MS Oasis of the Seas is a cruise ship in the fleet of Royal Caribbean International. The first of her class, she is expected to be joined by her sister ship Allure of the Seas in November 2010.[9] Both vessels are expected to cruise the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the United States.[10]
The ship replaces the Freedom-class cruise ships (also owned by Royal Caribbean) as the world's largest passenger vessel.[11]
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[edit] History
The vessel was ordered in February 2006 and designed under the name "Project Genesis". Her keel was laid down on 12 November 2007 at STX Europe (formerly Aker Yards) in Turku, Finland. The company announced that full funding for Oasis of the Seas was secured on 15 April 2009.[12]
The name Oasis of the Seas resulted from a competition held in May 2008.[13]
The ship was completed and turned over to Royal Caribbean on 28 October 2009. Two days later, she departed Finland for the United States. While exiting the Baltic Sea, the vessel passed underneath the Great Belt Fixed Link in Denmark on 1 November 2009. The bridge has a clearance of 65 m (213 ft) above the water; Oasis normally has an air draft of 72 m (236 ft). The passage under the bridge was possible due to retraction of the telescoping funnels, and an additional 30 cm (12 in) was gained by the squat effect whereby vessels travelling at speed in a shallow channel will be drawn deeper into the water.[14][15] Approaching the bridge at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), the ship passed under it with less than 2 feet (60 cm) of clearance.[16]
Proceeding through the English Channel, Oasis stopped briefly in the Solent to disembark 300 shipyard workers who were onboard doing finishing work,[17] then left on the way to her intended home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[18] The ship arrived there on 13 November 2009, where tropical plants will be installed prior to some introductory trips and her maiden voyage on 5 December 2009.[16]
[edit] Technical details
Oasis measures 225,282 gross tons,[1] almost half again as large as the runners-up, the vessels of the Freedom class, and several times larger than Titanic, of 46,329 gross register tons (a different measure of tonnage).[19] To displace the volume of water necessary for the ship to float, and to keep the ship stable without increasing the draft excessively, the designers created a wide hull. About 30 feet (9 m) of the ship sits beneath the water, a small percentage of the ship's overall height. Wide, shallow ships such as this tend to be "snappy", meaning that they can snap back upright after a wave has passed, which can potentially be uncomfortable.[19]
The ship's power comes from six marine diesel engines, three Wärtsilä 16-cylinder common rail diesels producing 18,860 kilowatts (25,290 hp) each, and three similar 12-cylinder engines each producing 13,860 kilowatts (18,590 hp).[7][20] The total output of these prime movers, some 97,020 kilowatts (130,110 hp), is converted to electricity, used in hotel power for operation of the lights, elevators, electronics, galleys, water treatment plant, and all of the other systems used on the operation of the vessel, as well as propulsion. Propulsion is not provided by screws on the end of long shafts piercing the hull, as on most prior ships, but by three, 20,000 kilowatts (26,800 hp) "Azipods", Asea Brown Boveri's brand of azimuth thrusters. These pods, suspended under the stern, each contain an electric motor driving a 20-foot (6 m) propeller.[7] As they are rotatable, no rudders are needed to steer the ship. Docking is assisted by four 5,500 kilowatts (7,380 hp) bow thrusters in tunnels.[20]
[edit] Amenities
Oasis of the Seas will offer passengers features such as two-story loft suites and luxury suites measuring 1,600 sq ft (150 m2) with balconies overlooking the sea or promenades. The ship features a zip-line, a casino,[21] a mini-golf course, four swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts, theme parks and nurseries for children.[16]
[edit] Neighborhoods
Onboard recreational, athletic, and entertainment activities are organized into the seven themed neighborhoods below,[22][23] a concept which bears resemblance to theme park planning.[9]
- Central Park features boutiques, restaurants and bars, including access to the Rising Tide bar,[9] which can be raised or lowered to three separate levels.[16][21] It will house the first living park at sea with over 12,000 plants and 56 trees.[16][24]
- The Pool and Sports Zone features a sloped-entry beach pool and two surf simulators.[9]
- Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center features a spa for teens.[9]
- Boardwalk features a handcrafted carousel,[9][11] restaurants, bars, shops, two rock-climbing walls, and a tattoo parlor.[7] Its outdoor 750-seat[16] AquaTheatre amphitheater hosts the ship's largest freshwater pool.[11]
- Royal Promenade features restaurants and shops and is viewable from a mezzanine.[7][9]
- Youth Zone features a science lab and computer gaming.[24]
- Entertainment Place
[edit] Images
 Under construction in the Turku shipyard. (July 2008) |  Under construction. (October 2009) |  Oasis of the Seas leaving the Turku shipyard. The flue pipes are retracted, to clear the Great Belt Bridge later that day.[14] |  Inbound to the Solent at twilight on her delivery voyage to Port Everglades, to disembark Finnish shipyard workers. |
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