The world's largest cruise ship - RCI's MV Oasis of the Seas

With Reuben Goossens

Cruise’n’Travel Journalist & Maritime Historian

Please Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned cruise site and it is NOT associated with any cruise company or travel agency! Although the author has been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but continues to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in order to better to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide information for those intending a cruise in the future. Please read my statement at the bottom of the page!

MV Oasis of the Seas

The World’s Largest Cruise Ship

MV Oasis of the Seas

All photographs on this page were provided by Royal Caribbean International Cruises

When launched in 2009 the MV Oasis of the Seas was the world’s largest cruise ship. However, with the ever expanding cruise industry and ship sizes, we cannot know how ling that record will last? She was officially named at a spectacular ceremony in Florida on 30 November.

Royal Caribbean's newest ship has an amazing 16 passenger decks and at 220,000 GRT (gross registered tons) she is simply massive! This futuristic cruise ship features some 2,700 staterooms and accommodates some up to 6,400 passengers. Oasis of the Seas will be based in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and she will cruise the Caribbean year-round. She will be joined by her sister ship, the MV Allure of the Seas later this year, in 2010.

Comments by the author in regard to exterior ship design.

In spite of the pathetic American glitzy, and the “Mine is bigger than yours” attitude, RCI actually run a really good cruise operation and their ships, in spite that they compete with Carnival, size wise, they are far superior to any other cruise line in their class. Over the years I have received countless excellent reports in regard to RCI cruises and most passengers say much the same, “One of the best cruises I have been on!” And they should know for many have sailed with a variety of cruise companies. Thus I am sure that with the Oasis of the Seas and her new sister the Allure of the Seas due later in 2010, the tradition of excellence will continue.

At least RCI ships have always looked like ships and they have never looked quite as boxy like the hideous Carnival Vista Class ships, but thankfully, RCI has retained a fleet of shapely looking ships and our poll back in 2007 RCI was 1. RCI was the Cruise Company of the Year. 2. The Radiance of the Seas (2001) class of ships was voted as the second most attractive ship(s) built after 1995.

Oasis of the Seas many special features:

The Boardwalk.

The Boardwalk was inspired by both the seaside piers that dot the coast of England and the nostalgic boardwalks of yesteryear such as Coney Island. Boardwalk will be an area for the entire family to enjoy together, whether young or just young at heart. The elements of the Boardwalk will be a dynamic way to engage families in classic fun with a colourful original carousel as well as eateries, retail outlets and carnival games. Signature elements of the Boardwalk will include:

The Oasis of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International has many new innovations in store for avid cruisers. She is without a doubt an architectural marvel at sea; the Oasis of the Seas will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry up to 6,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms, of which 28 are new loft suites. Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighbourhood concept comprising of seven distinct themed areas, which includes “Central Park,” the “Boardwalk,” and the “Royal Promenade.”

Various Public Venues.

The Blazen Night Club

The ever popular Champagne Bar

The Comedy Live Lounge

Jazz on 4

The Grand Opel Theatre

The Optus Restaurant

Central Park.

Central Park will be located on Deck 8 of the ship, with dimensions of 19 meters wide and 100 meters long. The sophisticated neighbourhood will include 334 staterooms overlooking the Park, 254 with balconies. Central Park will be landscaped with tropical foliage and seasonal flowers, shrubs and trees. Garden spaces throughout the Park will sprout from charming pathways. Drifts of Calla Lilies among Giant Elephant Ears, Red Ginger, Rabbit Foot Ferns and Zebra Calathea are some of the plant life guests will discover. Trees, some will eventually reaching more than two-and-a-half decks tall, include Black Olive, Cuban Laurel, Cherry of the Rio Grande, and Painted and Golden Bamboo.

Overlooking Central Park below – note the countless inside facing balcony cabins

Central Park

Central Park will include quiet reading corners; a Chess Garden with large-scale pieces; the Pergola Garden, an interpretive garden featuring vegetation from a host of Caribbean locales; and a Sculpture garden, highlighting work by international artists. An on-site horticulturist will provide educational classes for guests seeking to learn more about flora. The Crystal Canopies, two impressive arched-glass domes, one with a bar, will be a focal point of Central Park and provide sunlight into the ship's inner public spaces.

Oasis Restaurant located in Central Park

Restaurants and dining options in the Central Park neighbourhood will include:

· 150 Central Park – The most exclusive dining venue on the ship, 150 Central Park will combine leading-edge cuisine with modern design. An observation window into the kitchen of the restaurant will give Central Park passersby the opportunity to observe the executive chef in action. Open for dinner.

· Chops Grille – Continuing the tradition, Royal Caribbean's popular signature steakhouse will offer premium cut, quality meats in an upscale, contemporary setting. Open for dinner.

