% Ecuadorian ), 4.0% had other Hispanic or Latino origins (0.5% Spaniard ), 3.2% descended from Puerto Ricans , 2.4% were Dominican , and 1.5% had Mexican ancestry. In 2010, 5.6% of city residents were West Indian or Afro-Caribbean American origin (4.4% Haitian , 0.4% Jamaican , 0.4% Bahamian , 0.1% British West Indian , and 0.1% Trinidadian and Tobagonian , 0.1% Other or Unspecified West Indian ), 3.0% were Black Hispanics , and 0.4% were Subsaharan African origin. In 2010, those of (non-Hispanic white) European ancestry were 11.9% of Miami's population. Of

6732-559: The increase in prices for real estate at a higher elevation within the city compared to real estate at a lower elevation. Miami is the largest city in South Florida , the second-largest city in Florida , and is the anchor of the largest metropolitan area in Florida: the Miami metropolitan area , which has over 6 million residents. Despite Miami being home to less than a fourteenth (1/14) of

6831-527: The largest class of cruise ships in the world when constructed, were the first ships to have an ice rink at sea and the first to have Royal Caribbean's "Royal Promenade" concept, a main thoroughfare extending most of the length of the ship, flanked by bars, cafes, and shopping venues. They were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards ' (now Meyer Turku ) facility in Turku , Finland. They have a gross tonnage of around 137,000 tonnes. Activity options onboard all five ships include

6930-615: The largest concentrations of international banks in the U.S. and is home to several large national and international companies. The Health District is home to several major University of Miami -affiliated hospital and health facilities, including Jackson Memorial Hospital , the nation's largest hospital with 1,547 beds, and the Miller School of Medicine , the University of Miami's academic medical center and teaching hospital, and others engaged in health-related care and research. PortMiami ,

7029-506: The largest ships in the world from 2006, until the debut of the Oasis class in 2009. The Oasis -class ships are some of the largest passenger ships ever built, having surpassed the Freedom -class ships, and are surpassed only by the Icon-class ships. They can accommodate up to 5,400 passengers at double occupancy and they have a maximum capacity of 6,296 passengers. Furthermore, the ships have

7128-449: The latter half of the 20th century as a major international, financial, and cultural center. It is the second-largest U.S. city with a Spanish-speaking majority (after El Paso, Texas ), and the largest city with a Cuban-American plurality. Miami and its suburbs are located on a broad plain between the Everglades to the west and Biscayne Bay to the east, which extends from Lake Okeechobee southward to Florida Bay . The elevation of

7227-451: The line was "devastated by today's events", and the ship remained in port until 11 December to assist with recovery efforts. The captain offered refunds to all passengers on board the ship. In March 2020 thousands of passengers were ordered to self-isolate after disembarking from the ship in Sydney , Australia on 18 March due to COVID-19 fears. 79 passengers subsequently tested positive for

7326-431: The market share in cruise line operation. Cruise line operators are criticized for using this large economic impact to cut deals with home ports, ports of call, and agencies. In January 2014, an outbreak of norovirus aboard Explorer of the Seas sickened 689 of 4,237 passengers and crew (16.3%), causing the ship to return to port two days early. The outbreak reportedly marked the greatest number of cases of illness aboard

7425-423: The neighborhoods of Coral Way , The Roads , and Coconut Grove . Coral Way is a historic residential neighborhood built in 1922 between Downtown and Coral Gables , and is home to many old homes and tree-lined streets. Coconut Grove, settled in 1825, and annexed into Miami in 1925, is a historic neighborhood with narrow, winding roads and a heavy tree canopy. It is the location of Miami's City Hall at Dinner Key ,

7524-496: The neighborhoods of Little Havana , West Flagler , and Flagami . Although at one time a mostly Jewish neighborhood, today western Miami is home to immigrants from mostly Central America and Cuba . The west central neighborhood of Allapattah is a multicultural community of many ethnicities. The northern side of Miami includes Midtown , a district with a great mix of diversity ranging from West Indians to Hispanics to European Americans . The Edgewater neighborhood of Midtown

7623-479: The other two were experiencing mild symptoms of the disease. The delay was extended until 31 July 2021. Miami, Florida Miami , officially the City of Miami , is a coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida . It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area , which, with a population of 6.14 million, is the second-largest metropolitan area in

