Anthem of the Seas is seen here arriving into New York City. It docked for the first time in Puerto Rico on Friday. (PRNewsFoto/Royal Caribbean)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico officials are welcoming the arrival of the world's third largest cruise ship this week amid hopes for another record-breaking tourism high season.
The Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas dropped anchor in Puerto Rico for the first time Friday afternoon following an $8 million pier expansion in San Juan to service new mega cruise ships. The vessel is 1,141 feet long, weighs 168,600 tons and can carry 5,000 passengers and 1,300 crew members.
Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said Puerto Rico welcomed a record 1.5 million cruise ship passengers last year and expects 240 cruise ships carrying a total of 600,000 passengers during the high season, including the Oasis of the Seas, which shares the title of the world's largest cruise ship with its twin Allure of the Seas.
Fun stories about food, relationships, the great outdoors and more.