Photo of Oasis of the Seas - Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Ship

Oasis of the Seas Themed Areas

With launch of Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International has introduced its new, revolutionary concept of having a cruise ship with seven distinct themed zones:

• Boardwalk
• Central Park
• Entertainment Place
• The Pool and Sports Zone
• The Royal Promenade
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
• Youth Zone

Oasis of the Seas’ themed zones represent the next generation of cruise ships, pushing the cruising experience to previously unknown levels. The themed zones will allow each passenger to seek personalized experiences that most suit their style or mood at that given time.

Oasis of the Seas Leaving Shipyard in Turku, Finland After it was Finished, Photo: Zache, Wikipedia

Oasis of the Seas Boardwalk

Cruise ship’s Boardwalk is a place to take a family for a stroll. Several eateries of different sorts are scattered along, mixed here and there with common retail outlets and carnival games. The Boardwalk is where the first-at-sea handmade carousel can be found.

Hand Carved Carousel Commissioned By Royal Caribbean for the Oasis of the Seas, Photo: KM&G-Morris, Flickr

Oasis of the Seas AquaTheater

AquaTheater is an open deck amphitheater that is situated at the rear of Oasis of the Seas, around a large, kidney-shaped freshwater pool. This unique set up offers passengers different experience during the day and again different experience at night. While the sun is up, you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon on sun loungers surrounding the pool or jump right in for a swim. Scuba diving instructors are available for those wishing to learn all about the ways to explore the world deep down underneath the surface of the sea. The when the night sets in and surrounding seas go dark, the AquaTheater becomes a venue of eye-popping theatrical performances. Accompanied by staggering light and synchronized fountain shows, Oasis of the Seas dancers, acrobats and swimmers perform their heart-stopping acts that involve water ballet, high diving, and synchronized swimming of world class proportions.

Oasis of the Seas Aqua Theater, Photo: steamboatsorg, Flickr

Oasis of the Seas Rising Tide Bar

Another revolutionary feature offered by Oasis of the Seas is the Rising Tide Bar, a bar which traverses the patrons up and down three decks. You could pop in a bar from Royal Promenade, order a cocktail and enjoy it as the Rising Tide Bar slowly ascends to the Central Park area where tropical gardens spread over an area of a football field, offering peaceful walkways surrounded by lush greens.

Oasis of the Seas Accommodation Options

Aside from decks for live in crew members, Oasis of the Seas spans 16 decks and houses 2,700 staterooms, including 28 new and exciting multilevel loft suites with floor to ceiling windows for perfect view of the sea. The introduction of the theme zones offers new level of cruise ship accommodation experiences unique to Oasis of the Seas. With 37 categories of accommodation options, Oasis of the Seas features lodging to satisfy all tastes.

Balcony staterooms with Boardwalk View or Park View offer less expensive accommodation facing inward. The lofts on the other hand are the most expensive accommodation option but offer highest standard accommodation found on the seas. Aside spectacular ocean views, the Lofts are decorated with unique artwork, offer spacious living areas and a private balcony where guests can lounge on sun chairs with breath taking views of the ocean. Coveted lofts (remember, there are only 28 of them on Oasis of the Seas and there is only one Oasis of the Seas that offers this type of on the sea accommodation) are equipped with high end LCD televisions, luxurious duvets that complement tropical green and blue accents of the rooms, bathrooms with fog free mirrors and shower heads for him and her, separate vanity areas and limestone mosaic tiles.

Lush Gardens of Central Park with Live Trees on Oasis of the Seas, Photo: steamboatsorg, Flickr

Oasis of the Seas Itineraries

Fort Lauderdale in Florida is Oasis of the Seas departure port. The itinerary of Royal Caribbean cruise ships changes based on which time of year it is. As for Oasis of the Seas, itineraries are set as follows:

Oasis of the Seas Itinerary 2009:
Ports of call are listed in order in which they are visited. This is a 7 night, Eastern Caribbean holiday cruise:

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Nassau, Bahamas
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Oasis of the Seas Itinerary 2010 – Odd Weeks:
Ports of call are listed in order in which they are visited. This is a 7 night, Western Caribbean holiday cruise:

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Labadee, Haiti
• Costa Maya, Mexico
• Cozumel, Mexico
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Departure Dates Include: 01 May 2010, 15 May 2010, 29 May 2010, 12 June 2010, 26 June 2010, 10 July 2010, 24 July 2010, 07 August 2010, 21 August 2010, 04 September 2010, 18 September 2010, 02 Octtober 2010, 16 October 2010, 30 October 2010, 13 November 2010

Oasis of the Seas Itinerary 2010 – Beginning of Year:
Ports of call are listed in order in which they are visited. This is a 7 night, Eastern Caribbean holiday cruise:

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Nassau, Bahamas
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Departure Dates Include: 02 January 2010, 09 January 2010, 16 January 2010, 23 January 2010, 30 January 2010, 06 February 2010, 13 February 2010, 20 February 2010, 27 February 2010, 06 March 2010, 13 March 2010, 20 March 2010, 27 March 2010, 03 April 2010, 10 April 2010

