The world’s first ski resort at sea is to embark with Royal Caribbean International’s fifth Oasis class ship, Piste of the Seas.
A full size ski resort complete with five snow runs, a lift and après-ski restaurants, bars and spa will be incorporated on board.
Passengers will access the slopes with the help of a state of the art sea lift that glides seamlessly to the top of Mount Mast, where they can admire ocean views before tackling the pistes.
A range of ski runs from green to black will accommodate all experience levels.
The onboard sports team will be taking an intense training course at Courchevel ahead of the maiden voyage in 2021 to qualify as Level 2 ski instructors.
Wood panelled, family sized chalet-styled rooms will be adorned with faux fur throws to snuggle up after a day on the slopes, each one coming with a dedicated Chalet Host to ensure all needs are catered for.
There will be an option to upgrade to a hot tub chalet for those looking to unwind after a long day on the piste.
Après-ski entertainment includes the main Apres Sail bar a log cabin offering a range of Nordic therapies.
Royal Caribbean UK and Ireland managing director, Ben Bouldin, said “We always lead the way when it comes to offering our guests the most extraordinary experiences and our next ship launch is no exception.
“Our ships push the boundaries of innovation and Piste of the Seas provides a best of both worlds solution for customers who love their annual ski break but dream of a cruise to sunnier climes.”
But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. The logistics of actually calculating the snow levels for the piste has been paramount according Bouldin.
“We worked closely with a leading environmental landscaper, to ensure the calculations were accurate,” he said.
“We weren’t worried about this so much when sailing around the UK, but in particular in our sunny Med destinations the calculations were crucial.
“A total of 25 snow cannons will be required to keep the temperature of the piste below 2 Degrees Celsius and the snow level deep enough to ski on.”