Skip navigation

The new megaships: Wavy, crazy ... and pricey

< Prev | 1 | 2
  Top slideshows
Image: The Empire State Building at night
Getty Images
  The Big Apple
Long referred to as the center of American business, New York is a melting pot of cultures and landscapes. Take a visual tour of some of the Big Apple’s most famous attractions.
Image: Waimea Canyon, Kauai
Lonely Planet Images
  Hawaiian paradise
The Hawaiian Islands are the perfect vacation destination for travelers of all types.
Image: Mount Rainier National Park
Lonely Planet Images
  National spectacles
Nearly 400 national parks can be found all across America, and feature breathtaking vistas, rock formations millions of years old, and more.
  Most popular
• Most viewed• Top rated• Most e-mailed

The big O-asis
Set to launch in December 2009 Oasis of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world. Last month, Royal Caribbean unveiled one of seven neighborhoods on Oasis: Central Park, a large space of live trees and plants, lined with restaurants and retail and ringed by two towers of balcony staterooms. On Wednesday, the line revealed more neighborhoods, two-story loft suites with expansive views, a carousel, two rock climbing walls and the first zip-line at sea. “We’re proud to introduce a number of industry firsts on a level and scale that the world has never seen before,” said Adam Goldstein, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean.

The latest neighborhood innovation is called Boardwalk, a space for families that is inspired by seaside piers of the past. The area will offer family-oriented eateries, retail outlets and carnival games. A handcrafted carousel will be the centerpiece and a zip-line will be suspended nine decks above.

AquaTheater is designed to offer two experiences. By day, the venue will allow passengers to swim in a large kidney-shaped freshwater pool, relax on sun loungers on tiered platforms or take SCUBA lessons. At night, the area will stage theatrical performances with acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet and professional high-diving, as well as fountain shows synchronized to music and lights.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Additions to Royal Promenade, the heart of the ship, include a mezzanine level that overlooks the main promenade below. The area will house shopping, dining and entertainment options including the Rising Tide bar, which will traverse three decks as it ascends into Central Park. A focal point will be a giant copper globe sculpture built into the facade above the Globe and Atlas Pub, which will open up to create a surprise element as it unfurls on hinged hydraulics and becomes a bridge platform for performances.

  Daily travel blog

Daily postings from ‘the
last honest travel site’

Oasis will have another Royal Caribbean first: 28 two-level loft suites with floor-to-ceiling, double-height windows. The lofts will round out a new portfolio of 37 categories of rooms, many with unique views.

If these ship amenities sound like a lot — surprise! — NCL and Royal Caribbean say they aren’t done yet and will have more big unveilings as each ship gets closer to launch. It’s clear both cruise lines have tipped the scales of cruise ship innovation by developing truly unique cruise venues. Still, the question remains: What’s the real price consumers will pay to cruise on these big ships? NCL will have cover charges for the new party bars, whereas Royal Caribbean has stated their new amenities are priced into the cruise fare, but some wonder on a ship with 5,400 people how big the lines will be to utilize these attractions.


< Prev | 1 | 2

  MORE FROM CRUISING  
  
Cruising Section Front
 
Add Cruising headlines to your news reader:
 

Resource guide