The world’s largest cruise ship yet is certainly a record-breaker. Finland’s largest ever export, and the first cruise ship to cost more than one billion dollars, Oasis of the Seas is perhaps the ultimate “Moveable Resort Vacation.” RCI has done a good job of creating what appears to be a lot of outdoor and indoor/outdoor space for relaxation, aqua-bathing and sports. There are several swimming pools throughout the ship, three of which (“main,” “beach” and “sports”) are positioned high on Deck 15 (Pool and Sports Zone), as is an H2O Zone (there are 16 passenger decks); two large hot tubs are cantilevered over the ship’s side. The water for the swimming pools alone weighs 2,300 tons. In case you’re wondering – the carbon footprint of Oasis is lower than its predecessors (RCI’s Freedom- and Voyager-class ships), and a much improved energy efficiency as well.
The ship is full of innovative design elements (perhaps none more so than the dramatic Central Park – the first real park at sea), making it the new benchmark for large, floating self-contained resorts. It is the first RCI ship to have twin (side by side) funnels; the exhaust tubes are also partly retractable so that the ship can pass under bridges.
The sides of the ship’s superstructure have been built out, and overhang the hull to create the spacious beam needed by the interior design. The stern also has some overhang, to accommodate an outdoor aqua-stage and arena (called the “Aquatheater”). The name of the ship is positioned high up, so it’s clearly visible to any ship following in its wake. While the ship’s design from the front aspect is quite handsome, if bulky, the aft end looks as if it’s been chopped off and unfinished when viewed from the side profile. Perhaps a more rounded stern would have made the profile better (although when on board, it looks well rounded). It is, after all, a big block of apartments sitting on a white hull. The open stern makes it look like a ship with a huge aft aircraft hangar; having said that, it is, overall, a stunning ship.
The Passenger Space Ratio is good for a ship of these dimensions. But, if all 5,400 passengers want a sunlounger at the same time, forget it – there’s not that much space (and they are tightly packed together, so there’s little space to put one’s belongings)! It’s sad to see that exterior wooden railings have been replaced, throughout most of the ship, by plastic (fibreglass) railings (this is particularly noticeable on balconies). The design concept is a continuum of the Freedom-class ships, themselves an extension of the Voyager-class ships – and then some. However, the increase in size has meant that RCI has been able to incorporate more of the facilities that young families seek for action-packed cruise vacations today (including 37 bars and over 20 places to eat or nibble). And the latest technology means that Oasis is 30% more energy-efficient than even the Freedom-class ships.
The ship has been designed incredibly well, with large public spaces that are made possible by the split superstructure design (the idea of Harri Kulovaara, who first achieved this with Silja Serenade in 1986), gives the ship the incredible space within that was needed to provide The Boardwalk, Central Park, and the Royal Promenade (all parts of the “seven neighbourhoods” concept). Excellent, large touch-screen ship information screens are provided at each stairway (electronic maps), and elevators are color-coordinated in either pink or blue for the fore and aft sections of the ship.
The public spaces are all about neighborhoods – seven of them (seven “godmothers” – one for each of the seven neighborhoods – named the ship simultaneously on November 30, 2009 by snipping a section of ribbon – which needed seven snips to release the traditional bottle of champagne); they were Gloria Estefan, Daisy Fuentes, Shawn Johnson, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Michelle Kwan, Jane Seymour and Dara Torres. The neighbourhoods are: Central Park, The Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa/Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.
The three most popular neighbourhoods are the Boardwalk and Central Park (both open to the air), and the (indoor) Royal Promenade.
THE BOARDWALK
A bit of Coney Island at sea, The Boardwalk contains shops (naturally); an art gallery (why would you go on a cruise to peruse or buy “artwork”?) Still, there are no art auctions as such. Instead, art displayed in Central Park’s Art Actually, where artists who contributed to the ship’s $10.5 million dollar collection can sell additional works to passengers. On The Boardwalk, which is open to the skies, there’s also a hand-crafted carousel for the kids, with its beautifully made white horses. Oasis is not the first passenger ship to have a carousel – there was one aboard the ss Ile de France (this was also the ship used in the 1960 movie The Last Voyage, with Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone). But kids will also love the carousel, donut shop, ice cream parlour and sweet shop (Candy Beach).
Dining/nibble spots on The Boardwalk include: Boardwalk Donut Shop; Johnny Rockets (a burger/milk shake diner); Seafood Shack - covered, for fish and seafood. If you are in a Central Park cabin, you need to take the elevator to get to the closest pool – it’s like going to the top of your building to take a dip. Let’s hope the pool volleyball game doesn’t end up with the ball being tossed into the park – or onto someone’s balcony while they’re having coffee!
