This World Traveler

The cruise ship arms race seems to be reaching ridiculous proportions. The ships are getting larger and larger, with more crazy amenities. Celebrity is adding a half acre of actual grass on its new ship, Carnival and seemingly every other cruise line is adding spa class cabins with special menus and restaurants. Royal Caribbean is topping them all with the gargantuan Oasis of the Seas which goes on sale in the next week, featuring among other things, an open air, climate controlled park in the middle of the ship.

Central Park is really the focal point of what will be the largest ship in the world. The outdoor space is actually a public park, bigger than a football field with several dining options and over 250 balcony cabins that face out to the park, instead of the traditional ocean view. They'll also offer a boardwalk with a carousel at sea, and the Royal Promenade that the cruise line pioneered with the Voyager class of ships they began to introduce roughly twelve years ago.

As the ship gets closer to float-out, the cruise line has been introducing more "neighborhoods" to highlight the difference. This week, they've revealed the fitness aspect of the 220,000 ton ship. There isn't a ton new to this ship. Just more of what has proven itself popular. Multiple rock climbing walls, two FlowRider surfing simulators instead of one. Three different pools, including one made to simulate a beach... but the big thing? The zip line. Apparently, you'll now get the opportunity to literally fly over the boardwalk attached to a wire.

Royal Caribbean is pushing to make its ships the destination, rather than the destination itself. Keeping passengers on the ship means more revenue for the cruise line and with higher fuel costs, and increased capacity limiting price increases, that's a good thing!

Labels: cruises, royal caribbean, travel