A GERMAN SHIPYARD ON MONDAY DELIVERED THE WORLD'S LARGEST PASSENGER SHIP TO ITS U.S. OWNER. THE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS WAS HANDED OVER TO FLORIDA-BASED CRUISE OPERATOR ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. AT A CEREMONY IN HAMBURG THAT DREW CROWDS OF ONLOOKERS. THE 160,000-TON CRUISE LINER CAN CARRY SOME 4,000 PASSENGERS AND OFFERS SEVERAL DIFFERENT POOLS, AN ICE RINK AND A CLIMBING WALL. IT SUPPLANTS THE RIVAL CRUISE LINE CUNARD'S QUEEN MARY 2, WHICH CAN CARRY ABOUT 3,000 VACATIONERS, AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PASSENGER SHIP. AFTER COMPLETING SEA TRIALS AND RECEIVING FINISHING TOUCHES AT HAMBURG'S BLOHM + VOSS SHIPYARD, THE NEW SHIP LEFT DRY DOCK ON SUNDAY AND IS TO SAIL TUESDAY FOR OSLO, NORWAY, BEFORE SETTING OUT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. THE LINER IS TO SAIL MAINLY IN THE CARIBBEAN FROM ITS HOME PORT IN MIAMI, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED.