· Antonio's Table – Influenced by the Tuscan countryside, Antonio's will be a casual new Italian restaurant concept offering toasted herbal breads, pizzas, salads, pastas, Italian sandwiches, braised meat dishes and stews. Rustic with a contemporary flair, dishes will be served family-style in an indoor and outdoor setting to provide an alfresco experience in Central Park. Open for lunch and dinner.

· Central Park Café – A casual dining choice, Central Park Café will be an indoor/outdoor gourmet market with walk-up counters. From freshly prepared salads and made-to-order sandwiches to Panini’s, crepes and hearty soups, guests will order directly from the chefs behind the food stations. European pastries, sublime chocolates and decadent fudge will round out the offerings. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.

· Vintages – Always a popular hot spot for Royal Caribbean guests on Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, the Vintages wine bar will evolve into a larger space on Oasis of the Seas, offering a variety of options for those seeking a tropical white Riesling or a mocha-inflected Merlot. Great for a pre-dinner rendezvous, Vintages also will provide a selection of cheeses and a full tapas menu to accompany a robust selection of fine wines. Open for lunch and dinner.

Central Park will also feature upscale retail boutiques for discerning travellers, including specialty outlets such as The Parkside Gallery, showcasing original artwork for purchase, and Picture this being a portrait studio.

· AquaTheater - a remarkable outdoor venue at the stern of Oasis of the Seas with a backdrop of the ocean across the horizon. The amphitheater-style space will celebrate water with a full-spectrum of day and night options, including professional diving and theatrical performances. The first of its kind and the most technologically-advanced area of the ship, AquaTheater will be a complete sensory experience that plays on the element of surprise, as the latest technology and design features amaze audience members. The AquaTheater will feature water shows such as professional diving and theatrical performances in this pool amphitheater.

The AquaTheater Pool will be the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea at 6.6 meters by 15.7 meters, with a depth of 5.4 meters. Fitted with three stage machinery devices, the pool's depth will rise or fall to meet the needs of each performance and for its various functions throughout the day. Three custom lifts built into the pool will allow for intricate and multilevel performances, and underwater cameras will film performers and project images onto two giant Barco® LED screens that will flank the stage.

Throughout the evenings, the AquaTheater pool will come alive with beautiful choreographed fountain shows, amid hundreds of water nozzles – some with capabilities of shooting water 20 meters high – programmed to music and lights. A giant trampoline will be centred between two diving towers allowing gymnasts and aerialists to flip and dismount into the pool. The diving tower will include two spring boards and two 10-meter high dive platforms. A bridge connects the two high dive boards which can support an entire row of divers. On the underbelly of this bridge will be lights and nozzles that allow for water to fall like a curtain down into the pool below. A trapeze will hang behind the high dive boards to give the appearance that trapeze artists are climbing the curtain of water.

The ships stern and the AquaTheater

The AquaTheater and Pool

· A one-of-a-kind and first-ever at sea carousel, the centerpiece of Boardwalk. Especially hand-crafted for Royal Caribbean from poplar wood, the full-sized, traditional carousel took six to eight months to complete. It features 21 figures suspended from stainless steel poles, showcasing a time-honoured menagerie of animals such as zebras, giraffes and lions, alongside a variety of hand-painted horses, including a princess horse and a crowned frog prince. The lead horse, customarily the fanciest horse of the carousel, is adorned with Royal Caribbean logos, while a single chariot will serve as a stationary seat for two. The frame of the carousel has a red and golden yellow facade, turn-of-the-century artwork scenery panels, and LED lights that twinkle during the day and night.

· A Zip Line, a thrilling new feature is suspended nine decks above Boardwalk. Adventurers will take in a birds-eye view of the action below, as the rider speeds diagonally across the open air atrium – a distance of more than 25 meters.

· Six AquaTheater Suites, 221 Boardwalk-view balcony staterooms, and eight Boardwalk-view window staterooms.

Additional features of Boardwalk:

· Five shops:

· Madame Zamara's - Psychic and Tattoo Parlour

· Smile - novelty photo shop

· Candy Beach - specialty candy store

· Star Pier - teen retail

· Specialty children's retail

· Five restaurants/bars:

· Johnny Rockets

· Ice Cream Parlour

· Boardwalk Donut Shop

· Seafood Shack

· The Boardwalk Bar

Royal Promenade.

A natural evolution of the signature Royal Promenade featured on Voyager and Freedom-class ships, the new design found on Oasis of the Seas will allow guests to have a physical connection with the neighbourhood above – Central Park – as natural light cascades down from the sky. Giant glass-arched skylights, the Crystal Canopies will form a sculptured roof that will look up into Central Park and the sky beyond.

Overlooking the Royal Promenade

Sorrento’s Café

The unique Rising Tide bar is the first moving bar at sea and this is an engineering feat that span three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly descend from Central Park and arrive onto the Royal Promenade. Suspended above the Globe and Atlas Pub, an unfurling bridge on hinged hydraulics will create a spectacular, surprise element for guests. Incorporated into the pub's facade, a giant copper globe will "crack open" as part of its unique construction and extend over the Royal Promenade as a bridge platform. A focal point of the Royal Promenade, the bridge will be approximately 3.3 meters above and adjacent to the entertainment area for performances.

