ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S NEW OASIS OF THE SEAS

TAKING CRUISING TO A NEW LEVEL

Heralded as the world’s largest and most innovative ship, my wife and I simply could not pass up the opportunity to book passage on the one week Maiden Voyage of Royal Caribbean’s new and historic Oasis of the Seas sailing the Eastern Caribbean from its specially built terminal in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on December 5 , 2009.

Our penchant for cruising actually began thirty-seven years ago when we sailed on the very first ship designed and built exclusively for cruising. The ship was the 20,000-ton Norwegian luxury liner Sea Venture that had begun weekly sailings between New York City and Bermuda in 1971. Its most historic place in the history of cruising, however, began a few years later. For nine seasons ending in 1986 it became the star and backdrop for one of TV’s most popular and longest running shows: The Love Boat. Viewed by millions of people worldwide it is credited with introducing the public to the idea of cruising as a vacation and spawning an industry that generated a record $40 Billion contribution to the U.S. economy last year along with a record number of huge ships to choose from.

Since that first experience we have cruised on 27 ships including every class of mega-liner, defined as a ship of at least 100.000-tons, and five of the eight cruise lines that currently operate them. It is from that perspective that I pen this report.

Standing 17 decks tall, nearly 1,200 feet in length, weighing in at 225,283 gross tons and capable of carrying 5,400 guests along with 2,100 crew members it leaves no room for argument on its claim as the world’s largest cruise ship. (In December of 2010 it will be joined by a sister ship, the Allure of the Seas, with both vessels completely eclipsing the former record holders, the company’s Freedom Class ships, by an astonishing 65,282 tons!) I find it more intriguing, however, to visualize the almost unbelievable fact that one could tuck 11 Sea Ventures neatly inside its massive hulk!

There is also no arguing that the mega-liners of today pack so many more entertainment venues onboard than those of lesser tonnage that they can rightfully claim to be destinations in themselves. What makes this one so intriguing is whether it’s claim as the “most innovative ship ever built” translates into truly exciting new concepts that will capture the interest of cruise aficionados everywhere in every age group and be able to do so in the wake of a faltering worldwide economy.

As our bus from the airport pulled onto the dock, the sight of the sheer size of the Oasis alongside its newly completed pier is staggering. It does not take long, after stepping aboard, to realize the words “wow” and “incredible” seem inadequate to describe the experience. As we sipped Champagne, handed to us as we boarded, the vastness of our surroundings began to sink in and we couldn’t help but wonder if a week was going to be adequate to fully explore it. After briefly checking out our balcony stateroom on deck 9 we headed up to deck 16 for a delightful lunch at the Windjammer Marketplace just one of its array of eateries. From there we soon met up with long time friends and travel companions for dinner at our assigned table in the Opus Dinning Room on deck 4. This first day had been exhausting. We had left home at 3:45 AM to make our flight from Dallas to Ft. Lauderdale so unpacking and early to bed became our goals to enable a fresh start in the morning. The next two days would be at sea providing lots of time to experience what the ship has to offer.

As we found out the next day, the economy indeed, had its impact on the sailing. It was reported that we left port with only 3,542 passengers nearly 1,900 fewer than capacity. This had to be a great disappointment for Royal Caribbean who conceived of the ship five years ago in a robust economy and spent $2.5 Billion to build it. Captain Wright, Master of the Oasis reported that he will not have a full ship until January of 2010.

Putting that aside, I will now attempt to describe its offerings starting with the most impressive – Central Park. Located on deck 8, it is a feature so unique one would think it impossible to create on a sea going vessel. Open to the sky and looked down upon from interior balconies (another first) it contains an unbelievable 11,926 live plants and trees though I am honest to say I did not count them and am relying on the information provided by the cruise line. It is just one of those things you have to see to believe. There are places to eat and benches to just enjoy the view and paths to stroll day or at night-time when it is beautifully illuminated.

Next in total uniqueness is the Boardwalk located on deck 6. Another area open to the sky with interior balconies not only looking down upon it but out past the stern of the ship to the open sea. It is here you find the first ever full size Carousel at sea with exquisitely hand carved and painted horses, zebras, giraffes and lions and more adults than children riding them to their hearts delight and as often as they like. Here you will stroll by more eateries (they are everywhere you go) and come upon the AquaTheater with its amphitheater-style seating for professional high diving from 10 meter platforms and a water ballet show entitled Oasis of Dreams. A giant trampoline between its two diving towers allows gymnasts and aerialists to flip and dismount into the pool. Two giant video screens on each side enhance the experience even showing underwater images of the swimmers. The show is followed by Dancing Waters using hundreds of water nozzles surrounding the pool set to music and reminiscent of the famous Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Overlooking the Boardwalk from deck 15 is a Zip Line. After signing my life away, I am told I’m the first 80 year old to use it. I figured if former President George Bush could jump out of an airplane at age 80 I could certainly handle a Zip Line. It was an exhilarating experience to speed diagonally across the open atrium, 9 decks above the Boardwalk, for a distance of 82 feet!

