cruisemates newsletter

08.21.2008

Oasis of the Seas On Sale Soon
September 3 is the date when cruise sales begin for Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, arguably the most innovative cruise ship ever created. Without a doubt, it is the largest cruise ship ever built and even though all of the details have yet to be revealed, we already know it will have many features never seen on a cruise ship before.

Rendering: The stern end of Oasis of the Seas, Copyright © 2008 Royal Caribbean Intl.
Oasis of the Seas is set to debut in late 2009, but ticket sales are starting early.
The inaugural cruises are expected to sell out quickly, even though the ship has over 5000 passenger berths.

At 220,000-gross tons it is one-third larger than the world's current largest cruise ship (also Royal Caribbean - Freedom of the Seas). On the drawing board for years now, code-named as the "Genesis Project," it got the name Oasis of the Seas just last May 23rd when a George Weiser won a contest to name the first two ships of the class to be built. George came up with the names "Oasis of the Seas" and "Allure of the Seas".

September 3, the date when cruise sales begin, is less than two weeks away. We urge you to start planning now to make sure you can be among the first to see this innovative world-record smashing new ship.

Details of the ship have been revealed in drips and drabs, but we already know several things. Inside will be a Royal Promenade similar to the current Voyager and Freedom-class vessels. But the promenade of Oasis will be one-third longer and have an additional strolling deck like a promenade above the promenade; a extra deck above the floor of the Royal Promenade with shops, sitting areas and even open stateroom balconies opening up to the inside area for the very first time on a cruise ship.

Outside, above the Royal Promenade, are two new outdoor "neighborhoods," Central Park and the Boardwalk. These neighborhoods not only open up to the sky above, they are lined on the starboard and port sides with rows of staterooms six deck high that open up to the inside as well as the outside of the ship. Central Park has real grass and trees growing on the deck surrounded by cafes and picnic areas. The Boardwalk will have kiosks for souvenirs, carnival-style eateries offering hot dogs an hamburgers, and a real carousel for the kids to ride on, a first at sea.

The aft end of the Boardwalk is a huge outdoor aqua amphitheater which will serve as a two-deck passenger pool during the day and transform itself into an aquatic theater at night. Shows will feature professional divers, synchronized swimmers and other aquatic acrobats entertaining nightly.

Many things about Oasis of the Seas yet to be announced announced, but Royal Caribbean is presenting an online sneak peak of the next two innovations to be announced online on Tuesday, August 26. Travel agents and media have been invited to tune in, and we will be bringing you the highlights of that presentation just as soon as we have the details.

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