Oasis of the Seas leaves Turku
by Tom Walker | 02 Nov 2009
The largest cruise liner ever built, the Oasis of the Seas has left the Finnish city of Turku, where it was built, and has set off towards its future home port of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, US.
The 260m (1,180ft)-long vessel will join the US-based Royal Caribbean International fleet later this month and will sail its full maiden voyage with passengers on 5 December following an official naming ceremony on 30 November.
It will be able to carry 6,300 passengers and has a permanent crew of 2,165. The ship’s largest dining room has 3,056 covers.
Oasis of the Seas has been built using a number of never-before used design solutions, including a neighborhood concept consisting of seven themed areas.
The seven neighborhoods within the vessel are called Central Park; Boardwalk; the Royal Promenade; Pool and Sports Zone; Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center; Entertainment Place; and Youth Zone. Each area aims to provide guests with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal style, preference or mood.
The Central Park area has been described as the first ever "park at sea", comprising real, living trees and shrubbery at the center of the ship. Above the park, a huge glass ceiling enables views of the sky above.
There will also be a zip line that races diagonally nine-decks above an open-air atrium, an original handcrafted carousel, 28 multilevel urban-style loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and an aquatic amphitheatre.
The ship will boast four swimming pools and 10 whirlpools. The main pool is surrounded by three bars in the pool area.
The Sports Zone will include a basketball court, two FlowRiders, two rock climbing walls and a miniature golf course.
Elsewhere, the liner's spa and fitness clubs have been billed as "the crown jewels" of Royal Caribbean's branded Vitality wellness program.
The Asian-inspired Vitality at Sea Spa boasts four relaxation rooms, a thermal suite, saunas, steam rooms, 10 treatment rooms and a separate Y Spa for teenagers with three purpose-designed treatment rooms.
Fitness facilities include a 50-station cv and resistance equipment area, including gravity trainers; stationary bikes whose virtual monitors mimic more than thirty riding environments; and an Omega Kinesis Wall.
Guests can also join group classes that include kickboxing, Pilates, yoga, spinning, and no-impact, full-body Kinesis group workouts.
The ship took nearly six years to build and, as well as being the largest ever built, is the most expensive ever constructed.
Royal Caribbean International currently operates a fleet of 20 cruise ships and has a further two under construction.
The largest cruise liner ever built, the Oasis of the Seas has left the Finnish city of Turku, where it was built, and has set off towards its future home port of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, US. The 260m (1,180ft)-long vessel will join the US-based Royal Caribbean International fleet later this month and will sail its full maiden voyage with passengers on 5 December following an official naming ceremony on
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