Oasis of the Seas: A Completely Different Kind of Cruise Ship

By Roy Witman

For years, cruise lines have deemed their ships "floating resorts." With the launch of Oasis of the Seas, you'll begin to hear the term "floating neighborhoods." That's because Royal Caribbean's newest class of ships offers far more than standard casinos and shows: they offer the look, feel and size of a resort community.

With 28 ultra-modern loft suites and 2,700 staterooms of various sizes, Oasis of the Seas is the largest cruise ship built to date, costing 1.4 billion dollars. Believing that bigger is indeed better, Royal Caribbean has spared no expense with the design or amenities of this vessel.

More City than Ship

As you step aboard Oasis, you'll get the feeling of staying in a luxurious resort area. The Royal Promenade is reminiscent of walking down a community street lined with boutique shops and restaurants. With amazing skylights and open ceilings, the natural sunlight adds to your outdoor experience. Choose from several eateries in this neighborhood including a coffee bar and cupcake bakery.

Central Park is designed to capture the appearance of its namesake with over 12,000 plants and trees landscaped to include walking paths and quiet park benches. Here you'll find specialty and upscale dining options including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant and wine bar.

The Boardwalk offers a casual, fun, family-oriented experience including a hand-carved carousel that takes you back to Coney Island. Visit the AquaTheater or take a thrilling ride on the zip line. Play your favorite carnival games, then head over to climb the 40-foot-high rock wall before lunch. To satisfy your appetite, stop by Johnny Rocket's or the Seafood Shack for an authentic seaside meal. Of course, no boardwalk neighborhood would be complete without an ice cream parlor. Stop by for a cone of your favorite flavor before exploring the rest of the ship.

These are just three of the seven neighborhoods you'll find on Oasis.

Deck 15 - Water, Water Everywhere

If you have a love of water, you'll spend a lot of time on Deck 15. Take your pick of the beach pool, main pool, circular pool, sports pool, kids' pool, AquaTheater pool and cantilevered whirlpools that extend over the side of the ship. Play, relax, eat and sip a cool beverage as the water washes your troubles away.

The Nights Light Up on Oasis

Oasis has kicked entertainment up a notch by adding full-length, Broadway-quality theater performances including the classic Hairspray. You'll still find your favorite dance clubs, comedy routines and musical performances. But now you can also take in ice shows and all the excitement found in the AquaTheater.

Choreographed swimming, dramatic acrobatics and water ballet are just a few of the entertaining performances available.

Huge casinos with over 500 slot machines, gaming tables and more will keep any high roller happy from dusk till dawn.

Accommodations

The world's largest cruise ship wouldn't dare skimp on its staterooms. Larger cabins with well-thought-out floor plans give you ample living space. From 149-square-foot interior staterooms to 1,524-square-foot Royal Loft suites with 800 plus-square-foot balconies, you can choose the precise accommodations that suit your needs and budget.

Plenty of youth and kids' activities mixed with its enormous size and entertainment for all ages makes Oasis of the Seas something worth checking out. Cruise enthusiasts won't want to miss the chance to tour the world on this truly landmark vessel.