Tulsa World: Maiden voyage begins for largest cruise ship

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Maiden voyage begins for largest cruise ship

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas departs a shipyard Friday in Finland. The largest passenger vessel ever built — with 2,700 cabins and 2,100 crew members — it is nearly 40 percent larger than the industry's next-biggest ship. The ship is headed for its designated home port of Port Everglades, Fla. Royal Caribbean/AP Photo

By MATTI HUUHTANEN Associated Press
Published: 10/31/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 10/31/2009 5:14 AM

HELSINKI — It's five times larger than the Titanic, has seven neighborhoods, an ice rink, a golf course and a 750-seat outdoor amphitheater. The world's largest cruise ship is finally finished, and Friday it began gliding toward its home port in Florida.

The Oasis of the Seas will meet its first obstacle Saturday when it exits the Baltic Sea and must squeeze under the Great Belt Bridge, which is just 1 foot taller than the ship — even after its telescopic smokestacks are lowered.

To be on the safe side, the ship — which rises about 20 stories high — will speed up so that it sinks deeper into the water when it passes below the span, said Lene Gebauer Thomsen, a spokeswoman for the operator of the Great Belt Bridge.

Once home, the $1.5 billion floating extravaganza will have more, if less visible, obstacles to duck: a sagging U.S. economy, questions about the consumer appetite for luxury cruises and criticism that such sailing behemoths are damaging to the environment and diminish the experience of traveling.

Travel guide writer Arthur Frommer has railed against Oasis and other mega ships he calls "floating resorts," suggesting that voyages on such large vessels are "a dumbing down of the cruise experience."

Oasis of the Seas, which is nearly 40 percent larger than the industry's next-biggest ship, was conceived years before the economic downturn caused desperate cruise lines to slash prices to fill vacant berths.

"Obviously we did not want or anticipate

she'd be born into the most significant economic downturn since the Depression," Royal Caribbean International President & CEO Adam Goldstein told The Associated Press in an interview earlier this month. "Even in this environment, we're excited about her."

It sets sail as cruise lines clamor to increase capacity, adding newer — and bigger — ships to their fleets.

The Oasis of the Seas has 2,700 cabins and can accommodate 6,300 passengers and 2,100 crew members. Company officials are banking that its novelty will help guarantee its success.

The Oasis of the Seas is due to make its U.S. debut Nov. 20 at its home port, Port Everglades, Fla. By MATTI HUUHTANEN Associated Press

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	Report Comment TK1, (11/1/2009 7:43:32 AM) I like the part where you speed up to get under the 1 foot of clearance from the bridge. Reminds me of traffic on Lewis in midtown passing each other in the narrow lanes.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/1/2009 9:17:54 AM) Right you are TK1. lol.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/1/2009 9:18:33 AM) I guess I'll have to drive to Finland to check this liner out for myself.
	Report Comment H_Harl, (11/1/2009 10:38:31 AM) holy smokes! it's almost hard to believe something that big can even float. that's quite a bit bigger than my little flat bottom.
	Report Comment dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (11/2/2009 8:04:54 AM) That is one impressive boat.
	Report Comment Sanity, Broken Arrow (11/2/2009 10:04:36 AM) Interesting! Wonder if they would let the little dog in my picture bunk with me.
	Report Comment Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (11/2/2009 12:05:02 PM) A cruise line has a 4-day cruise around the Bahamas for $300 total. Of course you have to get to Florida on your own. I just hope this ship stays out of Somalia waters. Talk about a prize. That would be worth just using as a hotel. Run the big piece of you-know-what on the beach and plug her into the nearest 250v outlet.

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