Oasis class cruise ship

MS Oasis of the Seas
Class overview
Builders:	STX Europe, Turku, Finland
Operators:	Royal Caribbean International
Preceded by:	Freedom class
Built:	2007-2010 (planned)
In service:	2009
Planned:	2
Completed:	2
Active:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Cruise ship
Tonnage:	225,282 GT[1]
Length:	360 m (1,181 ft) overall[2]
Beam:	47 m (154 ft) waterline 60.5 m (198 ft) extreme[2]
Height:	72 m (236 ft) above water line[3]
Draught:	9.3 m (31 ft)[2]
Depth:	22.55 m (74 ft)[2]
Decks:	16 passenger decks[4]
Installed power:	3 × Wärtsilä 12V46D engines (13,860 kW/18,590 hp each) 3 × Wärtsilä 16V46D engines (18,480 kW/24,780 hp each)[3][5]
Propulsion:	3 × 20 MW ABB Azipod, all azimuthing[3]
Speed:	22.6 knots (41.9 km/h; 26.0 mph)[4]
Capacity:	5,400 passengers double occupancy; 6,296 total[4]

The Oasis class (formerly known as Project Genesis^[6]) is a class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships that are the world's largest passenger ships. Two ships were ordered in February 2006, named Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.^[6][7] Oasis of the Seas was completed and delivered on October 28, 2009,^[8] while Allure of the Seas was completed in October 2010, and began her maiden voyage from Florida in December 2010.^[9]

Construction

The Oasis class have surpassed the earlier Freedom class as the world's largest passenger ships. At 360 m (1,181 feet) in length Oasis is 21 metres (69 ft) longer than the prior largest passenger ship, the Independence of the Seas and classmates. Oasis also is 8.5 metres (28 ft) wider, and with a gross tonnage of 225,282, is almost 45% larger.^[10][11] Oasis class vessels carry over 5,400 passengers.

Like the Freedom class, the Oasis class ships are built by STX Europe (formerly Aker Yards) in Turku, Finland. The first of the Oasis class, priced at US$1.24 billion (€ 900 million)^[12] reportedly is the most expensive commercial ship ever built.^[12] The option for a second ship of the class was exercised by Royal Caribbean on April 2, 2007. The second ship is to be delivered by STX Europe in August 2010.^[13]

On December 11, 2007, the keel of the first vessel of the class was laid down in Turku.^[10] In early 2008, Royal Caribbean ended months of speculation by announcing that their two Oasis class ships would be based year-round at Port Everglades, Florida.^[14]

On April 15, 2008, Royal Caribbean held a press conference in New York City to release the first official information and renderings of "Central Park", a 5-deck high area in the middle of the ship, open to the sky and filled with lush tropical gardens, upscale restaurants and shops.^[15] The area, one of seven "neighborhoods" onboard the ship, also features the Rising Tide Bar, which moves up and down through three decks. There are 334 staterooms overlooking the Park, 254 with balconies - four of which are wheelchair accessible. Two arched-glass domes in Central Park called the Crystal Canopies provide sunlight into the ship's inner public spaces.^[16]

The Oasis class sisters, MS Allure of the Seas (left) and nearly finished MS Oasis of the Seas (right) under construction at Turku shipyard on October 2009.

References

1. ^ "Oasis of the Seas: Summary". Det Norske Veritas. 2009. https://exchange.dnv.com/exchange/main.aspx?extool=vessel&vesselid=27091. Retrieved 1 November 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Oasis of the Seas: Dimensions". Det Norske Veritas. 2009. https://exchange.dnv.com/exchange/main.aspx?extool=vessel&subview=dimensions&vesselid=27091. Retrieved 1 November 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Creating the Incredible". STX Europe via CruiseWeb.nl. November 2008. http://www.cruiseweb.nl/images/oasisoftheseas/Brochure2.pdf. Retrieved 24 October 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Oasis of the Seas: Fast Facts". OasisoftheSeas.com. 10 September 2009. http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf. Retrieved 24 October 2009. 
5. ^ "Oasis of the Seas: Machinery Summary". Det Norske Veritas. 2009. https://exchange.dnv.com/exchange/main.aspx?extool=vessel&subview=machinerysummary&vesselid=27091. Retrieved 1 November 2009. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Press Release: Royal Caribbean selects Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas as the names for its Project Genesis ships" (PDF). Royal Caribbean International. 2008-05-23. http://www.royalcaribbean-genesis.com/releases/052308_Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-23. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "Royal Caribbean's next ships will be Oasis, Allure". USA Today. 2008-05-23. http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2008/05/and-the-second.html?csp=34. Retrieved 2008-05-23. 
8. ^ “Royal Caribbean International Takes Delivery of Much Anticipated Oasis Of The Seas ”, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, October 28, 2009
9. ^ http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/viewRelease.php?id=73http://www.royalcaribbeanallureoftheseas.com/presskit/Allure%20of%20the%20Seas.pdf
10. ^ ^{a b} Cruise Critic, Genesis Milestone Reached: Keel Laid in Turku, retrieved 2007-12-14.
11. ^ Travel Mole, Work starts on world's largest cruise ship, 2007-12-12.
12. ^ ^{a b} If Royal Caribbean builds it, 6,400 could come, Boston Globe (February 7, 2006).
13. ^ Aker Yards press release, Royal Caribbean orders another giant cruise vessel from Aker Yards, 2007-04-02.
14. ^ "Royal Caribbean Announces Oasis Of The Seas Itineraries ", PDF 212 KB, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines , 2008-06-19
15. ^ Associated Press, Royal Caribbean Cruises bringing Central Park replica to ocean, 2008-04-17.
16. ^ Royal Caribbean Press Release, 2008-04-15

External links

• Oasis of the Seas Official Oasis Class website.
• Aker Yards official website.
• Royal Caribbean official website.