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“Seas the day” might soon take on a whole new meaning as ambitious plans emerge for the world’s first “floating city.” This colossal project, envisioned to be powered by nuclear energy, aims to accommodate a staggering 80,000 people, significantly surpassing the capacity of today’s most luxurious cruise ships.
The concept of the Freedom Ship isn’t new; it has been floating around since the 1990s. However, it’s now being revived by Roger Gooch, CEO of Freedom Cruise Line. In a discussion with the Telegraph, Gooch expressed optimism about bringing this vision to life, emphasizing that securing the necessary funding is crucial to its success. “We feel very confident that we can put this together, but capitalization is key,” he stated.
If realized, this megaship would eclipse existing giants, such as those from Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. The proposed capacity of 80,000 people would make it more than ten times larger than Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, which accommodates up to 7,600 guests along with a crew of 2,350.
Should it come to reality, the megaship would dwarf anything produced by the likes of Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line.
A proposed capacity of 80,000 people would dwarf Royal Caribbean’s $2 billion Icon of the Seas, which stands at a maximum of 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew members.
Costing an estimated $16.16 billion (£12 billion), there would be homes for around 50,000 people and room for 10,000 tourists, and these would be served by a 20,000-strong crew.
“The Freedom Ship is envisioned as a permanently mobile city at sea—designed for long-term residence rather than short-term travel,” Freedom Cruise International says.
“It is not a cruise ship and not defined by destinations or itineraries.
“Instead, it is planned as a stable, self-contained urban environment that continuously circumnavigates the globe while supporting everyday life.”
The monster vessel would have the elements of a modern city – ranging from schools and colleges, to shops, banks, and night clubs.
And, there would be a two-story food hall, satisfying the tastes of even the fussiest of eaters.
The proposed ship is a mile long – and guests would be able to take advantage of a futuristic tram system that would connect all the different areas.
A 15,000-seater sports stadium, water park, parks, convention center, a music hall, and two museums are even among the amenities suggested.
“We started with the view that the ship should not be a monolithic piece but visually comfortable, so we softened all the edges,” Gooch said.
“We also want it to breathe, so we’ve gone to great lengths to allow walkways and green spaces.”
“Leisure aboard the Freedom Ship is not designed to feel exceptional,” supporters behind the idea say.
“It is meant to feel familiar, accessible, and unremarkable in the best sense—an ordinary part of life within a city that happens to move.”
Divers wouldn’t even have to leave the ship as it would be home to a huge aquarium.
The proposed vessel, which would be powered by nuclear fuel, would be too big for any dock on the planet and would stay in international waters.
It’s estimated it would circle the world every two to three years.
Passengers would be transported to and from land by a fleet of ferries, and there would be eight helipads on top.
Ideas for the Freedom Ship were first touted by engineer Norman Nixon in the 1990s, but he died in 2012 and the plans went on the backburner.
It could take up to four years for the ship to be completed, but Gooch suggested that the first residents could move onto the ship while the building work takes place.
However, he still needs the funding to turn his dream into a reality.
But, Sridev Mookerjea, a project manager at Singapore’s Blossom Group, told the Telegraph, “I believe that with Roger’s efforts, patience and desire to make this a success, the sky’s the limit.
“It’s a fantastic concept and I will put all my efforts into making it happen.”