Royal Caribbean International and STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France celebrated, on Sept 23rd, the steel cutting for the third Oasis-class ship. This was the first construction milestone for a vessel that will be the world’s largest cruise ship when she debuts in 2016.
With 361 metres long and 66 metres wide, this ship is one of the biggest ever built in Saint-Nazaire. At 225,282 GRT and spanning 16 decks with 2,700 staterooms, the Oasis class ships also introduced extraordinary “firsts” at sea such as an 82 foot-long zip line, a handcrafted carousel, the Rising Tide elevating bar, the AquaTheater high-diving performance venue, and the Central Park with more than 12,000 live trees and plants.
The Oasis class also offers amenities that can only be found on Royal Caribbean, such as twin FlowRider surf simulators, cantilevered whirlpools, an ice-skating rink, the H2O Zone kids aquapark, and the Royal Promenade, an interior boulevard that stretches nearly the length of the ship and flanked by restaurants, lounges and boutiques, among many others.
Contract for the construction of the third Oasis-class ship is worth 10 millions working hours distributed over more than three years.
[mappress] Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, October 2, 2013; Video: royalcaribbean