The other shows, as one might expect, were equally spectacular. Heading our list was the Broadway show “Hair Spray” performed in the ships giant three deck high Opal Theater that seats 1,500. Close behind was “Come Fly with Me” with a cast of Royal Caribbean dancers, singers and aerial artists and featuring the advanced technology capabilities of the big theater. “Celebrity Showtime” also performed in the Opal, featured Matthew and Gunner Nelson who did their Grandparents Ozzie and Harriet Nelson proud with their repertoire of recorded hits. Fairy tales were the subject of “Frozen in Time” an elaborate ice show performed in the familiar Studio B ice rink a carryover from other Royal Caribbean mega ships. Even comedy has its own distinct venue in a studio named Comedy Live. The entertainers there interacted with the audience with an adult show without being the least bit raunchy. Because of the huge number of passengers all shows on the Oasis require advance reservations. This can be done from your computer at home in advance of the sailing, as we did, or from your stateroom’s interactive TV or the ships box office. Since all shows are performed more than once it makes it possible to see a favorite show a second time if not fully booked. As you enter each show an usher uses a hand held electronic sensor to confirm your reservation and is able to welcome you to the show using your name.

As for sports there are basketball courts, two Flow Riders for surfers, two giant rock climbing walls, ping pong tables, an array of adult and children’s pools, a challenging nine hole putt-putt golf course, a one mile long jogging track, covered but open to the sea, big and small hot tubs and our favorite - an adult only Solarium pool and hot tub area. A Vitality At Sea Fitness Center offers every imaginable state of the art fitness equipment while a Vitality At Sea Spa offers everything from a massage to total body seaweed wraps, steam rooms and a full range beauty shop. For children there is a spectacular and inviting pool along with age specific programs for infants (another first) and special teenage venues and programs.

For those familiar with Royal Caribbean’s Voyager and Freedom Class Ships there is also a Royal Promenade. Located on deck 5, it is longer and wider than those of the past, with a vintage auto parked in the street lined with familiar specialty shops and restaurants. Its most striking feature: the “Rising Tide” bar. Have a drink at the bar as it rises slowly to Central Park on deck 8 where you can disembark or chose to ride it back down again. The Promenade is also the scene of elaborately costumed parades Royal Caribbean is famous for on the first and last night at sea. Just below the Promenade on deck 4 is Casino Royale a familiar presence for gamblers on all of the company’s ships.

The food on the Oasis gets our five-star rating whether dining at six different restaurants with no added fees or its six specialty eateries with per person fees ranging from $15 for Giovanni’s Table to $75 for the Chef’s Table with an exclusive multi-course dinner by one of the ships chefs. All specialty restaurants require advance reservations. The ship offers traditional early and late reserved table dining in its three-tiered main dining rooms as well a new service featuring any-time dining where, as the title suggests, you chose when you want to eat on any particular day.

There are three days at sea and three ports of call in the ships itinerary including St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Nassau in the Bahamas. Having been to them on multiple occasions we saw no need for sightseeing and stepped off the ship only to take a picture of it or to see a welcoming native marching band sent to greet us. For us the cruise was about the ship not the ports. We enjoy it even more when many passengers disembark to take advantage of tours and shopping.

Our 182 square foot stateroom was located on deck 9 with a queen size bed, sitting area, private bathroom and a 50 square foot balcony overlooking the sea. It included a 32” flat screen interactive TV complete with keyboard and internet access. Now with a first-hand familiarity, if we were to sail on it again or it’s yet to come sister ship, we would try one of the unique balcony staterooms overlooking the Boardwalk with a view past the stern and out to sea. For those with as need for more space, there are 28 two-level lofts with 545 square feet and floor to ceiling windows, yet another first, and requiring a much larger pocketbook.

All in all Royal Caribbean certainly deserves to claim to have built the world’s most innovative ship. It has something for every taste and desire and provides a new definition for a ship being a destination in itself. In this writers view, it rivals most land-based resorts. The only thing lacking aboard are sandy beaches. After seeing what has been accomplished in this latest design it would no longer surprise me the company’s next generation of ships will provide that as well. Congratulations Royal Caribbean – Well done!

12/28/09