Oasis of the Seas

 

Water Water Everywhere

 

Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas heads to sea propelled by two FlowRider® Doubles.

During the first week of November 2009, she departed the shipyard in Turku, Finland and headed out of the Baltic Sea and into the open ocean. After an investment of $1.4 billion and millions of man hours, the 20-story-tall Oasis of the Seas had to clear one last barrier before being in the clear: the Danish bridge called the Great Belt Bridge. Oasis of the Seas did so with two feet to spare. Is it possible that the 110,000 gallons of water stored on the ship to power the Double FlowRiders® in the stern gave the ship that extra two feet of clearance?

Oasis of the Seas is a miracle of modern maritime engineering. Standing 1,180 feet long, 154 feet wide, 240 feet high and weighing in at 225,000 gross tons, she is one of the engineering marvels of the 21st Century. The largest cruise ship in the world will travers the seven seas with as many as 5,400 guests and 2,160 crew in 2,700 staterooms.

The numbers that add up to the launching of the Oasis of the Seas are mind-boggling: 1.7 million hours to design the ship and 8000 person years to build it, which included laying 3000 miles of cable to power 24 restaurants, 37 bars and 13 retail outlets. Oasis of the Seas is divided up into seven “neighborhoods”: Central Park, the Royal Promenade, Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. The Boardwalk area in the stern of the ship features the AquaTheater, an ocean-sized pool that goes as deep as 21 feet in the diving area, and holds 139 000 gallons of water. The AquaTheater is “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, the 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 Pool and Sports Zone also celebrates water with the addition of not one but two FlowRiders. While Oasis of the Seas cruises through the seas at a top speed of 26 knots, displacing 225 283 gross tons of water, each FlowRider pumps 55 000 gallons of water at up to 30MPH, creating an endless wave that can be enjoyed by flowriders of all ages and skill levels. Oasis of the Seas is the second generation of Royal Caribbean ships to feature the FlowRider. Currently, there are three ships in the Freedom-class cruising the high seas, with one FlowRider in the stern.
On November 30, RCI threw a big shindig to name the ship, and had seven Godmothers representing each of the neighborhoods. Oasis of the Seas set sail on its maiden voyage the next day.

Oasis of the Seas cruise options can be browsed online here.