Archive for the 'Royal Caribbean' Category

Oasis of the Seas launches an innovative new program that uses Apple’s popular iPhone as the technology platform. The program, known as Royal Connect, allows guests to rent modified iPhones to stay connected while on board. The cost for unlimited usage, which includes phone and chat functions, is $17.50 per device for the duration of the voyage.  Read more... (179 words, 1 image, estimated 43 secs reading time)

Normally, stablizers are used to test the stability of a ship during sea trials. But earlier this year, when Oasis underwent its sea trials, the stablizers were used to deliberately make the ship roll.

Often, a pitch of 11 to 12 degrees can be achieved, according to Oasis’ Captain Bill Wright. But on the word’s largest cruise ship, “we couldn’t even get three degrees,” he says.  Read more... (126 words, 1 image, estimated 30 secs reading time)

This week, we take a look back at some of old, but still relevant, stories. “Bigger, Better, New & Improved” originally was written for United Airlines’ award-winning magazine, Hemispheres – in 1998! Clearly, not much has changed.

Bigger, Better, New & Improved?

Listen to the cruise industry-an industry fixated on superlatives. Hear claims to possessing the world’s largest ship, the most expensive ship, the largest ship to transit the Panama Canal, “the highest-rated premium cruise line” (a claim made by Celebrity Cruises), “the only premium cruise line” (a counter claim made by Holland America Line), “the highest-rated major cruise line of more than two ships” (a claim unearthed only after excavating deep into a recent Conde Nast Traveler reader poll), the largest casino afloat, the largest verandas afloat, the largest suites afloat (still with us?), the largest suites with verandas afloat . . . well, you get the picture.  Read more... (825 words, estimated 3:18 mins reading time)

Oasis will feature two dozen dining outlets, according to Frank Weber, the man in charge of the dining experiences on Royal Caribbean ships.

In about half of the dining outlets, you’ll need to pony up extra to dine. Fees range from $4.95 per person to $70 per person. The latter is for the Chef’s Table at the Concierge Lounge, where dinners are hosted by the head chef and sommelier and include wine pairings for a maximum of 14 passengers per evening.

The second priciest alternative dining venue is 150 Central Park, at $35 per person.

Here’s a breakdown of Oasis’ restaurants by neighborhood. Some of the charges were still being adjusted at press time. I’ve included pricing where Royal Caribbean executives could confirm fees.  Read more... (478 words, 1 image, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Back in the 1970s, Song of Norway, Royal Caribbean’s first ship, had a gym in an empty cabin that consisted of a rowing machine and a treadmill. Not many people used the gym or made any effort to find it. Today, Royal Caribbean’s newest ships feature the largest fitness centers and spas at sea, overlooking vast expanses of the oceans, ports and the global destinations that the cruise line’s ships visit.

Pools that were once inside the ship and on the lowest level have evolved into entire water parks and poolscapes running the length of the uppermost decks, and on some Royal Caribbean ships, guests can actually surf on innovative FlowRiders.

Welcome to the ships of the future.  Read more... (407 words, 2 images, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

The photo above shows a cut-away model of Oasis of the Seas that was exhibited at the world’s largest cruise shipping convention, held in Miami this past spring. At a reported cost of $200,000, the model, built on a scale of 1:100 by Hamburg’s IB Modellen, spans 3.61 meters long and .5 meters wide, and weighs 600 kilos.

Clearly, Oasis is of jaw-dropping proportions. Some other facts about Oasis that may interest you:  Read more... (406 words, 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

A reader recently wrote to ask if Oasis of the Seas’ Loft Suites featured only showers. The answer is shown to be affirmative in the photo above. For soakers, only the Royal Loft Suite features a tub and shower.

Oasis’ itineraries – seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean – are certainly not original. It is true that there are few ports worldwide that could accommodate such ships. But Oasis has forced innovation at some of these ports.  Read more... (287 words, 1 image, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

Moving between the Royal Promenade and Central Park on Oasis of the Seas, the Rising Tide is cruising’s first elevator bar.

Oasis features more than 2,000 balcony staterooms and more than 150 suites, but all you need is one. For the best of the best, here are the recommendations of Raimund Gschaider, project director for hotel operations for the Oasis-class vessels.  Read more... (338 words, 5 images, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)