7722-533: The past contract with Port Everglades until 2026, contingent upon a $ 100 million remodeling of Cruise Terminal 25, and approved by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. In December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic , Royal Caribbean suspended sailings across its fleet. It also sold Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas , with the former going to Cordelia Cruises. As of 12 January 2021, its first and only ship to resume sailing

7821-547: The population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity), while 0.5% were of Arab ancestry, in 2010. Religion in the Miami Metro Area (2014) In a 2014 Pew Research Center study, Christianity was the most-practiced religion in Miami (68%), with 39% professing attendance at a variety of churches that could be considered Protestant , and 27% professing Catholicism . Followed by Judaism (9%); Islam , Buddhism , Hinduism , and

7920-403: The population of the metro area, it is an outlier compared to its neighbors, being nearly twice the size of the next-largest city in the metro: Hialeah . Miami has approximately a sixth of the population of its own county, Miami-Dade , which is the state's largest. Miami had rapid growth in the first half of the twentieth century. Its population grew from 1,681 in the 1900 census to 249,276 in

8019-463: The region, for which she became known as "the mother of Miami". Miami was officially incorporated as a city on July 28, 1896, with a population of just over 300. During the early 20th century, migrants from the Bahamas and African-Americans constituted 40 percent of the city's population. When landlords began to rent homes to African-Americans around Avenue J, what would later become NW Fifth Avenue,

8118-529: The same time, Royal Caribbean Group was formed as Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to serve as a holding company that owned both Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. In 2000, Royal Caribbean operated a series of land-and-sea-based "cruise tours" in Alaska , featuring glass-domed train cars to scenic destinations within the state and Canada. Over the next two years, they also introduced cruise tours to destinations throughout Europe. An even larger class,

8217-469: The second largest class of cruise ships in the world. The Quantum -class ships were the first ships built for Royal Caribbean by Meyer Werft since the Radiance class and share many features with those ships, including indoor pools with retractable roofs, vast expanses of glass, outdoor seating in the "Windjammer" buffet, and self-leveling pool tables . Other distinctive features of the Quantum -class include

8316-526: The ship) were on the island when it erupted. As of December 10, 2019, 44 of the 47 were injured, missing, or killed. A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the line was "devastated by today’s events", and the ship remained in port until 10 December to assist with recovery efforts. In April 2020, legal action was commenced in Australia on behalf of relatives and Ovation passengers against Royal Caribbean. On 7 July 2019, 18-month-old Chloe Rae Margaret Wiegand

8415-569: The southern portion of Florida. Alligators that live in the marshes have ventured into Miami communities and onto major highways. Miami is split roughly into north, south, west, and Downtown areas. The heart of the city is Downtown Miami , which is on the eastern side and includes the neighborhoods of Brickell , Virginia Key , Watson Island , and PortMiami . Downtown Miami is Florida's largest and most influential central business district, with many major banks, courthouses, financial headquarters, cultural and tourist attractions, schools, parks, and

8514-411: The superstructure of the ship and a larger Windjammer buffet area. All Radiance -class ships have a gross tonnage of 90,090 and environmentally friendlier gas turbine engines. The Radiance -class ships have over 3 acres (12,000 m) of glass, glass exterior viewing elevators, over 700 balcony staterooms, two-level glass windowed dining rooms, alternative restaurants, a retractable glass roof over

8613-460: The third Quantum -class ship would be named Ovation of the Seas , and in February 2015 they announced that the third Oasis -class ship would be named Harmony of the Seas . In March 2015, Royal Caribbean announced that they had agreed to sell Splendour of the Seas to TUI Cruises in the second quarter of 2016. In June 2016, Royal Caribbean announced that they had agreed to sell Legend of

8712-458: The virus. As of 1 April, the ship was located off the coast of New South Wales . The International Transport Workers' Federation had called on the Australian government to allow the crew members to be disembarked so that they could be flown to their countries of residence. They formed part of 15,000 crew members in 18 cruise ships sitting off the Australian coast during the pandemic. On 2 April,

