Phil Doyle, KVI's agent in Ft. Lauderdale, just returned with his wife from the inaugural sailing of the brand new world's biggest cruise ship, the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. To say the least, they were impressed! Here's Phil's review:
BIG, really BIG. Now that I have that out of the way, let me share some impressions from my inaugural sailing on the new ship, Oasis of the Seas. My agency loves booking Royal Caribbean Cruises, so I was invited to take a test ride on their newest ship. I love cruising and have done it 33 times on 8 different cruise lines and 27 different ships. With all of the hype about the Oasis of the Seas over the past year, I was prepared to be disappointed
in at least a few areas. I was overwhelmed instead.Numbers can make for a boring narration, but how can I avoid some of the numbers that make Oasis of the Seas extraordinary? At 220,000 tons, the Oasis is 40% larger than the next largest cruise ship. The maximum passenger capacity is 6,300 with 18 decks and 24 high speed elevators. There are 24 different restaurants, 9,300 pieces of original art and 2,100 crew members. The 12,000 live plants and trees on board create a unique feeling found on no other ship that I have experienced. Add the Broadway hit Hairspray in the 1,300 seat theatre, and the one-of-a-kind 750 seat Aqua Theatre, and you are now ready to pay the $1.4 billion price tag.
Now that the numbers are o
ut of the way, here is how our trip started. Royal Caribbean set as a goal moving passengers from the curb to the ship in just 15 minutes. The new $75 million Port Everglades terminal was designed to do exactly that. I was skeptical. In the cruise industry, anything under an hour curb to ship is a good day. I timed the process and took my time walking through the terminal. 16 minutes! We were in our cabin in 4 more minutes. People, this is huge for the world’s largest ship. Next, we prepared to fight the crowds as we toured the ship, but there was no need. The public areas are so large that the per-passenger ratio is better than many smaller ships. It was incredibly easy to find our way around and the layout of the ship made sense immediately. There is even an interactive flat screen by each elevator bank that will map out any route you choose as well as show you what activities are going on around the ship and how to get there. I have never seen this before and will miss it when sailing on other ships in the future.Let’s talk about the ship’s personality. Yes, every ship has a personality and the Oasis has one all its own. Imagine the size and amenities of a major Las Vegas hotel and blend it with the style and attention to detail of a Disney theme park. The ship is beautifully crafted in Finland and designed by people who know their customers. The elegance of the Champagne Bar, the Vintage winery, the upscale 150 Central Park restaurant and the 300 seat solarium are a dramatic contrast to the two Flow Rider surfing venues and the Zip Line where screaming guests fly 8 stories over the Boardwalk.
Royal Caribbean’s original goal with Oasis of the Seas was to have the experience be 1/3 familiar, 1/3 evolutionary and 1/3 revolutionary. Looking back on my experience on board, the familiar things like the rock climbing wall, the Studio B ice rink and the center Promenade felt like vintage Royal Caribbean.
Things like the dual Flow Riders, the quality specialty restaurants and the entertainment have evolved to the point where they are better than ever. Features like Central Park and Boardwalk, both open to the sky with overlooking balcony staterooms, live greenery everywhere, a true Broadway play and the Aqua Theatre with the stage that turns into a 17 foot deep pool in seconds are easily the most revolutionary features at sea today. You will take more pictures than you have ever taken on a cruise ship and find yourself planning your next trip before this one is done. Royal Caribbean says that their goal is to deliver the “WOW” in ways that it has never been done before. Forget the BIG, this ship really is about the "WOW!”
Philip Doyle
KVI.Travel
Cruise Specialist
954-817-9042
866-301-2700
phil@kvi.travel
