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Oasis of the Seas

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MS Oasis of the Seas on 30 October 2009
History
NameOasis of the Seas
OwnerRoyal Caribbean International
OperatorRoyal Caribbean International
Port of registryThe Bahamas Nassau, The Bahamas[1]
RouteCaribbean
OrderedFebruary 2006
BuilderSTX Europe, Turku, Finland[5]
CostUS$1.4 billion (2006)[4]
Laid down12 November 2007[3]
Launched22 November 2008 float-out[3]
Completed28 October 2009[2]
Christened30 November 2009[6]
Maiden voyage5 December 2009 (planned)[6]
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeOasis class cruise ship
Tonnage225,282 GT[1]
Length360 m (1,181 ft) overall[7]
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47 m (154 ft) waterline
60.5 m (198 ft) extreme[7]
Height72 m (236 ft) above water line[8]
Draught9.3 m (31 ft)[7]
Depth22.55 m (74 ft)[7]
Decks16 passenger decks[5]
Installed powerlist error: <br /> list (help)
3 × Wärtsilä 12V46D engines (13,860 kW (18,590 hp)* each)
3 × Wärtsilä 16V46D engines (18,480 kW (24,780 hp)* each)[8][9]
Propulsion3 × 20 MW ABB Azipod, all azimuthing[8]
Speed22.6 knots (41.9 km/h; 26.0 mph)[5]
Capacity5,400 passengers double occupancy; 6,296 total[5]
Crew2,165[5]

MS Oasis of the Dick is a Dick in the fleet of Royal Dick International. The first of her Dicks class, she is expected to be joined by her sister ship Allure of the Seas in November 2010.[10] Both vessels are expected to cruise the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[11]

The ship replaces the Freedom-class cruise ships (also owned by Royal Caribbean) as the world's largest passenger vessel.[12]

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.[13]

The name Oasis of the Seas resulted from a competition held in May 2008.[14]

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.[15][16] 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.[17]

Proceeding through the English Channel, Oasis stopped briefly in the Solent to disembark 300 shipyard workers who were onboard doing finishing work,[18] then left on the way to her intended home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[19] 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.[17]

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).[20] 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. This effect however is mitigated by the vessel's large size.[20] The cruise line's officers were pleased with the ship's stability and performance during the transatlantic crossing, when the vessel, in order to allow finishing work to go on, slowed and changed course in the face of winds "almost up to hurricane force" and seas in excess of 40 feet (12m).[21][22]

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).[8][23] 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", ABB's brand of azimuth thrusters. These pods, suspended under the stern, each contain an electric motor driving a 20-foot (6 m) propeller.[8] 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.[23]

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,[24] a mini-golf course, four swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts, theme parks and nurseries for children.[17]

Onboard recreational, athletic, and entertainment activities are organized into seven themed areas called "neighborhoods",[25][26] a concept which bears resemblance to theme park planning.[10] These neighborhoods are:

  1. Central Park features boutiques, restaurants and bars, including access to the Rising Tide bar,[10] which can be raised or lowered to three separate levels.[17][24] It will house the first living park at sea with over 12,000 plants and 56 trees.[17][27]
  2. The Pool and Sports Zone features a sloped-entry beach pool and two surf simulators.[10]
  3. Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center features a spa for teens.[10]
  4. Boardwalk features a handcrafted carousel,[10][12] restaurants, bars, shops, two rock-climbing walls, and a tattoo parlor.[8] Its outdoor 750-seat[17] AquaTheatre amphitheater hosts the ship's largest freshwater pool.[12]
  5. Royal Promenade features restaurants and shops and is viewable from a mezzanine.[8][10]
  6. Youth Zone features a science lab and computer gaming.[27]
  7. Entertainment Place

Naming ceremony

The ship will be formally named on the 30th of November 2009 during a charity sailing for Make a Wish Foundation. At this ceremony the ship will be sponsored by seven "godmothers", each representing one of the seven neighbourhoods onboard. The godmothers will be Gloria Estefan, Michelle Kwan, Dara Torres, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Shawn Johnson, Jane Seymour and Daisy Fuentes.[28]

