Oasis-class cruise ship

Class overview
Builders: STX Finland Turku Shipyard, Finland & Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire, France
Operators: Royal Caribbean International
Preceded by: Freedom class
Succeeded by: Quantum class
Built: 2007–2010; 2013–2021 (planned)
In service: 2009–present
Planned: 5
Completed: 4
Active: 4
General characteristics
Type: Cruise ship
Tonnage: 225,282 GT[1]–227,700 GT[2]
Length: 360 m (1,181 ft) overall[3]
Beam:
  • 47 m (154 ft) waterline
  • 60.5 m (198 ft) extreme[3]
Height: 72 m (236 ft) above water line[4]
Draught: 9.3 m (31 ft)[3]
Depth: 22.55 m (74 ft)[3]
Decks: 16 passenger decks[5]
Installed power:
Propulsion: 3 × 20 MW ABB Azipod, all azimuthing[4]
Speed: 22.6 knots (41.9 km/h; 26.0 mph)[5]
Capacity: 5,400 passengers double occupancy; 6,296 total[5]

The Oasis class is a class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships which are the world's largest passenger ships. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas,[7][8] were delivered respectively in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland.[9] A third Oasis class vessel, Harmony of the Seas, was delivered in 2016 built by STX France, and a fourth vessel, MS Symphony of the Seas, was completed in June 2017. One additional unnamed ship is currently under construction and is expected to be delivered in 2021. The first two ships in the class Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are slightly exceeded in size by the third ship Harmony of the Seas, while the Symphony of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship. The fifth ship, due to be completed in Spring 2021, is planned to be larger than the Symphony of the Seas.[10]

Ship features

The Oasis-class ships surpassed the earlier Freedom-class ships as the world's largest and longest passenger ships. Oasis also is 8.5 metres (28 ft) wider, and with a gross tonnage of 225,282, is almost 45% larger.[11][12] Oasis-class vessels can carry over 5,400 passengers.

Oasis-class ships feature a split structure, with the 5-deck high "Central Park" and "Boardwalk" outdoor areas running down the middle of the ship. These areas feature lush tropical gardens, upscale restaurants, shops, and a working carousel.[13][14]

Technical details

The displacement—the actual mass—is estimated at approximately 100,000 metric tons, equivalent to the displacement of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.[15]

To keep the ship stable without increasing the draft excessively, the designers created a wide hull. About 30 feet (9 m) of the ship sits beneath the water, a small percentage of the ship's overall height. Wide, shallow ships such as this tend to be "snappy", meaning that they can snap back upright after a wave has passed, which can be uncomfortable. This effect, however, is mitigated by the vessel's large size.[16] The cruise ship's officers were pleased with the ship's stability and performance during the transatlantic crossing, when the vessel, in order to allow finishing work to go on, slowed and changed course in the face of winds "almost up to hurricane force" and seas in excess of 40 feet (12 m).[17][18]

The ship's power comes from six medium speed marine diesel generating sets: three 16-cylinder Wärtsilä 16V46D common rail engines producing 18,860 kilowatts (25,290 hp) each and three similar 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 12V46D engines producing 13,860 kilowatts (18,590 hp) each. The fuel consumption of the main engines at full power is 1,377 US gallons (5,210 l; 1,147 imp gal) of fuel oil per engine per hour for the 16-cylinder engines and 1,033 US gallons (3,910 l; 860 imp gal) per engine per hour for the 12-cylinder engines.[4][19] The total output of these prime movers, some 97,020 kilowatts (130,110 hp), is converted to electricity, used in hotel power for operation of the lights, elevators, electronics, galleys, water treatment plant, and all of the other systems used on the operation of the vessel, as well as propulsion. Propulsion is provided by three 20,000-kilowatt (26,800 hp) Azipods, ABB's brand of electric azimuth thrusters. These pods, suspended under the stern, contain electric motors driving 20-foot (6 m) propellers.[4] Because they are rotatable, no rudders are needed to steer the ship. Docking is assisted by four 5,500-kilowatt (7,380 hp) transverse bow thrusters.[19][20]

The ship carries 18 lifeboats that hold 370 people each, for a total of 6,660 people. Inflatable life rafts provide for additional passengers and crew.[21]

Ships

NameStatusEntered service with Royal CaribbeanGross tonnage LengthHome portNotesImage
Oasis of the SeasIn service5 December 2009225,282[22] 361.8 m (1,187 ft)[22]Port Canaveral, FloridaUnderwent drydock refurbishment in September 2014. Repositioned to Port Canaveral from Port Everglades in November 2016, being replaced by sister Harmony of the Seas.
Allure of the SeasIn service1 December 2010225,282[23] 361.8 m

(1,187 ft)[23]

 Port Everglades, FloridaWorld's third largest cruise ship, exceeding the length of Oasis of the Seas by 50 millimetres (2 in). Will reposition to Port of Miami, Florida in November 2018.
Harmony of the SeasIn service15 May 2016226,963[24] 362.1 m (1,188 ft)[24]Port Everglades, FloridaThe second largest cruise ship in the world, exceeding prior ships in the class by 0.3 metres (1 ft) length and 1,681 GT.
Symphony of the SeasIn service31 March 2018228,081[10]362.1 m (1,188 ft)[10]Port of Miami, FloridaCurrently the world's largest cruise ship, surpassing Harmony of the Seas.
TBAOrdered[25]Spring 2021
(planned)		TBATBATBAWill be fifth Oasis-class cruise ship. Planned to be the largest cruise ship in the world.

