Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, the Oasis of the Sea is the world’s largest cruise ship.  To give you an idea of how large the ship is, it is five times larger than the titanic and it is 20 stories high.  It has a 16 passenger deck and has the capacity to carry 2,100 crew members and approximately 6, 300 passengers at full capacity.

 The Oasis of the Seas was first ordered by Royal Caribbean back in 2006.  The construction on the ship began two years ago in Finland and was constructed by the company STX Finland. The ship was completed and turned over to Royal Caribbean on October 28, 2009. 

Its port of call will be Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

Features of the Ship

The Oasis of the Seas has many exciting features.  The ship has an outdoor open amphitheatre.  The theatre has a seating capacity of 750 seats.  It will double as a swimming pool during the day and an ocean front theatre at night.  The pool has a diving platform with two 33-foot high platforms.  The pool’s diving tower will have springboards.

Another great feature of the ship is the open air boardwalk area.  The boardwalk area is located in the middle of the ship.  Passengers will be able to walk along the board walk and visit the many shops and restaurants the ship has to offer.

The ship also has a zip-line, carousel, ice skating rink and a mini-golf course.  It has four swimming pools and 10 whirlpools.  There is also a volleyball court and basketball court.

Sleeping Quarters

The Oasis of the Seas has 2, 700 state rooms of suites and lofts.  Each of the loft style rooms vary in size and have windows from floor to ceiling.  The luxury suites are 1,600 square feet with balconies that overlook the sea and the promenade. Some of the state rooms have LCD televisions, master bedrooms, a guest bathroom and fog-free mirrors.  There are several different styles of suites that vary in price.  The most luxurious of them all is the Royal Suite.  It has a separate living area with a baby grand piano, a 52” LCD monitor and a large jetted tub to unwind in among other amenities.

Clearing a Major Hurtle

When the Oasis of the Seas was officially turned over to Royal Caribbean, it had one major hurdle to overcome on its maiden voyage to Fort Lauderdale.  While in the Baltic Sea, the ship had to pass under the Great Belt Fixed Link Bridge in Denmark on its way to the United States.  The ship was able to pass under the bridge after the smoke stacks were lowered.  The ship cleared the bridge with less than 2 feet of room.   The Oasis of the Seas is now safely on its way to its home port. 

 The ship is scheduled to make its debut in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 20, 2009.