Oasis-class cruise ship

Oasis of the Seas
Class overview
Builders:	STX Finland, Turku, Finland & Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire, France
Operators:	Royal Caribbean International
Preceded by:	Freedom class
Succeeded by:	Quantum class
Built:	2007-2010; 2013-2016 (planned)
In service:	2009–Present
Building:	1
Planned:	3 (Option for fourth)
Completed:	2
Active:	2
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:	3 × Wärtsilä 12V46D, 13,860 kW (18,590 hp) each 3 × Wärtsilä 16V46D, 18,480 kW (24,780 hp) each[4][6]
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 (formerly known as Project Genesis^[7]) is a class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships that 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 in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe (formerly Aker Yards) in Turku, Finland.^[9]

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.^[10][11] Oasis-class vessels 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.^[12][13]

Technical details

The displacement—the actual mass—is estimated at approximately 100,000 metric tons, equivalent to the displacement a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.^[14]

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.^[15] 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).^[16][17]

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][18] 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.^[18][19]

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.^[20]

Ships

Name	Status	Entered service with Royal Caribbean	Gross tonnage	Home port	Notes	Image
Oasis of the Seas	In service	5 December 2009	225,282	Port Everglades, Florida	One of the largest cruise ships in the world along with sister "Allure of the Seas". Will enter drydock in September, 2014.
Allure of the Seas	In service	1 December 2010	225,282	Port Everglades, Florida	Technically the world's largest cruise ship, exceeding the length of Oasis of the Seas by 50 millimetres (2 in). Goes into drydock in May 2015. Sails out of Barcelona, Spain and Civitavecchia, Italy May 2015 to October 2015.[21]
TBA	Under construction	Summer 2016 (planned)	227,700 [2][22]	TBA	Will be the largest in the class and also the largest cruise ship in the world, exceeding both ships in the class by 2.15 metres.

Third Oasis-class cruise ship

On 25 October 2012 Royal Caribbean confirmed that the company was engaged in negotiations to build a third Oasis-class vessel 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, would be delivered in middle to late 2016.^[23]

On 27 December 2012, Royal Caribbean ordered the third Oasis-class cruise ship from STX France,^[24] after failing to come to an agreement with the Government of Finland to build the ship at the STX Finland shipyard that built the first two ships.^{[25][26][27][28]}

The steel cutting for the ship began on the 23rd of September 2013. The ship will be larger than the preceding Oasis-class ships at an estimated 227,700 GT and 362.15 m in length, with a capacity of 6,360 passengers, representing an increase of 2,718 GT, 2.15 m, and 42 passengers respectively.^[22] It will cost about €1 billion (US$1.35 billion).^[29] It is projected to set sail in 2016.^[22]

The contract includes an option for a fourth ship to be delivered in 2018 that has not yet been exercised.^[24]

References

External links

• Oasis of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean
• Google Maps satellite view of Oasis-class cruise ship in Port Everglades

v t e Royal Caribbean International fleet Sovereign class Majesty of the Seas Vision class Legend of the Seas Splendour of the Seas Grandeur of the Seas Rhapsody of the Seas Enchantment of the Seas Vision of the Seas Voyager class Voyager of the Seas Explorer of the Seas Adventure of the Seas Navigator of the Seas Mariner of the Seas Radiance class Radiance of the Seas Brilliance of the Seas Serenade of the Seas Jewel of the Seas Freedom class Freedom of the Seas Liberty of the Seas Independence of the Seas Oasis class Oasis of the Seas Allure of the Seas Quantum class Quantum of the Seas (2014) Anthem of the Seas (2015) Former ships Song of Norway Nordic Prince Sun Viking Song of America Viking Serenade Empress of the Seas Sovereign of the Seas Monarch of the Seas