Future Oasis-class cruise ships

On 25 October 2012 Royal Caribbean confirmed that the company was engaged in negotiations to build a third Oasis-class ship and hoped to enter an agreement before the year's end. The ship, which the company would expect to cost less per berth basis than the two previous ships and to be more energy efficient,[26] was named Harmony of the Seas and delivered in May 2016.

On 27 December 2012, Royal Caribbean ordered the third Oasis-class ship from STX France,[27] after failing to come to an agreement with the Government of Finland (for additional financial support) to build the ship at the STX Finland shipyard that built the first two ships.[28][29][30][31]

The steel cutting for the ship began on 23 September 2013. The ship is larger than the preceding Oasis-class ships at an estimated 227,700 GT, 362.15 m in length, and 66 m in maximum width, representing an increase of 2,418 GT and 2.15 m length.[32][33] The ship has 2,744 passenger staterooms with a capacity of 6,360 passengers (5,488 double occupancy), an increase of 64 passengers over the previous ships in the class, as well as 1,197 crew cabins capable of berthing 2,100 crew.[32][33] The ship features an expanded adults-only solarium area and a water slide.[33][34] It cost about €1 billion (US$1.35 billion)[35] and entered service in May 2016.[36]

In May 2014, Royal Caribbean exercised their option for a fourth Oasis-class ship to be delivered in 2018.[27] In February 2015, Royal Caribbean announced that steel cutting had begun for the fourth ship.[37] In May 2016, Royal Caribbean announced that they had signed an agreement for a fifth Oasis-class ship, to be delivered in the Spring of 2021.[25] In March 2017, Royal Caribbean announced that the fourth Oasis-class ship would be named Symphony of the Seas.

References

  1. ↑ "Oasis of the Seas: Summary (27091)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  2. ↑ "New Oasis from STX France to be 227,700 Tons". Cruise Industry News. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Oasis of the Seas: Dimensions (27091)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Creating the Incredible" (PDF). STX Europe via CruiseWeb.nl. November 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 "Oasis of the Seas: Fast Facts" (PDF). OasisoftheSeas.com. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  6. ↑ "Oasis of the Seas: Machinery Summary (27091)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  7. ↑ "Press Release: Royal Caribbean selects Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas as the names for its Project Genesis ships" (PDF). Royal Caribbean International. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
  8. ↑ "Royal Caribbean's next ships will be Oasis, Allure". USA Today. 23 May 2008. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
  9. ↑ Aker Yards press release, Royal Caribbean orders another giant cruise vessel from Aker Yards, 2 April 2007.
  10. 1 2 3 "Symphony of the Seas Fact Sheet". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  11. ↑ Cruise Critic, Genesis Milestone Reached: Keel Laid in Turku, retrieved 14 December 2007.
  12. ↑ Travel Mole, Work starts on world's largest cruise ship, 12 December 2007.
  13. ↑ Associated Press, Royal Caribbean Cruises bringing Central Park replica to ocean, 17 April 2008.
  14. ↑ Royal Caribbean Press Release, 15 April 2008
  15. ↑ How the World's Largest Cruise Ship Floats. Livescience, 3 November 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  16. ↑ Bryner, Jeanna (3 November 2009). "How the World's Largest Cruise Ship Floats". Livescience.com. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  17. ↑ Wright, William S. (Captain), "Blue Seas, Green Practices", Captain's Log, Day Six, search for video at Oasis of the Seas Archived 20 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine.. Royal Caribbean, 2009.
  18. ↑ Wright, William S. (Captain), "Back to the Bridge", Captain's Log, Day Ten, search for video at Oasis of the Seas Archived 20 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine.. Royal Caribbean, 2009.
  19. 1 2 Holmlund-Sund, Marit (28 October 2009). "Wärtsilä powers Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas - the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world" (Press release). Wärtsilä Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 November 2009.
  20. ↑ "Oasis of the Seas: Machine Summary (27091)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  21. ↑ Hall, Nick (10 December 2009). "World's largest lifeboats for Oasis of the Seas". Motor Boats. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  22. 1 2 "Oasis of the Seas Fact Sheet". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  23. 1 2 "Allure of the Seas Fact Sheet". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Harmony of the Seas (33249)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas.
  25. 1 2 "Royal Orders Oasis Five, Two More Ships for Celebrity". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  26. ↑ Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. : Royal Caribbean Reports Third Quarter Results And Updates 2012 Guidance. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  27. 1 2 Royal Caribbean Orders Third Oasis-Class Ship from STX France. Cruise Industry News, 27 December 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  28. ↑ Finnish Authorities Discussing Financing Third Oasis-Class Vessel? Cruise Industry News, 3 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012
  29. ↑ RCCL said to be close to order third Oasis class ship from STX Finland. Cruise Business Review, 3 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012
  30. ↑ Saarikangas laivatilauksesta: Vireillä on jotakin, tilanne ei ole toivoton. YLE, 26 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012
  31. ↑ Valtio tyrmäsi Turun telakan hakeman lainan. Taloussanomat, 21 December 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012
  32. 1 2 Honeywell, John (23 September 2013). "First steel is cut for Royal Caribbean's Oasis 3 which will become the biggest cruise ship in the world". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  33. 1 2 3 "Oasis 3". STX France. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  34. ↑ "ANALYSIS: Third Oasis Renderings". Cruise Ind. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  35. ↑ "Work starts on world's largest cruise ship at French shipyard". Digitaljournal.com. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "Harmony of the Seas: World's largest cruise ship in Southampton". BBC News. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  37. ↑ "ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON FOURTH OASIS-CLASS SHIP". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com (Press release). Retrieved 26 May 2016.
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