CENTRAL PARK
It is 328 ft/100 meters long. The vegetation is real, with some 27 real trees and almost 12,000 plants, including a vertical “living” plant wall. But, unlike the real New York, this Central Park includes a “town center” – at its lower level. Sadly, there are no self-serve launderettes in this city! At night, it is quiet and serene (it’s about the only area that is).
Central Park contains a Parisian-style (non-working) circular green “Pissoir” (a coin-operated toilet). Central Park is best for couples (Vintages wine bar is a great place to chill out); it also includes several reservations-required, extra-charge dining venues (the poshest is 150 Central Park, while Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Table are favourites for South Beach types), plus Vintages wine and tapas bar (a rather nice place to chill out in the late afternoon).
THE ROYAL PROMENADE
This is a development of the Royal Promenade theme aboard the Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, but with more eating/entertainment venues. Interior-view promenade cabins have balconies that look down onto the action in Central Park – which is, or about the same length as a line of 30 London double-decker buses. An oval-shaped Rising Tide Bar moves through three floors and links the double-width Royal Promenade with Central Park.
It’s all rather novel (best for families with children – who will absolutely love it), and the only reminder that you’re aboard a ship is the presence of the other 5,400 or so passengers (in a ship that could swallow 6,295). Because Central Park and The Boardwalk are open to the elements (so you could hide under a tree), better take an umbrella – but then, it never rains in the sunny Caribbean, does it?
Although not as stunning as the Aquaventure experience at Dubai’s Atlantis Resort Hotel (where you can slide 27 metres down a ziggurat through shark infested waters, or sleep underwater), the Pool and Sports Zone forward of the twin funnels is a real adventurous fun place for families to play in during the day.
An adults-only open-air solarium and rentable cabanas are part of the outdoor scene today, and Oasis provides several. Two Flow-Riders are part of the sports line-up; these are located atop the ship around the aft exhaust mast together with basketball courts and golf. The ship also has the largest jogging track at sea.
The Solarium is arguably the most welcoming large, restful (even though background music is played) and light-filled space. Located high atop ship, it is a place not frequented by many children – so adults can “escape” the Las Vegas-like atmosphere of most of the other parts of the ship. And, while mentioning casinos (well, Las Vegas really is a casino), the roulette tables are stunning –all electronic and touch-buttony (no need to place chips on the table – simply touch a screen with your finger). It’s a large casino, but non-smokers should be aware that this really is a smoke-filled place – even in the “no-smoking” area.
The Caribbean itinerary for this ship includes a “private” beach day at Labadee, the company’s leased island, whose facilities were upgraded in 2009 (do try the zipline – it’s one of the world’s longest, and a real blast). RCI has built its own 800-ft-long pier, making it a logistically simple matter for anyone to access the ship and beach several times during the day-long stay. Other new additions: an alpine coaster, a beach club with 20 private cabanas, new dining facilities, a larger artisans market and a Haitian Cultural Center.
A cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas commands a premium over other ships in the RCI fleet. Note that there are no elevators in the center of the ship; all are in forward and aft locations, but there are enough of them (and they are speedy) so that you won’t have to wait too long. This ship should provide you with a fine family cruise experience, with so many choices (many at extra cost), which means you’ll need to plan how you will spend your time, and where you would like to eat, well in advance of your cruise (still, that’s part of the fun – planning your vacation). However, bigger is not always better, and there are a few things that you should be aware of. Overall, if you are in suite-grade accommodation, you’ll be treated well, while those in anything else receive second-class service, and will hear the word “no” a lot. But that’s part and parcel of a large resort ship with its “metropolitan”-style cruise experience.
Note that smoking is permitted in several bars and lounges aboard this ship (non-smokers take note). Passenger niggles include: live or recorded (background) music is everywhere, 24 hours a day, whether inside or outside the ship - including elevators and accommodation hallways; ordering room service is complicated (you can’t do it by phone, only by using the interactive touch-screen television in your suite/cabin). Standing in line to make reservations for the main shows can be time consuming and frustrating (the reservation booth is in the middle of the Royal Promenade). You could make them online before your cruise (good for families that like to plan their vacations together), but who knows what you may want to do on which day of your cruise? Cruising is supposed to be about relaxation and flexibility – not so - where getting reservations in one of the specialty restaurants takes a bit of effort, unless you are occupying suite-grade accommodation. The sense of being aboard a cruise ship is somewhat lost in all the large spaces to play in. There are few quiet nooks and crannies - except for a small, cramped library, with oversized leather chairs – and perhaps the Solarium.
Oasis of the Seas operates from the purpose-built $75 million Terminal 18 in Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale), whose restroom facilities are minimal; actually getting to the terminal is where people experience delays and frustration. Disembarkation notes: If the two “flybridge” gangways are working, disembarkation is a relatively speedy process. However, when only one gangway is working, a line forms in the Royal Promenade, in which case it’s better to sit for a while in the Café Promenade until the line goes down. Disembarkation for non-US citizens is appallingly slow.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publications 2010
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008
