The giant cruise ships of today face being reduced to mere minnows by plans for a floating city that will be nearly a mile long and carry 80,000 people around the globe. At 800 feet wide and 30 decks high, the nuclear-powered $16 billion Freedom Ship has everything you would expect from a large town, including a research hospital, a 15,000-seat sports stadium, schools, a symphony hall, hotels, shops, restaurants, 2 water parks, 15 miles of walkways, and 3 acres of parks. The floating behemoth is slated to have apartments for 50,000 permanent residents and space for another 10,000 cruisers and day visitors — all served by a crew of 20,000. It will take around 2½ years to circle the globe, traveling at a sedate speed of 7 knots (8mph). Because it will be way too big to dock in any port, the ship will stay in international waters, transferring passengers to and from land via a fleet of ferries. There’s no word yet on the pricing for the floating city, but it’s a safe bet to say it’s not going to be cheap.