Oasis of the Seas Itinerary 2011 – Odd Weeks:
Ports of call are listed in order in which they are visited. This is a 7 night, Eastern Caribbean holiday cruise:

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten
• Nassau, Bahamas
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Departure Dates Include: 04 December 2010, 15 January 2011, 29 January 2011, 12 February 2011, 26 February 2011, 12 March 2011, 26 March 2011, 09 April 2011, 23 April 2011, 07 May 2011, 21 May 2011, 04 June 2011, 18 June 2011, 02 July 2011, 16 July 2011, 30 July 2011, etc…

Oasis of the Seas Itinerary 2011 – Even Weeks:
Ports of call are listed in order in which they are visited. This is a 7 night, Western Caribbean holiday cruise:

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Labadee, Haiti
• Falmouth, Jamaica
• Cozumel, Mexico
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Departure Dates Include: 11 December 2010, 08 January 2011, 22 January 2011, 05 February 2011, 19 February 2011, 05 March 2011, 19 March 2011, 02 April 2011, 16 April 2011, 30 April 2011, 14 May 2011, 28 May 2011, 11 June 2011, 25 June 2011, 09 July 2011, 23 July 2011, etc…

Oasis of the Seas Docked at Labadee, Haiti, Photo: Beaster725, Flickr

Oasis of the Seas Video

This video is a nice introduction to Oasis of the Seas and its features. The video was recorded prior to ship’s official launch but it gives nice perspective of what this cruise ship has to offer and why it stands out from the rest:

Oasis of the Seas officially launched on December 1st, 2009 and has already served first lucky vacationers. Features and options Oasis of the Seas offers are unrivalled in holiday cruise ship industry. At this time, Oasis of the Seas is the only ship of this size and of this type but its identical twin sister called Allure of the Seas will join her in the Caribbean in November 2010.

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Holland America Cruise Ship SS Zaandam Sailing in Sitka, Alaska. Photo: controltheweb, Flickr

Five Major Cruise Lines Cut Back Alaska Cruises

Following cruise ship operators have announced this year that they will cut back on Alaska schedules in 2010:

• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Princess Cruises
• Holland America
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
• Norwegian Cruise Lines

Global economic slow down forced cruise line operators to lower their prices significantly, but after state of Alaska announced that they will be changing Cruise Liners a $50 per-passenger fee, the decisions to discontinue Alaska cruises were made and ships that sail in Alaskan waters will be redirected to serve in more profitable European waters come 2010.

Vancouver Facing $38-million Loss

Because many Alaska cruises start their itineraries from Vancouver, the largest city in Canadian British Columbia is facing a 9% drop in number of tourists visiting the city, which will result in $38-million in lost tourism revenue per year.

Alaska Bound Cruise Ship Leaving Vancouver, Photo: Patrick Doheny, Flickr

Now Is the Time for Cheap Last Minute Alaska Cruise

Cruise vacation prices are at a long term low right now. That makes for a perfect opportunity to take a cruise vacation. And since there may be fewer ships serving Alaska in 2010, the competition won’t be as tough and cruise line operators will be able to give their prices a bump, if you hesitate, you will miss out on an opportunity to cruise to Alaska for cheap. Look at sample prices as of this very moment:

Name of the ship: Celebrity Millennium
Operator: Celebrity Cruises
Cruise duration: 7 days
Itinerary: Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Seward
Prices from: 439.00 CAD per person, plus tax

Name of the ship: Norwegian Sun
Operator: Norwegian Cruise Line NCL
Cruise duration: 7 days
Itinerary: Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and back
Prices from: $399 US per person, plus tax

Name of the ship: Carnival Spirit
Operator: Carnival Cruises
Cruise duration: 7 days
Itinerary: Anchorage (Whittier), Cruise Prince William Sound, Cruise College Fjord, Sitka, Juneau, Cruise Lynn Canal, Skagway, Ketchikan, Cruise Inside Passage, Vancouver
Prices from: $309 US per person, plus tax

Sample prices are based on double occupancy in an interior stateroom.

Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska as Seen from Holland America Westerdam Cruise Ship, Photo: dbaron, Flickr

Go book your Alaska cruise now for July or August. Those are the best month to sail to Alaska and prices are right. It doesn’t get any cheaper than that. If you compared 2009 prices with same cruises in 2008, you’d see four digit numbers. This is the best time to go on a cruise and seeing how cruise line operators are cutting back on Alaska itineraries, there is no reason to hesitate.

Furthermore – Alaska cruise is better in summer than the Caribbean one. Summer if a hurricane season in the tropics so you’d be taking chances with your cruise, plus if you are to go to Alaska, you wouldn’t want to do it in the middle of winter when it gets so cold you won’t be able to hold a camera in your hands. Timing is perfect; the price is the best it’s been in years. Take Alaska cruise, I’m sure you won’t regret it. You can laugh at your co-worker who decides to wait later, after prices sky rocket back up to their normal level.

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