When you first see the glamourous and glitzy Royal Promenade of the Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship for 6,296 passengers, you think you’re at the Toronto Eaton Centre or some sort of super-festive mega-mall. Can this really be a cruise ship?
Her voluptuous measurements are so overwhelming you can’t believe it can float. This ship, from Royal Caribbean, is the length of three football fields and 40 per cent larger than any other ship at 225,000 tons. It’s like a 17-storey condo of amusement areas and suites. There are 37 bars, 24 cafes and restaurants and 10,000 square feet of shops. More than 2,100 crew members keep everything ship-shape.
Seven neighbourhoods make up this floating resort.
Central Park is a gorgeous garden setting with 12,000 plants, 56 trees, meandering walkways and upscale restaurants. The Boardwalk area emulates Coney Island and has a carousel, ice cream bar, fortune-tellers and two rock-climbing walls. Here at the stern, a 750-seat Aqua Theatre features synchronized swimmers and high-diving shows at its 18-foot deep pool. Entertainment Place has comedy clubs, nightclubs, an ice-skating rink for top-quality shows, as well as a 1,380-seat show lounge and theatre for Broadway performances such as Hairspray. The casino has 460 slot machines and countless gaming tables.
At the Pool and Sports Zone dip your toe into the sloped-entry pool that’s designed to be like a beach. Or learn how to surf on one of the two Flowriders. Water shoots over a carpet at 25 mph and you can boogie board until you wipe out.
Or play a game of basketball on the nearby court or try the putting green. There are 21 swimming pools and hot tubs including a gentle, circular wave pool for kids. Daredevils should try the 80-foot zipline for a seven-second adrenaline rush above nine decks.
The ship is also a cruise industry game-changer due to its 14 decks of cabins. Since the ship has a split hull in the middle, it has the first inside cabins, with balconies that surround and overlook interior neighbourhoods. There are about 2,700 cabins including two-storey lofts that range from 600 to 2,000 square feet and feature floor-to-ceiling windows. A few have baby grand pianos.
But your suite is probably the last place you’ll want to be on this ship. There’s so much to explore and experience that even a week isn’t enough time to do everything on board.
Oasis of the Seas sails out of the Fort Lauderdale area. Prices start at $859 for a 7-day Caribbean cruise but are expected to increase. Call 866-562-7625 or visit rccl.com.