The rising tide Bar

Royal promenade

Another view of the Royal Promenade

Towards the aft of the Royal Promenade, a mezzanine level will allow for sweeping views of the promenade and feature the cruise line's Schooner Bar, Adventures with Royal Caribbean International, and the Diamond Club, an exclusive lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members. Another first for the cruise line, the Royal Promenade will serve as the entry point for all guests embarking on Oasis of the Seas, rather than the traditional lower decks. A vast tree sculpture by international artist Larry Kirkland will serve as an impressive welcoming spot.

Additional features on the Royal Promenade:

· 18 Promenade View Staterooms

· Eight retail outlets including:

· Focus - photo shop and gallery

· Regalia - fine jewellery and gifts

· Solera - perfume and cosmetic shop

· Prince & Greene - Get Out There store

· The Shop - logo and souvenir shop

· Port Merchants - liquors and sundries

· Willow - accessories shop

· A Close Shave - men's salon

· Nine restaurants and bars including:

· Sorrento's Pizzeria

· Mondo Coffee Bar

· Café Promenade - signature café

· Schooner Bar

· On Air Club - Karaoke bar

· Boleros - Latin dance club

· Rising Tide - moving bar

· Globe and Atlas Pub

· Champagne Bar

Loft Suites.

The 28 contemporary two-level loft suites feature spectacular views of the ocean with floor-to-ceiling, double-height windows to ensure that the view will be enjoyed from each and every vantage point. The signature lofts will round out a new portfolio of 37 categories of accommodation options many with views unique to Oasis of the Seas.

Each loft, measure some 51 square meters, or larger when combined, and will be fitted with a Caribbean influence. The design will include an upper-level bedroom that overlooks the living area below and extended ocean views. Beds will be outfitted with white duvets complemented by tropical blue and green accents that tie in to the loft’s natural surroundings. The lofts will feature LCD televisions, separate vanity areas, a guest bathroom downstairs and master bathroom upstairs featuring his and her shower heads, fog-free mirrors, and limestone mosaic tile accents.

Accommodation.

Oasis of the Seas has a massive range of accommodations, including the Lofts as described above, but the choice is vast as can be seen below from the few rooms we are able to show you.

Royal Loft Suite

Balcony cabin – ocean view

Balcony cabin Boardwalk or Central Park view

Loft suite internal view

As can be seen above the Oasis of the Seas is one spectacular ship and it is worth doing a cruise on her just to experience the ship itself, let alone the ports of call. So why not books two cruises and this way you will have time to explore this massive ship as well as the ports, for on one cruise you simply cannot do both! Topside the is a host of facilities, a “Zip Line”, pools and wave pools, tennis courts, golf facilities and a rock climbing wall as well as a vast range of sporting venues and a superb Solarium.

Children’s pool and playground

Overlooking the Main pool decks on both sides of the ship & facing aft

The Solarium

The Solarium lounge area

The aft Sports deck and wave pools

At the Sports deck you can take a ride on the “Zip Line” over the top of the Boardwalk

Oasis of the Seas arrives for the first time in the USA

As we have seen on this page this is obviously a remarkable cruise ship. She may not suit everyone, but for the adventurous those who like big ships the Oasis of the Seas is the ship for you, for she has virtually everything, and I mean everything. You will need at lest two cruises on her to be able to visit and see all her many venues and facilities.

For Information and Reservations Email Corie Lisignoli: info@cruisespecialists.com.au

www.cruisespecialists.com.au

RCI Index

Page One … “A Company with a Distinguished History” Introduction page

Page Two … Oasis of the Seas - The world’s largest cruise ship

Page Three … Freedom of the Seas - This class are second largest cruise ships

Page Four … Rhapsody of the Sea - Based in Australian during our summer

For Information and Reservations email: info@cruisespecialists.com.au

Phone: Australia wide - Phone 1800 427 847 - Brisbane & International – Phone: +61 7 5546-6798

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Who is the Author of Cruise-Australia & ssMaritime?

Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

Contact the Author …

When sending an email please name the ship you are requesting information or speaking about!

Please Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned cruise site. The author has been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but continues to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in order to better to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide information for those intending a cruise in the future.

However, if you are interested in a cruise, I am happy to refer you to a dedicated cruise agent in Australia, New Zealand or further afield on my recommended “cruise agents” page, for these are agents that specialise in cruising and they will be able offer excellent service you and the best fares available! Be assured, I do NOT receive any commissions or favours from these agents, and in the vast majority of cases these agents will not even be aware of my, or mu site’s involvement, as I provide the enquirer with the requested information of the agents (in their region) including their contact details. Reuben Goossens.

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