Oasis of the Seas
New for 2009 are 9 new cruise ships. The biggest and most talked-about new vessel is Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. It can carry as 5,400 passengers (double occupancy). The Oasis will feature neighborhoods that replicate land based sites like Central Park and the Boardwalk. Other innovations include an onboard zip-line, an Aqua Theater and a bar that raises five stories like an elevator. It offers 24 different dining options, traditional dining or anytime dining in the restaurant, a buffet, steakhouse, pizzeria, seafood and many more. There is a cover charge for several of the alternative dining options.
Why are the cruise lines coming out with bigger and bigger ships? In my opinion, Cunard came out with the Queen Mary 2 to show-off the largest cruise ship and ocean liner. Then RCL - in my opinion - had the great idea not only to beat the Carnival Corporation (Cunard belongs to Carnival) with an even bigger ship (Freedom), but also to attract travelers who have never cruised, but go to Orlando or Las Vegas. I believe that this is the reason, NCL will have the Blue Man Group and many other attractions on board, there will be a lot of people coming to these ships that have never cruised before.