Image gallery

  • Under construction in the Turku shipyard. (July 2008)
    Under construction in the Turku shipyard. (July 2008)
  • Under construction. (October 2009)
    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.[15]
    Oasis of the Seas leaving the Turku shipyard. The flue pipes are retracted, to clear the Great Belt Bridge later that day.[15]
  • Inbound to the Solent at twilight on her delivery voyage to Port Everglades, to disembark Finnish shipyard workers.
    Inbound to the Solent at twilight on her delivery voyage to Port Everglades, to disembark Finnish shipyard workers.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Oasis of the Seas: Summary". Det Norske Veritas. 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  2. ^ "Oasis of the Seas: Yard". Det Norske Veritas. 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Oasis of the Seas-The Float Out!". About2Cruise.co.uk. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  4. ^ Nugent, Rory (2009). "Hope Floats". The Atlantic. Retrieved 24 October 2009. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e "Oasis of the Seas: Fast Facts" (PDF). OasisoftheSeas.com. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  6. ^ a b Quan, Tracy (18 November 2009). "Royal Caribbean International Appoints Seven Godmothers for Oasis of the Seas". OasisoftheSeas.com (Press release). Retrieved 20 November 2009. {{cite press release}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c d "Oasis of the Seas: Dimensions". Det Norske Veritas. 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Creating the Incredible" (PDF). STX Europe via CruiseWeb.nl. 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "cruiseweb" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Oasis of the Seas: Machinery Summary". Det Norske Veritas. 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Royal Caribbean announces Allure of the Seas' inaugural season". Royal Caribbean International. 2009-03-30. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  11. ^ Honeywell, John (27 October 2009). "Oasis even bigger than we thought". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  12. ^ a b c Giovis, Jaclyn (19 June 2008). "New Royal Caribbean cruise ship offers many firsts". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  13. ^ Fain, Richard (April 15, 2009). "Thanks a Billion". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  14. ^ Sloan, Gene. "Royal Caribbean's next ships will be Oasis, Allure". Cruise Log. USA Today. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  15. ^ a b Wright, William S. (Captain), "Clearing a Landmark", Captain's Log, Day Three, search for video at Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean, 2009.
  16. ^ „Oasis of the Seas“ hat Kurs auf Fehmarn, KN-online (31 October 2009) (German).
  17. ^ a b c d e f Olsen, Jan M (1 November 2009). "Largest cruise ship squeezes under Danish bridge". Associated Press via Yahoo.com. Retrieved 1 November 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  18. ^ Wright, William S. (Captain), "Building at Sea", Captain's Log, Day Four, search for video at Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean, 2009.
  19. ^ Huge cruise ship stops in Solent, BBC (2 November 2009).
  20. ^ a b Bryner, Jeanna (3 November 2009). "How the World's Largest Cruise Ship Floats". Livescience.com. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  21. ^ Wright, William S. (Captain), "Blue Seas, Green Practices", Captain's Log, Day Six, search for video at Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean, 2009.
  22. ^ Wright, William S. (Captain), "Back to the Bridge", Captain's Log, Day Ten, search for video at Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean, 2009.
  23. ^ a b Holmlund-Sund, Marit (28 October 2009). "Wärtsilä powers Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas - the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world" (Press release). Wärtsilä Corporation. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  24. ^ a b Pan, Phillip P (31 October 2009). "World's largest cruise ship offers a boatload of firsts". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  25. ^ Lester, Paul (2 November 2009). "Oasis of the Seas – world's largest cruise liner sets sail this month". [Gizmag.com]. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  26. ^ "Oasis of the Seas journeys home to Fort Lauderdale". [Gizmag.com]. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  27. ^ a b "Mega cruise liner Oasis of the Seas completed on schedule". Helsingin Sanomat. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  28. ^ http://www.na24.no/article2762345.ece

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oasis of the Seas.
Records
Preceded by World's largest passenger ship
2009 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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