8811-513: The warm months range from 71.9 °F (22.2 °C) in June to 73.7 °F (23.2 °C) in August. Historical temperature extremes range from 27 °F (−2.8 °C) on February 3, 1917, to 100 °F (38 °C) on July 21, 1942. While Miami has never recorded snowfall at any official weather station since records have been kept, snow flurries fell in some parts of Miami on January 19, 1977. The coldest daytime maximum temperature on record

8910-410: The winter. There are two basic seasons in Miami, a hot and wet season from May to October, and a warm and dry season from November to April. During the hot and wet season, daily thundershowers occur in the humid unstable air masses. The wet season in Miami is defined as the period during which the average daily dew point temperature is above 70 °F (21 °C). The rainy season typically begins on

9009-693: Was Quantum of the Seas , which began sailing from Singapore in December 2020 under health and safety regulations formulated by the Singapore government. On 29 June 2021, Royal Caribbean International's Ovation of the Seas became the first cruise ship to return to the Port of Seattle since the COVID-19 Pandemic began. In August 2022, the company announced that it would partner with SpaceX to use its Starlink technology across all its ships, in an effort to improve historically weak internet connections. This comes on

9108-535: Was 24 June 2016 in Tianjin; the ship's godmother is Chinese actress Fan Bingbing . On 9 December 2019, a volcanic eruption occurred on New Zealand's White Island (Whakaari) while Ovation of the Seas was docked in the nearby Port of Tauranga . There were 47 people, including 38 passengers and crew from the ship on the island when it erupted, despite an increase in seismic activity in recent weeks. The eruption killed 22 people and injured 25. A spokesperson said

9207-533: Was a member of the Ku Klux Klan . Unsurprisingly, these officers enforced social codes far beyond the written law. Quigg, for example, "personally and publicly beat a colored bellboy to death for speaking directly to a white woman". The collapse of the Florida land boom of the 1920s , the 1926 Miami Hurricane , and the Great Depression in the 1930s slowed development. When World War II began, Miami became

9306-464: Was accomplished via the insertion of an 85-foot (26 m) section to the vessel's severed center. Following the success of this work, Nordic Prince was also stretched in 1980. During the stretching of both ships, their sterns were modified to create more open space. In 1982, Royal Caribbean launched Song of America . In 1986, Royal Caribbean leased a coastal property in Labadie , Haiti, to be used as

9405-540: Was and is incorporated in Liberia , Royal Caribbean argued that this case was not in the jurisdiction of U.S. courts. Despite their argument, they were unsuccessful. On 9 December 2019, a volcanic eruption occurred killing 21 people from Ovation of the Seas . It occurred on New Zealand's Whakaari / White Island while Ovation was docked in the nearby Port of Tauranga . Despite an increase in seismic activity in preceding weeks, 47 people (including 38 passengers and crew from

9504-414: Was criticized nonetheless and created concern among passengers. On 5 July 2005, passengers on board Brilliance of the Seas reported what appeared to be blood on a part of the ship below the passenger balconies. After a search, George Allen Smith was discovered to be missing and thought to have fallen overboard. A criminal investigation into possible foul play was conducted, and a brief press release on

9603-579: Was dropped to her death from an open window by her grandfather Salvatore Anello on Freedom of the Seas while docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico . He was later arrested on counts of homicide by authorities in Puerto Rico. The family attempted to file a civil suit against Royal Caribbean claiming that Anello did not know the window was open. Royal Caribbean later released several videos from surveillance cameras showing this incident. As of 25 February 2020, Anello took

9702-431: Was founded in 1968 by three Norwegian shipping companies: Anders Wilhelmsen & Company , I.M. Skaugen & Company , and Gotaas Larsen . The newly created line put its first ship, Song of Norway , into service two years later. A year later, the line added Nordic Prince to the fleet and in 1972 it added Sun Viking . In 1978, Song of Norway became Royal Caribbean's first passenger ship to be lengthened. This

9801-426: Was laid down by Meyer Werft on 5 March 2015. Before the first piece of the keel was lowered into place, Adam Goldstein, President and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. , the holding company of RCI, placed a lucky coin in the dock. The keel was formed of 74 blocks. The first section was launched on 20 June 2015. Ovation of the Seas was delivered on 8 April 2016 and entered service on 14 April 2016. Ovation of

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