The new generation megaship will have 16 decks featuring seven themed "neighbourhoods" including Central Park, Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade. ‘Central Park’ on board the ship will span the length of a football field and include lush foliage, walkways, restaurants, boutiques, an art gallery and a moving bar. It will accommodate concerts and street performances amidst restaurants, boutique shops and bars. They hope to provide the feeling of an outdoor space with a view of the sky, the park will be lined with 254 balcony staterooms.

Oasis of the Seas will have 37 categories of accommodation, many with views unique to the ship. Loft apartments are among new elements to be unveiled for the world’s largest cruise ship. The 28 two-level loft suites will be the highest accommodation at sea with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas, which will sail in the Caribbean from December 2009, will also be the first to have an amphitheatre and carousel on board. Other new features include two 43-foot rock-climbing walls and the first zip-line at sea suspended nine decks above the ship’s Boardwalk.

Despite the ship's size, Royal Caribbean worked on ways to keep fuel costs manageable, such as applying different hull paint to reduce drag in the water and using lighting that helps reduce onboard energy costs.

The number of worldwide cruise passengers has increased over the last few years and industry experts expect it to rise to 13.5 million this year, compared to 12.8 million in 2008.

The ship will set sail from its home port on December the 12th this year, bookings are already being made.

Oasis of the Seas will run 19 consecutive seven-night sailings to the Eastern Caribbean, with ports of call at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas.

From May 1, 2010, the giant vessel will alternate its Eastern Caribbean itinerary with a Western Caribbean voyage calling at the Royal Caribbean International’s private beach destination in Haiti; the new port of Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Work will have to be carried out at destination ports to accommodate the huge vessel and its vast number of passengers.

Cruise Holiday News