« Previous—Next »

WORLD’S LARGEST CRUISELINER SETS MAIDEN VOYAGE - FIVE TIMES LARGER THAN THE TITANIC

The Oasis of the Seas is seen during a media tour at its home port in Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida November 20, 2009. Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas is the largest, widest, tallest, most expensive cruise ship afloat, a cornucopia of amusements aimed at quashing the notion that cruising is a sedentary vacation, said chief executive Richard Fain. Picture taken November 20, 2009.

BY KATY HASTINGS
SkyNews

The world’s largest cruise ship has set sail on its maiden voyage from the coast of Miami in Florida.

The Oasis of the Seas is owned by Royal Caribbean and can carry more than 6,000 guests within its 17 floors.

Its owners say it is the most revolutionary ship at sea with a handcrafted carousel, an 82ft-high zip line suspended above nine decks.

It also has two on-board surf simulators - just in case the real surf is not worth leaving the ship for.

A sight to remember greets our arrival at Fort Lauderdale, the home of the liner.

The ”Central Park” area on the Oasis of the Seas is seen during a media tour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida November 20, 2009. Royal Caribbeans new Oasis of the Seas is the largest, widest, tallest, most expensive cruise ship afloat, a cornucopia of amusements aimed at quashing the notion that cruising is a sedentary vacation, said chief executive Richard Fain. Picture taken November 20, 2009.

The ship - five times the size of the Titanic - can been seen from miles away, even before you even reach the port, sitting majestically taller than any building in the city.

Check-in was smooth, luxurious and stress-free. We left our bags at the airport only to find them safely deposited in our room in time for our arrival.

The size of the ship is equal to three football pitches and has the longest jogging track at sea, at almost half a mile.

It also boasts the first-ever real-life park bursting with greenery for those who long for land during a voyage.

FROM THE BRIDGE

But who would, with an ocean in front of you and the balmy climate of Florida to warm you up?

Well, actually, on the first voyage of the ship, a little sun would not have gone amiss.

The H2O pool for younger children on the Oasis of the Seas is seen during a media tour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida November 20, 2009. Royal Caribbeans new Oasis of the Seas is the largest, widest, tallest, most expensive cruise ship afloat, a cornucopia of amusements aimed at quashing the notion that cruising is a sedentary vacation, said chief executive Richard Fain.

While the weather was disappointing, there was plenty to occupy us, with the only major problem trying to navigate the monster ship.

Fortunately, the people who work on the vessel are specially selected from all over the world for their helpfulness and friendliness.

The ship has all that you’d expect on a cruise - and more, including a cosy wedding chapel for those who want to get married at sea, and a liberal offering of Botox for those who want to concentrate purely on themselves.

People walk along the Royal Promenade deck area in the Oasis of the Seas.

Martina Smart, 39, from Plymouth, had never been on a cruise ship before and came on board with her husband and two children.

“I always thought cruises were for older people but this is such a good place to bring the family, there is so much to do,” she said.

“This ship is immense. It is so big that no picture can ever do it justice.

“It is only when you drive up to the ship you can see how enormous it really is compared with buildings and cranes.”

Howard Goodman, 57, from London, is an old hand at cruising, having been on Royal Caribbbean’s Independence of the Seas two years ago.

“If you in a hotel on land and it rains you are confined indoors but here there are a million and one things to do - you just have to decide what to do first,” he said.

“When I went on the Independence I didn’t think it could get better than that - but the Oasis still has the same warmth and style it’s just even bigger.”

See Related: SOCIAL DIARY