The largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean International’s Harmony of the Seas, set sail with a large, energy-efficient Elation Professional LED lighting package used in the ship’s main entertainment and relaxation areas.
Built by STX France in Saint-Nazaire, France, the 5,479-guest ship has something for everybody and like Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships, Harmony of the Seas is an environmentally friendly ‘smartship’ in which energy savings and energy efficiency take priority. Sound, light, and stage technology for many of the public areas onboard Harmony was installed by VIDELIO-HMS, including engineering and commissioning.
Christopher Vlassopulos, Superintendent SLVR & Architectural Lighting for Royal Caribbean International, coordinated the design and specification for all the entertainment equipment in Harmony of the Sea’s public spaces, including the ship’s entertainment lighting systems. “This ship is really a testament to how far LED technology has come since Allure of the Seas launched seven years ago,” he stated.
Lighting onboard Harmony has an energy-efficient role and the savings is marked. “The directive of no incandescent lamps onboard and no lamp changes means we realize millions of dollars in savings over the lifetime of Royal Caribbean ships,” he says. “By switching from incandescent to LED we benefit from less maintenance and less power used, and with less heat generated there is a lower burden on the air conditioning system which translates into power and fuel savings. The dollar savings over the lifetime of a ship is quite significant.”
“On Harmony the advancements in LED allowed us to pick and choose what lighting we wanted. We had more choice. The real advantage with technology is that it gives us more flexibility.” Flexibility and greater savings. Vlassopulos says that the LED lighting on Harmony is a more affordable package, adding, “It’s more sophisticated lighting yet with money savings.” Another factor that shouldn’t go unstated is the fact that the Elation products must also hold up to the harsh environment onboard a ship - the constant motion, exposure to salt water, humidity and high temperatures.
Harmony of the Seas is divided into seven themed neighborhoods and offers an entertainment lineup that is truly impressive. Headlining the offerings is a production of the Broadway hit musical Grease, specially adapted by Royal Caribbean Productions for the 1,400 seat Royal Theater. Lighting in the Royal Theater is also used for a Royal Caribbean original show, Columbus.
Besides the Royal Theater, energy-efficient LED lighting systems can be found across the ship including in the Studio B ice rink, Royal Promenade, AquaTheater, Boardwalk, FlowRider surf area, Solarium, and the pool area, as well as a host of other onboard clubs, bars and lounges.
Harmony of the Seas sailed western Mediterranean cruises over summer 2016 before crossing the Atlantic, where she now sails seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises originating from Port Everglades, Florida.
Christopher Vlassopulos: coordinated design and specification
VIDELIO-HMS: installation, engineering, commissioning
Elation
70 Platinum Wash ZFX Pro™
40 Platinum Spot LED Pro II™
22 Platinum Beam 5R Extreme™
6 Platinum Spot III™
8 Platinum Wash ZFX Pro XL™
66 Satura Spot LED Pro™
19 ELED QA Strip™
155 ELAR 108 Par RGBW™
16 EPAR QA™
12 Colour Chorus 24 & 72™
35 Design Wash LED Zoom™
4 SixPar 100™
6 Flex LED Tape WP™
54 Level Q7™
2 Arena Par Zoom™
Acclaim
14 Acclaim Rebel Drum™
7 Acclaim Rebel Eye™
109 Acclaim Quad Eye™