Shipbuilding

Since mid-2000 sailing on the open sea: “Millennium”, a passenger ship of massive proportions.
Luxury Liner with Dots of Light
It took more than two years for the French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique to build the first “Millennium” cruiser for the Norwegian shipping company Royal Caribbean Cruises. On board is the fiber optic lighting technique developed by SCHOTT.
The intention is for the giant cruise ship to resemble the legendary “Titanic” – only an even more colossal version of it. “Millennium” is the name of the latest luxury liner for cruise travelers. Indeed, before the year 2000 ended, the last joint of this giant ship was welded in one of the most famous French shipyards, the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in St. Nazaire on the Atlantic coast. The 350 million dollar passenger ship undertook its maiden voyage in June 2000. In fact, this is only the first of four “Millennium” cruise ships commissioned by the Norwegian shipping company Royal Caribbean Cruises, headquartered in Miami. The company intends to start a Northern European tour soon, and Rostock is planned to be one of the ports of call. With its amazing 294-meter length (ca. 320 yards) and 32.2-meter width (ca. 35 yards) the floating behemoth weighing 91,000 register tons will be the largest passenger ship to ever anchor in a German port.
A holiday at sea is “in”
![]() The articles for sale inside the showcases of the ship‘s boutique are attractively lit by fiber optics. | ![]() Light dots give the piano bar a discreet atmosphere. |
Original and easy to maintain
![]() The starry night in the theater auditorium of the “Millennium” is made up of 600 light dots. | ![]() Easy servicing: Ceiling lighting with fiber optics. |
New energy concept

Even the well in the fitness area is lit by fiber optics.
Although the pod system allows the “Millennium” to cruise at a speed of 24 knots (about 27 mph), its regular cruising speed is 20 knots (23 mph) because the ship moves with less vibration at this lower speed. Such details are important because by the year 2005 it is expected that 50 new luxury cruise ships will simultaneously compete for customers. The “Millennium”, however, stays one step ahead of the competition: Guests dining in its restaurant can admire the original wall panels from the old “Olympic” – the sister ship of the Titanic
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